The biodynamic actives — chamomile, licorice root, echinacea, and others — are grown at Oway's own farm in Bologna, the Ortofficina, which means they arrive in the formula at a phytoactive concentration you can't buy from a commodity supplier. None of the four serums rely on synthetic high-potency actives to do the heavy lifting — the results come from botanical intelligence rather than laboratory chemistry. All four are COSMOS Natural certified, produced with renewable energy, and packaged in glass.

Each serum is built around a single, specific skin concern rather than trying to solve everything at once. Re-lieving is for reactive and sensitive skin — its only job is to calm what's inflamed and rebuild what's depleted, which is why it's fragrance-free. Re-balancing is for oily, congested, and breakout-prone skin — it purifies, regulates sebum, and brightens post-blemish marks. Re-vitalizing is an anti-ageing serum addressing loss of firmness, density, and radiance in mature skin. Re-blooming targets dark spots and uneven tone directly, using a biodynamic licorice-led brightening complex. Having four focused serums rather than one multi-tasking formula means each contains a higher concentration of the actives that actually matter for that specific concern — and it means the right serum can do a more precise job.

Licorice root has been used in both Eastern and Western herbal traditions for centuries — as an anti-inflammatory plant medicine, a digestive tonic, and a skin brightener. The brightening effect comes from compounds in the root that interrupt the skin's melanin-production process, preventing the enzyme responsible for pigmentation from overactivating in response to sun exposure, post-blemish healing, or hormonal changes. The licorice in Re-blooming is grown biodynamically at the Ortofficina, which preserves the full spectrum of the plant's active compounds. Paired with fruit acids from bilberry, sugar cane, and sugar maple — which gently resurface the already-formed pigmentation — and dulse algae for antioxidant protection against further UV damage, the formula addresses both what has already discoloured and what would discolour next.

Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) bud extract is a relatively rare ingredient in Western skincare, though it has long been used in Japanese botanical traditions for its regenerative properties. The bud — harvested at peak metabolic activity, when the plant's growth energy is most concentrated — contains compounds that support skin firmness and help restore the visible density that mature skin loses over time. It's paired in Re-vitalizing with biodynamic echinacea, which is better known as an immune-supporting plant but has significant documented effects on skin barrier resilience, and with upcycled grape skin for its deep antioxidant protection. Together they address the three things that change most visibly in ageing skin: firmness, density, and the dull quality that comes from accumulated oxidative damage.

Start with the concern that bothers you most, because each serum addresses one thing well rather than everything adequately. Redness, reactivity, or a skin that overreacts to products and weather → Re-lieving. Breakouts, blocked pores, shine, or post-blemish marks → Re-balancing. Loss of firmness, fine lines, or a complexion that has lost its density and vitality → Re-vitalizing. Dark spots, uneven tone, or dullness that doesn't shift with regular moisturising → Re-blooming. If two concerns feel equally pressing, the general principle is to address the barrier first: a reactive skin that is also dull, for example, will not respond well to brightening actives until its reactivity is under control. Stabilise with Re-lieving for four to six weeks, then layer in a second serum if needed.

Most anti-blemish products work aggressively: drying agents that strip sebum, harsh acids that force surface turnover, or aggressive exfoliants that create post-peel sensitivity. Re-balancing takes a different approach. Biodynamic thyme brings antimicrobial and purifying properties without disrupting the skin barrier. Myrtle leaf works as an astringent and toning botanical. Kakadu plum — the Australian fruit with one of the highest natural vitamin C concentrations of any plant — brightens post-blemish marks and defends against oxidative stress. Prenylflavonoids from Osage orange regulate sebum at the source rather than just absorbing surface oil. Volcanic bentonite draws congestion from the pores during contact time. Together they address the full blemish cycle — active congestion, bacterial environment, excess oil, and the marks left after — without the dryness and reactivity that follow conventional anti-blemish treatments.

You can, with some thought. Layering two serums is most effective when they address different aspects of the same concern rather than competing for the same skin territory. Re-vitalizing and Re-blooming, for example, pair naturally: one addresses firmness and density, the other targets the uneven tone and dark spots that often accompany mature skin. Apply the thinner, more fluid serum first, let it absorb for a minute, then apply the second. Re-lieving and Re-vitalizing work well together for sensitive skin that is also showing signs of age. Re-balancing is better used alone, since adding actives onto skin that is already managing breakouts and congestion risks over-stimulation. Avoid layering Re-blooming with heavy exfoliating treatments on the same evening — the fruit acid complex in Re-blooming plus a separate peel or acid is too much surface activity at once.

