We get the details right.
“I think of skincare as a long game where we constantly seek to strengthen our skin’s health with the help of antioxidants and ingredients that support the skin barrier. It makes our skin more resilient to outside aggressors and slows aging. I don’t think anything is wrong with aging skin, but there is no need to hurry it along either!“
~ Jie Gao
The Versine journey started with founder Jie Gao’s pregnancy. She had previously based my skincare choices on celebrity endorsements and promises of “natural” formulation. Then, with a baby in the uterus, she dove into compulsive research. After learning that many common cosmetic ingredients, even “natural” ones, should not be used during pregnancy and nursing, she set out (leaving her former job) to create skincare products in consultation with doctors and cosmetic formulators safe for all people.
We decided to ask Jie a few questions about her serums and summer skincare.
Follow the directions on Instagram and take the quiz BY JULY 21, 2022 to qualify…
for a chance to win Versine Calm & Hydrate Serum for Acne-Prone Skin or Illuminate & Refine Serum for Sensitive Skin.
(An $80 Value)
Jie, what are your favorite tips and ingredients for giving skin extra care before, during, and after a beach day?
Prevention with sunscreen and protective clothing is vital, but there are skincare ingredients that will work together with sunscreen to boost protection and assist with recovery. Versine packs our formulations with ingredients that have photo-protective or healing properties, including:
- Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate is a stable form of Vitamin C that is effective for hyperpigmentation and is an antioxidant that neutralizes cell-damaging free radicals generated from UV exposure
- Kakadu Plum Extract contains the highest natural concentration of Vitamin C, with similar benefits as above
- Ceramides and Niacinamide contribute to building a strong and healthy skin barrier, which helps protect our skin from environmental aggressors, including UV rays.
Moms-to-be and nursing moms have unique concerns. What advice do you have for participating in summer fun and the sun?
Navigating the sun with pregnancy is tough! Pregnant and nursing moms should use physical sunscreen instead of chemical sunscreen. If you don’t like the white cast caused by physical sunscreen, there are tinted options that are getting great reviews and attention. (Yudoyu Note: try GLOWBIOTICS Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB)
The best choice is to stay in the shade and wear sun-protective clothing, but that’s not always practical with summer activities. Pregnant women also need to drink more water so keep that in mind if you are in the sun.
Some of us (myself included) spent years not protecting our skin from the sun. The results are hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles. We love your multitasking serums. Please tell us how they might help improve our skin’s appearance?
Me too! Growing up in the South in the 90s, I spent way too much time purposefully tanning in the sun, and it’s come back to bite me.
Hyperpigmentation is a significant focus of our formulation. Sun damage, aging, pregnancy, acne, and aggressive skincare treatments contribute. It is even more prevalent and noticeable amongst Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). I, too, am pretty sensitive to it because of my Asian background.
Hyperpigmentation responds best to multiple modalities and ingredients, so we included a cocktail of ingredients targeting uneven tone: Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Azelaic Acid, Kakadu Plum Extract, Niacinamide, and Vitamin E. However, the way these ingredients stop excess melanin accumulation differ, so combination therapy is often best.
As for fine lines and wrinkles, many of our ingredients – Ceramides, Niacinamide, Squalane, and Hyaluronic Acid – build a healthy skin barrier and keep skin hydrated, decreasing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Once again, Vitamin C and Niacinamide come to the rescue and can stimulate collagen production.
You have two formulations. Could you please tell us what makes them each unique?
Our Gentle Actives Clarity Crème-Serum is created for all skin types. We focused on brightening, hydration, and balancing the skin barrier. It’s an excellent serum for everyday use to obtain and maintain healthy, glowing, hydrated skin.
Our Gentle Actives Clarity Crème-Serum + Azelaic Acid packs an extra punch and is better for those with blemish-prone skin. Azelaic acid is a superstar ingredient that fights acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
We would love to see MORE VERSINE! Do you plan to expand your line for pregnant and nursing moms, or maybe look at creating products for other ages and stages?
Our brand promise is pregnancy-safe, always. I don’t think we will move away from that. Instead, our goal is to make moms’ lives easier – a little less worry and a little more indulgence.
Versine uses many safe, powerful active ingredients, so anyone – even those who are not pregnant – will benefit from our products without compromising efficacy.
We do have new products in the pipeline and are super excited. However, we formulate all products from scratch, obsessively double-check every step, and test for allergies. We do this in consultation with our medical advisors and cosmetic formulator. We will go through numerous reformulations. The result will be exquisite and worth the wait!
Enter for a chance to win Versine Serum!
Follow the directions on Instagram and take the quiz
BY JULY 21, 2022 to qualify.
(An $80 Value)
