Frequently Asked Questions

 i-On® Skincare is the only product line that addresses the safe removal of excess iron from the surface of the skin to both prevent and reverse the signs of aging. More than a century of research has demonstrated iron’s ability to produce large amounts of harmful free radicals that can contribute to a number of diseases, as well as the visible signs of skin aging.

While there are other anti-aging products that attempt to decrease the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of aging, i-On® products contain a patented technology (DII) tha stops the oxidation process from occurring, preventing skin-aging free radicals from forming in the first place.

Most anti-aging products include antioxidants, which merely neutralize the free radicals that can cause visible damage to the skin. D.I.I.®  Age Disrupting Technology is a proprietary patent that removes excess iron from the skin before it can become free radicals. Developed by Dr. Xi Huang, one of the world’s leading research doctors of iron’s impact on health, this technology is the foundation of i-On® Skincare products. D.I.I.® is effective in naturally exfoliating the excess iron from the skin’s surface, which, over 60 years ago, was found to be a major component of the creation of free radicals.

D.I.I.® first uses vitamin C to cause the release of the stored iron. Once the excess iron is released from a protein on the outer layer of the skin, it can continue to exert its harmful effect. To prevent this, a naturally-sourced pearl powder is used to clear the released iron so it cannot cause visible signs of skin damage. This pearl powder-buffered system is water insoluble and will resist absorption into the skin to provide long-lasting protection until washed away. This two-step process helps the skin by preventing oxidative stress from occurring rather than attempting to neutralize free radicals after they appear. Without the need to fight free radicals, the skin is able to repair itself more efficiently.

No other product in the market is focused on the safe removal of iron from the skin.

In clinical studies of our Age Disrupting Skin Cream and Age Disrupting Total Performance Eye Cream, participants reported that skin felt softer and more hydrated within one week of use. After a 42-day evaluation period of biometric objective and subjective measurement, an unprecedented 100% of participants saw and felt a significant positive change in the look and feel of their skin, including a reduction in wrinkles and lines as well as more firm and radiant skin. Can we add an emulsion stat too?

i-On® products can easily be incorporated your existing skincare regimen, as they contain a neutral pH that should not interfere with most skincare products. If you use acid-containing acne treatment products, we suggest thoroughly cleansing the skin of these products before using i-On® products, as combined use may diminish the efficacy of both products. 

We recommend patch testing our creams if you use retinol, as some may not be stable and could cause irritation.

All i-On® products are dermatologist-tested to be hypoallergenic and safe for use on sensitive skin. If you have any questions regarding specific skin conditions, we recommend speaking to a dermatologist or aesthetician.

All i-On® products are dermatologist-tested to be safe and effective when used as directed, but if your skin does have a reaction, we recommend stopping use and contacting your dermatologist. If you determine that i-On® products are not a good match for your skincare needs, you can return the products to the company for a full refund.

Performance skincare combines natural ingredients with skin science to create functionally active products that are both effective and good for your skin. The active ingredients in i-On® products—such as pearl powder, which acts as a clearing agent in D.I.I® —are all naturally-derived.

Yes. Clinical trial participants saw a reduction in deep wrinkles during the test period.

One study participant with especially high body iron levels caused by smoking cigarettes (which increases iron levels, even after quitting) saw a significant reduction in deep wrinkles by day 42. This significant reduction clearly indicates an association between high iron and deep wrinkle formation.

No. All i-On® products are made with clean, natural and safe ingredients without sacrificing efficacy. Our Age Disrupting Skin Cream and Age Disrupting Total Performance Eye Cream do not contain any of the following: formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, methylene glycol, quaternium-15, mercury, dibutyl/diethyl hexyl phthalates, isobutyl/isopropyl parabens, any member of the family of toxic chemicals known as PFAS, and M- and o-phenylenediamine.

