Laurel claims this serum is “100% active botanical actives.” Sounds incredible. Then I read the ingredient list and spotted *Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate* — that’s the fancy name for a preservative system, not a skin-loving active.
It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s the kind of marketing math that makes me roll my eyes. If 100% of the bottle is active, why do you need a preservative? Because botanicals rot, that’s why. Just say that.
This is a water-free, oil-based serum that costs $88 for 1 oz. I tried it because the “no water, no preservatives needed” pitch is my kryptonite.
Water-Free Base
It’s pure plant oils — no water means bacteria have a harder time partying.
Cold-Pressed Actives
The oils aren’t heat-processed, so they keep more of their natural vitamins.
Glass Dropper
Feels luxe, but the dropper sucks up too much product — you’ll waste a drop every time.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
The hero is *Sea Buckthorn* oil — that orange stuff that smells like a fruit salad and stains your pillowcase. It’s packed with omega-7, which is legitimately great for calming irritated skin. The *Rosehip* oil is the workhorse, but it’s way down the list, so it’s more of a sidekick than the star.
- Sea Buckthorn: Anti-inflammatory omega-7, but dyes your skin orange if you use too much
- Rosehip: Lightweight linoleic acid, good for texture but not the main event
- Camellia: Sinks in fast, leaves zero grease
- Rosemary Extract: Natural antioxidant, but also the preservative system’s backup dancer
Photo: Kaeme / Unsplash
Texture is a thin oil — absorbs in about 45 seconds, which is slow for an oil. It leaves a dewy sheen that looks like sweat if you apply more than three drops. My T-zone felt like a frying pan by noon.
By week two, my cheeks felt softer, but my forehead had two new closed comedones. The “clean” formula doesn’t mean “non-comedogenic” — this is rich stuff.
Photo: Eurico Craveiro / Unsplash
My dry patches disappeared. My pores didn’t change. The glow is real, but it’s the kind of glow that needs blotting paper by 3 PM.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
It’s a good serum for dry skin, but the “100% active” claim is marketing fluff. The preservative is necessary, the price is aspirational, and the results are solid — not spectacular.