RENEW SERUM
RESURFACES FINE LINES, LIGHTENS HYPERPIGMENTATION, REFINISHES SKIN TEXTURE, RESOLVES ACNE
$69.95
RENEW SERUM FAQ
What is the best way to apply this product?
This serum should remain homogenous without separation from first pump to last, but because our products use only natural stabilizers and gelling agents we do recommend shaking the bottle briefly before each use to ensure complete uniformity when dispensed. To apply, pump the product a couple of times onto the fingertips and gently massage into the skin of the face and neck (though this product can be used around the eyes, for this delicate skin region we suggest using the Eye Serum). The effects of this product are not dose dependent, so using more than is needed to provide a thin layer of coverage on the face and neck will not yield faster/greater results. A little really does go a long way. A cooling sensation after application is normal and an indicator of proper skin penetration of the active ingredients. This product will quickly absorb into the skin within a minute or two, leaving a feeling of oil-free hydration as the active ingredients work to diminish the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging.
This product can be applied any time of the day or night, though it is most often recommended as a nighttime therapy, while as the Ultra Serum is recommended as a daytime skin therapy (if you choose to only use the Renew Serum in your skincare regime then it can be applied both in the morning and at night, but a sunscreen should be applied over it during the day). This is a 2oz airless pump bottle, so you will get double the longevity out of this product compared to a 1oz bottle that most other lines offer.
If I want to use other products in your line, what order should I apply them?
As a rule it is best to apply products with the thinnest consistency first and the thickest consistency last, so if you are using the Eye Serum in conjunction with this product then apply it before applying the Renew Serum, and if you are using the Anti-Aging Complex in conjunction with this product then apply it after you have applied the Renew Serum (if you are also using the Ultra Serum along with this product we suggest applying it at the opposite time of the day and not over/under the Renew Serum). For more details on product regimes for individual skin types as well as the entire line please see our product guide.
I have very sensitive skin, is this product safe for me?
If you have ultra-sensitive skin then this product may be a bit too intense for you. The natural hydroxy acids and fruit enzymes in this formula are much more gentle than their synthetic versions used in many other lines, so if you have sensitive skin you may still be fine with using this product, but everyone’s skin is different and a patch test would be needed beforehand if you have any doubts. If you’re looking for a product that has been formulated specifically for those with sensitive skin conditions, such as eczema and rosacea, try our Anti-Aging Complex.
I have very oily skin; can I use this product?
Yes. This product is oil-free and will not clog pores. The hydration boost this product offers from oil-free, water-soluble moisturizers. Additionally, if you also have acne this product is an excellent complement to your skincare regime as it contains natural hydroxy acids and plant enzymes that unclog pores and continually resurface the skin, as well as anti-microbial extracts that disinfect the skin to destroy the bacteria that causes acne to develop.
I have very dry skin; can I use this product?
Yes. Even though this product is oil-free it contains water-soluble moisturizers that provide a boost of hydration for the undereye area. Additionally, the natural hydroxy acids in this product have been shown to increase skin hydration daily use.
How long will it be before I begin seeing results from this product?
The plant extracts, B vitamins, and oil-free hydrators in this product will produce some effects, most notably a lessening of fine lines and a brighter complexion via an increase in skin’s microcirculation, within a few minutes after the first application. With continued daily use these results will compound and become increasingly more noticeable. If you have hyperpigmentation issues (“age spots,” freckles, etc.), you will begin to see them fade within a couple of weeks and continue to fade therafter. Full results are typically achieved in the first three months, with some gradual improvement over the next three months, and then daily use thereafter to maintain these results. Keep in mind that the purpose of skincare products isn’t just to reverse the look of aging but to also prevent the signs of aging by slowing down the rate by which skin matures, so faithful use of a product will yield the best long-term results.
Don’t hydroxy acids have to be in low pH formula (pH 2-3) to be effective?
Hydroxy acid research has progressed considerably in the past few years, most notably in regards to the proper pH that these compounds should operate in. When hydroxy acid research first began it was largely done on synthetic types, particularly glycolic acid (and to a lesser degree lactic and salicylic acids). At the time, synthetic versions of these hydroxy acids were widely available, which are notorious for being harsh and incredibly acidic in formulas. For a long time this extremely low pH environment (pH 2-3) was thought to be the only way in which hydroxy acid products could be effective. When natural hydroxy acids became more popular (i.e. standardizing certain plant extracts to contain a set amount of specific hydroxy acids), it was then discovered that these plant derived hydroxy acids are not only more gentle on the skin but are also effective in an overall formula pH of 4. In fact, most of the plant-derived hydroxy acid extracts have a native pH of 4 before even being added to formulas.
In The US, the FDA specifies that consumer-targeted products with hydroxy acids should avoid having a pH lower than 4, though professional-targeted products are allowed to have a lower pH since they use higher concentrations of what are usually synthetic hydroxy acids. You can, however, still find many companies selling lower pH formulas online directly to consumers with disclaimers that the products are supposed to be used under the direction of a skincare professional to get around this guideline. The FDA’s recommendations on it may seem rather over-protective, but it is a response to complaints by people who were harmed by poorly formulated hydroxy acid products in the past, most notably by companies using industrial strength, synthetic hydroxy acids instead of natural ones. But to address but original question, hydroxy acids from plant extracts in formulas with a pH of 4 are very effective in products meant to be used every day on the skin.
Isn’t Vitamin C unstable in water?
It is well known now that regular L-Ascorbic Acid, the most ubiquitous form of Vitamin C, is very unstable in water, becoming essentially useless within about 24 hours of being added to a formula. So over the years Vitamin C research has progressed to discover stabilized forms of Vitamin C, most notably salts of Vitamin C, in which the compound is bound to another molecule to stabilize it in water (the same principle is used with copper, in which it is chelated to an amino acid to stabilize it in formulas). Regular L-Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C is very acidic, but the majority of stabilized versions of Vitamin C have a pH well above 4 and are so sensitive to highly acidic conditions that many of them will begin to break down at a pH lower than 4.
Doesn’t Vitamin C require a low pH formula to absorb into the skin?
Vitamin C absorption has more to do with its chemical structure than its pH. For instance, Ascorbyl Palmitate (the lipid-soluble Vitamin C Ester form) is a larger molecule that performs well in sunscreen products because it tends to stay within the epidermal layer to offer antioxidant protection to the skin during UV exposure (especially in combination with Vitamin E and other nutrients). However, it’s not as effective in actually stimulating collagen synthesis deeper in the skin. Other stabilized forms of Vitamin C, on the other hand, have clinical studies demonstrating that they are much more effective at lightening hyperpigmentation and stimulating collagen synthesis because their chemical structure is either smaller or otherwise more suited for skin penetration, independent of their pH.
I’m pregnant and want to use this product; is it safe for me and my child?
While you should always consult your primary healthcare professional before using any product, this formula is comprised of ingredients that are recognized as generally safe for topical use while pregnant. Because we place a strong emphasis on designing natural products that utilize organic oils/extracts, our products are much safer than mainstream lines that use potentially harmful chemicals in their formulas. Even though the chemicals in such lines may be present in relatively small amounts, they can often build up in the body over time. The effects of these chemicals on an unborn fetus are largely unknown, but why take the risk when you have more natural, organic options to choose from?