Product + Ingredient FAQs

We welcome the chance to work closely with you in finding the best products for your skin. We have estheticians you can consult with prior to and after receiving your order by reaching out to info@marieveronique.com. We also offer starter kits to familiarize yourself with some of the key elements of our line.

For some products, such as our oils and mists, you may see a difference immediately, as skin gets a super-dose of nutrients and moisture. For other products, such as the Gentle Retinol Night Serum and Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion, the repair work is happening deep within the skin and results may take up to three months. Generally, most people new to the brand will see increased skin health within a couple of weeks and improvement of skin conditions such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation within three months.

We want our clients/customers to think of their skin care similar to healthy food: ingredients are at their best when fresh and not heavily preserved! For maximum efficacy and freshness, we recommend that our products are used within 6 months of opening and are stored in a cool dry place, out of direct light. It is also safe to store them in a refrigerator. If you do store products in the refrigerator, we recommend the products be in an upright position and in a sealed plastic bag, to prevent condensation. The 2-year manufacture expiry date is found on the bottom of the bottle for in the format MM/YY Batch# (e.g. 12/20 19 - Our batch number is 19 which was produced December 2018 and expires December 2020). There may be slight color shifts after opening the bottle or long periods of storage, if you are unsure about a change in color or smell please reach out to us so we can consult on whether the product is in normal range. The manufacture date is valid for unopened products that have been stored properly, as per advised above. Our EVERYDAY COVERAGE TINTED SUNSCREEN has the expiry date on the bottom of the bottle printed in black ink marked in the following format: EXP-MM/YYYY. It is not obvious and needs a light source (like from a flashlight or light from your cell phone).

We discontinued producing and offering samples in March of 2021. As a values-driven company we are committed to putting an end to single-use packaging, which in our case means samples. If you have any known allergies, ingredient/scent sensitivities, a current skin condition you are hoping to address, or are considering your first purchase of Marie Veronique products, we have a team of estheticians who can help guide you towards the product(s) best suited for your individual needs. Email us at info@marieveronique.com. We encourage you to form a relationship with us -- customers find the most success with our products after consulting with us!

Both cleansers are oil-based and same formula but the Pure + E.O. Free Oil Cleanser is essential oil free. This cleanser is for all skin types including even the most compromised, sensitized skin, because it is free of ingredients that could impede the skin's ability to maintain its own lipid, essential fatty acid and microbial balances.

Absolutely. As your skin fluctuates with seasons, geography, hormones, etc. it can be really beneficial to have both on hand. Use the oil cleanser for a thorough, nourishing cleanse; when feeling dry, depleted, or to remove makeup. Alternate with the Treatment Cleanser when you are needing gentle exfoliation and/or experiencing breakouts. You can also layer them for a double cleanse, oil first, then follow with the Treatment Cleanser.

Cleanse  >  Tonic/Mist  >  Serum(s)  >  Oil

Layer products in immediate succession for best absorption—no need to dry between steps. Oil should be applied while skin is slightly damp; massage approximately ¼ to ½ dropper and warm between palms. Smooth over face/neck/chest avoiding eye contour area. The massage will get the lymph and blood moving, boosting circulation. In addition, there is a helpful tutorial demonstrated by Kristina Holey on our Instagram story highlight / and our YouTube channel. (Links at bottom right of our website)

The Rejuvenating Night Oil Extra Healing has the addition of emu oil, a powerful moisturizer known for its anti-inflammatory properties, ability to stimulate cell regeneration and circulation as well as reduce the appearance of scars, burns, stretch marks, wrinkles, and sun damage. It is rich in Omega 3, 6, 9 and has the ability to break through the barrier of the skin and penetrate deeply.

Protective Day Oil is a balanced blend of EFA’s and antioxidants working to provide additional environmental and sun protection to delay signs of aging induced by daytime exposure. It is for all skin types as it has anti inflammatory, anti aging, anti bacterial, and hydrating properties. It is the ultimate blend that provides additional protection under your daily SPF. Use AM /+ PM.

