Clear Within 2.0: Our New And Improved Formula

New year, new formula. We’ve been spending the past year working on ways to create a much more powerful, effective, and universal formula that can tackle acne at its source even better!

And finally, we’re proud to introduce Clear Within 2.0!

It’s back, with a formula that’s even more effective than it already was.

After consulting with many dermatologists and naturopathic doctors, we’ve made a few changes to the 9 ingredients in Clear Within that will clear your skin better than ever. One of the major additions in our new formula is our new secret ingredient curcugen, which has 39x more bioavailability than turmeric, increasing effectiveness, and is currently only found in Clear Within 2.0

So here’s a breakdown of our 10 new and improved ingredients and their benefits!

Vitamin A:

Being one of the most effective vitamins for skin, Vitamin A can be classified in two different categories — carotenoids and retinoids. Carotenoids are plant pigments that are responsible for the bright red, yellow, or orange hues that we normally see in vegetables like carrots or pumpkins. There are 600+ identified carotenoids, but very few can actually become bioavailable in the human body, with the most prevalent being beta-carotene. Retinoids are known as preformed vitamin A, found in animal products like meat or eggs. These are biologically active, so the body does not need to convert it to be usable. Therefore, we see retinol found in many acne products.

Free radicals are highly reactive and unstable atoms which can damage cells, collagen, and blocking pores — allowing for the P. acnes bacteria to build up and eventually cause us to break out. The reason why Vitamin A is a great anti-acne supplement is because it’s a powerful antioxidant that helps combat the free radicals that cause this damage to the human body and affect the skin.

Vitamin A also reduces the amount of sebum produced by the pores, so if you have oily skin, this will certainly make a difference.

Pantothenic Acid:

Vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, is an effective vitamin that can tremendously help reduce acne. Commonly supplemented in higher doses, this vitamin targets the underlying problem of the body's production of oil by helping metabolize fats that later become sebum.

During the process of metabolism, the body breaks down fats. When the body lacks Coenzyme A (CoA), these fats are not always broken down properly — and as a result, they are released through the old glands as sebum. In order to fix this, we need to allow the body to produce more Coenzyme A, which is made up of ATP, Cysteine, and B5. The body creates cysteine and ATP on its own, but cannot produce B5, which is why we need to consume it through foods or supplementation.

Although the odds are low, if you're experiencing acne, you may be lacking coenzyme A due to a vitamin B5 deficiency. If you are consuming adequate levels of B5 daily, then you may not be absorbing as much as you should due to other underlying issues.

When you supplement with B5, more coenzyme A is able to be created, and through metabolization, fats are ultimately broken down better, resulting in significantly less oil on the skin. CoA can result in decreased sebum production, which can lead to a reduction in skin oiliness and fewer occurrences of breakouts.

Pantothenic Acid Studies: NCBI

Niacinamide (NEW):

This is one of our personal faves. Being incredibly anti-inflammatory and helping restore cellular energy, Niacinamide has gained a lot of popularity in skincare recently. Also known as nicotinamide, Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It’s naturally occurring in foods like tuna, portabella mushrooms, peanuts, brown rice, and green peas.

This vitamin can help the skin produce proteins and retain moisture to protect it from environmental deterioration. Used both topically and ingested, niacinamide can be very beneficial for skin. Studies have shown that its anti-inflammatory properties have demonstrated it to be very effective for reducing acne.

Niacinamide studies: Pubmed 1, Pubmed 2, Wiley Online Library, Health Line

Chromium:

Chromium is a trace mineral that’s incredible for those with insulin sensitivity, or people who consume too much sugar in general. A spike in blood sugar levels can result in acne breakouts, and chromium does a fantastic job at helping balance blood sugar levels in the body. It also reduces sugar cravings, lowers cholesterol, and improves the functions of the immune system.  When taking chromium, you may notice a reduction in rashes and irritation as well since it reduces the rate of skin infection.

Chromium Studies: BMC

Magnesium:

Even after our teenage years, acne can still be prevalent. Adulting is a very stressful process for us as the pressures of life build up and lifestyles are forced to change. This new addition of stress can lead to hormones getting out of whack, especially cortisol, which skyrockets in the presence of high stress. And we know that too much cortisol can clog the skin with excess sebum, leading to acne.

