Our Pre-Emptive Strike Skin Protectant is a smart, antioxidant-rich, microbiome-aware blemish support serum, not harsh, not stripping, not teenage acne panic.
Method of Application Apply to your skin after you have cleansed and toned and before any other hydrating serums, oils or creams.
Shelf Life and Storage Information for Our Products and Ingredients
Finished Products - generally don't need to be refrigerated as they are preserved, but you can refrigerate them to extend their shelf life. The shelf life for most products is 9-12 months. Vitamin C Serum(s) and VitaResurface products should continually be refrigerated to extend their shelf life. Sample Sizes - do have a shorter shelf life (generally 3-6 months), and items in jars can dry up quicker than this if the lid is not tightened well enough (Vitamin C Serums - use within 90 days).
Please Keep Your Products Out of Humidity, Heat, Direct Light and in a Dark Cabinet When Possible
Exfoliating Acid - products have a shelf life of 9-12 months. The only things we don't suggest refrigerating are the Mandelic Acid Serums or Salicylic Acid Serums, as they can crystallize in the refrigerator. If this happens, you can set the product into a hot water bath to see if the crystals will dissolve.
Additional Items That Require Refrigeration and/or Kept in the Dark
Hydrosols and Distillates - remove 1 ounce of hydrosol and add it to a separate, sterilized spray bottle and spritzer. Keep the larger bottle in the refrigerator. Carrier and Exotic Oils - generally refrigerate all carrier oils, although some very rich oils will solidify. This is fine. All you have to do is take the oil out, warm it up at room temperature, and it should liquefy. If not, set the bottle in a hot water bath and occasionally shake the bottle, which will hopefully turn into a liquid. Some oils, like coconut cream and jojoba oil, have a super long shelf life.
Refrigeration of The Following Ingredients is Not Necessary, But it Won't hurt
Essential Oils - essential oils are best stored in a cool, dark place. Co2 Extracts - these should continually be refrigerated. Butters - we suggest refrigerating our "skincare" butters. You can remove what you need and keep the rest in the fridge. Clays - keep in a dry, dark place. Shelf life is at least 2 years. Herbs All herbs <i>(whole or ground)</i> should be kept in a dark, cool, and dry location. Herbal (liquid) Extracts are created using grain alcohol. The alcohol pulls the constituents (properties) from each herb, root, trunk, leaf, and flower. They have a shelf life of 3-5 years. They can be stored in the refrigerator or a dark, dry place. Other Raw Ingredients - such as Sodium PCA, Honeyquat, Oat Beta Glucan, etc., will all have different shelf lives.
Black Garlic Fermentation (more bio-available to the skin) Don't shy away from topical garlic if you are opposed to eating it anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic
Coffee Fruit Extract high in anti-oxidants, excellent for reducing redness in the skin
Ecogel natural thickener
Resveratrol resveratrol functions [in plants] as a phytoalexin, a substance produced by plants that can inhibit the growth of infecting fungi or other pathogens. As a 'nutraceutical', Resveratrol [which offers the dark brown look to this serum], presents itself with antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities which fight the degradation of cell functioning to fight the free-radicals
Please I beg that this product never be discontinued. I have been using this alongside some other products from GOW when multiple breakouts began popping up on my face & this has literally been the counterattack & it has also decreased the duration of the breakout from lingering.
Thank you so much for your kind words about our Pre-Emptive Strike Skin Protectant! We are thrilled to hear that it has been a serious skin savior for you in combating breakouts. We understand how frustrating and lingering acne can be, so we are happy to hear that our product has been able to decrease the duration of your breakouts. Rest assured, we have no plans of discontinuing this popular product. Thank you for choosing GOW as part of your skin care routine and we hope to continue providing you with great results.
M
MW
Anti-inflammation & blemish secret weapon
When I ordered this I was nervous about the possibility of it having a very strong odor, but it really doesn't. The scent is mild and it fades quickly. I will be ordering a large bottle now, as it really does keep blemishes at bay and it also reduces inflammation of any current breakout. I find it to be mildly hydrating but I also have dry skin. It is perfect layered over a hydrating mist and my emu oil.
Thank you so much for your review! We're glad you are loving this!
