01
Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Acts as the primary base, replacing plain water with a soothing, hydrating fluid that supports a fresher-feeling finish.
STEP 4 OF 9 IN THE CLARITY RITUAL
The Balance : Oil-Free Hydrating Gel
oil-free hyaluronic hydration gel
A clear, oil-free gel moisturiser that delivers substantial hydration without adding weight, helping oily and combination skin feel balanced, comfortable, and matte.
£41
- Vegan and cruelty-free
- Made fresh once you order
- Dispatched within 2 working days
- Free UK shipping over £75
Made fresh for you once you order · dispatched within 2 working days.
On the skin
What this bottle brings
- 01
Serious hydration without any heavy feel
- 02
Absorbs fast to a matte finish
- 03
Supports clearer, more balanced looking skin
Why this exists
Oily and blemish-prone skin is often under-moisturised because many people assume less product will mean less shine. In practice, surface dehydration can prompt the skin to compensate with more sebum, which can leave the complexion feeling even more congested and unbalanced. This gel is built to address that pattern without introducing an added lipid layer. It relies on aloe juice, humectants, and gel-forming polysaccharides to supply hydration in a format that absorbs quickly and feels weightless. Zinc PCA is included to support sebum balance, while hyaluronic acid and the moisture-supporting complex help maintain a smoother, more evenly hydrated surface.
Inside the bottle
The key actives
02
Zinc PCA
Zinc PCA
Supports sebum balance while also contributing the moisture-supporting benefits of PCA at a functional level.
03
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Helps draw and hold surface moisture for a smoother, more comfortably hydrated feel without heaviness.
04
Rhamnose-Glucose-Glucuronic Acid Complex
Rhamnose · Glucose · Glucuronic Acid
Supports the skin’s natural moisture retention pathways, helping hydration feel more consistent through the day.
05
Watercress Extract
Nasturtium Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Brings antioxidant and clarifying support from organically sourced watercress extract.
On the skin
Clear and cool on application. It spreads easily, then settles within seconds into a completely matte finish on oily skin. On combination skin, the finish may read satin to lightly dewy depending on the area applied.
Where this sits
Your place in The Clarity Ritual
From first cleanse to final seal, this is step 4 of 9 in the full Clarity Ritual : the lightweight moisturiser that hydrates without adding oil or weight.
- Step 1The Clean Slate Blemish Purifying Face Wash
- Step 2The Purify Salicylic Purifying Toner
- Step 3The Draw Purifying Pore Clay Mask
- Step 4The Balance Oil-Free Hydrating GelYou are here
- Step 5The Clarity Pigment Perfecting Serum
- Step 6The Eraser Targeted Dark Spot Treatment, 1% Kojic
- Step 7The Spot Targeted Blemish Concentrate
- Step 8The Mattifier Zinc Oil-Control Gel
- Step 9The Restore Blemish Care Moisturiser
Build it as a ritual
Build yourClarity Ritual
Add the steps you don't already use. Your bag updates in real time. Rewards apply at checkout, automatically.
The Clean Slate Blemish Purifying Face Wash
£35
The Purify Salicylic Purifying Toner
£28
The Draw Purifying Pore Clay Mask
£41
The Balance Oil-Free Hydrating Gel
£41
The Clarity Pigment Perfecting Serum
£40
The Eraser Targeted Dark Spot Treatment, 1% Kojic
£32
The Spot Targeted Blemish Concentrate
£34
The Mattifier Zinc Oil-Control Gel
£41
The Restore Blemish Care Moisturiser
£35
Complete the ritual. Qualifying orders enjoy Complimentary Shipping, a Complimentary Candle and 10% OVESSI Reward.
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10% OVESSI Reward over £180
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Includes The Clarity.
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You've selected every step. Your bag will add the boxed set with its built-in 10% ritual saving.
Rewards apply automatically at checkout. Complimentary Shipping over £75. Final price calculated by Shopify at checkout.
The application
How to layer this
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1
Apply after treatment
Use on clean skin after any serums have fully absorbed. It sits comfortably in the moisturiser step of your ritual.
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2
Smooth a small amount
Dispense a small amount and spread evenly over the face. A little goes a long way because the gel absorbs quickly.
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3
Use morning and night
Apply in both your morning and evening rituals whenever your skin needs hydration without added weight or occlusion.
What to expect
On the skin, over time
Day 1
The gel feels cool and light as it goes on, then disappears within seconds. Skin is left feeling hydrated and balanced rather than coated.
