We love it when we come across companies like Caldera Lab, which is striving to do something different, more progressive, sustainable, and all-round GOOD. If you haven’t heard of Caldera Lab, they are the company behind ‘The Good’, which is a face serum for men with a difference.
In this Caldera Lab review, I explain more about The Good, what it is, why men may want to use a high-quality face serum, and why The Good is unlike any other men’s facial care product I have encountered.
In this review of Caldera Lab’s The Good, I also share what happened when I had been using this men’s organic face serum for 30 days and why you may want to give it a try, too.
Caldera Lab’s ‘The Good’ Review – Table of Contents
- About Caldera Lab
- Caldera Lab’s The Good men’s face serum: what you should know
- When and how to use The Good
- My experience from 30 days of using this men’s face serum
- Cost and where to buy The Good
- More Caldera Lab product reviews
- Caldera Lab Review Summary
- Image Gallery
About Caldera Lab
Caldera Lab (also referred to as Caldera + Lab) is a US company that creates high-performance men’s skincare products and maintains sustainable business practices.
The differentiator for Caldera Lab, however, is that they are entirely focused on combining pharmaceutical-grade science with only using pure, natural ingredients, sourced and manufactured using sustainable methods, to make the highest-caliber men’s skincare you can buy.
YES! Thank you for dropping all the crazy chemicals that go into so many skincare products nowadays!
That’s a big claim, so it helps to get more context on what they are trying to achieve – which also helps explain why everyone is talking about what a special product Caldera Lab ‘The Good’ men’s face serum is.
In summary, the 5 most important things to know about Caldera Lab products are that they are:
- Vegan men’s skincare products, are cruelty-free and certified by PETA and Leaping Bunny.
- Made solely with 27 organic and wild harvested ingredients that are of course natural, which are naturally 100% non-toxic yet wonderfully potent ingredients and provide numerous antioxidant properties.
- Clinically proven to improve skin health.
- Sourced and produced an audited and traceable supply chain.
- Made in the USA.
If you’re anything like me then assuming you’ve read the above your curiosity to try Caldera Lab’s The Good on your face has probably already been piqued!
If an all-natural men’s face serum can be clinically proven to improve your skin health, and promises that you’re not putting any toxins or parabens on your face (like you would with most regular facial skincare products), then it’s certainly something worth investigating further.
What you should know about Caldera Lab The Good
The Good is, quite simply, a men’s daily face serum made from clean, natural ingredients.
The basic concept is that The Good has 27 botanical ingredients that are either from organic farms or have been sustainably wild-harvested in the Teton mountains. And that’s it, no chemicals or other additives.
So all the ‘active’ ingredients in The Good are natural, including natural antioxidants that come from some of the ingredients such as Apricot Kernel Oil, Fireweed, and Elderflower.
As someone who prioritizes keeping exposure to toxins in their home and on their body to a minimum, this non-toxic serum sounded ideal and I was curious to start using it and see how it affected my skin.
What are the ingredients in The Good?
Some of the most notable natural ingredients in The Good vegan face serum are:
- Spilanthes – which acts as a natural form of BOTOX, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improving pore appearance and balancing oil levels in the skin. If I had to guess I’d say I have average oily skin – so this is a hit for me.
- Huang Qi (‘Astragalus propinquus’) – helps skin elasticity, tone and texture.
- Prickly Pear oil – stimulates collagen generation.
- Tocopherol – helps reduce UV damage.
- Fireweed – contains antioxidants that fight environmental stressors.
For the full list of all 27 ingredients, head over to Caldera Lab’s website where they are all listed, and clearly explained.
You’ll be pleasantly surprised by some of the top wild harvested ingredients that can actually be found in many of our local outdoor spaces.
How is Caldera Lab The Good clinically proven?
In addition to Caldera + Lab’s own tests (including tests for microbial, stability, efficacy, antioxidant studies, and dermatological testing), the company commissioned a third-party clinical trial to study The Good.
According to Caldera Lab, the U.S.-based trial showed that The Good provides statistically significant improvements in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, elasticity, dark spots and skin tone. You can read more about the study here.
