01
Bidens Pilosa Extract
Bidens Pilosa Extract
Provides the renewal-focused signalling at the heart of the formula, offering a retinol-like approach without retinol's usual sensitivity profile.
STEP 5 OF 8 IN THE SENSITIVE RESET RITUAL
The Soft Reset : Retinol Alternative Serum
bakuchiol retinol-alternative serum
A lightweight renewal serum that supports cell turnover from day one, with a fast-absorbing emulsion finish and no retinol-style adjustment period.
£39
- 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
Supports cell renewal from day one
- 02
Absorbs fast with no residue
- 03
Leaves skin looking smoother over time
Why this exists
Retinol is effective, but many people cannot comfortably stay with the early phase of use, when dryness, peeling, and sensitivity are common. That limits who can access a cell-renewing step and how often it can be used. This serum was created to offer a different path : one built around Bidens Pilosa Extract, a botanical active selected for supporting renewal signalling without using the retinoic acid pathway that tends to trigger irritation. The formula pairs that hero with an aloe juice base, humectants, and a rich but fast-absorbing organic lipid phase so the skin is left cushioned, not coated. The result is a renewal serum designed to fit real skin tolerance, morning or night, without the usual adjustment period.
Inside the bottle
The key actives
02
Aloe Juice
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Forms a functional soothing base that contributes immediate hydration and comfort rather than acting as a simple water filler.
03
Hydrolysed Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Helps draw water into the skin for a smoother, more cushioned feel without adding weight.
04
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Supports surface hydration alongside the other humectants, helping the skin feel supple after application.
05
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Ascorbyl Palmitate
A lipid-soluble vitamin C derivative that adds antioxidant support and helps maintain a more even-looking complexion over time.
06
Tocopherol
Tocopherol
Vitamin E that supports antioxidant defence and helps stabilise the oil-rich formula.
On the skin
Fluid and almost milky on application. It disappears into the skin within seconds. The finish is rich in feel but dry to the touch, with no residue sitting on the surface.
Where this sits
Your place in The Sensitive Reset Ritual
From first cleanse to final seal, this is step 5 of 8 in the full Sensitive Reset Ritual : the gentle renewal serum that softens texture without disturbing comfort.
- Step 1The Melt Sensitive Oil-To-Milk Cleanser
- Step 2The Purity Sensitive Skin Cleanser
- Step 3The Silk Nourishing Cleansing Milk
- Step 4The Rose Fragrance-Free Rose Hydrating Toner
- Step 5The Soft Reset Retinol Alternative SerumYou are here
- Step 6The Calm Sensitive Daily Moisturiser
- Step 7The Quiet Sensitive Overnight Cream
- Step 8The Tender Sensitive Scalp Shampoo
Build it as a ritual
Build yourSensitive Reset Ritual
Add the steps you don't already use. Your bag updates in real time. Rewards apply at checkout, automatically.
The Melt Sensitive Oil-To-Milk Cleanser
£43
The Purity Sensitive Skin Cleanser
£32
The Silk Nourishing Cleansing Milk
£31
The Rose Fragrance-Free Rose Hydrating Toner
£28
The Soft Reset Retinol Alternative Serum
£39
The Calm Sensitive Daily Moisturiser
£37
The Quiet Sensitive Overnight Cream
£39
The Tender Sensitive Scalp Shampoo
£24
Complete the ritual. Qualifying orders enjoy Complimentary Shipping, a Complimentary Candle and 10% OVESSI Reward.
Selected ritual subtotal
£0
Hero pairing reward
30% off your second Hero
−£0
Checkout reward
10% OVESSI Reward over £180
−£0
Estimated checkout total
Includes The Sensitive Reset.
£0
Whole Ritual Box price unlocked
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
-
1
Cleanse first
Apply to clean skin after cleansing, both morning and night. Use it as the renewal step before moisturiser and SPF in the daytime.
-
2
Layer lightly
Smooth a small amount over the face and neck. Allow it to settle before following with the next step in your ritual.
-
3
Finish with moisturiser
Seal it in with moisturiser, and in the morning complete the ritual with SPF. It is designed to sit comfortably under both.
What to expect
On the skin, over time
Day 1
Skin feels immediately nourished and comfortable. The emulsion finishes dry rather than heavy, with no sensation of product lingering on the surface.
