Are You Getting What You Paid For? The Truth About Ingredients in Your Face Serum and Moisturizer
Discover why many skincare products don’t live up to their claims and learn about the pure ingredients in Greska’s Carbon 60 Face Serum.
When it comes to skincare, we all want products that genuinely nourish, protect and rejuvenate our skin. But are you really getting what you paid for in your face moisturizer or serum?
Many people unknowingly fall for marketing that touts trendy or scientifically-backed ingredients—like peptides, hyaluronic acid, or Vitamin C—as the answer to their skin concerns. Yet, a quick look at the ingredients list reveals that most of these products contain only trace amounts of the “hero” ingredients we think we’re paying for.
Ingredients: Ordered from Most to Least
Did you know that product ingredients are listed in descending order based on concentration? The first few ingredients make up the bulk of the product, while those listed later are present in much smaller amounts. Sadly, in many popular face serums and moisturizers, you’ll find the featured ingredient is buried deep in the list, making up only a small percentage of the formula.
Common Cheap Ingredients Filling Up the Label
To make matters worse, many skincare brands use inexpensive fillers to make the product feel luxurious while keeping production costs low. Here are a few ingredients you might see leading the charge on your serum or moisturizer’s ingredient list:
Water (Aqua) – Water is important for hydration, but when it tops the list, it’s often used to bulk up the product, not necessarily to hydrate your skin.
Glycerin – A humectant that draws moisture, glycerin is cheap and effective in moderation. However, when it’s the primary ingredient, it can be a sign that the product isn’t delivering much else.
Petrolatum (or Mineral Oil) – Used to lock in moisture, but it often creates a barrier rather than truly nourishing the skin. This cheap ingredient is a filler in many drugstore and even luxury skincare brands.
Silicones (Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane) – While they create a smooth feel on the skin, silicones can sometimes prevent more profound ingredients from penetrating, leaving you with a silky feeling but little nourishment.
These ingredients might make the product feel smooth or hydrating initially, but they often mask a lack of truly potent, skin-enhancing ingredients.
The Greska Difference: Pure, Potent, and Simple
Unlike the majority of products with long, confusing ingredient lists, Greska’s Carbon 60 Face Serum takes a radically different approach. With only two powerhouse ingredients—squalane oil derived from sugar cane and Carbon 60 (C60)—our serum provides pure, effective, and highly concentrated skin care.
Squalane Oil: Derived from sustainable sugar cane, our squalane oil is lightweight, non-comedogenic, and readily absorbed by the skin. It locks in moisture, replenishes, and promotes elasticity without the greasy residue.
