Caldera + Lab Review: A Middle-Aged Man’s Best Friend?

Younger Sean would never believe what I’m about to write.

Up until about a year ago, in my 38 years of life, I’d not spent a single second thinking about “skin care.”

I mean, I’d wash my face in the shower using, well, soap…

But I didn’t have a skin care routine, and I definitely wasn’t considering spending a bunch of money on dedicated skin care products.

And then…I realized I was right on the cusp of middle age.

I’ll be 39 in a few months, and as much as I hate to admit it, that feels solidly in the “middle age” camp.

So as I’ve begun to think about longevity, vitality, and how to live a high-quality life for decades to come – I began to think of all the ways I could, or should, be taking care of my body.

Whether it’s a daily supplement like AG1, regular fitness routine, healthier eating – or gasp, skin care.

I’m at a point where it’s never going to get easier to do any of these things, so now is the time to finally be considering it.

As I continue to make YouTube videos and 4k is a very real thing – I’ve become more aware that I don’t look like I’m 25 anymore.

So, despite feeling ridiculous to spend a bunch of money on a skin care regimen, it’s time to give something a shot.

I’ve been getting ads for Caldera + Lab for months now.

It’s a bunch of rugged middle-aged-looking dudes with, not surprisingly, great skin.

Well, this was the rare occurrence where those Instagram ads worked on me.

During Black Friday I picked up 3 products, known as “The Regimen”

But here’s the question? Was it worth the $150 I spent on it after shipping costs? Is a proper skin care routine any better than just using soap and water?

To be honest, I’m not sure yet. But I’m in the process of finding out.

What is Caldera + Lab Skin Care?

Caldera + Lab makes skin care products targeted for active men. Watching the ads makes you want to run out and climb a mountain, swim in a river, and oddly enough, wash your face.

They promote all of the same talking points every other skin and beauty company like to tout: aluminum-free, paraben-free, silicone-free, gluten-free (?), no animal testing, and so on.

I’ve gotta admit, the branding is extremely well done. It’s hooked me. It’s been more memorable and pervasive than any other skincare brand I’ve come across.

So when it came time to actually buy and start using something – it was top of mind.

But are the products, specifically?

The Caldera + Lab Regimen

Caldera + Lab has a number of products, but their flagship package is known as The Regimen. It’s a twice-daily skin care routine that they say will guarantee younger skin after 60 days of continuous use.

The Regimen consists of The Clean Slate, The Base Layer, and The Good. You use The Clean Slate in the morning and evening, and afterward you use the Base Layer cream in the morning and The Good serum in the evening.

The packaging is well done and fits perfectly with the ads and branding on their site. Each of the three products I picked up are in sturdy glass bottles that feel like high-end products. Certainly, more so than the $5 shampoo and bar soap I’m used to buying.

Let’s go through these one by one and I’ll give you my initial impressions after two weeks of use.

The Clean Slate

The Clean Slate is the general face wash from Caldera + Lab. This is the one aspect of The Regimen that you use both morning and night. One pump from the bottle doesn’t seem like it emits a ton of cleanser, but it’s more than enough to get a thick lather going on your face.

I’ve never been a fan of washing my face, because the soap I’ve used previously has always severely dried my skin out.

I think this is one of my biggest hesitations in building a regular routine.

I’m happy to report that The Clean Slate has not dried my skin out at all.

In fact, every time I use it my face feels less oily, yet healthier than it did before. 

If you look at the list of ingredients on the sales page, honestly a lot of it sounds very marketing-heavy.

Like what do glacial minerals, nelumbo lotus, and fireweed actually do for my skin?

I have no idea.

But I’ve genuinely enjoyed using this product over the last two weeks, and my skin does feel healthier because of it.

It doesn’t have an overly strong fragrance, but I appreciate that they clearly aren’t using a bunch of chemicals or artificial ingredients to heavily alter the smell.

It’s $37 on its own or it’s a bit less if you get a membership or purchase it along with the rest of The Regimen.

The Base Layer

The Base Layer is the moisturizing cream that you use in the mornings after cleaning your face.

I’ve never in my life used any cream or moisturizer on my face outside of sunscreen, so this is new territory for me.

Unfortunately, because of this I don’t really have anything to compare it to. But I imagine a lot of the people reading this are in the same boat as me. Hitting middle age, beginning to think about skin care long term, got hit with a snazzy-looking Instagram ad, and are curious if the product is legit.