Rejuvenating Night Oil is a rich blend of EFA’s and Omegas that focus on repair and rebuilding the skin while it is in its most relaxed state, while you sleep. It works to continually repair damage from daytime exposure and pollution as well as focus on strengthening and wound healing by increasing cell turnover. It is for all skin types, especially mature or dry skin. Use AM /+ PM.

Rejuvenating Night Oil / Extra Healing contains all the same benefits of the original but has the additional benefits of emu oil, which makes it ideal for restoring compromised, depleted and aging skin. Best for aging, sun damaged and dry skin. Use AM /+ PM.

Treatment Oil is a lightweight blend of antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic and anti inflammatory ingredients that assist to clear, balance, decongest and alleviate inflammation associated with breakouts. Best for combination, hormonal, oily or acneic skin types. Use AM /+ PM.

Redness Relief Serum: This antioxidant rich formula helps give immediate relief to acute and chronic inflammatory conditions by helping to alleviate redness and flushing episodes associated with rosacea, reactive and sensitive skin. Rutin helps to strengthen cellular walls in order to strengthen the skin and prevent broken capillaries while sea buckthorn fends off the demodex mite associated with rosacea conditions. Use AM /+ PM or during a flushing episode.

Soothing B3 Serum: This lightweight oil free gel is calms with 10% Niacinamide suspended in a base sodium hyaluronate for a deep hydrating benefit. It is great for long term care of compromised skin with inflammation due to harsh climates, dermatitis, rosacea, and post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and can assist in healing of inflammatory/cyclical acne. Use AM /+ PM.

Gentle Retinol Night Serum first followed by the Soothing B3 Serum.

If you use both of these serums we recommend using the Soothing B3 Serum first and then the Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum.

Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum is now formulated with both stabilized l-ascorbic acid + two C derivatives, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD). It also includes additional antioxidants such as Astaxanthin and Lycopene, increasing overall potency for skin that can tolerate l-ascorbic acid. Essential oils have been eliminated to reduce the potential for skin irritation. The total percentage of Vitamin C (l-ascorbic and C derivatives) is roughly 7%. The l-ascorbic concentration remains the same as the previous version at approx 5%.

Our goal at Marie Veronique is to deliver the most effective and safest skin care available, and as we have new and better science, we will improve our products. Our next-generation formulation as of October 2019 is the same great formula with a few upgrades. When the science is right, we make what’s great even better.

Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum is best for balanced/stable skin with aging concerns as it provides the ingredients required to produce collagen, helps to increase UV protection, repairs at the cellular level and provides micronutrients needed for healthy skin. It is formulated with both stabilized l-ascorbic acid + two C derivatives (MAP and THD), increasing the overall potency for skin that can tolerate l-ascorbic acid, (the most powerful and effective form of vitamin C). Essential oils have been eliminated to reduce the potential for skin irritation. It can be used AM+PM.   

C-Therapy Serum brings the benefits of Vitamin C for all skin types, even those with sensitive, compromised and symptomatic skin. C-Therapy Serum is an essential oil-free serum that utilizes 4 powerful vitamin C derivatives beneficial for all skin types, especially sensitive, sensitized, congested, and breakout-prone skin. Next-generation C derivatives are stable, yet convert to ascorbic acid to deliver Vitamin C in its active form. It can be used AM+PM. 

Additional information to determine the C serum(s) best suited for your skin concern: 

For healthy, balanced skin use VITAMINS C+E+FERULIC SERUM during the day for sun protection and at night for collagen production.

For symptomatic skin exhibiting barrier dysfunction/dermatitis use C-THERAPY SERUM 2x/day, AM/PM.

For symptomatic skin with adult acne use C-THERAPY SERUM during the day for anti-inflammatory and sun protection. Use VITAMINS C+E+FERULIC SERUM at night for collagen production.

