Last Updated on March 8, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Truth bomb: I’m not a big of Juice Beauty. There, I said. I get a lot of requests to cover this brand and I totally get why. At first glance, they’re one of the few natural brands that walk their walk. Every product is packed to the brim with natural oils and antioxidants that promise to banish dryness, fight off wrinkles, and get rid of dark spots. But they cost a pretty penny, too. You want to be sure they’re the real deal before splurging, you know what I mean?
But, there’s a catch… Juice Beauty is too fond of citrus extracts, a family of ingredients that can cause havoc on the skin. Case in point: their serums. Only two pass the non-irritation test. And even then, only narrowly. Here’s the complete guide to all Juice Beauty serums. Find out what to buy and what to avoid like the plague:
Best Juice Beauty Serums
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Supergrape Youth Renew Serum ($65.00)
Let’s be clear on something: stem cells are just glorified antioxidants. There’s no way that a grape or apple stem cells can turn into human skin and fix it. I’m happy to see this serum has its fair share of antioxidants to keep premature wrinkles at bay (every serum should!). Plus, it’s loaded with hyaluronic acid and natural oils to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier, deeply moisturise skin and keep it soft and plump for hours. It also has a lovely texture that glides smoothly on the skin. It only has a sprinkle of essential oils to make the serum smell good, so if you have sensitive skin, you’ll still want to patch test first.
Available at: Juice Beauty
Active ingredients: Apple juice, grape juice, jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid.
Benefits: Has antioxidant properties that can fight wrinkles, deeply hydrates and moisturises skin.
Cons: Has essential oils that can irritate sensitive skin.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Has essential oils that make it smell good (and can irritate you!).
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Retinol Overnight Serum ($72.00)
Retinoids are the gold standard for anti-aging and this serum claims to have 2 forms: 2.5% Bio-Retinol + Retinol. Retinol is the most common retinoids in skincare: it fights wrinkles, boosts collagen, and speeds up exfoliation. But, it can irritate skin. Here, it’s encapsulated in evening primrose oil to make it gentler on the skin. The bio retinol is the Bidens pilosa plant. Marketers say it works as well as retinol, science doesn’t fully agree yet. The 2.5% isn’t entirely accurate. 2.5% retinol would be way too harsh for skin. So this figure is a mix of pure retinol, bidens pilosa plant and evening primrose oil. So we don’t know how much real retinol this serum has. What we know is that even a tiny amount of retinol does wonders for skin. Plus, it’s loaded with antioxidants and only a sprinkle of essential oils. Overall, a great option for beginners or people can’t tolerate a high % of retinol.
Available at: Juice Beauty
Active ingredients: Retinol.
Benefits: Fights wrinkles and dark spots.
Cons: Real concentration of retinol not disclosed.
Skin type: Dry skin.
Fragrance-free: Has a small amount of essential oils that make it smell good (and can irritate sensitive skin).
Juice Beauty Serums To Avoid
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum ($80.00)
First things first: stem cells don’t work. Not as brands claim anyway. Stem cells are mother cells. They have the potential to become any type of cell in that organism. For example, an apple stem cell can turn into an apple leaf or the branch of an apple tree, regenerating the plant. But there’s no way that an apple stem cell can turn into a human skin cell. And if it can’t do that, how can it rejuvenate human skin? It can’t. Truth is, plant stem cells are just glorified antioxidants. They fight free radicals. That’s it. But that’s not the only reason why I don’t recommend Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum. Like the other serums in the “to avoid” section, it has way too much lemon juice for your skin’s comfort (don’t use much of citrus anything on your skin, ladies!).
Active ingredients: Apple juice and grape juice.
Benefits: Has antioxidant properties that can fight wrinkles.
Cons: Loaded with irritating extracts.
Skin type: None.
Fragrance-free: Loaded with citrusy extracts that make it smell good (and can irritate you!).
Related: The Truth About Stem Cells In Skincare: Do They Really Work?
Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum ($35.00)
If you’re a regular here, you’ve heard me say this a thousand times: if you’ve got pimples/blackheads, you need an exfoliant with salicylic acid. Once it’s done removing dead cells on the surface of your skin, it gets inside the pores, removing all the crap that’s clogging them up and giving you blemishes. The optimal dose to get the job done? Between 1 and 2%. Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum only contains 0.75%. Bummer! If that weren’t reason alone to leave it on the shelf, hear this: Lemon juice is in 4th place on the ingredient list. That’s another irritation hazard! Do your skin a favour and get an irritant-free 2% salicylic acid exfoliant (you can check out my fave picks here).
Active ingredients: 0.75% Salicylic acid.
Benefits: Has some mild exfoliating properties.
Cons: Salicylic acid concentration is too low for fast results; loaded with irritating extracts.
Skin type: Oily, combination, and acne-probe skin.
Fragrance-free: Loaded with citrusy extracts that make it smell good (and can irritate you!).
Related: The Complete Guide To Salicylic Acid: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Serum ($59.00)
Juice Beauty Green Apple Age Defy Serum claims to “visibly reduce and correct the appearance of dark spots and discoloration with an age-defying cocktail of alpha lipoic acid, CoQ10 & Vitamin C.” Sound awesome, right? Problem is, that vitamin C comes from a blend of citrus extracts. Do I have to repeat again how damaging they are for skin? Sure, citrus extracts can fight free radicals and fight discolourations – but that comes at a cost. A high risk of irritation and more sun damage (yes, citrus extracts make your skin more prone to UV damage). For the love of your skin, stay away! (Click here for my fave Vitamin C serums that prevent wrinkles and lighten dark spots without irritation).
Active ingredients: Apple juice and grape juice.
Benefits: Has some mild antioxidant properties.
Cons: Vitamin C form not particularly effective; loaded with irritating extracts.
Skin type: None.
Fragrance-free: Loaded with citrusy extracts that make it smell good (and can irritate you!).
Related: 7 Irritating Natural Ingredients To Avoid In Skincare Products
The Bottom Line
Just because it’s natural, it doesn’t mean it’s good for you. Juice Beauty gets points for using natural oils and antioxidants to prevent premature aging and moisturise skin, but too many of their products use citrus extracts and essential oils that could cause irritations and allergies. Choose wisely.
this post makes me think of Lush. what about their recipes (which are all on YouTube for the curious minds)? everything from bath bombs to shampoos, body washes, face washes, moisturizers have citrus (ENTIRE limes or grapefruits cut up and BLENDED IN) in them. and they also throw in butters and oils etc. can you have a look at those videos and tell us if they know what they’re doing?
Jessica, citrus oils and extracts are one of the biggest offenders that can irritate sensitive skin. If your skin doesn’t react badly to them, it’s ok to use them in small doses in moderation. Unfortunately, Juice Beauty doesn’t add just a drop and that’s my main problem with them. Lush is very hit and miss, too. It can work as a treat for resistant skin once in a while, but if you have sensitive skin, stay away from the brand.