You know that “100% natural” serum everyone on Instagram is crying about? Yeah, I bought it too. Then I read the full ingredient list — past the pretty marketing page.
There’s a synthetic preservative hiding in there. Phenoxyethanol. It’s not the devil, but it’s *not* natural, and Blanchette is letting the “clean” label do all the heavy lifting. Nobody’s calling them out on it.
It’s a lightweight facial oil-serum hybrid. $78 for 30ml — squarely in “treat yourself but don’t tell your husband” territory. The claim that hooked me: “visible renewal in 4 weeks.” Bold. I wanted proof.
Texture Game
Oil-serum hybrid that sinks in before you finish your morning coffee — no greasy film on your phone screen.
Scent Profile
Smells like a fancy spa, not a perfume counter. Faint citrus-herbal, fades in 2 minutes flat.
The Pump
Actually dispenses the right amount. No over-pumping, no waste. Shocking for this price point.
Photo: Mockup Free / Unsplash
It’s got some legit heavy hitters. But the “hero” ingredients are buried lower on the list than you’d think — and that preservative is sitting right in the middle, pretending it belongs.
- Bakuchiol: Plant-based retinol alternative — gentle enough for reactive skin
- Squalane: The moisture trap that actually locks in hydration
- Vitamin C (THD): Stable form that brightens without the sting
- Phenoxyethanol: The sneaky synthetic preservative they don’t mention on the label
Photo: Ela De Pure / Unsplash
First drop: feels like silk water. Absorbs in 10 seconds, leaves a subtle glow that isn’t greasy. I was skeptical — most “clean” oils sit on top of my skin like a sad film.
Week 3: my forehead lines looked… softer? Not gone, but like someone turned down the contrast. By month 4, my skin had this lit-from-within thing that wasn’t there before. But it didn’t touch my dark spots. At all. Don’t believe the “brightening” claims.
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
My skin is measurably bouncier. The fine lines around my eyes are definitely softer. But my sun spots? Still there. And the “natural” claim? Debatable at best.
Photo: VENUS MAJOR / Unsplash
It’s a solid, effective serum — just not the “100% natural” miracle they’re selling. Use it for the bakuchiol, ignore the label, and you’ll be happy.