Notably, they report that the study showed The Good to deliver results for all skin types, skin tones, and ethnicities.
I was excited to see what results I would experience from trying The Good for a few weeks because while studies are great, you can’t beat trying something for yourself and seeing if it works for you.
Stated benefits of The Good face serum for men
As mentioned above, the clinical study referred to by Caldera Lab focused on the visible improvement in skin such as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, elasticity, dark spots and skin tone.
The Good is also intended to moisturize and balance out oiliness or dryness bringing oily skin (or dry skin) into that balanced zone where it should be.
Another, simpler benefit is also that using The Good instead of a suite of other facial skincare products simplifies your daily routine.
And there is definitely a benefit in simplifying aspects of your life that you can control, and feel like you’re doing something good for your body and with a low impact on the environment at the same time.
When and how to use The Good
In an ever-complicated world it’s refreshing to be able to cut back on your personal grooming and skincare products and just have this men’s hydrating face serum as one simple, clean and easy-to-use skin-care product.
Oh, in case you’re wondering why my bottle looks different from the one that Caldera Lab now uses for The Good, well, they just changed their packaging to a smaller dropper bottle.
Caldera Lab ‘The Good’ is designed to be used at night after cleaning and drying your face, and you shouldn’t need to use any other moisturizers or tonics.
To use, you press the button on the lid to fill the oil dropper, squeeze the serum onto the palm of your other hand, and massage into your face.
I like to take the extra time to massage the oil into my face, which means a minute of my time applying the oil until the oily residue is nearly fully soaked into my skin.
The oil will then take a minute or so to soak in completely. Once it has soaked in, you won’t notice any oily skin texture on your face, which I thought was remarkable in itself – I was worried at first lol.
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While The Good is designed for use as part of your evening routine, you can also use it in the morning under SPF if you choose.
However, I personally still use my daily moisturizer in the mornings which has SPF mixed into it, it’s more convenient than using two products and less expensive than using Caldera Lab ‘The Good’ in the mornings as well as the evenings.
Sleeping through the night which The Good applied, is where you’ll notice this product doing its best work – I have tried both.
How to apply face serum
Caldera Lab offers guidance on their website in terms of how much serum to use on your face each night, as this can vary depending on your skin type, the climate you live in, and your personal preference.
I have been using the recommended ‘typical’ amount of serum that should suit most men, which is around 1/3 of a dropper. One-third of a dropper is what you get from one full press of the button.
It has an oil-balancing effect which is why it can be used by men with all skin types, from very dry to oily skin.
If you’re not sure how much serum to use, there is a personalization quiz on the Caldera Lab website which will help you work out a suitable amount.
The bottle that ‘The Good’ comes in is made from chunky glass, with a wood lid (made from sustainable wood sources).
The dropper inside is a glass dropper so you do need to be careful using it and not drop it or knock the dropper when it’s out of the bottle.
The bottle seals easily and I have no issues storing it in a toiletry bag when traveling, for example when we take adventures in our Sprinter camper van.
My experience using The Good for 30 Days
First, let me explain some stats about myself which should help give you an idea about how my Caldera Lab The Good results may end up being similar to your own potential results.
I have a normal skin type, which means my face never gets overly oily, nor does it dry out excessively.
That’s not to say that I don’t get oily or dry skin when I adventure in environments that my skin is otherwise not used to on a daily basis.
I’m 39 years old, and have a white/light brown skin complexion, as you can see from the photography in this Caldera Lab review.
The Good serum is lightweight and absorbs into my skin fairly quickly – although not as quickly as you may expect from reading the marketing materials.
I can see why it’s recommended for use at night (and why I choose to use it at night) because it does leave a moist and slightly oily feeling on your face for a short while afterward (around 5 minutes for me) – I assume that’s mostly from the apricot kernel oil ingredient.
This means it can work on your face while you sleep, and has a hydrating effect – and you don’t need to also moisturize.
Related Reading:
Using the dropper is simple, pushing the button fills the dropper to around 1/3, and I place the serum in the palm of my other hand before massaging it into my face using both hands.
I have been intentionally massaging my face rather than just rubbing The Good on, as this helps the serum absorb as well as being something that is enjoyable to do.