Week 1
Fine surface texture may begin to feel smoother. The complexion can look a little more even in good light as renewal support builds.
Week 4
Skin often appears more refined and settled overall. The surface can look clearer and more uniform, especially where roughness or unevenness was previously noticeable.
The deeper detail
The formulation, the provenance, the standard
Formulation
The hero active is 2% Bidens Pilosa Extract, sourced from a flowering plant in the Asteraceae family whose leaf compounds have been studied for their ability to support epidermal cell turnover via interaction with nuclear receptors, paralleling retinol's mechanism without the retinoic acid pathway that generates skin sensitivity. At 2%, it is positioned at a therapeutically meaningful concentration: above the dose at which it functions as a trace botanical, below the dose where irritation risk emerges.
The serum is built on an Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice base, which immediately distinguishes it from simple water-phase formulations. Aloe contributes its own soothing and hydration properties as a functional ingredient, not decorative water. Jojoba Seed Oil, Mango Seed Butter, Murumuru Seed Butter, and Rosehip Fruit Oil form a rich but fast-absorbing lipid layer that conditions and softens without leaving a greasy finish. These are all organically sourced. Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate provide hydration at both surface and deeper layers. Sea Buckthorn Fruit Extract and Rose Myrtle Fruit Extract contribute antioxidant activity, supporting a brighter, more even-looking complexion over time.
Vitamin C is delivered as Ascorbyl Palmitate, a lipid-soluble ester form that integrates well into oil-containing emulsions and contributes additional antioxidant and tone-supporting activity. Vitamin E (Tocopherol) works synergistically with both, extending the stability of the formula and supporting the skin's own antioxidant defences.
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
-
Verified
not for me here
Not for me, but it felt gentle and left skin a bit fresher by morning. Nothing dramatic, just less dull. Price still feels high for what it gives.
-
Verified
no fuss
Breastfeeding so needed a retinol alternative. This settles fast, no drama from first use.
-
Verified
Firmness feels modest
Fine lines look a bit softer and skin feels firmer, though the hydration lift was modest for such a rich serum.
-
Verified
third week in
Cheeks less blotchy already. Absorbs completely, sits fine under evening cream, no pilling.
-
Verified
tight after a few uses
Fast absorbing and sits under cream fine, but my skin felt slightly tight after a few goes. The aloe base wasn't quite enough for my face. Nice formula, just not mine.
-
Verified
expected more
Texture lovely, absorbs fast, sits fine under moisturiser. But after several weeks the improvement in uneven tone has been mild rather than obvious. For the price I wanted more payoff.
-
Verified
proof in the bottle
£39 for 30ml so I wanted proof it's more than a pretty label. It delivers. Layers cleanly under night cream, no residue, finish is comfortable. My skin reads clearer in natural light now, which is all I needed to see to know it works.
-
Verified
smart bottle, clean feel
solid bottle, cool lift, no sticky finish
-
Verified
no dry phase
Was expecting the usual dry phase you get with retinoid stuff but there's been none of that. It layers cleanly under my night cream and my face looks more refined by end of week. The brightening feel is there without any sting.
-
Verified
Texture feels a bit smoother
Silky feel and the finish turns a bit even.
-
Verified
Oil stays controlled
Keeps shine down well on my oily skin and feels gentle, but the little bottle is quite expensive for daily use.
-
soothing from day one
More soothing than I expected from a cell-renewal serum. Fast absorbing so no waiting around before my cream and my skin looks smoother by morning.
-
pleasant
Disappears quickly, feels nice under moisturiser.
-
wakes up smoother
Starts working on contact then settles to a dry finish almost immediately. Use it evenings and wake up to smoother feel across my cheeks. No irritation once.
-
vanishes in seconds
Wanted cell renewal without retinol. This is fluid, almost milky, vanishes fast. No redness, forehead looks polished.
-
Verified
Sorting the day
Returning for a second tub, the consistency stayed spot on under my cream and my cheeks looked less blotchy by lunch, then stayed better through the day, steady and fixed.
-
Verified
summer skin comfort
During warm days, it felt kind on heated skin and still gave a smooth finish under makeup.
-
Verified
Seamless under makeup
Applies before makeup and leaves skin looking more even.
