$72 for a dropper bottle and a *lot* of buzzwords. The brand calls it “eco-luxury” — but I counted three separate plastic components in the packaging before I even got to the serum. That’s not luxury. That’s a marketing budget.
The real issue? The “clean” label is doing heavy lifting here. Clean doesn’t mean effective. And this serum’s ingredient list tells a different story than the Instagram captions.
🧴 **What’s in the Bottle**
It’s an adaptogenic face serum. $72 for 1 oz. The claim that hooked me: “stress-proof your skin with reishi.” I’ve tried a dozen mushroom serums — this one sounded different.
1. **Texture** — Thin, watery gel. Absorbs in 12 seconds flat. No film.
2. **Scent** — Earthy but faint. Like a forest floor that got washed.
3. **Packaging** — Glass dropper inside a cardboard sleeve. Recyclable? Sure. But the dropper mechanism broke on day 5.
🌿 **Ingredient Decoder**
Reishi extract is listed third. That’s decent — but it’s a standardized extract, not the whole mushroom. Niacinamide is actually higher on the list. Glycerin is the real MVP here.
– Reishi mushroom extract: Calms redness, theoretically. Studies are on mice.
– Niacinamide: Actually proven to brighten and strengthen barrier.
– Sodium hyaluronate: Hydration. Basic. Works.
– Glycerin: The unsung hero. This is what makes your skin feel soft.
📦 **The Test Drive**
First pump: watery, almost disappointing. Sinks in like I spilled water on my face. No tackiness — which is rare. Feels like nothing, which some people love.
Week 2: My skin didn’t freak out. That’s a win. But the “glow” everyone talks about? I think that’s just the glycerin doing its job. One weird thing — it pills under sunscreen. Every. Single. Time.
💡 *One Thing*: Apply to damp skin, not dry. Pat, don’t rub. Cuts the pilling in half.
⚗️ **The Verdict, Not the Promise**
Redness? Slightly less angry after three weeks. Texture? Smoother, but no miracles. Pores? Same size. The reishi isn’t doing anything your basic niacinamide serum couldn’t do for half the price.
✅ **Buy if** — You want a lightweight, no-fuss hydration step and you’re okay paying for the aesthetic.
⏭️ **Skip if** — You have dry skin (this isn’t enough) or you’re allergic to fragrance (there’s a tiny bit of citrus oil).
💰 **Worth it?** — At $72/oz? No. Get The Ordinary Niacinamide for $6. Same results, zero greenwashing.
✅ **Final Score**
6.5/10 — Pretty bottle, average results.
🛍️ *Where to Buy* — Sephora online only. Buy the travel size first ($28). You’ll know by week one if it’s for you.