Caldera + Lab is a men’s skincare brand that sets themselves apart by combining pharmaceutical grade science with hand-harvested wild and organic botanicals, creating a line of clean skin care products with pure and potent ingredients.
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| Rank | Brand | Link | |||||
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| - | Caldera + Lab |
In this Caldera + Lab review, we’ll discuss the brand’s best selling products, including the key ingredients and the research that supports (or doesn’t support) their use in skincare.
We’ll also share some Caldera + Lab reviews so that you can get an idea of what customers really think of these products.
What Are The Top 5 Best Caldera + Lab Skincare Products?
Caldera + Lab offers everything that you would need to create a complete skincare routine, including a cleanser, moisturizer, serum, sunscreen, and more. Here’s a breakdown of the top 5 best Caldera + Lab skincare products.
Caldera + Lab The Good
By far the brand’s most popular product is Caldera + Lab The Good, a night serum that promises to improve skin tightness and smoothness, thereby minimizing the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles.
The formula includes over a dozen botanical extracts, including high concentrations of fireweed extract and astragalus root.
Fireweed extract contains antioxidants that may help neutralize free radicals, which can contribute to premature aging and skin damage.
Astragalus root, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies suggest that astragalus may stimulate the production of collagen, a crucial protein for maintaining s
kin elasticity and firmness. Enhanced collagen synthesis can contribute to smoother and more youthful-looking skin.
ALTERNATIVE: If you are concerned about aging skin and looking for professional grade products that are also clean, Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains a peptide complex to target multiple signs of aging.
Caldera + Lab The Clean Slate
The Clean Slate is a pH-balanced facial cleanser that uses gentle surfactants, plant-based ingredients, probiotic ferments, and PHAs to cleanse, rebalance natural oils, and gently exfoliate skin without drying it out.
The formula also contains squalane, as an effective emollient and moisturizer. It helps to dissolve and lift away impurities and makeup while maintaining the skin’s natural moisture barrier. Unlike harsh cleansers that may strip the skin of its natural oils, squalane ensures a gentle cleansing experience, leaving the skin clean, soft, and hydrated.
The only problem we see with this cleanser is the inclusion of fragrance ingredients, which have the potential to cause skin sensitivity reactions.
Caldera + Lab The Face SPF
Finding a 100% mineral sunscreen that doesn’t leave a white cast can be a challenge, but certainly not impossible. This Caldera + Lab sunscreen promises to be a no-white cast lightweight 100% mineral face sunscreen with SPF 30, providing broad spectrum protection against sun exposure (both UVA and UVB rays) and leaving a subtle matte finish.
The formula also helps combat signs of aging thanks to bakuchiol, a plant-based retinol alternative. Bakuchiol has been shown to produce many of the same effects of using retinol, including the ability to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and reduce the effects of sun damage (including uneven skin tone). One of the main benefits of bakuchiol is that it provides retinol-like effects without irritation.
Caldera + Lab The Base Layer
The Base Layer is a daytime facial moisturizer that’s formulated to rub in easily and leave your skin with a shine-free, matte finish. There’s high concentrations of lightweight emollients like squalane and sunflower seed oil that soften skin without feeling greasy.
While this moisturizer does not contain SPF, it does help protect against free radical damage with Buddleja stem cell extracts, as well as antioxidant-rich adaptogens wild indigo cardamon, and licorice root.
Lastly, snow mushroom extract provides deep hydration and supports the skin barrier function.
The only problem we see with this moisturizer is the inclusion of fragrance ingredients, which have the potential to cause skin sensitivity reactions.
ALTERNATIVES: Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer. It’s overflowing with potent plant proteins, vitamins, peptides and amino-collagen.
Caldera + Lab The Eyecon
The Caldera + Lab eye serum is formulated to address the three most common skin concerns around the eye: fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness.
One of the key ingredients that tackles these signs of aging is hexapeptide-11, a signaling peptide that improves the skin’s elasticity and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
Similar to the brand’s other products, the eye serum contains plenty of botanical extracts that are rich in antioxidants to reduce inflammation around the eyes and also provide protection against environmental free radicals.
ALTERNATIVES: If you are concerned about aging around the eyes including bags, one product we recommend is Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream.
What Are The Key Ingredients in Caldera + Lab Skincare Products?
The process that Caldera + Lab Goes through to choose the ingredients for their products is actually quite impressive, beginning with a list of over 2,000 botanicals!
The brand’s chemists and formulators evaluate these botanicals for the best antioxidant and nutrient profiles, and bioavailability. They select botanicals that are clinically-proven, 100% fair trade, wild-harvested or organic, and sourced from the most potent variety — no matter where on the planet that is!
Their rigorous formulation process led to the creation of the Wild Antioxidant Complex, the core component of the Caldera + Lab skincare line.
The Wild Antioxidant Complex is a custom blend of nutrient dense wild botanicals that the brand hand harvested each year near The Teton Mountain Range.
It includes fireweed, yarrow, nettle, elderflower and other antioxidant-packed plants that have been used for centuries for their skin healing properties. The antioxidants in these botanical extracts limit oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
The International Dermal Institute explains, “Antioxidants help prevent such damage by giving free radicals what they want before they attack your cells.”
This is important because when oxidative damage accumulates in the skin the result is inflammation, uneven skin tone, and premature signs of aging.
Therefore, it’s important to reinforce your skin by applying products with antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as the Caldera + Lab products.
One thing we wanted to point out, however, is that just because something is natural does not mean it’s safe. When it comes to the Caldera + Lab formulas, we noticed that they all contain fragrance ingredients. This can be a problem due to the potential to cause contact allergies, skin irritation, and even skin damage.
In fact, according to a 2016 publication in the scholarly journal Dermatitis, nearly 80 essential oils have caused contact allergy. This is because all fragrance ingredients (whether natural or synthetic) impart scent through a volatile reaction, and this natural reaction almost always causes a sensitizing reaction on skin.
How Much Do Caldera + Lab Skincare Products Cost?
Caldera + Lab skincare products are on the pricey side. For example, Caldera + Lab The Good costs $97 USD for 1 fl oz (30 mL) or $77 with a membership.
Where to Buy Caldera + Lab Skincare Products?
Caldera + Lab skincare products are sold on the brand’s website, as well as on Amazon.com.
Is Caldera + Lab Cruelty Free?
Yes, Caldera + Lab is cruelty free certified by PETA™ & Leaping Bunny.
Caldera + Lab Reviews
Caldera + Lab reviews on the brand’s website are overall very positive. The product with the most reviews is the Caldera + Lab The Good, which has earned an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars after more than 1,700 customer reviews.
The positive reviews for Caldera + Lab The Good mention that it has a nice smell, absorbs quickly, and produces results.
However, there are a handful of negative reviews for Caldera + Lab The Good, which are mostly from customers who were disappointed that they didn’t see any difference after using this product.
Our Verdict
After reading through the Caldera + Lab reviews, it appears that these products do work for many people. However, as with any skin care brand, there are pros and cons of these products, which we have summarized below.
Pros
- Many positive Caldera + Lab reviews
- Caldera + Lab is cruelty free certified by PETA™ & Leaping Bunny.
- 60-day satisfaction guarantee
Cons
- Products are somewhat expensive
- Products contain fragrance
What Are The Best Alternatives?
If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin.
References:
International Dermal Institute “Controlling Aging Skin”
de Groot AC, Schmidt E. Essential Oils, Part IV: Contact Allergy. Dermatitis. 2016;27(4):170-175. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000197
