Why Pine, Why Now

Here's a truth the skincare industry is slowly waking up to: pine is one of the most potent, underutilized botanical actives on the planet.

Korean beauty recognized this years ago. K-beauty brands have been formulating with Red Pine (Pinus densiflora) for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, incorporating it into serums, essences, and treatments for mature skin.

But in Western skincare? Pine has remained largely unexplored. Until now.

At BESO Skincare, we're pioneering a different species altogether: Colorado Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa). Sourced from the high-altitude forests of the Rocky Mountains, our pine develops a uniquely concentrated profile of protective compounds—an adaptation to intense UV exposure, temperature extremes, and thin mountain air.

Those same compounds that protect the tree? They now protect your skin.

Ponderosa Pine forests in the Colorado Rockies—the source of BESO's proprietary extract.

What makes pine extract so effective for a lip serum for dry lips specifically? The answer lies in a class of compounds called proanthocyanidins—sometimes called OPCs. These polyphenolic antioxidants have been studied extensively and demonstrate remarkable abilities:

They neutralize free radicals with an efficiency that rivals—and often exceeds—vitamins C and E. They support collagen integrity. They help calm inflammation. And they assist the skin barrier in holding onto moisture.

For lips—which lack the protective sebum layer found on the rest of your face—this barrier support isn't a luxury. It's essential.

Your lips are beautiful. They're also biologically vulnerable.

Lip skin differs from the rest of your face in ways that matter enormously for hydration and aging:

Thinner by design. The stratum corneum (your outermost skin layer) is 3-5 times thinner on lips than on your cheeks. This means less barrier protection and faster moisture loss through transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

No sebaceous glands. The rest of your face produces sebum—natural oils that help seal in moisture. Lips don't. They depend entirely on external sources for occlusion and hydration.

Minimal melanin. Lips have far less melanin than surrounding skin, which is why they appear pink or red (you're seeing blood vessels beneath). But this also means less natural UV protection, accelerating photoaging.

Constant movement. Talking, eating, drinking, smiling—lips move more than almost any other part of your face. This mechanical stress contributes to fine lines, especially the vertical "barcode" lines that appear with age.

Traditional lip balms offer temporary relief by creating an occlusive barrier. They sit on top. They don't penetrate. And many contain ingredients that can actually worsen dryness over time by disrupting the lip's natural function.

A true lip serum for dry lips works differently. It delivers active ingredients that penetrate, hydrate at a cellular level, support barrier function from within, and provide antioxidant protection against the environmental factors that age lip tissue.

This is exactly what pine extract does—and why it's become the cornerstone of BESO's approach to lip care.