Posted By: Sorbet
From 14th-century apothecary gardens to post-beach recovery, here is how Florence’s oldest house is saving our skin this season.
Every summer, the Mediterranean aesthetic takes over – blue waters, sun-bathed stone, and long hours spent poolside. But the reality of high summer is far less dreamy for your skin. Hours under a scorching sun, constant dips in ocean saltwater or chlorinated pools, and the drying chill of indoor air conditioning leave the skin barrier compromised, parched, and sensitive.
When your skin barrier is depleted, basic shower gels simply will not cut it. What you need are gentle, uncompromised ingredients that work actively to restore what heat and salt strip away. Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella – the historic Florentine apothecary perfecting botanical remedies since 1221 – offers the definitive blueprint for summer skin recovery. Rooted in Tuscan garden staples like bergamot, olive, orange blossom, and lavender, their classic lineup repairs damaged skin while leaving you impeccably fresh.
Courtesy of Santa Maria Novella
The Post-Sun Restorative
If you overdid the beach hours, skip the heavily perfumed body lotions and grab the Idrasol Cream. Originally formulated to repair skin exposed to extreme weather and harsh sun, this dense, lipid-replenishing cream relies on rich vegetable oils to restore what heat and salt strip away. It sinks in without a greasy residue, taking skin from parched back to supple while cooling lingering heat.
Idrasol Cream | Courtesy of Santa Maria Novella
The Wash-Off Reset
A post-swim shower should be a restorative ritual. The house’s solid soaps, crafted using triple-refining techniques documented since 1859, offer a luxurious alternative to harsh cleansers. Sapone Floreale, a revival of a 1911 archive formula, balances crisp citrus with soft florals for an instant reset. For sensitive or dry skin, Sapone all’Olio d’Oliva harnesses Mediterranean olive oil for an emollient, moisture-preserving cleanse. If you need a invigorating pick-me-up, Sapone alla Menta delivers a cooling mint wash derived from species historically grown in the original monastery gardens.
For those who prefer a liquid wash, the Lavanda Aloe Gel works double duty for face and body, pairing soothing aloe vera with Lavandula angustifolia essential oil to calm flushed skin.
Solid Soaps | Courtesy of Santa Maria Novella
Lavanda Aloe Gel | Courtesy of Santa Maria Novella
The Scent Trail
Heavy perfumes can be too much in the midst of high heat. The ideal summer scent strategy is a crisp Eau de Cologne – the house’s signature format since 1800 – that weaves naturally into warm air.
For timeless herbal clarity, Lavanda Imperiale (first created in 1937) uses a historic, patented Imperia lavender variety. It opens bright with bergamot and ylang-ylang before drying down to a clean heart of lavender and grounding sage. For evenings, Cinquanta offers a more nuanced floral-fruity chypre. Composed in 2015 to honor the sister-city bond between Florence and Kyoto, it layers sun-ripened grapefruit and orange blossom over green tea, rose, cedarwood, and patchouli – capturing the exact mood of dusk on a Tuscan terrace.
By pairing targeted skin repair with historic, effortless fragrances, Santa Maria Novella elevates daily post-sun care into an easy, summer luxury.
Lavanda Imperiale | Courtesy of Santa Maria Novella
Cinquanta | Courtesy of Santa Maria Novella
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