Alder Balancing Serum

The texture is the big win for me—it's completely oil-free and vanishes into my skin in seconds, which is rare for a serum that actually controls shine. My t-zone stays matte through the afternoon, and I've noticed my skin looks smoother overall.

My nose and forehead used to look shiny by noon, but this serum keeps the oil in check through the workday without any sticky residue. The 5% niacinamide has visibly calmed the redness around my cheeks after about three weeks of daily use.

I’ve been using this before moisturizer for two weeks now, and the flash-absorbing texture is no joke—it sinks in before I can even finish applying it to my neck. My texture around my chin has smoothed out noticeably, and it hasn’t clogged a single pore.