In today’s article, I’m sharing my honest True Botanicals review. I tested the True Botanicals Chebula skincare, cleanser, retinol, sunscreen and hair products and am sharing which are worth buying and which aren’t. I did enjoy some products while others fell short.

This is a luxury organic skincare brand that’s endorsed by quite a few celebs like Olivia Wilde and Brooke Shields. Founder Hillary Peterson started her brand after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and now manages a mostly female team up in Northern California. The entire line is Made Safe Certified so customers can be rest assured their products are third party vetted and approved.

After trying a ton of their skincare, I do feel like True Botanicals makes quality formulas and doesn’t seem to cut the usual corners when it comes to the quality of their products. Getting certifications is wildly expensive and not using cheap filler ingredients like so many brands do these days is costly. So it’s no surprise they’re priced on the luxury end with many products costing over $100. 

Note that Unilever owns a minority stake in True Botanicals. They are one of the first brands in the world to use Chebula, a breakthrough, bioactive antioxidant that visibly fights five signs of aging. This ingredient is so unique that it’s called a cascading antioxidant, meaning that it doesn’t lose its potency on your skin – it works hour after hour to help fight free radicals that can lead to skin aging.

True Botanicals Phyto-Retinol Vitamin A Booster

I tested the new Phyto-Retinol Vitamin A Booster, and I would not repurchase it. Here’s why – to me this feels like a face oil that’s just been marketed as a booster product. I found the capsules to be annoying to handle and I’ve used skincare that comes in capsules before. These are not the best. They tail is too small and it’s too easy to accidentally spill product trying to twist it off. The Common Heir retinol capsules are much more user-friendly. The glass jar is just too enormous and heavy for the number of capsules that come inside.

The formula itself is a blend of organic oils and extracts that are high in natural Vitamin A like rosehip fruit extract. If your skin can’t handle clean BHT-free retinol this might be of interest to you, but the packaging is a miss for me.

Ingredients: prunus armeniaca (apricot) kernel oil*, mauritia flexuosa (buriti) fruit oil*, rosa canina (rosehip) fruit extract*, salvia hispanica (chia) seed extract*, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil*, hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) oil*, calendula officinalis flower*, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, amaranthus caudatus (amaranth) seed extract*, coriandrum sativum (coriander) fruit extract, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, daucus carota sativa (carrot) root extract*

True Botanicals Nourishing Cleanser

The Nourishing Cleanser is one of my few favorites from the True Botanicals line. I love the hybrid creamy gel consistency that feels so hydrating on my skin.

The woodsy scent makes so much sense for a cleanser. The blend of grapefruit, lavender, vetiver and jasmine is so therapeutic and grounding and enhances my overall cleansing ritual. It’s on the gentle side, so don’t expect it take off heavy makeup and sunscreen but it works well as a second cleanse.

True Botanicals Radiance Oil

I found the Radiance Oil to be absolutely packed to the brim with so many ingredients! The True Botanicals face oil is rich in ceramides, fatty acids and antioxidants and works to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increase hydration levels. The formula features 14 easily absorbable seed oils, algae extract and astaxanthin and a natural scent from jasmine, neroli, and rose. It has a bright orange hue and a medium weight consistency that’s great for the winter months. 

• Hemp, Pumpkin, & Grape Seed Oils
• Algae Extract + Astaxanthin
• Certified Nontoxic (MADE SAFE)
• Naturally Scented With Sandalwood, Helichrysum, And Cypress

Ingredients: simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oil*, cannabissativa (hemp) seed oil*, cucurbita pepo (pumpkin) seed oil*, argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil*, vitus viniferi (grape) seed oil*, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil*, persea gratissima (avocado) oil*, helianthusannus (sunflower) seed oil*, crambe abyssinica (abyssinian) oil, sesamum indicum (sesame) seed oil*, rubus idaeus (red raspberry) seed oil, vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) seed oil*, squalane (from olives), tocopherol (non-GMO vitamin E), citrullus lanatus (watermelon) seed oil, silybum marianum (milk thistle) seed oil, nannochloropsis oculata (algae) extract, porphyra umbilicalis (red algae) extract, haematococcus pluvialis (astaxanthin from red pond algae) extract, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, nigella sativa (black cumin) seed oil*, santalum album (sandalwood) oil, lavandula hybrida (lavender) oil*, helichrysum (italicum) flower oil, tarchonanthus camphoratus (leleshwa) oil, cupressus semperviren (cypress leaf) oil *organic

True Botanicals Chebula Serum

My favorite from the Chebula line is the Chebula Active Serum. This is supremely hydrating and has an amazing luxurious texture and consistency. Instead of water, the serum begins with a base of organic green tea leaf extract, aloe Vera juice and Neroli Flower distillate. I feel that this is an effective serum if lasting hydration is your goal.

Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium (Neroli) Flower Distillate, Glycerin, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Phytate, Water, Sambucus Nigra Fruit Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Alcohol, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin Organic

True Botanicals Chebula Cream

The True Botanicals Chebula Cream is a fun pink hued, airy whipped cream that feels like whipped jar of moussy frosting. It has a subtly resinous, woody yet sweet scent. This has probably been one of my favorite moisturizer finds of the year and I’m not usually taken by moisturizers as they all look and feel similar after nearly a decade of testing clean beauty. I actually find myself eager to grab this one and use it when it’s time for my moisturizer step. Chebula Cream feels light and weightless on the skin though I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as a lightweight moisturizer (it leans more medium weight). The scent is calming and relaxing, not overpowering yet definitely present.

Ingredients: camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf extract*, aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, glycerin*, mangifera indica (mango) seed butter, hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydrogenated ethylhexyl olivate, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, silybum marianum ethyl ester, lactobacillus ferment, terminalia chebula fruit extract, sodium hyaluronate, calendula officinalis flower extract*, rosa rubiginosa (rosehip) seed oil*, rubus ideaus (raspberry) seed oil*, hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) seed oil*, sclerocarya birrea (marula) kernel oil, lactobacillus/acerola cherry ferment, hydrolyzed viola tricolor extract, persea gratissima (avocado) oil, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, lecithin*, caprylic/capric triglyceride, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) oil*, eclipta prostrata extract, melia azadirachta leaf extract, moringa oleifera seed oil, lactobacillus, cocos nucifera (coconut) fruit extract, populus tremuloides bark extract, juniperus virginiana oil, cananga odorata flower oil, amyris balsamifera bark oil, juniperus mexicana schiede, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil*, tocopherol, hydrogenated olive oil unsaponifiables, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, xanthan gum, sodium phytate, phenethyl alcohol, ethylhexylglycerin, citric acid, water/aqua/eau, caprylyl glycol, 1,2-hexanediol, limonene, linalool. *organic

 

The True Botanicals line is on the expensive end with most skincare products priced above $100. With all their celebrity endorsements and heavy emphasis (aka spending) on celebrity marketing, the line seemed a tad gimmicky at first, but I did find their products up there in quality and formulation. If money were just a number, I would repurchase their Chebula Cream and Chebula Serum. I’m also looking to incorporate more retinol into my routine and will be trying out their Vitamin A products along with their sunscreen with spring around the corner, so stay tuned!

True Botanicals Sunscreen

I’ve used up the entire bottle of True Botanicals Skin Barrier Sun Shield SPF 30 and find this to be a lightweight hydrating lotion that would work well for oily skin types. My skin needs to have a well moisturized base or a few drops of oil added to make this product apply and absorb evenly. While it’s not a true tinted sunscreen, it has a beige tint to offset any white cast.

For the $65 price you’re paying for quality ingredients that are skin-beneficial. This fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic sunscreen contains:

• Green Tea water base
• 19% non-nano zinc oxide
• Astaxanthin
• Chebula
• Vegan Pea Peptides

Ingredients: camellia sinensis leaf (green tea) water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, coco-caprylate, glycerin*, polyglyceryl-6 stearate, capryloyl glycerin/sebacic acid copolymer, water, oryza sativa (rice) bran extract, squalane, polyhydroxystearic acid, hippophae rhamnoides (seabuckthorn) seed oil*, silybum marianum (milk thistle) ethyl ester, pisum sativum (pea) peptide, terminalia chebula fruit extract, haematococcus pluvialis (astaxanthin) powder*, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, aloe barbadensis leaf juice*, camellia sinensis leaf (green tea) extract, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower distillate*, isopropyl jojobate, jojoba alcohol, jojoba esters, xanthan gum, polyglyceryl-6 behenate, lactic acid, acacia senegal gum, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, allantoin, phenethyl alcohol, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium phytate, glycerin, leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, tocopherol.

True Botanicals has another SPF product called Skin Tint SPF 30 which is their actual tinted sunscreen that provides coverage and comes in 10 shades. I have yet to try this one!

True Botanicals Shine & Protect Hair Cream Oil

True Botanicals Hair Cream Oil is an interesting hair product as it’s a cross between a cream and an oil, so I’d be hesitant to recommend to fine hair types. While it’s got a lightweight serum-like consistency it IS rich and you can easily over-grease your hair with this by using too much. So if you have thing hair but still want this, I recommend starting off with just the smallest amount and figuring out how much is right for your hair. It does work well at taming frizz and smoothing flyaways.

I really don’t care for the dropper application method though and find it inconvenient. I would not repurchase the Hair Cream Oil.

Ingredients: camellia sinensis (green tea) leaf water*, glycerin*, caprylic/capric triglyceride, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil*, sorbitan laurate, olea europaea fruit (olive) oil*, persea gratissima (avocado) oil*, brassicyl isoleucinate esylate, passiflora edulis (passion fruit) seed oil, pentaclethra macroloba (pracaxi) seed oil, citrus aurantium amara (bitter orange) flower oil, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower oil*, cananga odorata (ylang) flower oil*, olibanum (frankincense) oil*, oleyl lactate, polyglyceryl-4 laurate, dilauryl citrate, brassica alcohol, sclerotium gum, arginine, cetyl alcohol, stearic acid, glyceryl caprylate, phytic acid, caprylhydroxamic acid, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, linalool , limonene, geraniol, farnesol, citral, benzyl benzoate, myrcene.

True Botanicals Amazon Store / Website