Nope! The bond that makes ascorbic acid prone to oxidation and color change is stabilized by the gold-glutathione complex. Not only will the product not change color or smell, but its efficacy will not be compromised over time.

Many brands promote the percent of ascorbic acid in their formulas- but the gold-stabilized complex allows us to take a “less is more” approach, and the details are proprietary. The idea that a formula needs to contain a super high concentration of ascorbic acid in order to be effective is because the molecule is so unstable that most of it has oxidized in the formula or on the surface of your skin before it has a chance to exert its beneficial effects. By using a 100% stable version of the molecule, we don’t need to add a ton in order for our serum to still give you benefits the week after you open it. And you don’t need to pay for a high level of an ingredient that will begin to break down within days of opening your product. It’s a win-win.

By stabilizing the ascorbic acid molecule, your product will not lose efficacy before you’ve even gotten a chance to apply it to your face. The gold molecule also helps improve bioavailability of the vitamin C molecule to ensure that you’re getting maximal benefits from the ingredients that you’re paying for in the product.

The exfoliants in this product are components of a fruit extract blend that naturally contains alpha-hydroxy acids, and this ingredient has actually been studied and proven to provide equivalent efficacy to other alpha-hydroxy acids with reduced irritation potential. Additionally, t he percentage of this ingredient in our product is low enough to still be safe for those with sensitive skin, but high enough to still effectively promote a more radiant, even skin tone.

Yes! The misconception that these 2 ingredients are incompatible comes from the fact that retinol products tend to make skin more sensitive and most Vitamin C products are formulated at a low pH (which also can increase sensitivity) as a method of enhancing the stability of Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is a particularly unstable ingredient, but its stability can be improved by reducing the pH of the formula. Thanks to the gold-stabilized Vitamin C complex, however, we are able to provide a stable Vitamin C product at a less sensitizing pH without sacrificing the efficacy or stability.

Along with our other highly effective moisturizing actives and ferments, we’ve incorporated a targeted delivery system of peptides that boost hyaluronic acid and elastin to help skin retain moisture on its own. The encapsulation system maximizes the bioavailability of the peptides and ensures you’re getting the most efficacy out of the ingredients you’re applying to your face.

This moisturizer is great for both dry and oily skin types. All of the actives we’ve used are water-based and proven to be highly effective to improve hydration, so oiliness should not be a problem when using this product. Additionally, we’ve used a silicone base to deliver these actives, and while there’s a common misconception out there that silicones will clog your pores, the opposite has been proven in multiple studies. The Si-O bond in silicones are actually permeable to air and water vapor, meaning this moisturizer forms a breathable layer on your skin.

Absolutely! In fact, most of the actives we’ve chosen have been tested and proven to reduce sensitivity and support skin’s barrier. In addition to this, the preservative system we’ve chosen has been tested by our suppliers to show very low irritation potential. Additionally, the silicone-based formula is very unlikely to cause irritation, as silicones aren’t recognized by the body as an allergen. There’s a reason many medical grade treatments are delivered in a silicone base, and dimethicone is even listed on the FDA monograph as a skin protectant.

Yes! The misconception that these 2 ingredients are incompatible comes from the fact that retinol products tend to make skin more sensitive and most Vitamin C products are formulated at a low pH (which also can increase sensitivity) as a method of enhancing the stability of Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid is a particularly unstable ingredient, but its stability can be improved by reducing the pH of the formula. Thanks to the gold-stabilized Vitamin C complex, however, we are able to provide a stable Vitamin C product at a less sensitizing pH without sacrificing the efficacy or stability.

Another common misconception! While silicones aren’t biodegradable, it’s important to note that that doesn’t necessarily mean that they just chill and build up in the environment. Silicones come from sand, so as they degrade naturally they turn back into silica, carbon dioxide, and water. Volatile silicones (like cyclopentasiloxane) break down in about 2 weeks- they’re not building up in the environment. In the context of water pollution, silicones aren’t soluble in water- so the heavier ones that don’t evaporate (like dimethicone) tend to float around and settle in sand, where they degrade back into their original source components within a few months. Environmental studies have shown that the buildup of silicones in the environment are extremely low, meaning that years of using products with silicones have had a negligible effect on the environment. Just because they’re not “natural” doesn’t mean they’re harmful to the environment.