My Experience with Caldera Lab: A Two Year Journey Into Men’s Skincare

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

Up until a few years 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.

As I began to think about longevity, vitality, and how to live a high-quality life for decades to come – I started considering 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.

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.

The Caldera + Lab Regimen: Then and Now

When I first tried Caldera + Lab a couple years ago, I picked up their flagship package, known as The Regimen during a Black Friday sale. It consisted of three products: The Clean Slate face wash, The Base Layer moisturizing cream, and The Good serum.

I used it for about 2-3 months – basically as long as my products lasted – and had a genuinely positive experience with it.

Fast forward to now, and I’ve been back using Caldera + Lab products for the past two months, this time more religiously than before. The company has evolved The Regimen since my first go-around, and now offers two different versions depending on your skin type.

The Regimen Rich is designed for dry skin and includes: The Clean Slate, The Good (night serum), and The Base Layer.

The Regimen is designed for normal to oily skin and includes: The Clean Slate, The Great (a newer lightweight morning serum), and The Hydro Layer (a lighter moisturizer).

I personally use products from both regimens – The Clean Slate, The Great in the morning, The Base Layer for moisturizing, and The Good at night. This gives me the full day/night routine but does mean buying products beyond just one regimen package.

Here’s my experience with each product:

The Morning Routine

The Clean Slate – Face Wash

The Clean Slate is still the cornerstone of the routine, used 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.

After using this consistently for two months now, I’ve noticed The Clean Slate does tend to slightly dry out my skin on its own – not significantly or badly at all – but it’s noticeable. However, this is completely negated after using The Base Layer moisturizing cream afterward, which seems to be by design.

The packaging is well done – sturdy glass bottles that feel like high-end products. Certainly more so than the $5 shampoo and bar soap I’m used to buying.

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, 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.

One important note: a little goes a long way with this product. One pump is plenty, and I’ve found The Clean Slate tends to last quite a while depending on how heavy-handed you are.

The Great – Morning Serum

This is one of the newer additions to the Caldera + Lab lineup. The Great is a lightweight morning serum designed for normal to oily skin types. It’s part of their standard Regimen (as opposed to The Regimen Rich).

This is a nice middle ground between The Good’s richer oil-based formula and going straight to moisturizer. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave any greasy residue, making it ideal for daytime use.

The Great features their patent-pending exosome technology and is clinically proven to reduce visible signs of aging. At $110 for a bottle (same price as The Good), it’s another premium product, but the lightweight formula works well under moisturizer without feeling heavy.

The Base Layer – Moisturizing Cream

The Base Layer is the rich moisturizing cream designed for dry skin. It’s part of The Regimen Rich, while the standard Regimen includes The Hydro Layer (a lighter moisturizer for normal to oily skin).

I use The Base Layer both morning and night after applying serums. I’ve never in my life used any cream or moisturizer on my face outside of sunscreen, so this was new territory for me when I first started. But I imagine a lot of the people reading this are in the same boat – 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 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, or significant irritation of any kind using the Caldera + Lab products, which was one thing I was initially concerned about.

The Evening Routine

The Clean Slate – Face Wash

Same as the morning, you start by washing your face with The Clean Slate.

The Good – Night Serum

The Good is a rich, oil-based serum you apply to your face nightly after washing. It’s part of The Regimen Rich and is specifically designed for dry skin types or for use as a night treatment.

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 when I first started using it my wife walked by and said “oh that smells good.”

I’ve genuinely enjoyed the routine of using it each night. Whether it’s actually doing anything or not, it feels like I am taking care of my skin, which matters more than you might think.

You’ll find a bunch of new-age buzzwords in the ingredients like astragalus root, dandelion, spilanthes, and apricot kernel oil. Do I know what they do? Not really. But the results speak for themselves.

Because The Good is an oil-based serum, it makes sense that it’s designed for dry skin or nighttime use, while The Great’s lightweight formula is better suited for oily skin or morning application.

The Base Layer – Moisturizing Cream

The updated regimen now suggests using The Base Layer after The Good in the evening as well, which makes sense to lock in the serum.

Additional Products I’m Using

The Eye Serum

I also picked up their eye serum and use it once a day. You need a TINY amount of this under your eyes – seriously, the smallest dab you can manage – so one small bottle should last you a really long time.

SPF Face Sunscreen

I bought some of their SPF Face Sunscreen as well, though I have yet to try it out.

So, Does It Actually Work?

Here’s the honest truth: after two months of using The Regimen pretty religiously, my skin is looking better than it has in a long time.

I wouldn’t say it’s a magic bullet – I’m not sure anything is – but I’ve noticed my skin start to smooth out my complexion a bit and just overall given me healthier-looking skin. It feels healthier than it has in years. I wouldn’t say it’s a dramatic, jaw-dropping transformation, but it is noticeably better.