For symptomatic skin with hyperpigmentation use C-THERAPY SERUM 2x/day, AM/PM. May use VITAMINS C+E+FERULIC SERUM at night if collagen/aging is of equal concern. 

For symptomatic skin with rosacea use C-THERAPY SERUM 2x/day, AM/PM. May use VITAMINS C+E+FERULIC SERUM at night if collagen/aging is of equal concern.

Studies show that the amount of ascorbic acid one needs to achieve results regarding skin repair is roughly 10% daily. However, applying a topical that contains 10 to 15% l-ascorbic acid once a day is much less efficient than applying a 5% l-ascorbic topical twice a day-- for two reasons. Firstly, your skin will utilize the amount it needs at any given time and discard the rest (the same goes when taking supplements internally--your body excretes what it cannot use, so taking 500 mg twice a day gives you more usable Vitamin C than taking 1,000 mg all at once). Secondly, applying too much Vitamin C at any given time can irritate the skin--it is an acid after all. Our Vitamin C+E+Ferulic Serum contains 5% l-ascorbic acid and roughly 2% C derivatives. Twice daily applications will allow Vitamin C to prevent and correct hyperpigmentation and act as an antioxidant during the day while maximizing repair processes like collagen synthesis at night. Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum contains l-ascorbic acid--the only Vitamin C that actually works to improve skin quality. Although most skin can tolerate l-ascorbic acid some skin, perhaps due to sensitization issues, cannot, and this is where derivatives come in. Oil-soluble Vitamin C derivatives are more easily tolerated by sensitive skin than water-soluble l-ascorbic acid because they are more stable, and they also penetrate very well. When they penetrate and convert to ascorbic acid they deliver the same benefits as ascorbic acid. Indeed, derivative technology has come a long way--studies show that tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is almost as effective as ascorbic acid itself. In addition, using a range of derivatives with different conversion rates helps to regulate l-ascorbic acid delivery to the various layers of the skin where it is needed; a well-formulated Vitamin C serum can function like a slow-release Vitamin C capsule. This is very important for those with sensitive or symptomatic skin, for whom we recommend our C-Therapy Serum, formulated with four powerful and effective Vitamin C derivatives. .

Focus on the skin concern(s) you would like to improve. Many serums target multiple conditions, including fine lines, sun damage, inflammation, dullness,  congestion, or brightening. Follow the directions carefully as some serums have specific application guidelines.

We suggest layering in immediate succession for best results and layering no more than three serums at a time. Thinnest to thickest is usually a good rule. There are a few serums that do have special instructions. For example, if you are using Intensive Repair Serum, it should be applied first in your evening routine followed by one of our retinol serums. Also, Barrier Restore Serum should also always be the last serum to be applied prior to your hydrator (ie. oil, lotion, cream).

Yes, absolutely normal and expected. This serum contains AHA/BHA ingredients that help exfoliate the skin and will feel active upon application.

Treatment Retinol Serum and Gentle Retinol Night Serum are the same formulation, only the labels are different. We wanted people to know that if you have acne: use retinol. If you have aging skin concerns: use retinol. If you have both: use retinol.

Using a spatula or clean spoon, apply one teaspoon to hands. Massage into cleansed face/neck/chest until you see a shift from yellow to white/creamy color as it is intended to penetrate the skin rather than just coat the superficial layers. Avoid the eye contour area. You may leave on for 20+ minutes. To remove, cleanse the skin with water, removing anything that has not penetrated. Follow with a tonic/mist, serum(s) and one of our oils. The mask is also great during/after air travel and can be worn overnight for severely depleted skin.

Retinol should be avoided while pregnant or breastfeeding. We have two products that contain retinol—the Gentle Retinol Night Serum and Treatment Retinol Serum. Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum is a good alternative option to use during pregnancy and can be used morning and night. We always advise checking with your physician when choosing products for the duration of pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Yes. The zinc oxide is helpful for inflammatory conditions such as rosacea and dermatitis. Our Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30 is zinc-oxide-only with minimum amounts of essential oils and we definitely recommend it for people with dermatitis issues, as zinc oxide is a powerful anti-inflammatory.

