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How can I tell if illumenase is fresh?
Look at your beads! Illumenase should be a mostly free flowing powder. It may form light clumps during the vaccum sealing process but should not be hard or gritty.
How do I know if I am spreading illumenase out enough or too much?
One of the wonderful things about getting to add your own solvent is that you can control the concentration of the product. Use less ACTIVATE or water and you will have a more concentrated product. Use more ACTIVATE or water and you can spread it out more. These are both great choices! Do what works for you and listen to your skin!
What do I do if I discover broken capsules in my refill bag?
Sometimes during the vaccum sealing process some of the capsules pop open. We want you to receive all the product you purchased so please contact us and we will send you replacement capsules.
What are these tan and blue beads in with my capsules?
The Tan Beads
The tan colored beads are called 'molecular sieve' It is the most hygroscopic(water-absorbing) substance on the planet and is the first line of defense against the effects of airborne moisture on your product. It is made from naturally occuring, completely non-toxic, zeolite. In fact, it is used in many detoxifying oral supplements out there but PLEASE DO NOT EAT THEM because among other obvious reasons, they probably don't taste great.
The Blue Silica Beads
While silica in this form is completely inert, the stuff that makes it change color when it gets saturated with moisture is not safe to eat or inhale. We put them through a de-dusting process where they get washed in boiling water and baked at 275 degrees to remove any small particles from their surface. We don't utilize the packets because we have not yet found a packet material that is not made with forever materials like tyvek.
What do I do with them?
Renew them! Just 5-10 minutes in the microwave on medium power will expel all the trapped moisture and they will be ready to use again. This process can be repeated endlessly. If you don't have any use for them, they are perfectly safe to discard.
Is there an easier way to open the capsules other than pulling them apart?
Absolutely!
Instead of trying to pull the capsule apart, simply pinch off one end. easy peasy!
Can I go ahead and pre-mix my capsules in advance?
Please don't!
Illumenase was formulated without stabilizers. This means that once the ingredients are suspended in water, the chemistry that makes them so fabulous is launched into action immediately. You have only a few hours to use the serum once it is reconstituted. Illumenase is one of the freshest and most bioavailable serums in existence for this reason.
Your product claims that it is fragrance free but I get a hint of smell from it. What is this about?
We formulated the product without fragrance because many people experience irritation from these compounds. However, there is a large population of people who consider fragrance to be one of the most important factors when choosing a product so to keep everyone happy, we scented the outside of the capsules!
I don't compost at home. Can I just toss the refill bags in the recycle?
Absolutely NOT!
Recycling facilities are not equipped to handle any compostable plastic material so if you do not compost, please dispose of your packaging in the waste bin.
Can I travel with illumenase?
illumenase is a great product to travel with! just make sure that you keep them in an airtight container or bag.
How long can I keep illumenase in its sealed refill bag?
1 Week if seal is broken
4 Weeks if vacuum is still intact.
Unfortunately the compostable bags are somewhat permeable, and moisture and oxygen will make their way in eventually. This is why we keep them in a nitrogen flushed, zero-humidity storage cabinet right up until the moment you place your order. Here is how you can tell if your product is fresh.
We recommend transferring your capsules into their airtight refillable jar or an opaque airtight container of your choice as soon as you receive your refill. Check out the video.
I have some sensitivities to some Vitamin C products. Should I expect a sting when using illumenase?
The reason that Vitamin C products can sometimes irritate the skin is because of their pH. Ascorbic Acid when suspended in a solvent, needs a very acidic environment to remain stable. This is where the sting comes from. With illumenase, the solvent isn't introduced until just before it's use so long-term stability is not a concern. This allows us to create a product that, when reconstituted, has a similar pH to our skin, making it far less likely to cause any negative sensations. If you do feel a tingle, it is likely from the niacinamide, and this is perfectly normal and will subside within 30 minutes to an hour. Here is a Guide to using vitamin C
What do I do if I think that I may be reacting negatively to illumenase?
Of all the skincare you come in contact with, illumenase will be one of the least likely to cause accumulative irritation or allergy. This is because it is formulated with 4-8 times more skin identical ingredients than any other product. However, if you are experiencing a reaction, we absolutely recommend a "product elimination strategy" Where you eliminate everything but a gentle synthetic cleanser and add things back in one at a time.
LISTEN TO YOUR SKIN!
Why isn't the ACTIVATE already in its pump bottle?
To avoid using broad-spectrum preservatives, we must utilize a heat sterilization process where ACTIVATE is poured into the bottle while both are above 220 degrees. It's very much like the canning process and has the potential to damage your pump mechanism.
I feel a little bit of grit at first when I ACTIVATE the serum. Is this normal?
Yes! those are little vitamin c spheres. They dissolve and activate at the same time for EXTREMELY effective antioxidant protection.
Is the serum supposed to have a tack to it?
This depends on how much ACTIVATE or water you add to it.
More ACTIVATE or water = more coverage and less concentration with zero tack
Less ACTIVATE or water = less coverage and more concentration with a possibility for temporary tack (10 min).
These are both great choices! Go for it!
Why doesn't the serum come already mixed?
There are so many reasons why we chose to keep the solvent separate from the ingredients. Watch this 3 min video to learn about the method.
Couldn't illumenase just be in a jar with a scoop?
Believe us when we say that we would LOVE it if illumenase could just be tossed into a jar with a scoop. It would save us from the laborious, capsule-filling process.
Here are the two main reasons why we package it this way
1. Premature activation.
The serum only needs a few minutes exposure to air above 30% humidity to become activated so encapsulating it and nestling it down in the desiccant keeps it bone dry.
2. Contamination
We formulated illumenase without broad spectrum anti-microbial preservatives. This means that things like fingers and scoops that have touched fingers do not need to be coming in contact with the product until it is going on the skin. We want our formula to remain pristine until you put it on your face.