You usually notice it in photographs first: the jawline looks a little softer than it used to, the skin looks flat under indoor lighting, and make-up settles into fine lines instead of sitting on top of them. Firmness and glow are the two qualities that make skin look awake and healthy, and they are often the first to fade. Vitamin C is the classic answer — but which vitamin C, and can it live in the same routine as retinol? Marini SkinSolutions, the professional skincare brand formerly known as Jan Marini, answers that question with C-ESTA: stable vitamin C combined with DMAE, developed for skin that has lost tone and radiance.
Why firmness and glow fade
Skin firmness depends largely on the quality of the support structures in the deeper layers of the skin, and on how well the surface reflects light. From our late twenties onwards, cell turnover slows down, the skin holds less water and the surface becomes less even — which means light scatters instead of bouncing back. Add the everyday load of UV exposure, pollution, screen-heavy evenings, short nights, stress, smoking and sugar-rich food, and the result is a face that looks tired even when you feel fine.
Two things are worth being honest about. First, no cream can replace what time and sun have changed; skincare works on the appearance and condition of the skin. Second, results come from consistency and from protecting the skin as much as from treating it. A well-chosen antioxidant routine, applied daily and combined with sunscreen, does more than an expensive product used twice a month.
What vitamin C does — and what it doesn't
Vitamin C is one of the most studied ingredients in cosmetic dermatology, and it earns its reputation for a reason. As an antioxidant it helps the skin cope with the daily oxidative load it faces, and it is widely used in professional skincare for a brighter, more even, more radiant complexion. Skin that has been treated consistently with a well-formulated vitamin C tends to look fresher and less dull.
What vitamin C does not do: it does not replace sun protection, it does not work overnight, and it does not perform if the formula is unstable. Vitamin C is notoriously sensitive to air, light and water, which is why formulation and packaging matter as much as the ingredient list. This is exactly where a professional-grade product earns its place: a stabilised system, in packaging designed to protect it. In its move from Jan Marini to Marini SkinSolutions, the brand kept the formulas and active ingredients identical while switching to fully recyclable packaging with pump bottles instead of jars and pipettes — better for hygiene, and better for delicate actives.
Why C-ESTA pairs vitamin C with DMAE
C-ESTA is the line Marini SkinSolutions built around stable vitamin C in combination with DMAE, a pairing chosen for skin that needs both firmness and light. Where vitamin C is the antioxidant and radiance component, DMAE is the element the line is known for when the goal is a firmer, more toned, more defined look — think cheeks, jawline and the area around the eyes.
In practice, C-ESTA suits people who recognise themselves in words like "my skin looks tired", "my contours are less crisp" or "my skin has no glow". It is a correcting step, not a heavy anti-wrinkle treatment, and it works beautifully as the daytime counterpart to a retinol used at night.
How to combine C-ESTA with retinol
Vitamin C and retinol are not enemies — they simply have different jobs and different comfort zones. The simplest and most reliable approach is to split them across the day:
Morning: cleanse, apply your C-ESTA serum on clean, dry skin, follow with a moisturiser and always finish with sun protection. Vitamin C in the morning works with your sunscreen as part of your daily defence routine.
Evening: cleanse, then apply retinol — for example Age Intervention Retinol Plus, known for 0.3% retinol with peptides — followed by a moisturiser if your skin needs it.
If you prefer to use both at night, apply them on separate evenings while your skin is still adjusting. A few practical rules that prevent almost all problems: introduce one new active at a time, start retinol two or three evenings a week and build up slowly, do not combine retinol with strong acid exfoliation or a peel on the same night, and never skip daily SPF. Signs that you are pushing too hard are tightness, stinging, flaking and patchy redness — in that case scale back the frequency for a week or two and keep hydrating. If your skin is very reactive, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a skin therapist or your GP before starting retinol.
A simple five-step routine
Marini SkinSolutions is known for its Skin Care Management System approach in five steps: cleanse, correct or rejuvenate, renew, hydrate and protect. Applied to a firmness-and-glow goal, that looks like this: a cleanser that leaves the skin comfortable but properly clean; C-ESTA as your correcting antioxidant step in the morning; a renewing step such as retinol at night; a moisturiser suited to your skin type; and broad-spectrum sun protection every single day. Give any new routine at least eight to twelve weeks before you judge it — skin renews slowly, and glow arrives before firmness does.
Which Marini SkinSolutions products fit here
C-ESTA Face Serum
The hero of the line: stable vitamin C with DMAE, formulated for skin that looks dull and has lost definition. Use it in the morning on clean, dry skin, before your moisturiser and sunscreen. Ideal if your main concerns are firmness, tone and radiance, and it pairs naturally with a retinol used at night. View C-ESTA Face Serum
C-ESTA Cleansing Gel
A cleansing gel from the same line, for people who want their first step to match the rest of their routine. It removes make-up, sunscreen and daily grime without leaving the skin feeling stripped, so your serum can be applied to a clean, receptive surface. Suitable for morning and evening use. View C-ESTA Cleansing Gel
Age Intervention retinol as your evening step
If firmness and skin texture are your priority, a retinol at night is the logical partner to vitamin C in the morning. The Age Intervention line includes Retinol Plus and the stronger Retinol Plus MD, plus supporting products such as Peptide Extreme and Face Cream. Start low, build slowly, and always protect during the day. View the Age Intervention line
Frequently asked questions
Is C-ESTA still the same product now that Jan Marini is called Marini SkinSolutions?
Yes. Marini SkinSolutions (voorheen Jan Marini), founded in 1994 in San José, California, officially became Marini SkinSolutions in June 2025. The formulas, active ingredients and professional standard are unchanged; what changed is the name and the packaging, which is now sustainable and fully recyclable, in green instead of silver and with pump bottles for better hygiene. The transition runs until mid-2026, so you may receive either design.
Can I use C-ESTA Face Serum and retinol together?
Yes, and it is a popular combination. The easiest way is vitamin C in the morning and retinol in the evening, so each active has its own moment. If you want both at night, alternate evenings while your skin adjusts, and avoid layering retinol with strong exfoliating acids on the same night. Introduce one new product at a time.
Morning or evening, and how long before I see a difference?
C-ESTA Face Serum is most commonly used in the morning, under moisturiser and sunscreen. Many people notice a fresher, more luminous look within a few weeks, while changes in firmness and tone take longer — plan on eight to twelve weeks of consistent daily use before you evaluate the result.
Not sure where to start, or do you want to build a complete routine step by step? Explore the full Marini SkinSolutions range at Beautyfashionshop, official stockist via the Dutch distributor, or go straight to the C-ESTA collection and the Age Intervention line. If your skin is very sensitive or reactive, or if you are unsure which strength suits you, check with a skin therapist or your GP first.
