Introducing the newest addition to our line of face care products, Complexion Perfecting serum. A powerhouse of vitamins and acids, our Complexion Perfecting serum does exactly that: perfects complexions. Formulated with vitamin C, niacinamide, alpha-hydroxy acid, and hyaluronic acid, this product can tackle a variety of skincare concerns.

Whether you have dry, oily, or acne-prone skin, dull skin, uneven skin tone, dark spots, redness, texture issues, or fine lines, this multi-tasking Complexion Perfecting serum can help your skin look its best. 

Read on for all the benefits of, and nitty-gritty science behind, our amazing new product!

 

 

 

Unlike our Unmarked serum, which is an oil-based emollient meant to soften and moisturize skin, Complexion Perfecting serum is a thin gel-like substance meant to deliver nutrients and actives directly to facial skin. It is a humectant rather than an emollient: it draws moisture to the skin and helps retain it. If you normally use moisturizer, it should be applied after our vitamin C serum, once it has been allowed to absorb for a few moments. 

Complexion Perfecting serum is 99% naturally derived and is scented with pure essential oils of sweet orange, palmarosa, rose geranium, and ylang ylang. These essential oils also have amazing skin benefits on their own, mirroring many of the benefits associated with the active ingredients listed below.

Key ingredients in this serum:

• Vitamin C (ethyl ascorbic acid)
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
• Alpha-hydroxy acids (from fruit and botanicals)
• Hyaluronic acid (from fermented bacteria, not animal tissue)

 

 

About vitamin C in skincare:

You've probably heard how important vitamin C is to our diet for its immune-boosting, antioxidant properties. Like many people, you may associate vitamin C with cold and flu season: it is often recommended as a supplement to help fight off viruses. What you may not know, however, is that it does much more than just support immunity. It is also a key building-block in collagen production, helps turn fats into energy through the biosynthesis (production of chemical compounds through enzymatic reactions within a living organism) of l-carnitine, assists in the biosynthesis of certain neurotransmitters, and is involved in protein metabolism and wound healing. Who knew humble, ubiquitous vitamin C played so many crucial functions within our bodies?

But what about ON our bodies? You may have noticed the popularity of vitamin c in topical skincare products over the last ten to fifteen years. It seems these products are everywhere! Is it a trend, a fad? Is there any merit to this ingredient from a beauty perspective? 

It turns out there is!

Vitamin C has a multitude of well-researched skin benefits when applied topically. When vitamin C first hit the market as a skincare additive, it was only available in its well known active form: l-ascorbic acid (or simply 'ascorbic acid'). Researchers found it had potent topical benefits, from reducing dark spots, to boosting collagen. However, this active form of vitamin C is very unstable and prone to degradation when exposed to oxygen, temperature fluctuations, sunlight, and certain PHs. Although it is a powerhouse antioxidant and skincare ingredient, it's actually quite difficult to work with for the aforementioned reasons. The fact that it is active before being applied to the skin also means it can be irritating. It is an acid, after all. Not everyone finds l-ascorbic acid irritating, and it usually depends on the concentration in the product, but people with very sensitive skin, or with acne or broken skin do often find it irritating. Concentrations above 10%, although more potent and thus more effective, tend to be especially irritating.

Nowadays, however, there are newer, less irritating forms of vitamin C available for use in cosmetic products. One such form is Ethyl-ascorbic acid, which is what our new Complexion Perfecting Serum is formulated with. Ethyl-ascorbic acid is non-active in the product itself, and only becomes active when actually applied to the skin and allowed to co-mingle with the skin's natural moisture and oils. Since it is not an active acid when applied to the skin, it's much less likely to cause skin irritation. It's also a much more stable ingredient and less prone to degradation in the bottle, which means you don't have to rush to use it all within a few months of buying it. 

Ethyl-ascorbic acid also has the added benefit of being anti-inflammatory and can therefore reduce redness! 

 

 

 

About niacinamide in skincare:

Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is also a key vitamin essential for a variety of physiological processes. As a coenzyme, more than 400 enzymes rely on vitamin B3 to enable their reactions within the body. Like vitamin C, it helps the body create energy. It's also a powerful antioxidant, and it can help the body create and repair DNA. Everything from the nervous system, to the digestive system, to our largest organ (the skin!) relies on niacinamide to stay healthy. 

