The reason I wanted to upgrade our Daily Dose formula was because I was tired of hearing that Vitamin C doesn’t “work”. To be fair, for those of us with melanin-rich skin—that skepticism was valid. Most of us, including myself, have either seen absolutely no change or, worse, experienced irritation, stinging, or new pigmentation after using. But here’s the real reason why so many Vitamin C serums have failed us before…
Two reasons your Vitamin C serum doesn’t “work”:
- The form of Vitamin C it uses
- The way it’s delivered into your skin
Most conventional Vitamin C serums rely on forms like L-ascorbic acid, which need a low pH to stay stable. That acidity can be irritating—especially for melanin-rich skin—and often comes without the support of calming or barrier-strengthening ingredients. That’s a recipe for redness, stinging, or even post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Then there’s the matter of stability. Some Vitamin C forms are highly unstable and degrade quickly when exposed to light, air, or water—meaning by the time you apply it, the ingredient may have already lost its power. And not all forms penetrate well. Water-soluble forms, for instance, can struggle to get through the lipid-rich outer layer of skin, so brands often force absorption by using low pH which can lead to stinging, irritation, or post-inflammatory pigmentation, especially in melanin-rich skin.
In short: even a good ingredient, delivered poorly, won’t deliver results.
When properly stabilized and bioavailable, here’s what Vitamin C can do:
- Brighten dullness and visibly even skin tone
- Support collagen production for firmer, smoother skin
- Defend against free radicals from pollution and UV exposure
- Help prevent oxidative stress that contributes to premature aging
Enter: Daily Dose 2.0.
This is the part where, admittedly, the team and I go back and forth. Because calling Daily Dose a Vitamin C serum? Massive undersell.
Yes, it centers THD Ascorbate—a stable, oil-soluble form of Vitamin C that absorbs deeply into the skin’s lipid matrix. It works at a skin-friendly pH, meaning it’s effective without triggering inflammation, compromising the barrier, or causing pigment flare-ups. But Vitamin C is really just the start.
Daily Dose is a multivitamin treatment.
I knew Vitamin C alone wasn’t enough. Skin needs a full range of nutrients to truly thrive—especially when it’s prone to sensitivity, pigmentation, or barrier disruption. So we formulated Daily Dose with a spectrum of skin-essential vitamins:
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Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Brightens, calms, and supports the skin barrier
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Vitamin E + Essential Fatty Acids (Vitamin F): Strengthen and reinforce the antioxidant network
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Pro-Vitamin D Peptide: Supports resilience—especially important in melanin-rich skin, where Vitamin D deficiency is more common
Why you shake it before applying
To keep everything optimized, we developed a dual-phase delivery system that keeps the Vitamin C potent and protected until the moment it’s applied. In addition to performance, the dual-phase serum format also has an impressive product payoff/ immediate benefit: the oil phase stabilizes Vitamin C and delivers immediate glow, while the water phase carries brightening agents like niacinamide and arbutin. When mixed, they form a breathable, luminous emulsion that’s not heavy or oily and layers beautifully with moisturizer, SPF, or makeup.
Daily Dose isn’t just another Vitamin C serum. It’s a smarter, more precise brightening treatment—made for the Vitamin C skeptics.
