Our ingredients · Swiss made
Nothing enters a formula
without a reason.
Every active in every SÉRÈNE product is chosen for a single, non-negotiable criterion: efficacy for skin in hormonal transition — and for the real life lived around it. Here is exactly what we use, and precisely why.
Science selects.
Never fashion.
The global luxury skincare industry is built on beautiful names and alluring textures. Every ingredient in every formula was selected because it addresses a specific, measurable physiological problem — particularly the ones hormonal change creates.
We work with Swiss biotechnology laboratories and alpine botanical specialists to source and validate actives. If we cannot explain exactly what an ingredient does, it does not enter a formula.
UV Defence
Sun exposure compounds fastest on skin whose collagen and barrier are already changing — once skin has begun to change, daily defence is not optional, it is the foundation every other result rests on. Intense daily UV only raises the stakes.
SÉRÈNE's UV Defence complex goes beyond filtration, pairing sun filters with plant stem cells from a UV-resistant grape and a plant based retinol alternative.
Grape Stem Cells
Derived from the stem cells of a rare UV-resistant grape cultivar, these grape stem cells help skin look vital and resilient through daily sun exposure.
Bioretinol
Traditional retinol is photosensitizing — it makes skin more vulnerable to UV damage. Bioretinol is a plant based retinol alternative derived from the Bidens Pilosa plant that supports the look of renewed, smoother skin without the harshness retinol can bring.
Deep Hydration
As hormones shift, the skin's ability to hold moisture declines with them — hydration that once lasted all day now fades by mid-afternoon. SÉRÈNE's hydration actives are chosen to work deeper: not depositing moisture on the surface, but supporting the skin's own ability to retain it.
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate
Dimethylsilanol Hyaluronate combines silanol chemistry with hyaluronic acid's water-binding capacity — silicon bound hyaluronate for deep, lasting hydration and a visibly plumper look.
Black Tea Ferment
Derived from the fermentation of sweet black tea, this black tea ferment improves the look of smoothness, density, and natural radiance.
Squalane
Squalane's molecular structure is virtually identical to the skin's own squalene — a primary component of human sebum. It reinforces the moisture barrier without heaviness or greasiness.
Cellular Regeneration
In the first five years of the hormonal transition, skin can lose up to 30% of its collagen — firmness, density, and radiance change faster than at any other adult moment. SÉRÈNE's regeneration actives were chosen for precisely this skin, at precisely this stage.
The gold, the caviar, the diamond — each carries a distinct function.
Caviar Extract
Caviar extract is rich in omega fatty acids and amino acids that nourish and revitalize mature skin.
Gold Complex
Gold, paired in the formula with Acetyl Heptapeptide-9, supports the look of firm, luminous, vital skin.
Micronised Diamond
Micronised diamond powder diffracts light for an immediate optical brightening effect, reflecting light uniformly across the skin's surface.
Vitamin C
A gentle, oil soluble form of vitamin C that brightens the look of the skin.
Bacillus Ferment
Bacillus ferment is an enzymatic exfoliant derived from bacterial fermentation that gently lifts away dull surface cells without mechanical abrasion.
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) refines the look of pores and supports a smooth, even toned appearance and the skin barrier.
Barrier &
Microbiome
Hormonal change alters the barrier itself: skin that was never sensitive becomes reactive. Modern dermatology is clear that a compromised skin barrier is not merely a symptom of aging — it is one of its primary drivers. When the lipid barrier fails, skin loses moisture faster and becomes susceptible to sensitisation a healthy barrier would simply deflect.
Daily sun exposure adds to that load. SÉRÈNE's barrier actives are specifically selected to rebuild what this stage depletes.
Shea Butter
Shea butter restores surface lipids and comforts dry skin, providing immediate physical comfort.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Tocopherol is a naturally occurring lipid-soluble antioxidant that helps defend the skin barrier against free radicals.
Aurora Cleansing Complex
Our Aurora Cleanser is built around a trio of botanicals: Iris Germanica Root Extract, known for conditioning and supporting the look of smooth, even toned skin, alongside Calendula and Chamomile Flower Extracts that soothe and comfort, making the cleanser gentle enough for twice daily use.
Never in
our formulas.
These are not simply ingredients we have chosen not to use — they are compounds we have formally excluded because they are incompatible with the skin health our formulas exist to protect, carry unacceptable risk profiles, or undermine the barrier integrity our formulas are designed to restore.
Traditional Retinol
Photosensitizing — renders skin more vulnerable to UV damage in intense sunlight. We use bioretinol (Bidens Pilosa extract) exclusively.
Parabens
Endocrine-disrupting preservatives with documented oestrogenic activity. All SÉRÈNE formulas use alternative preservation systems.
Mineral Oil
A petroleum-derived occlusive that prevents the skin from breathing and blocks the absorption of the active ingredients it shares a formula with.
SLS & SLES
Sulphate surfactants that strip the skin's natural lipid barrier, raising pH and causing the transepidermal water loss our formulas are built to prevent.
Avobenzone
A traditional UV filter with rapid photodegradation under high UV. Unacceptable under intense daily UV.
Phthalates
Plasticising compounds with endocrine-disrupting properties, sometimes found in fragrance complexes. Excluded categorically from all formulations and all packaging materials.
"This blacklist is a binding formulation standard at SÉRÈNE — not a marketing position. No exceptions. No reformulations. No compromises under cost pressure. If an ingredient appears on this list, it is not in a SÉRÈNE product. This is our commitment."
Every ingredient chosen
precisely for your skin.
Take the SÉRÈNE Beauty Quiz to receive your personalised ritual — built from these actives, matched to where your skin is today — stage, type, and specific concerns.