SUI Wässer’s
Original
Après Sport Balm
Image of Trail Batches 2, 4, 5, and 6
“A recovery-focused, anhydrous skin balm for outdoor professionals designed to support comfort and barrier recovery after outdoor exposure.”
Why Post Care is So Critical?
UV Exposure Levels Increase with Altitude
UV Exposure Levels are influenced by Atmospheric Conditions. On Average, living at Altitude above 8,000 feet increases UV exposure by 20%; Mammoth, Ca 30%; & Breckenridge, Co 40%!
On average UV exposure increases by 7.5% to 12.5% per 1000 meters. The average referenced is +10% increase for every 1000m.
Compounding elevated UV atmospheric penetration is the albedo rate of Snow. A snowfield may reflect anywhere from 40% to 90% of UV light. This may result in sun burns in unusual places such as inside the nose or under the chin.
SUI Wässer is grounded in the growing body of scientific research examining how skin responds to environmental stress and exposure.
While much attention is placed on protection during time outdoors, research increasingly shows that inflammatory and oxidative processes continue for hours after exposure to sun, wind, cold, and dry air.
Daily Sunscreen Protection isn’t Enough!
This post-exposure window plays a meaningful role in long-term skin comfort and barrier health. Our approach focuses on understanding that recovery phase—how the skin responds, how the barrier is affected, and how thoughtful formulation can support comfort and repair without unnecessary complexity. The balms in development are informed by this research, combined with real-world testing in the environments they are designed for.
Alpine ski racers experience some of the most intense and cumulative environmental exposure of any outdoor athlete or professional.
Training and racing at the highest levels in the sport require years of outdoor exposure at altitude, where ultraviolet radiation is significantly stronger, and often on highly reflective snow surfaces that amplify sun exposure to the face, lips, and neck. This exposure occurs for long hours, day after day, over many years—frequently in cold, windy conditions that further stress the skin barrier. Most racers then go on to become lifelong skiers, coaches, or ski resort professionals, extending that exposure across decades. Add in dry air, wind burn, and repeated contact with snow, salt, and ice, and the result is chronic strain on exposed skin over a lifetime. For those who spend decades in this environment, skin recovery after exposure becomes just as important as protection during it.
SUI Wässer intentionally formulates Balms that are anhydrous rather than water-based lotions.
After prolonged sun, wind, cold, and dry air exposure, the skin barrier is often compromised and more vulnerable to moisture loss and irritation.
Water-based lotions are designed for quick absorption and hydration, but they can evaporate rapidly — sometimes increasing transepidermal water loss once they wear off.
While water-based lotions may eventually play a role within SUI Wässer, we chose to begin with an anhydrous balm by design.
For outdoor professionals and athletes, skin is often exposed to sun, wind, cold, and dry air for extended periods, leaving the barrier compromised and vulnerable. In these conditions, lotions—designed primarily for quick hydration—can evaporate rapidly and may offer limited barrier support once absorbed.
A balm behaves differently: it remains on the skin longer, reduces moisture loss, and supports recovery during the critical hours after exposure. For people who work, train, and live outdoors, this sustained protection and comfort is often more practical and effective. As the formulation work continues, lotions may become a complementary step in the future, but recovery-focused balms come first for those facing the toughest conditions.