Dull skin can have two quite different root causes, and the serums address them differently. Re-vitalizing targets structural dullness: skin that has lost density and the inner vitality that comes from strong cellular function, good barrier lipids, and resilient collagen. The Japanese cedar bud, biodynamic echinacea, and grape skin polyphenols work at that deeper level. Re-blooming targets surface dullness driven by pigmentation and uneven tone: the kind of dullness caused by dark spots, post-inflammatory marks, and accumulated UV discolouration that scatter light unevenly across the skin's surface. If the skin looks grey and flat even where it is fairly even in tone, reach for Re-vitalizing. If the skin looks uneven, patchy, or marked by visible spots and discolouration, Re-blooming is more directly on target. If both apply — common in skin over 45 — layering the two is a valid protocol.

Different tools for different rhythms. Re-lieving is a daily treatment: applied morning and evening, it maintains the barrier repair and microbiome balance that reactive skin needs consistently. The Calming Face Mask is a weekly intensive: it provides a deeper, longer-contact dose of calming botanicals and clay purification in one session. They complement each other rather than duplicating. If the skin is very reactive, start with the serum daily as a foundation before adding the mask. If budget is a consideration, the serum takes priority — daily consistent application of barrier-repair actives matters more than weekly intensive treatment. Once the skin is more stable, the mask adds a layer of ritual that the serum alone doesn't cover: the deeper purification from kaolin and bentonite, and the extended contact time that allows the mask's botanicals to work more thoroughly.

Yes, and this is actually one of the scenarios it's designed for. Oily skin with sensitivity presents a particular challenge because most purifying products — heavy-duty acid treatments, harsh scrubs, strong astringents — strip the barrier and worsen reactivity even as they address congestion. Re-balancing uses mallow to soothe concurrent with thyme and myrtle to purify, so the inflammatory and the congestion aspects are both addressed in the same formula. The volcanic bentonite absorbs oil without desiccating the surface. The Osage orange prenylflavonoids regulate sebum production over time rather than just stripping what's there. The skin's usual reactive response to purifying actives is reduced because the calming botanicals are present throughout the same formula. It's not fragrance-free — check the scent profile if that's a concern — but for oily-sensitive skin that isn't acutely reactive, Re-balancing handles both concerns together.

Morning and evening, on clean skin, after the tonic and before moisturiser. Warm a small amount between the palms — serums are concentrated, so less than you'd expect covers the full face and neck — then press gently into the skin rather than rubbing. Light massage helps absorption but isn't essential. For Re-lieving specifically, the pressing technique matters: reactive skin responds better to pressure than friction. For Re-blooming, apply evenly to areas of discolouration and the full face — uneven application doesn't produce even results. If using two serums, apply the lighter-textured one first, give it a minute, then layer the second. Always follow with the appropriate moisturiser; a serum used without an occlusive layer on top will evaporate some of its active payload before it has a chance to work.

Oway's logic in naming the serums mirrors the moisturiser range, which makes pairing fairly intuitive. Re-lieving, for sensitive skin, pairs with Marvelous Skin Relief Face Cream — the only fragrance-free moisturiser in the range and the one built for the same barrier-repair function. Re-balancing, for oily and blemish-prone skin, pairs with Pure & Balance Face Cream, which continues the sebum-regulation work with bentonite and biodynamic savory. Re-vitalizing, for mature skin, pairs with Radiance Face Cream or the Face & Eye Energizing Texture depending on whether the skin needs deep nourishment or a lighter firming emulsion. Re-blooming, for uneven tone, pairs with Blooming Gleam Face Cream, which contains its own brightening AHA complex that extends the serum's tone-correcting work throughout the day. Using the matched moisturiser amplifies the serum's action rather than diluting it with a general-purpose formula.

Serums sit between the tonic and the moisturiser. The full sequence is: cleanser → serum → moisturiser. The cleanser prepares a balanced, receptive skin surface; the serum delivers its concentrated actives into that prepared surface; the moisturiser then seals and supports. If you're using an exfoliating treatment — the Resurfacing Face Peel or the Glowing Face Gommage — on a given evening, apply it before the serum step after cleansing, then continue with tonic, serum, and moisturiser as usual. Masks replace the serum slot on the evenings they're used; don't layer a serum over a mask residue. In the morning, Re-blooming users should treat SPF as non-negotiable — the fruit acid and licorice complex increases photosensitivity, and UV exposure directly counteracts the serum's brightening work.