-
Verified
calmer skin sort
Honestly, it’s been pretty decent overall, though not perfect. A few old marks look less obvious under SPF, which is nice, but it took a while to feel like it was doing much. Texture is fine, bit of a faff to judge at first, yet my skin seems calmer and that’s sorted me out enough.
-
Verified
Softer dry patches
Softened rough patches. Dark marks looked less stark.
-
Verified
kinder than retinol
Very reactive skin and this has been kinder than retinol. Fluid emulsion disappears in seconds, no residue or redness.
-
Verified
clearer reset, slight doubt
Sits neatly and the claims feel broad, though price nags me.
-
Verified
no peeling
No redness or peeling which is rare for me. Comfortable, layers easily. Wish the dropper was more precise though.
-
Verified
comfy finish
Few drops morning and night, absorbs completely, layers well under moisturiser. No sticky film. After couple weeks my forehead looks less rough in good light.
-
Verified
bit more size
wish it came in a smaller size tbh
-
Verified
like the aloe base
Almost milky texture, absorbs in seconds, no greasy finish. Sits well under my cream every night. First thing I noticed was less rough feel across nose and chin.
-
Verified
no breaks needed
My skin objects to most actives but this has been steady from day one. Milky emulsion vanishes fast, no residue. I like that I can use it every day without breaks.
-
Verified
works under SPF
Light once applied and it sits well under my SPF and moisturiser. I used it on a few mornings and by lunchtime my face looked fresher, though the dropper feel is mid.
-
Verified
Bottle feels handy
Bottle feels neat and improved, with packaging that makes it dead easy to use at night.
-
Verified
no peeling or tightness
Was drawn in by the cell renewal claim and it's been a good fit. Real treatment feel but the finish is still light and comfortable. Had no peeling or tightness which is the main reason I keep reaching for it.
-
Verified
disappears fast
Absorbs quickly with no tacky linger and I noticed my skin felt smoother after using it under moisturiser at night. shipping took a bit, but I’m still really happy with it.
-
Verified
dried me out
Liked the texture at first but after a week my skin looked drier.
-
Verified
Box opening delight
Out of the box it felt nicely put together and the serum gave a neat unboxing moment with a polished look.
-
hated retinol dryness
Used retinol before and hated the dryness so the no adjustment period claim caught my eye. This has stayed gentle, fluid emulsion absorbs quickly enough to use before bed without fuss. My complexion looks more even now.
-
Verified
press and go
Disappears into skin rather than sitting on top. Use three to four drops, press in, then moisturiser. Week two texture improvement was noticeable.
-
Verified
subtle
Comfortable, layers well, but the effect on my forehead lines has been subtle.
-
Verified
controlled drops
Dispenser gives controlled drops which suits an active serum. Use after cleansing, before moisturiser. By morning skin looks smoother and more even.
-
Verified
too clean
Fast absorption but finish almost too clean for my very dry skin.
-
stayed calm
Reactive skin so I notice redness quickly but this has stayed calm. Absorbs completely, sits happily under moisturiser, made my cheeks feel less fussy overall.
-
Verified
week four
Not dramatic overnight but by week four I could see cleaner complexion.
-
Verified
need rich moisturiser
Absorbs quickly, no residue. Just need a fairly rich moisturiser after.
-
Verified
bit airy
Right ingredients on paper but felt a little too airy once absorbed. Sits well under cream, decent result, just not substantial.
-
Verified
Brightening with vitamin C
Brightening feel with vitamin C, my skin looks fresher by lunch and dry patches seem less obvious, nice fit for me.
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
Can I use this morning and night?
Yes. The formula is designed for use in both rituals and absorbs quickly enough to layer comfortably under moisturiser in the morning.
Is this a retinol?
No. It is built around Bidens Pilosa Extract, a botanical active chosen to support renewal signalling without using retinol itself.
Will this feel greasy?
No. The formula contains rich lipids, but it is designed to absorb quickly and finish dry and comfortable rather than oily.
Can I use this with other actives?
Yes, in most rituals it can be layered after cleansing and before moisturiser. If you use stronger actives, introduce them thoughtfully and keep an eye on how your skin responds.
Is it suitable for reactive skin?
It was formulated specifically to offer a gentler alternative to retinol-style renewal, so it is a good option for skin that does not tolerate adjustment periods well. Patch testing is still sensible for very reactive skin.
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 Sensitive Reset Ritual
Small batch. Filled for you. Made in EU and US.
