FAQs

What are you all about?
We're a group of people who started a skin care line after years of researching and experimenting ingredients to help our sensitive and/or breakout-prone skin types look their best. Along with amazing chemists, we formulate for basic routines as well as for common skin concerns (e.g., breakouts and visible signs of aging).

We've tested these products and our proposed skin care routines on ourselves and tweaked formulas based on client feedback for over 10 years now, and we feel really great about our offerings.

Are your products cruelty-free and vegan?
Yes, we are committed to cruelty-free skin care and cosmetics, and our product line is 100% vegan.

Are your products "clean"?
We certainly consider our line "clean," in the sense we pay very close attention to our ingredients (see our yes/no lists) and are committed to safety and accountability (we're third-party tested and adhere to good manufacturing practices).

The meaning of "clean" varies from line to line, and in our opinion it's kind of a nebulous concept and not extremely scientific. Concerns about a particular ingredient/allergen? Email us (click our contact button on the main page). We're here to help.

Are your products natural/organic?
We use and love natural and organic ingredients if they're non-irritating and safe. We don't subscribe to the philosophy that "natural" is inherently safe or more effective, though.

Many natural ingredients can trigger irritation, breakouts and cause skin to age prematurely. Safe synthetics exist, and we use ones that deliver great results without the irritation potential. We’re all about science and results. We won’t implement fear-mongering or oversimplification to sell our products – we respect our clients too much for that.

In what order do I use my products?
After cleansing, use your liquid toners on pads to remove dirt and oil, then follow with moisturizer over dry or sensitive areas, then choose your other actives to apply where needed.

What's important is always to know what you're using--and why. Make sure you're putting products that control oil for example (like salicylic acid and niacinamide) only to the t-zone and products meant to be stimulating like Serum C only to non-sensitive areas or just to the under eyes.

What do the different acids you use do?
We use quite a few active acids in our skin care line and each has a unique effect on skin. Contrary to what you might assume, you really can't usually feel the acids in our liquid exfoliants. They're so gentle and mild they don't even tingle. But you can SEE them working, and it's one reason our line is so popular. We're about providing immediate, noticeable benefit without the irritation potential.

• Glycolic acid (in our Glow Toner) dissolves dead skin, so it's perfect for gentle surface-level exfoliation.
• Salicylic acid and mandelic acid (in our Pore Perfect Toner) are great for their pore-clearing action for deeper exfoliation.
• Lactic acid (in our Smoothing Solution) dissolves keratin, so it works well for people prone to little hard, white bumps.
• Tranexamic acid (in our Fade Serum) is wonderful for evening out skin tone, whether redness from rosacea or hyperpigmentation from sun damage, and it's fantastic for the skin barrier.
• Finally, azelaic acid (in our Spot Solver) has excellent anti-bacterial properties and is nice for helping prevent and treat breakouts.

Are your products suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes, and some are even for extra sensitive skin! Our products are also formulated with breakout-prone skin in mind. Take our quick quiz to see what we recommend for you.

Are your products fungal-acne (Malassezia) safe?
Some of our products include specific, natural non-comedogenic oils we've chosen for their lightweight moisturizing properties. Despite providing benefit for many skin types, people dealing with an overgrowth of Malassezia are best off avoiding all products with natural oils because natural oils can further encourage overgrowth.
Our cleansing creme, moisture serum, moisture milk, moisture creme, and 7 seeds oil blend products contain natural oils and should be avoided or used with caution if you are prone to Malassezia. Our Clear Up Serum, Serum A, and Serum B are all helpful for discouraging Malassezia.