Z
Zosha
Can't go without it
Another reviewer called this an anytime product- I definitely agree. While I often apply it to my full face in the morning under sunscreen, it's also great to have on hand when you notice a lurking blemish or irritated spot in the middle of the day. It glides on smooth, dries down satiny with no residual stickiness, and plays nicely with all of my other skincare and makeup products. This is particularly great for that itchy-swollen feeling hormonal breakouts can have as it's really effective at soothing the irritation. Aside from breakouts, I've used a bit on rosacea flares to great effect. Definitely a workhorse product for me.
So glad you are liking this product!
H
Hunter
Amazing
I got the .25oz size of this to try it out. It's a weird little product. I couldn't figure out when to use it - morning or night, with other serums or on its own, after a mask?? The answer is "anytime", because it's truly fantastic. I keep finding myself reaching for it when my skin is being a little problematic. I have a tendency for acne and clogged pores, and while this doesn't seem to be clearing what's there (maybe minorly), it keeps any acne I have from getting worse or more inflamed and makes my skin look supple and glowy. I've been using it under a vitamin A cream I use at night, and the combination has my skin looking like porcelain in the morning. It does not make me oily or dry me out, and it has a slight earthy smell, which I like. It's brown and has the texture of a more gel-like liquid. Just repurchased the full size, since I don't want to be without, but the smaller size really lasts a long time (3 weeks and still have some left), as you only need about a drop out of the squeeze bottle for your whole face.
I love this schampoo!! I was a little skeptical if an all natural shampoo would work, especially since I have fine, straight hair that tends to get greasy after only a couple of days with regular high quality shampoos, but this really works. I can go for 3 full days without washing it and I immediately noticed how powder soft my hair felt after the first wash. I think it even washes out the hard water. I will definitely be buying this again!
Locks of Lovely Shampoo (Unscented): Pure, Nourishing, and Gentle Care for Your Hair
Anonymous
Interesting new product
Interesting new product. I prefer the beautiful eye serum but this has some great ingredients
Blue Lotus Veil Peptide Infusion: Eye & Facial Renewal Serum
Teal Schinkel
ONLY MOISTURIZER THAT DOESNT CAUSE ACNE
Literally the only one I've ever used and I've searched for 30 yrs. Just the best!
Decadent Oat Enriched Emulsion
Teal Schinkel
Works on Melasma!
Nothing has worked so far on my Melasma as well as this. My skin has a glow that it doesn't have when I'm not using. And it's keeping acne at bay. There's a noticeable difference when I don't use this. Don't want to go without.
Clear, Brighten, and Prevent Serum
Rebekah Eustis
great for removing thick sunscreen
This micellar water is the best! I am in the ocean a lot and so wear thick mineral waterproof sunscreen. In the past, trying to get it all off so that my skin didn't break out was always a challenge because the foaming cleansers would dry out my skin. That is why this is a life saver. As another review mentioned, I shake the bottle, pour about a teaspoon or so in my palm and smooth over my face and neck. You can literally see the sunscreen (or make up) melt off. I rinse and then cleanse one more time with the gentle cleansing gel (another winner IMO). My skin is clean but not dry! I love the sensitive formula. Thank you GOW for making such amazing products!
Micellar Cleansing Dew | Sensitive Profile
CT
If I could only use one skincare brand for the rest of my life.
It would truly be garden of wisdom. I started using GOW about 8 or 9 years ago and have never looked back. I haven’t been disappointed by a single product, and I have tried soo many and would bathe in them all daily if I could. several have become staples in my routine, which is about 75% gow products now. The education they provide is genuinely game changing. You not only understand what you’re using and why, but the results are noticeably better than any other store brand skincare I’ve tried.
The company itself is lovely. It’s built on education, research, and experience, not marketing, trends, fake reviews, or the deceptive tactics most skincare brands rely on. Their success comes from a real commitment to honestly informing and educating their community while making truly amazing skincare. Thank you🤍
Garden Of Wisdom Skincare
Margie
Shrinks those bags!
I use this when I’m going out for something special I want to look my best. It really does shrink those puffy tissues around the eyes. It’s a great quick fix item.
Anti-Puffy Eye Serum
Margie
Lovely, soft skin!
Do you know the expression, “If I could bathe in this stuff, I would.”? Well, I do! I know this is an expensive option, but I use this as my body wash for my dry and sensitive body skin. Luckily, a little goes a long way. It’s so gentle and leaves my skin nice and clean, but also super soft at the same time. I use the Honey Butter cleanser on my face and this duo works really well for me.