Applied topically, niacinamide increases the skin's immunity by increasing keratin production and keeping skin intact. You've probably heard of keratin, especially in relation to hair care products. It's a protein that aids in forming hair, nails, and the outer layer of the skin (epidermis), and in keeping them strong and healthy and resilient against physical and environmental stressors. Niacinamide also stimulates ceramide production. Ceramides are fatty molecules that make up 30% to 40% of the epidermis; they are part of the matrix holding skin cells together, and they help form a natural barrier that prevents moisture loss and protects against skin damage. As we age, our skin can't replenish ceramides as quickly, but topical niacinamide can help stimulate its production.

In addition, niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties, meaning it can calm acne, roseacea, and other inflammatory skin conditions. This also enables it to help reduce redness in the skin. It also benefits acne-prone and/or oily skin by inhibiting the production of an enzyme called sebaceous lipase, which is one of the components responsible for oil production. Over time, regular topical use of niacinamide may help to reduce the size of pores by helping to prevent them from clogging. 

Niacinamide has been studied extensively as a topical ingredient in dermatological issues. Clinical studies have shown that topical application of niacinamide over a prolonged period can reduce fine lines, increasing collagen production in the skin to help "fill in" the grooves in wrinkles. It is also well known to be a skin lightening ingredient, by helping to prevent the transfer of pigment within the skin. By disrupting the transfer pathway, pigmentation is less able to disperse in the skin and hair, thus leading to less coloration within them. 

 

 

About alpha-hydroxy acids in skincare: 

Alpha-hydroxy acids are naturally occurring acids found in sugarcane, milk, and fruit (glycolic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid/malic acid/tartaric acid, respectively). They help promote the skin's natural exfoliation process by gently dissolving dead skin cells. This helps promote skin cell turnover, which in turn allows more even-toned, brighter, smoother skin to come to the surface. The AHAs used in Complexion Perfecting serum are glycolic acid and citric acid, and come from extracts of bilberry, sugar cane, sugar maple, orange, and lemon.

 

About hyaluronic acid in skincare: 

The body naturally produces hyaluronic acid. It's part of a long chain of molecules called polymers that the body's natural chemical compounds latch onto. One such chemical compound is water. Hyaluronic acid can hold a lot of water (one 1/4 teaspoon of HA can hold over 5 litres of water!), which makes it a great addition to moisturizing products. Found throughout the body, hyaluronic acid is especially plentiful in the eyes, joints, and skin. It helps the body to retain moisture, provides lubrication properties to joints so they can move smoothly, and enables skin to flex and stretch, making it more elastic so that it can bounce back into position. This, along with its slight plumping effect, are what help to improve the look of lines and wrinkles. It also helps wounds heal faster and can help prevent scarring (its chain-like structure allows skin cells to attach onto it and grow, thus regenerating damaged areas of tissue). 

Hyaluronic acid can be sourced from animal tissues or through a process of bacteria fermentation. Complexion Perfecting serum contains the latter (bacteria fermented HA). 

 

Summary of Complexion Perfecting serum's benefits:

To break it all down for you, our new hero product boasts the following benefits for your skin:

• Increases skin immunity, making it stronger
• Increases ceramide production that form the matrix of the skin
• Retains moisture in skin
• Reduces redness
• Reduces inflammation
• Regulates oil production
• Evens skin tone
• Reduces hyperpigmentation
• Smooths fine lines
• Heals scar tissue/prevents scarring
• Reduces acne
• Brightens
• Reduces dullness and sallowness
• Gently exfoliates
• Promotes cell turnover
• Increases collagen production
• Fights free radicals from pollution, aging, UV rays
• Attracts moisture to the skin, helps to retain it
• Promotes skin elasticity
• Has a slight plumping effect

Almost all skin types will benefit in one form or another from the daily use of Complexion Perfecting serum. It's especially beneficial for oily/acne prone skin, and mature skin. For mature skin, we would recommend using it in conjunction with our moisturizing Unmarked Serum. 

How to use:

Apply a tiny amount (equivalent to a drop or two) to damp skin on the face and neck, massage into skin and let dry. Once dry, continue with your normal routine (a second serum, a moisturizer, and SPF, etc.). 

This product can be used around the eyes, but be sure not to get any IN the eye. 

This is a non-irritating formula, however, we recommend performing a small patch test to make sure you don't have any sensitivities to it. 

Should irritation occur, discontinue use. 

 

That's it! We have free samples available at our store (while they last): 1094 Bank St. Ottawa, ON. One sample will give you a couple weeks' worth of product so you can try it and make sure it's a suitable product for you.

We're so excited about this new product and would love to hear any feedback you have!