Week 1
Shine through the day may feel more controlled, especially across oilier areas. The skin can feel less prone to that tight, under-hydrated sensation.
Week 4
The complexion may look more consistently balanced, with fewer periods of excess shine. Skin can feel clearer and more even without relying on mattifying layers.
The deeper detail
The formulation, the provenance, the standard
Formulation
The primary base is Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, organically sourced, which takes the place of a water phase and immediately gives the formula anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties beyond what plain water contributes. The gel structure is formed by Sclerotium Gum, a polysaccharide of bacterial origin that creates a smooth, non-sticky texture and provides film-forming moisture retention without occlusion.
Zinc PCA is the regulating active: a zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid that simultaneously addresses sebaceous regulation and provides the Natural Moisturising Factor contribution of PCA. It is included at a concentration where both functions are active. Sodium Hyaluronate provides surface hydration and smooth finish. The Rhamnose-Glucose-Glucuronic Acid complex mirrors the hyaluronic acid synthesis pathway in the skin, supporting natural moisture retention mechanisms rather than simply adding a hydration layer on top.
Nasturtium Officinale Flower and Leaf Extract (organically sourced Watercress) contributes glucosinolate-derived antioxidant and clarifying activity, and is present at a meaningful level given its position in the INCI. Glycerin and Betaine complete the humectant layer, while Propanediol and Butylene Glycol ensure the formula spreads and absorbs evenly without excessive drag. The finish is completely matte on oily skin; combination skin types will find it satin to dewy depending on the area applied.
Provenance
A small-batch boutique skincare house, made to order. Every bottle is formulated and filled within two working days of your order, then dispatched from the fulfilment centre closest to you : our European facility for United Kingdom and European Union customers, our United States facility for North American customers. Because every bottle is bottled to order, what arrives at your door is at the peak of its actives : nothing has been sitting against light, heat, or oxygen for months. Two-day production is the price of formulation freshness, and the boutique standard we hold ourselves to.
Cruelty-free. Vegan. Gluten free. Natural certified (Ecocert COSMOS Natural).
From our community
Reviews and reflections
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Verified
matte but not harsh
Fully matte on my oily skin, no tackiness.
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Verified
clear gel, not cream
Actual gel texture, not pretending. Absorbs in seconds and my face stays satin rather than slick all morning. Suits my blemish-prone skin really well and it layers under everything without fuss. No film, no congestion, just hydration that does its job quietly.
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neat under sunscreen
Nice clear formula that sits well under SPF. Keeps my combination skin looking balanced through the morning without any heaviness. The hydration feels intentional rather than slapped on.
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Verified
works with actives
Slots in neatly after serum, before SPF. Dries down fully matte on me which makes mornings easier.
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Verified
fresh gel
Light but surprisingly good hydration. The matte finish is what keeps me using it every morning,my T-zone can get shiny but this keeps everything looking even.
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Verified
love it
Perfect before SPF. I use it after cleansing in the morning and it sinks in quickly without leaving shine. Very light scent and the bottle could be a bit bigger.
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Verified
tidy for blemish-prone skin
Was after something that wouldn't congest the surface and this has been very tidy. Gives enough comfort without shine, just a nice satin finish on my skin.
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Verified
nice for daytime
Absorbs fast, stays matte, good under sunscreen.
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no heavy film
I'm oily across the nose and cheeks and this sits on skin with none of that film I usually hate. Layers neatly under sunscreen. By lunchtime my face still looks balanced, which is more than I can say for thicker moisturisers I've tried.
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Verified
Lasts for hours
Lasts for hours, giving steady hydration with no residue and skin feeling less stressed on sensitive days.
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Verified
balanced all day
Finish is fully matte on me but not dry or tight. I've been using it and it keeps the centre of my face calmer through the afternoon.
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Verified
decent mattifier
Matte finish is excellent and plays nicely with SPF. Feels almost weightless which is useful for summer.
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Verified
not enough
T-zone looked calmer but my dry cheeks felt underfed.
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Verified
light but works
Nice change from moisturisers that leave a film. Gets hydration without weight, works well under SPF.
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Verified
summer staple
Hydration without a lipid layer, exactly what I wanted.
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Verified
oily skin friendly
My forehead usually turns shiny fast but this has been a good fit. Matte finish on me.
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Verified
maybe not my favorite
Not sure if it's my favorite, but it feels super balanced and matte.
