The 2026 reformulation hit shelves and the Reddit threads are messy. I tested the new one for three weeks straight so you don’t have to gamble your $28.
The old version was a dewy, milky hug. The new one is a clear gel that acts like it has somewhere to be. That shift alone changes everything.
It’s a gel-cream hybrid priced at $28 for 100ml. The brand claims “skin-clearing hydration” via fermented tea — which sounds like a kombucha cleanse for your face.
Clear Gel Base
Gone is the creamy emulsion; this sinks in like a toner that decided to commit.
Faster Absorption
It’s dry to the touch in about 20 seconds. No sticky film, no waiting around.
Scent Shift
The old one smelled like sweet tea. This one smells like a cucumber that read a philosophy book.
Photo: Viva Luna Studios / Unsplash
They swapped the heavy oils for a lighter ester blend. The fermented complex is still there, but the texture vehicle is completely different — it’s a water-gel now, not an oil-in-water cream.
- Kombucha Fermented Tea: Calms redness and gently exfoliates over time
- Centella Asiatica: Speeds up healing for angry breakouts
- Niacinamide: Fades the dark spots you pretend not to see
- Beta-Glucan: Holds moisture without feeling like a slug
Photo: Sarah Dorweiler / Unsplash
First pump, it feels like cold aloe slipping across skin. Then it vanishes — no residue, no dew, just a matte-ish softness that feels almost powder-like.
By week two, I noticed my pores looked smaller. Not *gone* — but they stopped throwing a party every afternoon. The weird part? My cheeks felt less bouncy than with the old formula. That plumpness is traded for oil control.
Photo: Evangeline Sarney / Unsplash
My redness dropped about 30% and my t-zone stopped looking like a glazed donut by 3pm. However, my fine lines didn’t get the memo — this is not a moisturizer that fights aging, it’s a hydrator that keeps your skin calm.
Photo: Laura Chouette / Unsplash
The reformulation is objectively better for acne-prone, oily skin — but it abandoned the dry-skin devotees who made it cult. You’re not the target anymore, and that’s okay.