hydrating hemp toner + vitamin C

for acne-prone skin

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What are the benefits of a vitamin C toner?

  Treat acne, naturally: Vitamin C gently kills the bacteria that causes acne. Keep reading for more on vitamin C for acne.
  
  Boost collagen production: Vitamin C penetrates to the deeper layer of your skin and sends a signal to your body to produce more collagen. In one study, using vitamin C topically at 3-10% for just 12 weeks resulted in a statistically significant increase in the skin's production of collagen.
  
  Fades dark spots: Vitamin C blocks melanin production, so it fades hyperpigmentation like age and sun spots as well as acne scars.
  
  Brighten dull skin: Since vitamin C reduces pigmentation (see above!), and smooths the surface of the skin (more on this below!), it also has brightening benefits. When used as part of a healthy skin care routine, vitamin C will help you achieve that natural glow.
  
  Even skin tone: Vitamin C will fade dark spots and also reduce redness through its anti-inflammatory properties. All of this leads to a more even skin tone overall.

• Why choose empyri's vitamin C?

  We know there are hundreds - maybe thousands of vitamin C topicals on the market today. So why choose our vitamin C toner? Here's why:
  

  • Active ingredients are meant to be active! Empyri uses a stable form of l-ascorbic acid, packaged in an airtight sachet. Since you mix it fresh with your hydrating toner every 2 weeks, it's always fresh - and always active.
  • Customizable to meet your skin's unique needs. You control the strength of your vitamin C treatment, which can change with the seasons as you need it to. This is extra helpful if you're new to vitamin C; start slow and work your way up.
  • One product, many ways.Some days, you'll use plain hemp toner to hydrate, balance, prep or to set your makeup. Other days, you'll load up with vitamin C because you want to brighten things up or tackle a stubborn acne scar. You choose what your your skin needs, and your toner will be ready to help you.

• Are there any side effects?

  Does vitamin C make my face peel? It's a good question to ask!
  
  Pure vitamin C is an active ingredient so its possible for it to cause irritation. Results can range from mild redness to peeling in extreme cases where a person has highly reactive skin. This is the trouble with "one percentage fits all" formulas: sometimes they are too strong for some skin.
  
  But we don't think that anyone should miss out on the incredible skin benefits of vitamin C. That's why empyri's mix-it-yourself toner kit is the best vitamin C solution on the market. If you're new to vitamin C treatment or have skin that is super sensitive, you can adjust your treatment to avoid negative side effects.

• Can I use it on:

  All skin types! Let us say more about each one.
  
  Dry skin - We call this our hydrating toner for good reason! One of the key ingredients we use is aloe barbadensis leaf juice, which is moisturizing and soothing to dry skin. And we've removed any alcohol to ensure the toner itself isn't contributing to any dryness. We recommend you skip the vitamin C if you're having a severe dry skin flare up, from a wind burn for example. You can still use the hemp toner by itself.
  
  Oily skin - The hero for oily skin in this toner is the hamamelis virginiana or alcohol-free witch hazel. If you use alcohol, it may temporarily absorb excess oil, but will likely lead to over-drying... which will cause your skin to panic and start producing more oil again. Our toner has natural astringent and anti-bacterial properties which tighten pores and keep skin clear.
  
  Combination skin - Since this toner is a 2-in-1 treatment (hydrating toner alone OR with added vitamin C), you can target specific areas of your skin with what it needs. Use vitamin C on troubled t-zones or acne scars. Then apply the "plain" hydrating toner to dry patches. One product many ways!
  
  Sensitive skin - No longer do people with sensitive skin need to steer clear of products labelled facial toner. They're not all super harsh astringents like they used to be! Our toner is formulated with rosemary leaf oil. Its main component is rosmarinic acid which is anti-inflammatory and has a calming effect on the skin. And since our l ascorbic acid is packaged separately, you control the strength of your vitamin C treatment to avoid irritating sensitivity.
  
  Mature skin - Any "anti aging" skincare routine needs powerful antioxidants. Look no further than vitamin C! It's a potent antioxidant that benefits skin by boosting collagen production to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. And with regular use, vitamin C will lighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation too.
  
  Eczema/Psoriasis - Skip the vitamin C and use the hydrating toner by itself on any flare ups to avoid irritation.

• How will it help my acne prone skin?

  When it comes to empyri for acne, this vitamin C toner is the star of the show. Acne can be related to inflammation in the skin. Where there is skin inflammation, natural levels of vitamin C is compromised (Leveque, N., et al, 2003). Topical application of vitamin C is beneficial to treat the underlying inflammation and to kill acne-causing bacteria. It's a chemical-free acne treatment that does not bear the same side effects as harsh prescription acne treatments.
  
  Other natural ingredients in this hydrating toner will help your acne-prone skin too. Rosemary leaf oil is has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. And our witch hazel is antibacterial and non-irritating.
  
