Pure Actives, which are awakening increasing curiosity, are pure active ingredients to be used on the face as a serum or as boosters for creams and serums to reinforce your facial beauty routine. Read on for the answers to the 10 most frequently asked questions about these little wonders.

Pure Actives are facial serums of surprising effectiveness, each with a specific, targeted action, allowing you to choose the one best suited to your skin.

They have a watery, extra-light texture, and they adapt perfectly to any skin type.

Our Pure Actives are:

•    Hyaluronic Acid: a targeted multi-molecular weight anti-wrinkle treatment with a plumping and moisturising action
•    Coenzyme Q10: the only Pure Active on an oily base, which is why it cannot be mixed with the others, but should be used as a booster for face creams. For glowing skin, just add 2 drops of Q10 to each application of cream: it has an effective protective action, because it is able to restore the lipid barrier, and its antioxidant action gives the face a younger, fresher appearance
•    Plant Collagen: the plant alternative to animal collagen, with an anti-ageing, plumping and instant lifting effect
•    Ecofermented Activator: Korean-inspired active with an anti-ageing, anti-blemish and smoothing action, based on natural fermented ingredients
•    Phytoretinol : the natural alternative to retinol, with an anti-ageing, regenerating and lifting action, a vitamin A equivalent with maximum skin tolerance that mimics the actions of retinol
•    Niacinamide + Zinc: a miraculous serum with a sebum-regulating, soothing and protective action, able to prevent the appearance of new imperfections and reduce sebum production, making the skin less shiny and the texture more compact, even and glowing
•    Vitamin C, with its strong antioxidant power, is able to slow down the action of free radicals, and has a smoothing effect, lightening dark spots and compacting the texture. It brightens the skin, leaving it extremely fresh and glowing

A monthly exfoliating treatment was then added to these Actives: 

•    AHA Peel: the final magic touch for a truly complete skincare routine, for deep skin exfoliation with a regenerating and smoothing action 

The 10 most frequently asked questions about Pure Actives

It’s now time to answer the 10 most frequently asked questions we receive about Pure Actives:

1. Are Pure Actives photosensitising?

No, none of our pure actives are photosensitising, so they can also be used in summer without any problems. Vitamin C is, however, photosensitive, i.e. it tends to oxidise - and thus lose its effectiveness - with exposure to the sun. For this reason, all our re-bottle containers - i.e. Those made of post-consumer recycled plastic - are equipped with a protective anti-UV filter. Phytoretinol, like all the other Pure Actives, is not photosensitising.

2. Can I use them all together? How?

All Pure Actives except the AHA Peel can be used morning and evening, mixed together, alternating them or combining them with your favourite face creams or serums! Exceptions:

•    do not use Niacinamide+Zinc and Vitamin C together. If you want to use both, you can use one in the morning and the other in the evening
•    do not use Niacinamide+Zinc immediately after applying the AHA Peel, because Niacinamide is very concentrated and should not be combined with exfoliating treatments or products. Again, if you want to use both, you can use one in the morning and the other in the evening. All other Pure Actives are fine to use after the AHA Peel!

If you want a routine with an all-round action, you might like to consider the Pure Actives Kit, which contains all the Pure Actives with an effective anti-ageing function, or the Perfecting Pure Actives Kit, ideal for those looking for skin free from imperfections.

3. Can I use them during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

There are no particular contraindications: you can certainly use Pure Actives during pregnancy. Their formulas are very simple, well tolerated and suitable for the most sensitive skin. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are special periods in a woman's life, so it’s legitimate to ask extra questions! You can consult your doctor, who will certainly be able to tell you which ingredients to avoid.

4. What is the difference between the No-age Serum and Pure Actives?

The No-age Bioactive Serum has a complete formula, and is also effective when used alone. Pure Actives, on the other hand, are products with more specific actions designed to enhance or customise any beauty routine. That is why we recommend mixing them together or using them as boosters. In short, Pure Actives act specifically according to our needs.

4a. Why choose Pure Actives instead of using only the no-age serum?