I use about a dime-sized amount of this each day, and sure enough, my skin feels super moisturized afterward. I’ve never liked using skin lotion because I don’t love the fact my hands and body can feel oily for a while afterward.

With The Base Layer there’s none of that. It rubs in quickly and completely, and my skin feels great afterward.

 

I’ve had zero itching, reactions, dryness, or irritation of any kind using the Caldera + Lab products and that was one thing I was concerned about.

The Good

The Good is a serum you put on your face nightly after washing your face with The Clean Slate.

I’m not gonna lie, I’m still not sure I totally buy into this.

It’s essentially an oil that you take a dropper full of and rub onto your face before bed.

Over time The Good is supposed to help moisturize, tighten the skin, reduce lines, and improve skin tone.

It has a smell faintly reminiscent of lemongrass, and the other night when my wife walked by me while I was putting it on she said “oh that smells good.”

I’ve genuinely enjoyed the routine of using it each night, and whether it actually is doing anything, it feels like I am. I do like the way my face feels after going through The Regimen both during the morning and evenings.

Again, you’ll find a bunch of other new-age buzzwords here like astralagus root, dandelion, spilanthes, and apricot kernel oil.

I’m only two weeks in, so after 60 days I’ll report back with some before and after photos to see if there’s truly been a noticeable difference in my skin from using the Caldera + Lab Regimen.

Buying it on its own at $97 feels like a lot of money – especially if you’re not used to spending money on skincare.

It also makes buying The Regimen package for $189 feel like a slightly better deal. Or if you get the 60-day recurring membership, it drops the price down to $150.

Caldera + Lab Questions You Might Have

I wanted to do a Caldera + Lab FAQ section to basically answer all of the questions I personally had before buying, so hopefully this is useful.

Do Caldera + Lab products dry out your skin?

No. In nearly 3 weeks of using The Regimen daily, I’ve had zero issues with dry skin, irritation, or any other issues commonly found in skin care products.

How long does a bottle of Caldera + Lab Product last?

If using The Regimen as directed, it should last you about 60 days. One pump of The Clean Slate is plenty to get a rich lather, and I’m two weeks in and it barely feels like I’ve touched it.

The Base Layer cream is the one that you’ll likely go through the fastest depending on how liberal you are with your application.

Can you get free shipping on the Regimen?

Shipping on Caldera + Lab products is $10-15 per order. This is a little disappointing, and would love to see them offer free shipping – especially if you sign up for a recurring membership.

You can buy some of their products on Amazon at the same price they offer on the website. If you’re a prime member, you can get free shipping as well. This is actually how I originally ordered it.

The downside, is as of this writing in January 2023 the Clean Slate isn’t available on Amazon – so you can’t properly do “The Regimen”. And until it’s back, it’s worth paying the shipping cost, ordering from Caldera + Lab, and properly doing the routine.

Does Caldera + Lab have discounts?

You can get 15% off your first order when you sign up for their email list on the Caldera + Lab site.

Does Caldera + Lab have a guarantee?

Yes, and a good one at that. Caldera + Lab has a 60 day guarantee. So if you go through The Regimen and don’t have noticeably better skin at the end, you can contact them for a full refund. This is also might be the biggest benefit to ordering directly through them on your first go around.

Final Thoughts on Caldera + Lab Regimen

Overall, I’ve been extremely pleased with the Caldera + Lab products.

Perhaps, surprisingly so.

While I can’t say definitively if they’re actually going to help me look 10 years younger, I can say that it’s given me a great way to build a genuinely helpful habit and routine in my life.

I’ve been happy with the way the products make my skin feel, and it does feel healthier than it has in years – even just a couple weeks in.

Does that mean I couldn’t do the same thing with a series of products costing a fraction of the price? Of course not.

But if you’re looking for a premium product, that feels premium while you’re using it, and you don’t mind the high price tag – then so far, I’ve been very happy with my Caldera + Lab purchase, and I think you likely will be too.

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An excellent daily skincare routine...for those willing to pay for it.

8.8 Great

I'm happy to report the Caldera + Lab product seems to be as good as their advertising. It isn't cheap, but I've been very pleased using it as a daily routine.

The Good

1. High quality branding
2. Doesn't dry out skin
3. Helped to build a daily habit

The Bad

1. Expensive
2. No free shipping is disappointing

• Presentation 10
• Performance 9
• Price 7
• Personal Affinity 9