This is where magnesium comes into play. Magnesium allows the body to better regulate cortisol, calming down the nervous system, and controlling anxiety and stress. At least half of the population is deficient in magnesium, due to the mere fact that there is now a shortage of this mineral in our soil. As a result, magnesium is not as prevalent in produce or animals as it used to be, making supplementation even more essential. Opt for magnesium glycinate over magnesium oxide, as the latter is harder for your body to absorb..

Selenium:

Selenium is a mineral that’s crucial for optimal health, abundant in certain foods, water, and even in our soil. It’s an incredible supplement for decreasing inflammation because it’s an antioxidant booster, and is one of the main ingredients in glutathione, which is the body’s most ample antioxidant. It protects the heart, boosts immunity, and keeps free radicals at bay. One study revealed that low levels of selenium were documented in acne patients, and a protocol including selenium helped reduce acne after 12 weeks.

Selenium is also crucial in regulating the thyroid hormones that may potentially lead to hormonal related acne.

Zinc:

Zinc is one of the most essential minerals for your health and beauty! This incredible mineral can be found in oysters, steak, tofu, lentils, and pumpkin seeds.

Those who are zinc deficient may actually experience brittle nails, acne, eczema, and even hair loss. Zinc is present more in the top layer of skin compared to those below it, and as a result, a zinc deficiency could result in flare-ups. One study found that zinc improved acne by over 30% after 6 weeks in their group of patients.

Supplementing with zinc can help repair your skin while reducing acne inflammation and even heal wounds or residual acne scars.

Zinc studies: Eternal Dermatology

Astaxanthin (NEW):

Astaxanthin is the antioxidant you probably have never heard of, and quite frankly, beauty’s best kept secret. It’s naturally found in algae, salmon, trout, and shrimp. It contains a red-orange pigment which contains strong antioxidants (500 to 1000 times more powerful than antioxidants Vitamin E), making it an incredibly potent supplement.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that astaxanthin has amazing anti-aging and antiwrinkle effects. Research also revealed that it inhibits the overproduction of melanin in melanoma cells, which prevents skin cancer at a crucial stage of its development.

Taking astaxanthin is incredible for skin due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and immune boosting properties.

Curcugen (NEW):

We discovered Curcugen more recently and were blown away by how effective it is. Curcugen is basically turmeric on roids, being 39 times more bioavailable and absorbing way more effectively in the body without the need for black pepper. Now let’s talk about turmeric.

If you’ve ever had a turmeric latte, you may have experienced the healing powers of turmeric! Turmeric is a popular spice from Asia in many foods and drinks — it is a plant that runs in the ginger family. Although not commonly used as a part of Western medicine, it historically has been used to tackle a variety of medical issues.

The active ingredients in turmeric are powerful compounds known as curcuminoids — these are antioxidants that can fight against certain infectious diseases as well as cancer. When it comes to the skin, curcuminoids can reduce the growth of the bacteria that causes acne. Compounds found in turmeric also neutralize the free radicals that build up, overwhelm the human body, and lead to oxidative stress. This oxidative stress generally leads to inflammation, and can manifest as acne. There is some early clinical evidence that turmeric offers therapeutic benefits for skin health. The beauty of Curcugen is that it’s delivering the incredible power of turmeric but delivering 39x more curcuminoids, giving you a massive boost of benefits.

Milk Thistle (NEW):

You may have heard of milk thistle as a natural remedy for helping cleanse the liver after a long night of drinking. Milk thistle is a flowering herb from Mediterranean countries. The main active ingredient in milk thistle, silymarin, is derived from the seeds of the plant, which contains incredible antioxidant properties. People have used it as a natural treatment for jaundice, hepatitis, liver disease, diabetes, and more.

Studies have shown milk thistle to provide efficacy for the treatment of many skin conditions, along with having wound healing and anti aging properties. Another study showed that taking 210 milligrams of silymarin daily for 8 weeks resulted in a 53% reduction of acne lesions in people with acne

Milk thistle and its active ingredient silymarin contain anti-inflammatory properties that can calm the redness and improve the texture of acne-prone skin.