For broad spectrum protection and to safeguard our formulations, our products do contain globally-approved paraben-free, formaldehyde-free preservatives (Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol and Hexylene Glycol).

i-On® products contain the following key ingredients:

Key peptides, such as acetyl tetrapeptide-11, which helps skin look and feel healthier, and tetrapeptide-9, which help restores skin’s natural support system and stimulates collagen production for smoother, firmer skin

Portulaca Oleracea extract, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant properties to benefit sensitive and/or allergy-prone skin

Two super-charged forms of skin-replenishing hyaluronic acid formulated to help provide deeper and longer-lasting hydration

Naturally-derived olive-based squalane, which provides the skin with an additional moisture barrier

Our Age Disrupting Total Performance Eye Cream also contains Fucus Vesiculosus extract, a known heme oxygenase-1 inducer that acts to degrade hemoglobin, and thus, reduce dark circles.

Too much iron in the gut impacts the microbiome, and too much iron in the skin disrupts the microbiome of the skin. Thus, by removing iron from the skin, i-On® products can contribute to the health of the microbiome.

Yes. While pregnant women are not menopausal, they do not shed iron via menstruation, which, on average, releases about 40 milligrams of iron per menstrual cycle. The iron level can be built up in both the body and the skin during pregnancy. i-On® products are equally safe and effective for pregnant women as they are for postmenopausal women.

Yes. The removal of iron has the same positive impact on men’s skin because men excrete excess iron through their skin just like females.

Studies report that men experience simultaneous increases in testosterone and iron during their twenties. While men’s skin may continue to be protected from the effects of excess iron when this first occurs, their skin becomes less protected over time. As a result, increased iron has more damaging effects on the skin in older men vs. younger.

Yes. Blue light contains energy that can degrade ferritin in the same manner as UV rays, but to a somewhat lesser extent. This energy can create the same free radicals that cause oxidative damage, and thus, skin aging. The D.I.I.® technology in i-On® products prevents skin damage caused by blue light the same way it prevents skin damage caused by UV rays.

No. Melanin absorbs more UV rays, which means darker skin is better protected from UV damage. However, melanin can also bind to iron to create an iron-melanin complex that can act like ferritin by releasing excess iron, which causes skin aging. The D.I.I.® technology in i-On® products targets this excess iron the same way it targets excess iron released by ferritin.

Yes. Iron is present in all areas of the skin, so it is equally sensible to use our Age Disrupting Total Performance Eye Cream around the lips as it is the eyes.

No. All i-On® products are certified cruelty-free by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ Leaping Bunny Program, which administers an internationally recognized cruelty-free standard for companies producing animal-friendly cosmetics or household products. The Leaping Bunny Program provides the best assurance that no animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or its suppliers.

Third party manufacturing of i-On® products takes place at an industry-leading FDA-approved facility in the United States. Our primary packaging comes from a world leader in cosmetic packaging.

i-On® products undergo rigorous stability testing to ensure our formulas remain as potent and effective as possible. We also utilize airless packaging that allows for next-to-zero exposure to oxygen, which helps our products maintain their stability long after they leave the production line. For best results, we recommend using your products within one year of opening.

Currently, the shipping container, outer box and packaging insert that accompany i-On® products are all recyclable and made with recycled materials. FE:I Beauty Tech, i-On®’s parent company, is committed to driving more access to sustainable packaging and is working toward using recycled plastic for all its product containers.

At the time of i-On®’s initial launch with our Age Disrupting Skin Cream and Age Disrupting Total Performance Eye Cream, airless jars and pumps made from recyclable materials were not available for mass manufacturing. However, recent shifts within the industry have made these obtainable for use in our upcoming product launches, as well as additional production runs of our first two SKUs. Our ultimate goal is to make every aspect of our products and packaging as sustainable as possible, including implementing an efficient refillable program.

i-On® products that contain the patented DII® technology are housed in packaging with an airless pump system. Because of this vacuum style, formulas can occasionally have an issue dispensing, which happens when an air bubble gets inside.  No worries! We have quick tips to aid in expelling the excess air. 

First try priming to pump! Cover the opening where the formula dispenses with your finger and slowly pump up to 15 times. This should release the air bubble. Continue the prime process anytime you find this occurs until product releases.

Try tapping the bottom of the jar gently on the palm of your hand, hold in the upright position, slowly push down and slowly release the pump to prime. This may need to be repeated according to the amount of air inside.