If we want to act specifically and customise our beauty routine very carefully, we can use Pure Actives. Another solution may be to choose the no-age bioactive serum and boost it with an active. 

5. Can I mix Vitamin E or Coenzyme Q10 with Pure Actives?

All Pure Actives are water-based, except for Coenzyme Q10 ,which is oil-based. Oil and water do not mix. That’s why we recommend using it as a booster for face creams. The exact same reasoning applies to Vitamin E .It is also oil-based, so you can add 1 drop of Vitamin E to your face cream to boost its antioxidant, anti-ageing and smoothing action.

6. What percentage of Vitamin C does the formula have?

The formula contains a safe percentage, proven by clinical studies to be sufficient for a lightening and anti-blemish effect. The formulation is extremely simple, and by revealing the exact percentage of Vitamin C present, we would effectively be making our formula public. That is why the percentage is not stated. The percentage of our Vitamin C allows the active to perform effectively, but also to remain stable over time after opening.

7. Which active ingredient is most effective against dark spots?

Vitamin C and Eco-fermented Activator have an anti-blemish action. You could build a complete anti-blemish routine as follows:

•    Uniforming Serum + 2 drops of Vitamin C, and Eco-fermented Activator to complete the action
•   Antipollution firming face cream - High Protection SPF 30

7a. Is Ecofermented Activator or Vitamin C more effective to combat dark spots?

You can assess the intensity of the spots to decide how much to reinforce the treatment. You can always start with the Uniforming Serum, adding Vitamin C and Ecofermented Activator to complete the action. Both Actives have a lightening action on blemishes and work very well in synergy.

7b. Does the same apply to marks left by pimples?

In this case, the recommended active ingredient is Niacinamide + Zinc: its depigmenting action is perfect for removing spots and redness from pimples (as well as preventing the appearance of new pimples).

8. Which Pure Active can I use if I am 20 or 30 years old to prevent wrinkles?

You can use Plant Collagen for an immediate lifting effect and Hyaluronic Acid to prevent wrinkles. 

9. Which one can I use if I have combination skin?

Your go-to Pure Active is undoubtedly Niaciniamide+Zinc, with a strong sebum-regulating function. You can also add the AHA Peel and complete your routine with Anti-Imperfection Serum if you have skin with blackheads or pimples, or Mattifying Serum if you have skin with a tendency to shine.

If you have combination skin, you can also consider the Perfecting Pure Actives Kit: all the Pure Actives contained in the kit combat imperfections, and at the same time perform different, targeted actions on the skin, as well as an anti-ageing action.

Other Pure Actives that are great for combination skin are Ecofermented Activator and Phytoretinol.

10. Which one can I use if I have mature skin?

For an all-round anti-ageing action, you can use all the Pure Actives.

In general, an indispensable Pure Active in your case will be Hyaluronic Acid, for its plumping action, as well as Vitamin C, for its anti-blemish and brightening action. You can find all the anti-ageing Pure Actives in the Pure Actives Kit.

A few words about the pack and how to make this world a better place

Our choices define us: that is why here at La Saponaria we are doing enormous work on packaging! We’ve decided to eliminate virgin plastic from all our packaging, which we are progressively doing on all our products, so we use glass jars, recycled aluminium, recycled, 100% biodegradable cardboard and bioplastic, a plastic derived from sugar cane. Another really interesting material is the wonderful re-bottle plastic, i.e. post-consumer recycled plastic, obtained from used plastic waste.

What not everyone knows is that normal recycled plastic comes from industrial waste, but is effectively new, because it has never been used. This is why post-consumer recycled plastic has an additional value in comparison with normal recycled plastic: not only does it not involve the creation of new material, but it brings new life to materials that have already been used, preventing them from ending up in the sea or in landfills.

 All the bottles of all our Pure Actives are equipped with a UV filter, to preserve maximum effectiveness of the product.

Making organic, healthy and environmentally friendly cosmetics is not enough for us! Sustainable packaging has always been a priority for us, now more than ever.