“Having experienced a reaction to the Age Defy+ serum, Green People kindly sent me a sample for this scent free product, suggesting it was the essential oils I could be sensitive to. Unfortunately, this serum does not suit me either, and I experienced redness, blotchiness, a sore feeling and a strange blistery spot on my neck within minutes of applying it. There must be one or more ingredients other than essential oils to which I am sensitive, although I notice it does contain benzyl alcohol, which although probably working as a preservative here, is still an aromatic ingredient which is on the list of 26 allergens that must be indicated on the INCI list, so I'm a bit surprised its included in this product. Anyway, thanks to Green People for providing a sample for me to try.”
Thank you for your feedback, we're sorry to hear that you have reacted to our products. Every individual is unique in their chemical and biological make-up, it is therefore impossible to create skin care products that are suitable for absolutely everybody. We select our product ingredients with great care, to minimise the potential for allergic reactions and sensitivities. Even natural ingredients can cause reactions and some people can be just as sensitive to them as to synthetic chemical ingredients.
Our products contain Benzyl, Cetyl & Cetearyl alcohol.
In chemistry, the word ‘alcohol’ simple means any substance which has an Oxygen/Hydrogen pairing at one end of its molecular structure. There are literally hundreds of different alcohols in existence. Many of them have names that end in the letters ‘ol’ and they include substances including Tocopherol (vitamin E), Retinol (vitamin A) and Cholesterol.
Some alcohols are fatty waxes that are used as emulsifiers. These include Cetyl alcohol and Cetearyl alcohol, both of which we use in some of our products. These alcohols are very beneficial to the skin, having softening and nourishing properties, as well as forming and stabilising the emulsions of the creams and lotions they are used in. Another form is Benzyl alcohol which is an aromatic compound found in many fruits and berries and which is used in some products as a natural preservative.
The alcohol that people generally try to avoid is ethanol or ethyl alcohol. This is the volatile substance that is found in alcoholic drinks and which can have a drying and sensitising effect on the skin. It is also the form of alcohol that some people need to avoid for religious or cultural reasons, and is the substance that most people are referring to when they use the ‘alcohol’.
Ethanol has nothing in common with Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol and Benzyl alcohol apart from the fact that they all have an Oxygen/Hydrogen pairing at the end of their molecules. They have totally different properties and people wishing to avoid Ethanol should have no concerns over using Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol or Benzyl alcohol.
We hope this was of some help to you.
How likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?
“This is a lovely calming serum for sensitive skin.
I've had no breakouts since switching to Green People products and would definitely recommend the scent free products to people with sensitive skin.”
Did you find this product suitable for sensitive skin?
What is the age of the user of this product?
“Not sure I have the right expectations but doesn't seem to perform as well as an exfoliating serum that I have previously bought from another brand and have used at night to calm my rosacea.”
Thank you for your review. We’re sorry to hear you're not 100% happy with our Calming Serum. We do however have a no quibble guarantee so if you were unhappy with any product you have purchased, directly from us, we would be happy to offer you a full refund or exchange if returned within 28 days of purchase.
To do this please kindly complete our returns form or note which states your name, postcode, contact telephone number, reason for returning & whether you would like a refund or exchange and send back to FREEPOST GREENPEOPLE, this is all you need to write on the package, it is a Royal Mail service we have already paid for. For more information please contact organic@greenpeople.co.uk
How likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?
What is the age of the user of this product?
“Nice texture, does have a cooling effect on the skin. However the pump dispenses a lot of product in one go which is wasteful and it takes a little time to sink into the skin. Hence 4 stars rather than 5”
How likely are you to recommend this product to a friend?
Did you find this product suitable for sensitive skin?
What is the age of the user of this product?
“I have just been diagnosed with Rosachea. I have been using the above for about 2 week and have noticed that my skin is calming down. Hopefully with continuous use it will help, it certainly has made a difference.”