  Another popular acne treatment that comes from a natural source is tea tree oil. Tea tree is very potent and should only be used as a spot treatment. Even then, it's strength makes it irritating for many people. Tea tree can over dry a blemish, causing your skin to react by producing too much oil. Vitamin C is the better of these two natural ingredients because it can be used on the entire face, neck and chest to maintain clear, glowing skin.

• How do I use the hydrating hemp toner with the vitamin C spray?

  Do I need to clean my face first?
  Yes. Always apply your hydrating toner with vitamin C to clean skin. In the morning, gently cleanse with warm water or a damp washcloth.
  
  Do I put this on before or after moisturizer?
  Before! Apply your vitamin c toner to clean skin and follow with your favourite moisturizer. If you use a waterless moisturizer like empyri's moisturizing serum, be sure to apply while your skin is still damp from the toner.There is an exception to this rule. If you use a super thin hydrating serum like hyaluronic acid only or an essence, you can apply your citamin C toner after. The vitamin C will still absorb deeply into the skin.
  
  Can I use it everyday?
  Yes. It is safe to use vitamin C on your skin every day. Those who are sensitive may want to start by adding to their routine every other day, or use half the ascorbic acid and work up to the full amount.
  
  Is it just for my face?
  No! Vitamin C is a powerful anti aging ingredient. Your neck and your chest need it too! The skin on our décolleté loses collagen quickly as we age and is often prone to an uneven skin tone from years of sun exposure. So it's important to support our skin health all the way down to our v-neck with vitamin C.

• Can I use vitamin C toner with:

  Niacinamide
  No. We do not recommend using your vitamin C toner with niacinamide. Dermatologists hold competing views on this topic and the research is inconclusive. Some studies suggest that combining vitamin C and niacinamide can cause redness and irritation. At the very least, it may reduce the efficacy of the vitamin C. Considering the skin benefits that both of these ingredients have to offer, the best solution is to use them on alternating times or days in your routine.
  
  Salicylic Acid
  Yes. You can use your vitamin C toner with salicylic acid. SA is a gentle chemical exfoliant, meaning it washes away dead skin cells and clears pores. The best combination of these two ingredients is to use a cleanser with SA, followed by your vitamin C toner. You're clearing the way for vitamin C to do its best work deep in your pores! This combination is best suited for oily and acne prone skin types.
  
  Ferulic Acid
  Yes. You can use vitamin C with ferulic acid, which is another powerful anti-oxidant. Research shows that ferulic acid will boost the photoprotection of vitamin C.
  
  

• What is the pH balance?

  pH is the measure of acidity in a liquid. 7 is neutral - and tap water has a pH of 7.66. The lower the pH, the more acidic it is. The pH of the hydrating toner is 4.6. Based on mixing 27g of toner with 5g of vitamin C, the product has a pH of 2.52. This is ideal because any vitamin C serum must have a pH of less than 3.5 in order to be effective.

• What does hemp toner do?

  Empyri's hemp toner does 4 things:
  
  

  1. Hydrates. Hydration is the key to healthy skin at every age. We usually turn to a serum or moisturizer to hydrate, but it doesn't need to stop there. Everyone should use a hydrating toner, even if you don't have dry skin. Other toners use alcohol which strips moisture from the skin just so you can try to replenish it with your moisturizer. Sounds backwards, right? That's why we included hydrating ingredients in our hemp toner like aloe vera, so that all of your skincare steps support healthy hydration.
  2. Prepares. Hemp toner prepares the skin for application of other products by balancing skin pH after cleansing. It also dampens the skin for applying waterless products like an oil-based serum.
  3. Treats. Did you know your toner can be a treatment of active ingredients too? Our hemp toner features vitamin C, which treats acne, fine lines and wrinkles, dull skin and hyperpigmentation. It's the #1 natural ingredient in skincare (more on that below!).
  4. Protects. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants protect the skin from oxidative stressors like UV radiation. When you use this toner in the morning, you boost the protection of your sunscreen - which we know you're wearing every day!

• What makes this toner a "clean beauty" product?

  We swapped alcohol for hamamelis virginiana in our toner for its natural astringent properties. It’s alcohol-free Witch Hazel, suitable for sensitive skin and safe for regular use on the skin barrier than alcohol-based astringents.
  
  Empyri never uses synthetic fragrance, but our products still make you feel like you've brought the spa into your home! We use lavender and bitter orange (not to be confused with sweet orange, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis!) flower waters - also known as hydrosols. They give this product a light and refreshing smell, and have natural toning properties as well.
  
  Clean Beauty is a key pillar of empyri. Each product is as close to nature as possible and we use evidence-based science to ensure it will be effective. We look to leaders in the clean beauty space for resources. Empyri products will never use ingredients on David Suzuki Foundation’s Dirty Dozen list. We use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep® database for guidance on the human and environmental safety of ingredients - both synthetic and naturally-derived. If there is a safer, less harmful alternative to a popular cosmetic ingredient (and the science to back it up!), we’ll make the swap. Read Empyri’s Clean Beauty Ethos.