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Light gel relief
Heavy creams usually make me blotchy, so this oil free gel was a nice swap. The aloe feels calming and my skin stays hydrated without turning shiny. I use it at night too when I want something lighter.
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not too much
Only need a small amount and it spreads evenly. Feels properly hydrating yet the end result is still satin-matte. That balance is hard to find.
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Verified
too light for me
Texture is lovely and I can see why oily skin would like it. For my face the hydration isn't quite enough by late afternoon.
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Verified
great texture
Clear, smooth, never sticky. Matte finish suits my T-zone.
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Not sure, but decent
Feels alright, though I am not fully sold. It gives enough moisture and keeps skin from feeling tight after a workout, with a finish that sits fine under SPF.
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Verified
Niacinamide keeps it even
Niacinamide helped my T zone stay less shiny by late afternoon, with vitamin C and ceramide giving a steadier look and panthenol comfort.
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Verified
no grease at all
One of the few moisturisers that truly leaves no lipid layer. Dries down quickly to matte and my face stays neat for hours.
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gel that behaves
Hydrates dry patches, leaves T-zone alone. Matte finish is real.
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Verified
Niece loved it
She says the gel feels lovely, with dark marks seeming a bit softer.
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Verified
agreeable feel
This gel feels lighter than the one I used before and the scent stays for long time. Still, when the air turns dry, I need extra cream on top, so not perfect but quite decent.
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mixed but useful
Keeps shine down well but some evenings I want more comfort around the cheeks. Solid for daytime though.
-
Verified
very good almost perfect
Like the clear gel texture and how it sits under SPF. Only caveat is my cheeks want more in cold weather.
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skin feels fresh, stays smooth below spf
Skin looks fresh and stays smooth under SPF, even after a full day out. I use it after cleansing and it sinks in fast, though the gel texture feels a little light at first.
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Verified
Pore-friendly bag staple
Niacinamide keeps my oily pores feeling improved and this light gel helps control shine without feeling heavy.
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Verified
soft gel comfort
had dry bits round my nose before and this has been a nice change. The gel feel is quite comfy, very light on skin and there is no greasy shine after. Scent is barely there, so it feels clean and easy to wear.
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Verified
works for oily skin
Worried it'd make shine worse but opposite happened. Straightforward.
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Verified
sebum calmer
Absorbs fast, leaves no occlusion and my face looks less shiny by late morning. For oily skin that's the point.
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Verified
Scented gel comfort
Fresh scent, super clean.
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Verified
surprisingly balanced
Handles both sides of my face well. Fresh, never greasy.
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Verified
matte and clear
Combination skin and this does exactly what it says. The aloe base feels cool on application and it keeps the shiny part of my face calmer through the day. Leaves a completely matte finish on me so I can go straight to SPF without any greasy layer in between.
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Verified
worked then not enough
Liked the clear gel at first. After a few weeks my combination skin wanted more in colder weather.
-
Verified
good not lush
Respect the formula more than I adore it. Performs well on my oily skin but I like a slightly more cushioned feel at night so mostly keep this for morning.
Every OVESSI order is prepared once you place it. Your order is filled, sealed and labelled for you, then dispatched within 2 working days. Nothing waits on a warehouse shelf.
- ✦Made fresh
- ○ 2-day dispatch
- →UK 3 to 7 / EU 5 to 10 / US 2 to 5 days
In case you wondered
Frequently asked
Is this suitable for oily skin?
Yes. It is specifically designed for oily and combination skin that needs hydration without added oil or a heavy finish.
Will it feel sticky?
No. The gel is formulated to absorb quickly and leave a matte finish on oily skin, with a lighter satin-to-dewy feel on some combination areas.
Can I use it in the morning and at night?
Yes. It is made for both your morning and evening rituals, depending on when your skin needs lightweight hydration.
Does this replace a richer moisturiser?
For skin that prefers weightless hydration, it can. If your skin is very dry, you may want a richer moisturiser instead.
Can I layer it with serums?
Yes. Apply your serum first, allow it to absorb, then smooth this gel over the top as your moisturiser step.
When will my order arrive?
We start preparing your bottle once your order is placed and dispatch within 2 business days. From dispatch, delivery is UK 3 to 7 business days, EU 5 to 10 business days, US 2 to 5 business days.
Pair it with
Complete the Clarity Ritual
Small batch. Filled for you. Made in EU and US.