I like to visualize the massage actually rubbing away wrinkles and imperfections! Massaging Caldera Lab The Good in for a minute allows you to get into any lines and creases you may have too. I also massage any excess on my neck in the same way.
So, what changes did I notice after 30 days of using Caldera Lab’s The Good?
- My skin tone improved – The first thing that I noticed while using The Good for the first couple of days was an improved balance in my overall skin tone. What I mean by that is any redness or blotches in my skin were pretty disappeared. This gave me a much healthier glow and made my true skin tone show without the redness that can occur due to your body reacting to environmental factors.
- A reduction in fine lines and wrinkles – The next thing that I began to notice was the reduction in lines, or wrinkles around my eyes (some may know these lines by the term ‘crows feet’).
- A reduction in blemishes/spots – Then I noticed that my skin pores became less clogged, resulting in far fewer blemishes or spots that can occur due to stress, or warm weather.
- Less droopy skin – The last change I notice in my skin’s appearance, after a couple of weeks of using Caldera Lab The Good was that my skin looked tighter somehow, and less droopy.
By the end of my 30 days of using The Good, my skin looked more healthy and energized – Helen also made the same observation about how my skin had changed. By the way, I’m still using The Good because of these benefits I experienced, why wouldn’t I!?
As a result of these findings, I am no longer using my night moisturizer, but instead, I’m using Caldera Lab’s The Good as my primary skincare product in the evenings.
Where to Buy The Good
The Good is sold in 1oz bottles, which are designed to last 30 days if used daily each night like I do.
Because Caldera Lab is so confident you’re going to love using The Good, they offer a no-questions 60-day refund if you didn’t enjoy it within the first 60 days of using it.
Now that’s what I call standing behind the quality of your product!
As this is a facial skin care product that you’re probably going to be wanting to use every day, then you can buy it directly from Caldera Lab on a monthly subscription so you never run out.
This also has the advantage of giving you significant savings compared to buying one-off bottles… and given that you can cancel the subscription any time, this is definitely the way to go.
You can check current prices of The Good by heading to their site using the button below, and to get 15% off be sure to use our exclusive Caldera Lab The Good discount code at checkout: TRAILANDKALE15
You can also find The Good on Amazon, however, the coupon code will not work and you can’t get the same subscription discount, so it’s usually best to buy directly from the company to get the best deal.
Amazon.com
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$110.00
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More Caldera Lab skincare product reviews
The Caldera Lab brand has grown in popularity since I first published this review, and they have also released more products to keep their loyal customers happy.
I have also had the pleasure of trying these new products out too, if you’re interested in getting your full skin care regimen from Caldera Lab, read what I think about them below.
EyeCon eye serum review
The Eyecon (pronounced EyeCon, as in Icon..) rejuvenating eye serum is Caldera Lab’s latest skincare product and it’s one that I’m really loving.
I’ve tried various eye cream /serum products from different skincare brands that are formulated to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, dark circles, wrinkles, puffiness, and blotchy skin but none have been as effective as Cadera Lab’s The Eyecon.
I’m not overly vain, by the way, I just get sent a lot of products from skincare brands hoping for exposure or review on Trail & Kale, however, many don’t make it onto the site because quite frankly they’re not very good.
I have fairly sensitive skin and value having healthy eyes and vision, so I’m especially cautious when it comes to putting cream or serums on the skin near my eyes.
The Eyecon is the most natural eye serum I have ever used, and the most effective, partly due to the fact that it doesn’t irritate my skin, even while using the same morning application all day long.
If you have sensitive skin too then you’ll know what I mean when I say some skin care products have certain active ingredients that cause irritation, a burning sensation, or even a slight rash after a full day of having it on your face.
I notice this, especially with certain SPF sunscreens, and the only one I can wear that’s really effective and great for sensitive skin is by a brand called Zelios (it’s also my top pick for use during sports like running).
It has a really nice herbal scent to it too.
How to use The Eyecon eye serum
Calera Lab recommends applying this eye cream in the morning and at night for the best results, however, right now I’m only using it in the morning as at $70 it’s quite an expensive product and I’d like to make it go further.
