I Reviewed True Botanicals’ Non-Toxic, Anti-Aging, (& Expensive!) Skincare.

As someone in my mid-30s who’s not doing injectables (no judgement if you are though), I’m always on the lookout for more gentle anti-aging skincare practices.

In addition to things like red light therapy, Frownies, and of course staying hydrated, I’ve also been putting several non-toxic anti-aging skincare brands.

I’ve actually wanted to try True Botanicals for years—like basically ever since I got into the low-tox game… but I honestly didn’t want to fork out the cash. 😬 Well, a year and a half ago, I finally pulled the trigger. And after using True Botanicals ever since then, I’m giving you my review here.

Let me just give you the spoiler right off the bat: I love these products. When I do my whole routine consistently, I can genuinely feel a difference in my skin. No, it’s not a *magical* change the way Botox is, but I think using these products over the long term will help us age gracefully, as they say.

The only real downside is the cost. If you’re looking for a budget skincare option, this brand is not for you. But if you’ve got some disposable income or you just really love skincare, then True Botanicals basically gets my whole-hearted recommendation.

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. This review is not sponsored and the product was not gifted (I bought it all!). As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine.

The brand in a nutshell

True Botanicals was started in Northern California by Hillary Peterson. After a cancer diagnosis, Hillary wanted to create products that “heal, protect, and perform—without harm to people or the planet.”

Every True Botanicals product is MADE SAFE Certified, which is one of my favorite third-party certifications for human safety. It means every single formulation has been verified to be free from a list over 15,000 known toxicants.

They also have several other safety & sustainability initiatives as well, including carbon offsetting, plastic packaging reduction, and being a member of 1% for the Planet and a certified B Corp.

Their products are also PETA approved vegan and cruelty-free.

In terms of creating formulations that actually work, the True Botanicals team is focused on formulas that are “bio-active, bio-compatible, bio-holistic, and bio-protective.” They’re basically combining science and nature to make sure their products

• a) can actually be absorbed by the skin (size matters!)
• b) are potent enough to actually restore and regenerate skin
• c) are pleasant to use
• d) and are safe

One of their most popular active ingredients is chebula. Their Chebula Active Serum is one of their most popular products, and although I haven’t tried that one yet, I do use their Chebula Eye Patches (see below) and it’s one of my favorite True Botanicals products.

Here’s how they describe chebula and why they use it: “Chebula is an ayurvedic fruit used for strengthening and nourishing the body. It is known as one of the most bioactive, photostable, broad spectrum, cascading antioxidants with an ORAC.” (ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It’s a lab measurement of how well a substance can neutralize free radicals in a test tube. In other words, it’s a measure of antioxidant strength.)

True Botanicals is also loved by a lot of celebs, including Jessica Chastain, Olivia Wilde, Laura Dern, and others. I love it anytime a truly non-toxic brand can break into the mainstream like that.

What skin type do you have?

Even though I’m focusing on anti-aging for this review, True Botanicals does have collections for other priorities as well:

• Acne-prone skin
• Sensitive skin
• Pregnancy safe
• Dark spots & discoloration

You can also grab a trial/travel set if you want to test out some minis first, or you can get a percentage off when you Build Your Own Bundle.

Where to buy True Botanicals

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My reviews

It was difficult to decide which specific products I wanted to buy—there are so many I want to try! But I basically went chose based on which ones were:

a) best sellers

b) anti-aging

c) ones I knew I’d genuinely use (for example, they have a popular cleansing balm, but I personally am just not super into cleansing balms)

Let’s start with one of their most popular products: the chebula eye patches.

Chebula Multi-Corrective Eye Patches

This one’s for the tired people!

I know how much people loooove their under eye patches. But unfortunately, a lot of them are made of single-use plastic. 😬 👎 But these ones use chondrus crispus powder (carrageenan), ceratonia siliqua (carob) gum, and xanthan gum instead. This creates a jelly under eye patch that stays in one piece as you wear it, but then can actually dissolve in warm water after use.

They use chebula as the primary ingredient, which they say is “nature’s most bioactive and potent antioxidant.” It also contains sodium hyaluronate (which is not the same thing as hyaluronic acid, but does a similar job), and green coffee seed extract for the caffeine.

The biggest immediate difference I see after using these is that my under eyes are definitely less puffy. I don’t see as much of an acute difference in my crow’s feet.

Btw, as you can see in the photos, you can wear these either way: put the thinner part against the inside of your eye if you want to target more of the crow’s feet area, or put the thicker part on the inside if you want to target more of the undereye area.

Price: $75

Would I re-buy it? $75 is a lot for me to spend on a product like this, but I would re-buy it for myself every once in a while. Especially during a big sale or as a holiday gift for myself. I am just mindful of how quickly I go through a jar. I wear these 1-2 times per week, or as needed (before an event or if I’m very short on sleep).

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SuperSEA Firming & Lifting Treatment

This is a really nice daytime serum that’s meant to tighten and firm the skin, “especially along the jawline, neck, face, and cheekbones.”

