If your skin flares along your hairline, your eyebrows, the sides of your nose, behind your ears — the places nobody puts on a skincare box — you're in the right place. A lot of our customers came to us for their scalp and then told us the same thing was happening on their face.
And if your skin is somehow dry and oily at once, tight in some places and shiny in others: that's not a contradiction and you're not doing it wrong. It's one of the most common things we hear.
This is a lightweight essence — a water-based liquid, not a heavy facial oil. Aloe and witch hazel lead the formula, with prebiotic ferments, humectants, gentle exfoliating acids, and a small amount of botanical oils blended in. It sinks in fast and doesn't sit on top of your skin. Light herbal scent.
What it's for
- Helps soften the look of rough, flaky, uneven texture
- Helps reduce the appearance of congestion and clogged-looking pores
- Helps improve the look of dullness and uneven tone
- Supports the skin's moisture barrier
- Made with reactive, easily-irritated skin in mind
How to use
After cleansing and toning, press a few drops into dry skin. Follow with your moisturizer.
Start slowly — two or three nights a week, and build up only if your skin is comfortable. This formula contains both an AHA and a BHA; more often is not better.
Use it at night. Many customers prefer evening application, and it pairs better with a morning sunscreen.
Patch test first. Apply a small amount to your inner forearm and wait 24 hours before using it on your face — standard practice with any exfoliating product.
⚠️ Sun sensitivity. This product contains an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that may increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Use a sunscreen and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.
A note on the first two weeks. Some people see more flaking or texture before they see less. That's common with exfoliating acids and it usually settles. We wrote about why here → Skin Purging: Why You May Flake More Before It Gets Better
If your skin is broken, actively inflamed, or you're pregnant, nursing, or under a doctor's care for a skin condition — check with your clinician first. This is a cosmetic product, not a treatment for any diagnosed condition.
What's in it, and why
Some of these botanicals come out of Southern and Louisiana plant tradition — knowledge that was passed down long before anyone was studying it in a lab. We use them because they belong to this brand's lineage as much as for what they do. Where something is here for heritage, we say so.
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Organic — The base of the formula. Hydrating and soothing on contact.
Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Organic — A traditional botanical astringent. Helps skin feel clarified and look less shiny.
Polysorbate 20 — A solubilizer. It keeps the oils and the water-based ingredients evenly blended so the formula stays consistent from the first drop to the last.
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate — Part of how we keep the formula fresh and stable over the life of the bottle.
Inulin — A prebiotic-type ingredient derived from plant root. It's a humectant, which means it helps skin hold onto water.
DL-Panthenol (Vitamin B5) — One of the best-studied comfort ingredients in skincare. Helps skin hold moisture and feel less tight.
Lactobacillus Ferment — A probiotic-derived ferment. Part of the microbiome-conscious approach this whole brand is built around.
Vegetable Glycerin, Organic — A humectant, and one of the most reliable hydrating ingredients there is. It works right at the skin's surface, which is exactly the point.
Salicylic Acid (BHA) — Oil-soluble, so it mixes with the oils on your skin and inside the pore rather than sitting on top. It helps loosen the buildup that makes pores look congested.
Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract — A long-used botanical for the look of uneven tone and dark marks.
Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate — A postbiotic. Helps support the skin's moisture barrier.
Juglans Nigra (Black Walnut) Seed Oil — A heritage ingredient. Black walnut has deep roots in Southern plant tradition, and it's here for that reason.
Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed Oil — A botanical oil that adds to the formula's fresh, herbal character.
Vanillin Oil (Vanilla Natural Oil) — Natural vanilla. It is part of how this serum smells.
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Organic — Rich in linoleic acid. Helps soften and condition, and supports the skin's moisture barrier.
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Organic — One of the oldest botanicals in skin care. Comforting on skin that feels reactive.
Lactic Acid (AHA) — Water-soluble, so it works at the very surface, loosening the bonds between dead skin cells. That's how AHAs smooth the look of texture and even out the look of tone.
Opuntia Ficus-Indica (Prickly Pear) Seed Oil, Organic — Linoleic-acid-rich and lightweight. Hydrating without heaviness.
Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil, Organic — Conditioning, and traditionally used on the look of marks and uneven tone.
Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic — A light, non-greasy oil with a fatty acid profile well suited to facial skin.
Eugenia Caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil — A traditional aromatic botanical, used here at a low level.
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil — One of the most familiar botanicals in skincare, used here at a low level.
Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil, Organic — Bright and fresh. Adds to the feel of a clarified complexion.
Phenoxyethanol and Ethylhexylglycerin — The preservative system. It keeps the formula stable and safe to use over the life of the bottle.
AHAs and BHAs, plainly
AHAs (like the lactic acid here) are water-soluble. They work at the very surface, loosening dead skin cells so texture looks smoother and tone looks more even. Better suited to skin that reads dry or rough.
BHAs (like the salicylic acid here) are oil-soluble. They mix with the oil in and around your pores, which is why they're the ones people reach for when pores look congested. Better suited to skin that reads oily or clogged.
This formula has both — at gentle levels — because most of our customers aren't one or the other. They're the dry-and-oily-at-the-same-time people.
Full Ingredient List
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract*, Polysorbate 20, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Inulin, DL-Panthenol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Vegetable Glycerin*, Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Juglans Nigra (Black Walnut) Seed Oil, Citrus paradisi (grapefruit) seed oil, Vanillin Oil (Vanilla Natural Oil), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil and Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Lactic acid, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil*, Rosa Canina Fruit (Rosehip) Oil*, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) seed oil*, Eugenia caryophyllus (Clove) Flower Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Citrus sinensis (Orange) Oil*, Phenoxyethanol and Ethylhexylglycerin
*Organic
Pairs with
Use after Refresh Toning Mist, and finish with Get Glowing Mist or your usual moisturizer.
Dealing with the same thing on your scalp? A lot of our customers are. YeastDefense® Scalp Solution is the scalp side of this routine.