When I first tried Caldera + Lab a couple years ago for 2-3 months, I was pleased enough with the initial results. This time around, about a month into the new routine, I was pleased enough that I bought another round of The Regimen to continue. That should tell you something.

What Does The Regimen Cost?

Let’s talk pricing, because it’s a significant investment.

Caldera + Lab now offers two main regimen options:

The Regimen Rich (for dry skin): $174 with subscription, $220 one-time

• Includes: The Clean Slate, The Good, The Base Layer

The Regimen (for normal/oily skin): $174 with subscription, $220 one-time

• Includes: The Clean Slate, The Great, The Hydro Layer

The subscription can be set to deliver every 45, 60, or 75 days depending on your usage, and you can cancel anytime with no penalty.

Here’s where it gets expensive: I personally use The Great in the morning AND The Good at night, plus The Base Layer for moisturizing. This means I’m essentially buying products from both regimens.

Individual products are priced at:

• The Clean Slate (face wash): $45
• The Great (morning serum): $110
• The Base Layer (moisturizer): $65
• The Good (night serum): $110
• The Eye Serum: $88

So if you want to use both The Great and The Good like I do, you’re looking at spending considerably more than just buying one regimen package. You could buy The Regimen Rich ($174) and add The Great ($110) separately, bringing your total to $284 for the full day/night routine I use.

Is that worth it? For most people, probably not. Sticking with one regimen based on your skin type is likely the smarter financial move.

Is It Worth the High Price?

This is the big question, right?

Honestly, it depends.

Could you get similar benefits from a different product for significantly less money? I’m sure you could.

Would it work as well as Caldera + Lab? Possibly, but I haven’t tested anything else to compare it to.

Here’s what makes it worth it for me personally: I like the fact all of the products work together and that there’s no guesswork. Whether you choose The Regimen or The Regimen Rich based on your skin type, you just follow the system and don’t have to worry about anything else. You’re not trying to figure out which cleanser pairs with which moisturizer, you’re not trying to debate between different products or brands, you just take 2 minutes to apply the products in the morning and evening and you’re done.

For me personally? That simplicity makes this worth it.

Now, do I think most people need to buy both The Great AND The Good like I do? Probably not. If you have oily skin, stick with The Regimen (with The Great). If you have dry skin, go with The Regimen Rich (with The Good). That’ll save you over $100 compared to my setup, and you’ll still get excellent results.

I wasn’t expecting magic when I started this journey into skincare. But the fact that my skin does look noticeably better (to me at least) since I started makes me pleased with the results.

I think the best review I can give it is this: I’ll be continuing to use it personally, and when it runs out? I’ll buy some more. Though I may reconsider whether I really need both serums, or if I should just stick with The Good at night and skip The Great.

So if you’re willing to spend for a premium skin care system, and you want it to be dead simple to follow, you could certainly do a lot worse than Caldera Lab. Just be smart about which regimen actually fits your needs rather than going overboard like I did.

Caldera + Lab Questions You Might Have

Do Caldera + Lab products dry out your skin?

The Clean Slate can slightly dry your skin on its own, but when used as part of The Regimen with The Base Layer moisturizer, this is completely negated. Overall, I’ve had zero significant issues with dry skin, and certainly no irritation or other issues commonly found in skin care products.

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

If using The Regimen as directed, one set should last you at least 3 months depending on how heavy you go with the products. A little goes a long way with most of these – one pump of The Clean Slate is plenty to get a rich lather, and the eye serum especially will last a very long time since you only need the tiniest amount.

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 can run $10-15 per order when ordering directly. You can buy some of their products on Amazon at the same price they offer on the website, and if you’re a Prime member, you can get free shipping as well.

Does Caldera + Lab have discounts?

You can typically get 15% off your first order when you sign up for their email list on the Caldera + Lab site. They also occasionally run sales during major shopping holidays.

Does Caldera + Lab have a guarantee?

Yes, 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 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 – both when I first tried them a couple years ago, and now after diving back in for the past two months.

Perhaps, surprisingly so.

While I can’t say definitively if they’re 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.

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, requires zero guesswork, and you don’t mind the high price tag – then I’ve been very happy with my Caldera + Lab purchase, and I think you likely will be too.

This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you click a link and buy one of the products on this page, I may receive a commission (at no extra cost to you!) This doesn’t affect our opinions or our reviews. Everything we do is to benefit you as the reader, so all of our reviews are as honest and unbiased as possible.

Recent Updates: 

January 16th, 2026: Full review update. I used the Regimen for about 3 months in late 2024. I’ve started again, and have been using it more religiously. This updated review reflects the entirety of my experience with Caldera Lab. I updated the products I’ve used, as well as the pricing for these products. Original review published in January 2024.

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. Cohesive product package
3. Helped to build a daily habit
4. Noticeable results after 60 days of use

The Bad

1. Expensive
2. No free shipping is disappointing

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