I’m three weeks into testing Glow Lab’s Bakuchiol Firming Serum, and my skin looks like I actually slept last night—which I did not. The brand is New Zealand’s fastest-growing clean beauty export, and they’re banking on a native superfruit to do what retinol promises without the peeling.
One thing nobody tells you: the bottle is frosted glass with a dropper that actually sucks up the right amount. Feels expensive. Costs like a nice dinner out.
It’s a bakuchiol serum—basically retinol’s chill cousin—priced at $34 NZD for 30ml. The claim: firmness and fine-line reduction in 4 weeks, zero irritation.
Bakuchiol 2%
Extracted from babchi seeds, not synthetic. Clinically shown to boost collagen without the purge.
CoQ10 + Vitamin E
Antioxidant double-act that doesn’t just sit on your skin—actually sinks in.
Hyaluronic Acid
The low-molecular kind, so it hydrates deeper than the cheap stuff.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
No retinoids. No fragrance. No nonsense. The hero is bakuchiol—a plant compound that’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine forever but only recently got the clinical trials treatment. It triggers the same collagen receptors as retinol, just without the redness or flaking.
- Bakuchiol: Stimulates collagen, fights photoaging, zero irritation
- CoQ10: Energizes skin cells, softens fine lines
- Vitamin E: Locks moisture, calms inflammation
- Hyaluronic Acid: Holds 1000x its weight in water, plumps instantly
Photo: Chalo Garcia / Unsplash
Texture is a lightweight gel-oil hybrid—runs like a thin oil but dries down to nothing in about 15 seconds. No sticky film. No shiny face at 10am. I actually forgot I was wearing it the first week, which is either a compliment or a red flag.
Week two: my forehead lines looked… softer? Not gone, but like someone turned down the contrast. Week three: a zit on my chin healed faster than usual. Unexpected win.
After 21 days: skin is firmer in the cheek area, nasolabial folds look less etched, and I didn’t peel once. The laugh lines around my eyes? Still there. But less dramatic. It’s a smooth operator, not a miracle worker.
Glow Lab’s serum is proof that clean beauty doesn’t have to mean weak beauty. It’s firming, it’s gentle, and it actually does what it says—without the drama.