It is not vegan as it contains sustainably harvested pearl powder. All of our products are cruelty free.

We originally developed these tinted shades to mask the whiteness of zinc oxide, the product's base. At one point, we also had an option called “dark”. Unfortunately, we were extremely limited in the variety of shades we could create due to the zinc oxide base and the finite palette of iron oxides that were available to us. As much as we’d hoped for our “dark” to be as chameleonic as our other shades, instead it added a pallor to darker skin tones that was, in short, not pretty. As a brand that celebrates beauty in diversity, this spawned our drive to create a colorless sunscreen that would suit every skin tone—in 2019 we will launch our Color Free Daily Sunscreen SPF 20. It provides unmatched sun protection without a white undertone and layers effortlessly underneath your favorite foundation.

Our Everyday Coverage does have an expiration date on the bottom of the bottle printed in black ink. The expiration date is marked in the following format: EXP-MM/YYYY. It is not obvious and needs a light source (like from a flashlight or light from your cellphone) to see.

There are a number of retinoids or vitamin A derivatives. The two most popular are retinol and retinoic acid. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A and is formed in the body by the hydrolysis of retinyl esters, and converted by enzymes into retinoic acid as the skin needs it. Retin-A (and other prescription products) is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A derived from retinoic acid. Both improve signs of skin aging, but because retinol converts to retinoic acid the results are slower to manifest than with Retin-A. On the other hand, Retin-A has a strong effect on cell differentiation often produces side effects such as redness, peeling, dryness, and flaking of the skin. Retinol has a much milder effect on the skin, so adverse reactions are rare. Bottom line—you achieve the same results with both, but retinol takes a bit longer.

We use retinol, not retinoic acid, which most people—even those with sensitive skin—can tolerate. We moderate potential irritation by including sodium salicylate, a powerful anti-inflammatory that allows us to use higher concentrations of retinol than you'll find in other retinol products. The retinol is encapsulated so it can exist in a low pH environment without degrading. We use the other vitamins necessary for skin repair, L-ascorbic acid (stabilized) and vitamin E, to take advantage of the synergistic effect to be gained from using all three vitamin powerhouses together.

Who can use Retinol? Any adult interested in addressing problems associated with photoaging, like wrinkles, dryness and age spots. It also helps clear pores, control breakouts and lessen post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. People who should not use it include pregnant women, nursing mothers or people who still find it too irritating. As with any retinol product, use it only at night, and be sure to wear sunscreen during the day, every day.

The concentration of Retinol is between 0.02-0.03%.

 

When starting a new regimen there may be an adjustment period, especially if you have been following a very drying/stripping regimen with antibacterial properties. Moving from that to our more therapeutic and balancing method is a huge change for the skin and while the deep debris down in the pores starts to clear out there could be some short term mild purging. All of the Treatment products are formulated to address the contributing factors of acne/breakouts. For example, the three primary factors are oil, bacteria and inflammation. All the products in the regimen contain ingredients to target inflammation, rebalance oil production and restore microbial harmony. There are no occlusives/potentially clogging ingredients or common aggravators such as aggressive exfoliants, preservatives or high amounts of essential oils. Clearing up acne can take some time as there are many additional factors to consider such as stress, sleep and diet. We encourage the use of Treatment Line for minimally three months to see best results.

Yes, because it is formulated to clear and refine problematic break out prone skin. The combination of beta and alpha hydroxy acids and physical exfoliation from the adzuki bean powder, colloidal oat flour and rice bran make it the best choice for those in need of a thorough cleanse. If you wear makeup, Pure+E.O. Free Oil Cleanser would be a better match for removal.

Oils dissolve oils, so using a product containing oil is recommended for all skin types. If ones skin is lacking in oil, the cells will do what they need to to in order to make up for that loss by over-producing oil. We would recommend the Treatment Oil. Its lightweight composition can be used AM + PM.

