C3 Pad Q&A

CMPLXN C3 pads are one of our best selling products. Provider Bethany Gillian, answered some of our most asked questions so you can get to know this product and all of its benefits.  If you are curious about how they might fit into your skincare routine and if they are right for you, keep reading. 

Who can benefit the most from C3 pads? 

Anyone struggling with discoloration, pigmentation, or dull skin. These once a day, full face pads use key active ingredients that will promote a more even skin tone, visibly brighten the skin, and protect against free radical damage and worsening of hyperpigmentation. 

 What causes hyperpigmentation? 

Hyperpigmentation, or dark patches on the skin have two primary causes. The first is sun damage! When UV rays hit the skin, the body generates melanin to protect the skin cells from damage. On a cellular level, melanin is an end product during the metabolism of tyrosine (remember this guy for later!)

The second primary cause of discoloration in the skin is melasma. Melasma is a chronic condition of the skin, which causes symmetrical patchy areas typically over the cheeks, upper lip, and forehead. You may have heard of this condition as “the mask of pregnancy”. Cute. Melasma is triggered by a change in hormones (starting or stopping birth control, IUD’s, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning…) and also thermal extremes, for example heat in the summer, or cold climates. Those of us that struggle with melasma have to be on a constant maintenance therapy to keep it under control. 

 How do C3 pads work?

 By using these three main active ingredients. 

These are natural, non-hydroquinone skin brighteners that diminish the appearance of discoloration and even out skin tone. Kojic Acid is a powerful antioxidant that gently exfoliates, lightens and brightens the skin. Kojic and Arbutin are both tyrosinase inhibitors (remember tyrosine from above?), which keeps skin from turning brown. This is key to preventing more pigment from occurring. So not only are we decreasing the pigment already there, we are preventing more pigment from popping up right at the source. 

 Silymarin, Ascorbic Acid, Emblica, Curcumoids, & Green Tea Polyphenols

These ultra-effective antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage, calm and soothe the skin, and also brightens pigment. 

What if I have a darker skin tone? 

 C3 pads are our go-to products for you. All skin types have an equal number of skin cells, but darker skin tones have more dense and concentrated storage cells for melanin, which puts them at risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH. An example of PIH would be darker spots on the skin post-break out. The blend of natural skin lighteners and pigment-preventers in the C3 pad is the perfect product to lighten and brighten, heal the skin from past PIH, address melasma, and prevent further unwanted darkened patches of the skin. 

Bottom line is, we are thrilled to provide a product that will brighten and enhance all skin tones with a safe, efficient delivery through an oh-so-satisfying pad. 

Order yours today!