Lastly, try turning the product over to find a small hole at the bottom of the jar. Inserting a paper clip into this hole raises the floor of the product and triggers the pump.

If all else fails, please email our support team at support@ionskincare.com and include the number located on the bottom of the jar and your original order number and we will have a replacement shipped out to you!

About Menopause & Skin Aging

Prior to menopause, women can rid the body of excess ferritin through menstruation, which leads to less ferritin-encapsulated iron in the skin. Iron levels in the form of ferritin have been measured to be 42% higher in postmenopausal skin. In pre-menopausal women, ferritin still delivers excess iron to the skin but to a lesser degree, making i-On® products ideal for a preventative anti-aging skincare regimen.

Over the course of five years, Dr. Xi Huang’s lab conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments to define the mechanism of interaction between estradiol—the strongest of the three estrogens—and hepcidin, the main iron regulatory hormone. (Low hepcidin production leads to iron overload, while high hepcidin leads to iron restriction.) Knowing that estradiol appears to inhibit hepcidin as a mechanism to compensate iron loss during menstruation, Dr. Huang and his team investigated whether changes in estradiol levels would lead to changes in iron levels.

If estrogen’s relationship to hepcidin was the defining factor in the iron storage levels after menopause—when the ovaries stop producing hepcidin-inhibiting estrogen—iron storage levels should be observed to be lower. The fact that iron storage levels in post-menopausal women is higher verifies that increased iron found in the skin of postmenopausal women is not directly caused by estrogen deficiency. By process of elimination, the cessation of menstruation is the cause of increased iron storage. This important distinction means that it is possible to target the cause of accelerated skin aging without risky estrogen therapy.

About Iron & Skin Aging

Iron is crucial for healthy functioning, but scientists first discovered nearly 40 years ago that in excess, it is implicated in a range of diseases (e.g., diabetes, Alzheimer’s, ALS, certain types of cancers, liver fibrosis, etc.), and the link between excess iron and skin degradation has been understood for more than 20 years. Iron can damage the body because it is a component of a chemical process called the “Fenton reaction” where iron and hydrogen peroxide can interact to create hydroxyl free radicals. Free radicals are naturally occurring, unstable extra electrons that seek out other extra electrons from healthy cells, damaging them and creating more free radicals in the process. Among the free radicals, hydroxyl free radicals have the most active chemical properties and cause the most harm.

Excretion via the skin is one of two ways women can remove excess iron from the body. The only other way is menstruation. In postmenopausal women, the skin accumulates larger deposits of ferritin carrying excess unused iron. There, it can react with ultraviolet light and promote more creation of free radicals.

Iron metabolism is dynamic, with iron being absorbed from our diets and excreted through the skin on a daily basis. Even at anemic condition, there is iron excretion in the skin, which causes skin aging. The use of i-On® products on the skin does not impact body iron status.

Yes, because iron is metabolized on a daily basis. If you stop using i-On® products, iron will build up again and cause new skin aging.

Regular foods contain sufficient iron to maintain body iron balance. Regardless of whether a 45+ woman eats processed or unprocessed foods, the cessation of menstruation and transition into menopause will add more iron to the body, resulting in excess iron.

Iron is one of the most abundant metals in the human body and is critical for normal physiological functions. It is a crucial part of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for delivering oxygen to all the body’s cells. Iron also supports muscle metabolism and healthy connective tissue, and is necessary for physical growth, neurological development, cellular functioning and the synthesis of some hormones.

D.I.I.® selectively focuses on the excess iron that has been excreted to the surface of your skin because your body does not need it, while avoiding the ferritin circulating in your bloodstream, which your body may need to perform critical functions. You should speak with a doctor or dietitian before modifying your diet.

The accepted normal range for blood ferritin is very broad. A healthy range for women is considered to be 11 to 307 micrograms per liter, and for men, it’s considered to be 24 to 336 micrograms per liter. Compared to other nutrients, this is a broad range. Given the potentially negative effects of excess iron, it is advisable to measure your ferritin levels during your annual checkup. Further research is warranted to identify a more precise healthy range.