It is excellent for either because improved barrier function will help soothe inflammation associated with acne and increase skin hydration at the same time. We typically recommend the Treatment Oil if you have very acne prone skin with active breakouts because this will rebalance your skin and minimize the breakouts. After the breakouts have subsided and are less regular, you can use the Barrier Lipid Complex to fully heal your skin.

The common myth is that oils clog pores but oils, even those that are very thick, do not clog pores. When pores are clogged it is not due to too much oil, but rather a deficiency of oils one needs to make sebum flow smoothly to the skin’s surface. The Barrier Lipid Complex contains the oils that replace the lipids in the stratum corneum to improve barrier function. There is nothing occlusive to clog pores.

Yes, there is nothing in it to irritate even very sensitive skin. It was formulated to rebalance the pH, hydrate and restore microbial balance. It can be very healing/beneficial for very sensitive skin.

Intensive Repair Serum applied 1-3x/week, depending on severity, or Gentle Retinol Serum.

Because melasma is associated with inflammation (usually set off by hormones) you can certainly try Soothing B3 Serum. Niacinamide is a useful skin brightening ingredient which helps suppress melanin and inflammation. We recommend layering it with Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum which is brightening, protective and inhibits the tyrosinase enzyme from triggering melanin release.You get more comprehensive sun protection that way, from both niacinamide and vitamin C, and it is very important that you protect your skin from sun with a broad spectrum zinc based sunscreen like our Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen.

We would recommend the Soothing B3 Serum for long term care of inflammation and redness. The Soothing B3 Serum will help strengthen the skin over time. With rosacea some people get flushing episodes or have consistent redness. In addition to the Soothing B3 Serum the Redness Relief Serum can be helpful for combating the flushing episodes and protect the skin with valuable antioxidants. For cleansing and toning the Pure+E.O. Free Oil Cleanser is a gentle option, for toning the Pre+Probiotic Mist will help establish healthy microflora on the skin and soothe inflamed skin.

For adult acne we usually suggest a combination of our Treatment Line and our  Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique collaboration line. If you are experiencing oily/congested acne skin we would suggest starting with the full range of Treatment products including the Treatment Retinol for a full three months. If you are experiencing inflamed, painful cystic acne we would suggest a combination of both lines implementing the Soothing B3 Serum, Pure+E.O. Free Oil Cleanser and for some cases the Intensive Repair Serum for additional exfoliation. Please reach out to our team for individual guidance or refer to our acne section or regimen.

Yes, especially if she has acne, our products are much safer than the conventional anti-acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide or antimicrobials.

All of our products are tested for the presence of gluten using the FDA’s gluten-free food labeling rule. According to the rule, a product must contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Active gluten testing and review of our products are happening regularly, and we are pleased to let you know that all of our products meet this standard and are gluten-free.

Marie Veronique’s goal is to create safe and effective products. In order to achieve this, we may use ingredients in our formulas that are derived from animals or are animal by-products. When we use animal ingredients, we are committed to ensuring that the animals have been treated humanely and are actively looking for non-animal alternatives when those are developed by the industry. Marie Veronique does not carry out or tolerate tests on animals. We understand and respect that many people have dietary restrictions that carry into their topical regimens and limit the types of ingredients they can use. Please see the list of our products with information on the ingredients of animal origin so that you can make an informed choice for yourself when selecting a Marie Veronique product.

Vegetarian products are listed here

Vegan products are listed here

Yes.