Starting with clean, dry skin, I recommend using Caldera’s Clean Slate facewash (I’ll share more about that product in a minute).
Then gently massage 1-2 pumps on your undereye and eyelid – I just use 1 pump as that seems to be plenty of eye cream.
The Eyecon eye cream application tips: Use your ring finger to ensure gentle application then start at the corner of your eye and work inwards.
The Clean Slate face wash review
The Clean Slate face wash is my joint second favorite product (tied with the Eyecon eye serum) from the Caldera Lab brand.
It’s a really lightweight facewash that has a pleasant herbal scent that’s neither overpowering or too subtle.
The Clean Slate face wash is also pH-balanced and uses gentle plant-based cleansing, to leave all skin types wonderfully refreshed.
It doesn’t lather up all that much when your rub it into your face but just enough to know that you’re applying it in all the right places.
There’s also enough lathering to give that feeling that it’s actually cleaning your face – which it is, and very well I might add!
I only have two cons regarding the Caldera Lab Clean Slate face wash.
The first is that it’s hard to know how much is left because the bottle itself is made of dark glass which isn’t transparent.
The second is that it comes in a glass bottle, which is, of course, great for the environment but not so good when you do a lot of traveling and want to keep baggage weight down to a minimum.
Glass weighs considerably more than plastic which makes it even harder to know how much is left in the bottle, and it’s also prone to breaking if dropped on a hard surface.
So, it would be nice to have a plastic bottle version alternative for those who need it.
How to use Clean Slate face wash
Use this one in the morning and night, every day.
Caldera Lab recommends lathering one pump of cleanser (In my experience, 2 pumps will give you a much better lather) between wet hands and massage it onto your face.
Then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel. In the mornings, you can follow this up with their daytime moisturizer, The Base Layer.
In the evenings, I follow the face wash with Caldera’s multifunctional serum, The Good.
The Body Bar review (soap)
Released May 3rd, 2023: After falling in love with Caldera Lab’s The Good face serum, I was excited to try their latest creation: “The Body Bar“. As a fitness enthusiast and healthy lifestyle advocate who spends a lot of time outdoors, I know how crucial it is to take care of your skin.
This body bar has quickly become an essential part of my daily self-care routine, and I’m not alone in thinking so. Other users have praised The Body Bar for its invigorating effect, describing it as the “best way to wake up in the mornings.”
Its unique formula, crafted with 100% naturally-derived ingredients, creates a rich lather that cleanses the skin without leaving any dryness or sticky residue. I particularly enjoy the fresh, earthy, and woodsy aroma, which adds an extra touch of luxury to the shower experience.
The transparent ingredient list and commitment to using RSPO Certified Palm, no colorants, sulfates, or synthetic fragrances make The Body Bar an eco-conscious choice too, which is important to me.
It’s received glowing reviews from people with various skin types, who’ve noted its ability to lather well, exfoliate, and leave the skin feeling clean and moisturized.
One user even mentioned that they had switched from liquid soap to The Body Bar, emphasizing the noticeable improvements in their skin’s smoothness, health, and scent.
At $30, The Body Bar is a worthwhile investment for those seeking a high-quality, eco-friendly product that delivers on its promises.
Caldera Lab Review Summary
If it wasn’t already obvious from reading this review, Caldera Lab is now one of my favorite skincare brands.
I do also use a selection of different skincare brands for different purposes, like Oars and Alps for deodorant, shampoo, and conditioner for example.
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Caldera Lab Review Gallery
This sounds like a great product! Why is it just for men, though, I would assume that women could also enjoy using it?
You probably can if you’d like to give it a try! I’m not sure what the women’s equivalent would be of a product like this. Love the 100% botanical ingredients in it!
-Alastair
Marketing, that’s all. It may work well for both but men desire a simple solution and not many care about skin. I only start recently at the age of 47. Thankfully I have pretty good skin already but I’m single now a d want to stay looking as young as possible for as long as possible.
I read about this stuff somewhere a couple of days ago! Definitely curious about trying it after your 30 das findings! Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome! Definitely give it a try, if your experience is anything like mine, you won’t be disappointed!
-Alastair