Description
INGREDIENTS: Distilled water, grape seed oil, jojoba oil, watercress extract (and) sage extract (and) burdock root extract (and) lemon peel extract (and) ivy extract (and) saponaria extract (and) bladderwrack extract; argan oil (and) serenoa serrulata fruit extract (and) sesame seed oil (and) beta-sitosterol; pseudoalteromonas ferment extract, hydroxyethyl acrylate (and) sodium acryloydimethyl (and) taurate copolymer, lactobacillus ferment, tocopherol, fragrance, bisabolol, phenoxyethanol
INGREDIENTS EXPLAINED:
Grapeseed oil: Grapeseed oil is another fast-absorbing, non-greasy oil. It is also a good oil for combo/oily skin, as it won’t cause breakouts either. It has a high concentration of antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids. It is present in this formula as a fast-absorbing emollient.
Jojoba oil: Jojoba oil is a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil with a structure similar to that of sebum, which is produced by the skin. It is a great emollient to use in formulas for oily/combo skin because it won’t cause breakouts. In this formula, it is present as a fast-absorbing emollient.
Watercress extract (and) sage extract (and) burdock root extract (and) lemon peel extract (and) ivy extract (and) saponaria extract (and) bladderwrack extract: This ingredient is a complex of plant extracts that is specifically made for skin with excessive sebum production. It helps to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria as well.
Argan oil (and) serenoa serrulata fruit extract (and) sesame seed oil (and) beta-sitosterol: This ingredient is a botanical complex shown to help regulate sebum production in the long-term, reduce the greasy appearance of skin, reduce pore size, and smooth skin. NOTE: the mechanism by which this ingredient achieves these effects is receptor-mediated, so you will need to use the product containing it consistently for about a week before you will see results.
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract: This ingredient functions to reduce skin’s sebum production, it is an antioxidant, and it is also anti-inflammatory.
Hydroxyethyl acrylate / sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer: This ingredient is the gelling agent for the serum. It is a Hydro-Swelling Droplet (HSD) form of emulsifier, and is used for cold emulsions, in which no ingredients are heated during the formulation of the product.
Lactobacillus ferment: This ingredient is a preservative, and is responsible for preventing the growth of bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, etc.
Tocopherol: Tocopherol is Vitamin E, and acts as a preservative in this formula, preventing the oxidation of the oils in the product and increasing the shelf life.
Fragrance: This is the scent that is added to the product. Fragrance oil manufacturers are not required by law to disclose what compounds are in their fragrance oils. However, some will tell you what is NOT in their fragrance oils, and I base my fragrance oil purchases on this information. I make sure my fragrance oils are free of phthalates and known carcinogens. Because fragrance may be a source of irritation in a product formula, I offer all my products fragrance free as well as scented.
Bisabolol: Bisabolol is an alcohol purified from the Candeia tree that is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, is skin protective, and helps restore elasticity to skin. It is also a penetration enhancer, which is a compound that opens a pathway into skin cells, allowing other ingredients greater access than they could get in its absence.
Phenoxyethanol: This ingredient is a preservative, and is responsible for preventing the growth of bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, etc.
Carolyn Stilwell (verified owner) –
By far my favorite serum for my oily skin. It doesn’t leave me feeling dry or greasy. I’ve used this for a couple summers now and when I use it regularly (as instructed) with city skin night cream it is the only thing that keeps my skin from becoming an oil slick.
Sarah Zamminer (verified owner) –
I use this serum at night because nighttime is when I produce the most oil. I’m pretty sure this is also purging my pores because I have stuff coming out of my face in places I didn’t even know I had stuff. But when I look closely after just a week I can already tell my pores look visibly smaller and I have less blackheads on my nose and chin area.
Marissa Kramer (verified owner) –
I’ve tried a million oil control products. Most just don’t work. The ones that kind of worked made my face super red and irritated. This stuff is the best. It’s light, doesn’t leave a gross film on your face, and it really works. When I don’t it on hand, my glasses can’t even stay in place because my T-zone is so greasy. It’s a little light for winter so I only use it on the T-zone every other day during really cold/windy/dry weather.