Our vision at Marie Veronique is to deliver safe and effective products. We use high quality, natural ingredients that include bio identical synthesized ingredients. These synthesized ingredients are essential and identical to those found in nature--but in order for them to be effective for supporting the skin, we need to use concentrated/stabilized versions which are often synthesized in a lab. Vitamin C is a good example. The l-ascorbic molecule in our Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum is the same as that found in an orange, and has the same effect on the body, that is, it is bio identical. (And let’s be honest, you cannot rub a carrot or orange on your face and deliver the benefits of Vitamin C, therefore it must be optimized in a lab.) Our use of synthetics--substances made in a lab that do not have a counterpart in nature--is very limited. We are big fans of Mother Nature at Marie Veronique, as you can tell – by how much we copy Her. It’s worth making a strong point here for you to consider: Just because an ingredient is found in nature, it does not automatically make it “safe” - - nor does an ingredient made in a lab make it “unsafe”. There are a LOT of decisions made when formulating and producing products for the skin, and as a consumer, you should understand the values and bottom line of the folks producing and making those decisions to ultimately choose what goes onto and into your skin. While not all ingredients are available organic, at Marie Veronique we prioritize using organic ingredients (those without pesticides or chemical residue) as we believe this is best for your skin and the planet.

We do use some ingredients that are synthesized in the lab, like l-ascorbic acid and encapsulated retinol.

We use horseradish extract, coconut fruit extract, aspen bark, essential oils, vitamin E, Rosemary Oleoresin, and we make products in small batches so they don’t sit on our shelves for longer than necessary. We also use colored bottles, which serve to protect the product from degradation.

We never use synthetic fragrances. We use low levels of essential oils known for their therapeutic applications for skin and of those we only use the ones that are non-sensitizing. Our Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique line is free of essential oils. Most of our men's line, Louis Pierre, is also essential oil free, with the exception of the Aftershave Tonic, which contains a small amount of tea tree oil. Additionally, we have just modified one of our best sellers, Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum to be essential oil-free.

Essential oils can have many benefits for the skin if they are good quality and used in proper concentrations. Often they are improperly formulated and many can induce photosensitization in the skin, creating vulnerability and potentially sensitizing the skin. We formulated the Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique line to be essential oil free purely for people who have compromised/sensitive skin or who have an impaired barrier and may not be able to use essential oils.

We work with suppliers that provide high-quality ingredients that don't test on animals. As often as possible we source from companies that are close to us, in an effort to keep our carbon footprint to a minimum.

Vitamins C+E+Ferulic Serum is now formulated with both stabilized l-ascorbic acid + two C derivatives, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD). It also includes additional antioxidants such as Astaxanthin and Lycopene, increasing overall potency for skin that can tolerate l-ascorbic acid. Essential oils have been eliminated to reduce the potential for skin irritation. The total percentage of Vitamin C (l-ascorbic and C derivatives) is roughly 7%. The l-ascorbic concentration remains the same as the previous version at approx 5%.

You can manage your subscription from the subscription portal. You can also get to the subscription portal from My Account.

Your complimentary 6th product will automatically arrive at your usual delivery frequency, after you’ve purchased 5 products. As with any auto-replenishment order, you can change the delivery date via the subscription portal. Your complimentary item will be the same product that you are subscribed to. Unfortunately we can not substitute another product for the item you've subscribed to.

If you are using your products every day, most people find that they will need to replenish items according to the following schedule:

Sun Protection, Mist, Masks and Cleansers: Every 6 weeks

Serums and Oils: Every 8 weeks

However, you can choose the delivery frequency for each subscription (from every 4 to 16 weeks) based on your personal product usage habits. You can adjust your delivery frequency at any time in the subscription portal.

All full-size, full-price, individual skincare products are eligible for auto-replenishment. Books, gift cards, and travel sizes are excluded, as are already discounted duos and sets.

If you'd like to make changes to an upcoming shipment, visit the subscription portal at least 1 business day before it's scheduled to ship. You'll have the option to get your order now, change the ship date, skip a delivery, or add/remove products.

You can manage your subscription from the subscription portal. In addition to making one-time changes to your next delivery, you can modify your subscription preferences such as delivery frequency, delivery address and payment method.

There is no minimum subscription period. If you aren’t completely satisfied with your product, you can request a refund within 30 days of delivery, and you can cancel your auto-replenishment at any time via the subscription portal.