Oats Milk and Honey Facial Cleanser
Anonymous
C3 Lipid Elixer
I tried this on a whim & I am so happy that I did! My skin is a bit sensitive, as well as very moody. This elixir works with my skin. My skin actually looks better.
Thank you!
C³ Lipid Elixir
Harmony Jensen
Perfect level of moisture.
I use this at night with a few drops of an oil and it’s the perfect level of moisture for my skin, even during winter. Heavy creams cause issue for me and this is perfect.
Decadent Oat Enriched Emulsion (No Essential Oils)
I love this schampoo!! I was a little skeptical if an all natural shampoo would work, especially since I have fine, straight hair that tends to get greasy after only a couple of days with regular high quality shampoos, but this really works. I can go for 3 full days without washing it and I immediately noticed how powder soft my hair felt after the first wash. I think it even washes out the hard water. I will definitely be buying this again!
Interesting new product. I prefer the beautiful eye serum but this has some great ingredients
Thank you so much for this review. We really appreciate you giving Blue Lotus Veil a try and sharing your thoughts with us.
The Beautiful Eye Serum will always have a special place in our hearts too 😊 but we’re so happy you noticed the thoughtful ingredient profile in Blue Lotus Veil. We wanted it to feel like a beautiful extension of that same peptide-loving philosophy while offering a slightly different experience for the skin.
Thank you again for your honesty, support, and for spending time exploring our creations with us.
It truly means a lot to our small team
I love this serum so much I had to write another review! This is my number one anti-aging go to every night because it’s packed with all of the top anti-aging ingredients! It’s the first thing I put on my face after washing. It has completely changed the texture of my skin! I have large pores so I am not fortunate enough to have skin like porcelain, but the clarity and softening of lines and wrinkles has been amazing! The scent…not heavy or perfumey, but simply real rose petals in a bottle, LOVE!!!
Kerrie Thank you so incredibly much for not only this beautiful review, but for coming back to write another one.
That is so cool and greatly appreciated.
We always love seeing you in the shop, and hearing how much Rose Stem Cell & Peptide Serum has become part of your nightly ritual just makes our hearts happy. Your description of the scent being like “real rose petals in a bottle” honestly could not have been more perfect.
And, thank you for sharing your experience so openly. So many people feel self-conscious about texture and pores, so hearing that you’ve noticed clarity, smoother texture, and softened lines will be incredibly encouraging for others too. We formulated this serum to feel nurturing, active, and beautifully supportive to the skin, so hearing feedback like this reminds us why we do what we do.
We adore you and appreciate your kindness and support!
Your Team @ GoW
I really like this stuff! I have super sensitive, fungal acne-prone skin. This takes off makeup and sunscreen right away, and it doesn't feel stripping or irritating. If I use it on the skin near my eyes it stings just a bit, hence the 4 stars, but it's not to stop using it. In the morning I use it as my sole cleanser, and at night I follow it with a GoW cleanser in the shower.
Thank you so much, Caroline. We really appreciate you taking the time to leave such a thoughtful and detailed review.
Hearing that Micellar Cleansing Dew has worked well for your super sensitive, fungal acne-prone skin means a lot to us, especially since skin like yours can be incredibly difficult to please without irritation. We’re so happy it’s helping remove makeup and sunscreen gently without leaving your skin feeling stripped.
We also sincerely appreciate you mentioning the slight stinging around the eye area. That kind of feedback is genuinely helpful for both us and other customers. The eye area can be especially delicate, so we completely understand your caution there.
And, we love hearing that it has become part of both your morning and evening routine alongside another 😊GoW cleanser.
Thank you again for your support, trust, and kindness toward our small company.
It means a great deal to us.
Markey
This clay is a wonderful ingredient I add to my tallow soaps I make
This clay is a wonderful ingredient I add to my tallow soaps I make. Extra creamy lather, plus all the benefits from Rhassoul clay.
Hi Helen :-D
This is wonderful to hear. Rhassoul Clay has some pretty spectacular properties and to know how it helped enhance
your soap sounds lovely.
Tallow soaps must be very conditioning and gentle to the skin. ;-)
Markey and the GoW Family 😊
