Complex31: Swiss Pharmaceutical Expertise

The facts behind simply the most concentrated, most advanced Vitamin C and peptide treatment

What’s in it?

Complex31 is the result of extensive research from Switzerland in the decades-old phenomenon of topical Vitamin C, representing truly the highest concentration of stabilized L-Ascorbic Acid (23%), combined with two highly effective age-reversing peptides, with a total active ingredient concentration of 31%. The peptides contained in Complex31 have significant clinical support behind their anti-aging properties. The bioactive Hexapeptide-14 is a superb ingredient for stimulating collagen production, stimulating proliferation of fibroblast cells and inhibiting MMPs. A 12-week split-face, double-blind study comparing the efficacy of this peptide with a 0.05% concentration of retinoic acid found the peptide to be equal or more effective in the correction of fine lines and wrinkles. The concentration of the peptide used in the study was 5%, the same as the concentration used in Complex31.

Another peptide present in the formulation is world-renowned Dermaxyl. A 56-day study on 24 female volunteers resulted in an average reduction of 98% in the surface occupied by deep wrinkles and an average reduction of 86% in surface occupied by medium wrinkles. The concentration used in the study was 2%, while Complex31 contains 3% of this peptide.

The unique combination of such a high concentration of truly stable free-form L-Ascorbic Acid with the latest developments in peptides, offers a single most powerful effort against such aspects of skin aging as the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, loss of skin tone, damaged skin texture, uneven skin pigmentation and skin sagginess. This treatment also significantly enhances the skin’s ability to prepare for and recover from invasive and non-invasive medical treatments, including laser resurfacing, photofacials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and cosmetic surgery. Delivering 23% Vitamin C and 8% age-killing peptides, this formulation exceeds the effectiveness of similar products that cost from US$85 to US$600+.

Why is it better?

Most products contain very little Vitamin C, ranging from less than 1% to 10% or, rarely, 20%. In many cases, the form of the Vitamin C is not L-Ascorbic Acid, rendering the active far less functional. Additionally, almost all products that contain L-Ascorbic Acid involve a water-based solution. Vitamin C is an exceptionally vulnerable ingredient and is oxidized very quickly. Water accelerates this process. In many cases, Vitamin C treatments turn orange in colour over time, indicating that the L-Ascorbic Acid has been oxidized. In such cases, the ingredient actually becomes a “pro-oxidant” instead of an antioxidant, possibly causing further oxidation within the skin. Other formulations, especially the few that claim to have up to 35% L-Ascorbic Acid at very high prices, use base ingredients like sodium hydroxide, which actually increases the pH of the formulation, turning much of the L-Ascorbic Acid non-functional (mainly into salts). Complex31 uses 23% of completely stable Nanoform L-Ascorbic Acid in a water-free formulation, combined with two world-renowned anti-aging peptides: a Hexapeptide-14 and Dermaxyl, for a total active concentration of 31%. It is notable that L-Ascorbic Acid is, in fact, the first ingredient listed in Complex31’s labelling. Stability tests involving 3 months of oven-controlled high temperatures show virtually no stability issues or oxidation in Complex31.

Other formulations may use derivatives of vitamin C, which include Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbyl Palmitate. Such formulations typically contain 0.5% to 5% of these compounds, with rare exceptions containing up to 15%. In almost all cases, the actual amount of L-Ascorbic Acid released from such formulations will represent no more than 20% of the actual concentration of the derivative, minimizing the benefits of such topical treatments associated with the actual L-Ascorbic Acid content.

What’s not in it?

Complex31 is free of parabens, urea-based preservatives, sodium lauryl sulphate or related ingredients, propylene glycol or related ingredients, DEA, TEA, MEA, oils, colouring agents, fragrance components and other known carcinogenic ingredients.