Valjean Labs initially launched with a series of five facial serums, each featuring different active ingredients and named for the skin-enhancing qualities they aspire to (for instance, Valjean Labs Glow Serum contains ingredients to enhance your skin’s glow). Today, Valjean Labs offers a range of skin care products, including serums, masks, and mists to treat a variety of skin concerns. 

What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2023?

It’s clear that Valjean Labs caters to the millennial market, providing Instagram-ready packaging with buzzy product names. But it also appears that the company is banking on these millennials not knowing much about skin care ingredients since, as you’ll learn, the brand isn’t completely transparent about their ingredients. Don’t worry, that’s why we’re here! In this review, we’ll discuss some of the brand’s best selling products, key ingredients (or lack thereof), Valjean Labs reviews from real customers, an alternative for  you to consider, and more.

What’s Inside Valjean Labs Skin Care Products?

Valjean Labs facial serums are claimed to be “super-concentrated serums”, although after evaluating the ingredient lists for these serums, we know this is not the case.

In several of the Valjean Labs facial serums, the “key” ingredients are listed after xanthan gum. Xanthan gum is a thickener that is generally used at a concentration of 1%, but as little as 0.1% can be used in many applications. This means you’re getting less than 1% of the key ingredients! 

The majority of each Valjean Labs facial serum formulation is composed of water, propanediol (humectant), glycereth-26 (humectant), and dimethicone (silicone). If you aren’t familiar with humectants and silicones, we’ll give you a brief overview. 

Humectants
A humectant is a hygroscopic substance that has a molecular structure with several hydrophilic (water loving) groups. These hydrophilic groups hydrogen bond with water, essentially “grabbing” it and holding it on the skin. Since humectants slow water from evaporating in the epidermis, they help to keep the skin hydrated.

Humectants also provide temporary anti-aging effects because the extra hydration is extra volume, which effectively plumps out the skin and makes lines and wrinkles less noticeable. However, this effect is transient – as soon as the moisture content in skin decreases, lines and wrinkles will return to normal size.

Silicones
Silicones improve the spreadability of a product, as well as impart a silky, smooth skin feel. In addition, silicones form a protective barrier on the skin which helps to keep moisture in. 

Similar to humectants, silicones can temporarily fill in fine lines and wrinkles on the face, giving it a more plump appearance. Thus, the high concentrations of humectants and dimethicone in Valjean Labs facial serums should temporarily provide an anti-aging effect. However, these effects will disappear once you wash off the product. 

Those with acne-prone skin may want to avoid products with high concentrations of silicones because these ingredients can act as a barrier and trap oil, dirt, and dead skin cells, making acne worse. 

That’s why we recommend Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer. It contains vegetable silicones, a natural alternative to conventional silicones that can irritate skin or cause breakouts. Plus, the formula delivers multi-level hydration thanks to potent plant proteins, vitamins, peptides and amino-collagen, plus a plant-based stem cell extract from hardy alpine roses. 

Retinol
Retinol is the go-to anti-aging ingredient recommended by dermatologists and skin experts. It’s clinically proven to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores.

Valjean Labs Clarify Serum contains retinyl palmitate, the ester of retinol (another name for vitamin A) and palmitic acid (a saturated fatty acid). Even though retinyl palmitate is listed after xanthan gum, it will likely still provide some benefit to the skin. This is because concentrations as low as 0.01% have been proven to be effective. 

Unfortunately, retinyl palmitate ranks quite high on the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) Cosmetic Database. Here’s why: Data from an FDA study indicates that retinyl palmitate, when applied to the skin in the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. While one study doesn’t indicate a causational link, it’s still something to keep in mind. 

We recommend this retinoid oil serum. It contains Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, an ingredient that provides similar benefits with less irritation.

What are the best selling Valjean Labs products?

Valjean Labs now offers seven different facial serums, as well as masks, facial mists, facial oils, and an eye serum. Despite all of the new products, the Valjean Labs facial serums remain as the best selling products. The Valjean Labs facial serums include Clarify, Glow, Hydrate, Repair, Restore, Sculpt, and Smooth. Each of these serums contains different key ingredients. However, as you’ll find out in the next section, the brand actually uses very low concentrations of these “key” ingredients (which means these ingredients aren’t going to provide much benefit to your skin!)

Where is Valjean Labs sold?

Interestingly, Valjean Labs does not even have their own website. It appears that you can purchase Valjean Labs products online from Urban Outfitters and Amazon. According to Valjean Labs reviews, you can also find these products at TJ Maxx. 

What is the Valjean Labs return policy?

Since Valjean Labs does not sell their products directly to consumers, you must find the return policy of the retailer in which you purchased the product. 

Is Valjean Labs cruelty free

Valjean Labs is cruelty free. 

Valjean Labs reviews

Since there isn’t a Valjean Labs website, we had to turn to Google for Valjean Labs reviews. Overall, Valjean Labs Facial Serums have received an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars after about 150 customer reviews. Most of the Valjean Labs reviews are very positive; customers enjoy the results and also the price point of these products. One Valjean Labs review says, “This line of facial serums is amazing. Glow, hydrate, firm and restore are all good. The only downside is that you want to use these one at a time. If you layer these they will start to form little white balls on your face. Other than that I TOTALLY recommend.”

However, there are a handful of negative Valjean Labs reviews, which are mostly concerning the lack of results from these products. For example, one reviewer says, “I gave this two stars only because of the packaging. The product truly deserves one. It doesn’t help at all and is full of fillers with only a few of the advertised ingredients. Look at a dermatologist review of Valjean labs. Please. It also leaves a filmy layer on your face and doesn’t even absorb into the skin.”

What are some alternatives to Valjean Labs?

There’s no need to compromise when it comes to finding skincare that’s effective and safe.

If you’re looking for effective skincare products that skip harmful toxins, one brand we recommend is Carrot & Stick.

Carrot & Stick is committed to creating plant-derived formulas that deliver extraordinary results without relying on toxic chemicals or standard preservatives.

Carrot & Stick takes a tough love approach to skincare, perfectly balancing the gentle nurturing of plants with innovative science.