It’s called SuperSEA for a reason: they use several different seaweeds, sea minerals, and algae to give the serum its age-defying characteristics. But its biocompatible, which means it’s formulated to mirror the skin’s natural molecular composition. That makes is a great option for people with sensitive skin, too.

You can use this in the morning or nighttime. I mostly use it in the morning because I’m using the Phyto-Retinol Sleep Serum (below) at night. It’s lightweight, so it’s great for wearing under makeup. It has the slightest sticky feel so it, which I actually things makes for a great makeup primer.

It doesn’t really have a scent to it.

Price: $188

Would I re-buy it? Hmm, this is a tough one! If I had more disposable income, then yes, I wouldn’t hesitate. But it’s the most expensive product on this list, and I probably can’t justify paying that much on a regular basis. I do love it though.

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Phyto-Retinol Clinical Serum

This used to be called Phyto-Retinol Sleep Serum. Not sure why they changed it, but maybe because it can be used in the daytime as well.

It’s won several skincare awards, from publications like Byrdie, Bazaar, and Modern Luxury.

It has a slightly heavier feel than the SuperSEA serum, but it’s still pretty lightweight. It uses Peptilium® as its active ingredient, which is “a breakthrough ingredient clinically proven to work 2X faster and better than traditional retinol.” It doesn’t come with any of the sensitizing side effects that retinol does, though.

It also uses ingredients like primrose (for its anti-inflammatory properties) and astaxanthin, which is a red pigment found in plant life that is also an antioxidant and good for wrinkle reduction.

It has the slightest scent to it. I think it’s the primrose because it’s refreshing and a little floral-y. I really like it! It’s discreet though, so it probably won’t bother you, even if you’re sensitive to smells like I am.

Price: $90

Would I re-buy it? Yes. I really like both this serum and the SuperSEA above, but I’d be less hesitant to buy this one because of the more affordable price point.

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Phyto-Retinol Advanced Clinical Cream

This cream is on the thicker side, so a little goes a long way.

It’s basically the thicker, more moisturizing version of the Phyto-Retinol Sleep Serum above. They both use Peptilium® as the active, retinol-alternative ingredient. But this one also contains things like illipe butter (illipe is a kind of nut!) and carotenoid-rich oils to help improve elasticity, prevent dark spots, and decrease the look of wrinkles.

This one also has a very light scent to it, which I honestly really like. Again, I’m sensitive to smells and this one is not too strong for me at all.

I really only put this one on at night because of how thick it is. It definitely gives nourishing, hydrating vibes, and I love the way it feels on my skin. A lot of nighttime moisturizers feel oily, but this one doesn’t. I feel like it soaks in really well.

Price: $110

Would I re-buy it? Yes. This might be my favorite of all of the products I’ve tried so far (with the under eye patches close to tying). I just really like the way it feels on my skin and I think it does make a difference in the overall texture.

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At-Home Facialist Peel

I wanted to try this out to help even out my skin. And my skin is noticeably smoother after using it.

This is a thin mask, not one of those thick ‘detox’ clay ones. You can barely even see it when it’s on. I uses an effective blend of acids (AHA, BHA, PHA, and THX) for professional-grade exfoliation. And then they combine it with things like aloe leaf juice and antioxidant-rich rosemary help soothe the skin at the same time.

You can feel it working—there is definitely a tingly sensation—but it’s not too harsh for me at all. My face is not even red when I wash it off. (Just be careful not to use too much!)

Price: $68

Would I re-buy it? Absolutely. I notice a huge difference in the texture of my skin after using this and I think it could go a long way in preventing/reducing wrinkles. The only problem is: I have to remember to use it regularly!

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Pure Radiance Overnight Lip Treatment

I love this. While it’s technically meant to be an overnight treatment, I throw it on as a daytime lip gloss too.

It’s on the thicker side, so it feels kind of luxurious and it stays on pretty well. It’s mostly clear with a slight pink to it. It has a very smooth texture. It gives the slightest tingle, but it’s not something you’d really notice unless you were paying attention.

The primary ingredients they use to give your lips a fuller and less wrinkly look are:

• tsubaki oil, which helps to plump things up
• arctic cloudberry oil, which helps to retain moisture
• and red raspberry seed oil, which helps to repair and protect the lips

Does it make my lips look like I’ve had actual filler? No. But does it make them look slightly fuller and more hydrated without risking pillow face? Yes.

Price: $32

Would I re-buy it? Yes.

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My overall thoughts: is True Botanicals worth it?

If I was a rich old lady, True Botanicals would be my skincare brand of choice.

It’s got an elevated vibe that I really like, the products genuinely work, and they are totally non-toxic.

As you can see from my reviews, I’m willing to spend money on luxury skincare, but I also don’t have so much disposable income that I’m not mindful of how much my card is being charged for.

So considering that, I would personally prioritize spending on things like the Chebula Multi-Corrective Eye Patches, the Phyto-Retinol Advanced Clinical Cream, and the At-Home Facialist Peel, and I would de-prioritize things like the cleanser or nutrient mist. I just don’t feel as much of a need to buy expensive face wash.

Shop True Botanicals here:

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