The bottle screams “microbiome-safe” and “Eighth Day purity.” But flip it over — two ingredients tell a different story. Phenoxyethanol (a preservative linked to skin irritation) and PEG-100 Stearate (a penetration enhancer that can drag unwanted stuff deeper into your skin). For a $195 cream, that’s not clean. That’s clever marketing.
This matters because “clean beauty” has no legal definition. Brands bank on you not reading the label. I did.
🧪 **The $195 Question**
It’s a thick, balm-like moisturizer in a heavy glass jar. $195 for 1.7 oz. The claim that got me: “formulated for the skin microbiome — not against it.”
1. **Microbiome-Friendly Complex** — Prebiotics to feed good bacteria. Sounds nice. But the preservatives might still nuke them.
2. **Ceramide Blend** — Three types to patch the barrier. Legit.
3. **Adaptogenic Mushrooms** — Reishi and shiitake. Anti-inflammatory, not just hype.
🌿 **Ingredients: The Good, The Bad, The Greenwashed**
Hero ingredients are real: bakuchiol (gentle retinol alternative), squalane (hydration without grease), and tremella mushroom (holds 500x its weight in water). But the preservative system is outdated — phenoxyethanol is common, but in a “clean” product at this price? Lazy.
– Bakuchiol: Smooths lines, zero irritation
– Squalane: Locks moisture, non-comedogenic
– Tremella Mushroom: Plumps better than hyaluronic acid
– Phenoxyethanol: Preservative, potential irritant
⚠️ **Feels Rich. Smells Like… Nothing?**
First pump — it’s dense. Like cold butter. Melts in 15 seconds into a velvety finish. No fragrance, which I respect. But it sits heavy if you use more than a pea-size.
Week 3: Skin looked… fine. Plumper, yes. But not $195 fine. What surprised me? It broke me out slightly around my chin. That PEG-100 Stearate is a known comedogenic trigger.
💡 **One Thing**: Warm it between your fingers for 5 seconds before pressing into damp skin. Reduces the heavy feel and spreads farther.
✅ **Would I Tell a Friend to Buy It?**
My skin looked calmer. Redness dialed down maybe 20%. But those breakouts? Not worth it for the price. Fine lines stayed the same.
– **Buy if**: You have dry, reactive skin and a budget that doesn’t flinch at $195.
– **Skip if**: You’re oily, acne-prone, or actually reading labels.
– **Worth it?** No. There are better microbiome-friendly creams at half the price (looking at you, Biossance).
💡 **My Real Take**
It’s a good cream wrapped in greenwashing. The microbiome claim is mostly marketing — the preservatives contradict it. If you want luxury that’s actually clean, spend your money elsewhere.
**6.5/10** — Greenwashed luxury, not truly clean.
🛍️ **Where to Buy**: Eighth Day’s website only. Try the travel size ($55) first — you’ll know by week two if it’s for you.