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Step 2: Calm - calms redness and keeps reactive skin comfortable all day.

DEFENSE – Barrier Shield Serum (Reactive + Eczema-Prone Skin)

DEFENSE – Barrier Shield Serum (Reactive + Eczema-Prone Skin)

When your skin feels flushed, tight, or “angry at everything,” Defense is your daily no-sting reset. This lightweight barrier serum helps reduce the look of redness, supports a stronger moisture barrier, and keeps reactive skin feeling comfortable morning to night - without fragrance, essential oils, heaviness, or “tingle” actives. It’s made to support tone + texture and the look of post-flare marks in a way sensitive skin can actually stick with.

  • Best for: Skin that’s flushing, tight, or reacting to everything - and needs daily redness comfort + barrier support
  • Use: Apply 1–2 pumps after cleansing, press over face + neck, then finish with moisturizer (AM/PM).
  • Typical reorder: 8–10 weeks
  • Perfect pair: Clean Slate (gentle cream cleanser) + Rescue (body barrier repair)
  • Made for sensitive + reactive skin
  • Fragrance & Essential Oil free
  • 1-3 uses: less tight/stripped feeling. 2-4 weeks: steadier-looking skin*
Size
Regular price $44.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $44.00 USD
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Key Premium Ingredients

3% Pohutukawa Extract*
2% Ceramides
4% Barrier Complex: Oat oil, Moringa seed oil
3% Soothing  Complex: Bisabolol, Beta-glucan, Panthenol, Niacinamide
2% Brightening Complex: Niacinamide, N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG)
9.5% Hydration System: Glycerin, Beta-glucan, Panthenol
2% Antioxidant Defense: Moringa seed oil

*Native to New Zealand. Sourced from New Zealand.

  • Pohutukawa, a native botanical of New Zealand, has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. It helps to soothe, condition and calm irritated or inflamed skin. And helps address certain skin concerns related to bacteria.
  • Glycosphingolipids is a plant-derived ceramide that mimic the skin’s natural ceramides to strengthen the barrier, lock in moisture, and reduce sensitivity. They help restore balance to stressed or dehydrated skin, keeping it smooth, supple, and resilient.
  • Oat Oil is a deeply nourishing, antioxidant-rich emollient that helps restore and protect the skin’s natural barrier. Its high content of omega fatty acids and antioxidants soothes irritation, reduces dryness, and supports healthy, balanced skin. Naturally anti-inflammatory and moisturizing, it calms redness, improves texture, and helps prevent moisture loss for soft, smooth, and resilient skin.
  • Moringa Oil is a nutrient-rich botanical packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids that protect skin from pollution-induced oxidative stress. Its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture mimics the skin’s natural lipids to lock in moisture and strengthen the barrier. Naturally anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, it helps soothe sensitive or reactive skin exposed to urban pollutants. With regular use, it supports a brighter, more resilient complexion and helps skin recover from dullness and environmental damage.
  • Bisabolol is a naturally derived terpene alcohol sourced sustainably from the bark of Brazil’s Candeia tree. Renowned for its anti-inflammatory, anti-irritant, and antibacterial properties, it helps calm redness, accelerate skin healing, and protect against daily stress. It also helps other beneficial ingredients work more effectively, making it a go-to for restorative, barrier-support formulas.
  • Beta-Glucan a humectant and barrier-repair active derived from yeast cell walls, known for binding water, calming redness, and helping strengthen the skin’s natural defenses.
  • Panthenol is a powerhouse ingredient known for its deep hydration, soothing properties, and ability to support skin repair. It helps calm irritation, reduce redness, and improve skin barrier function.
  • Niacinamide aids mature and sun damaged skin by improving its texture and moisture. It also aids in reducing red blotchiness and the severity of fine lines. It stimulates collagen production and the production of ceramide.
  • N-Acetyl Glucosamine (NAG) reduces hyperpigmentation, increases collagen production, moisture content and elasticity of the skin and increases the speed of wound healing. Derived from the shells of crustaceans.

How to Use

First cleanse with your favorite Pure + Kiwi cleanser. Dispense 1-2 pumps of serum onto hands, rub in and pat serum onto face and neck, then smooth it outward in a circular motion. Finish with your favorite Pure + Kiwi moisturizer.

FAQ

Will this sting or tingle?
No - Defense is designed as a no-sting daily serum for reactive, flare-prone skin (no “tingle” actives).

Is this for eczema-prone or rosacea-prone skin?
Yes - Defense is made specifically for rosacea-prone, eczema-prone, and hormonally sensitive skin that reacts easily.

When do I use it in my routine?
Use after cleansing, then seal with a moisturizer (Revive Crème - for the face and Rescue for the body)

Can I use it AM + PM?
Yes - use morning and/or night whenever your skin needs barrier comfort and redness support.

Can I layer it with other actives?
Yes - Defense is meant to be a calming, barrier-support step. If you’re using exfoliants/retinoids, introduce slowly and prioritize comfort.

What’s the difference between DEFENSE and RESTORE?
Defense is your lightweight daily barrier shield serum; Restore is your oil serum when skin needs extra comfort + rebalancing.

Ingredients

Aqua, Glycerin (Vegetable), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Coconut-derived Emollient), Niacinamide, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Oil, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa) Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Beta-Glucan, N-Acetyl Glucosamine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycosphingolipids, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Metrosideros Excelsas (Pohutukawa) Bark Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis (Red Algae) Extract, Coccinia Indica (Ivy Gourd) Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Ocimum Sanctum (Holy Basil) Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Benzoic Acid, Leuconostoc (Radish Root) Ferment Filtrate, Mica and Dehydroacetic Acid.

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  • We design for “reactive skin reality”

    Made for skin that overreacts - not skin that tolerates everything.

  • Calm-First Method

    We don’t do “more actives.” We do the right order: Cleanse Gently → Calm → Seal

  • Calming NZ Botanicals

    Soothing New Zealand botanicals, science-backed actives - balanced for reactive skin.

  • Barrier consistency = the real win

    No strong peels or aggressive retinoids. No fragrance or essential oils.

The Calm-First Method: Cleanse Gently → Calm → Seal

Stop the sting-and-start-over cycle

If your skin reacts to everything, harsh cleansers and random actives often make it worse. Pure + Kiwi helps you cleanse without stripping, calm flare-prone skin, and seal in a barrier-first routine made for sensitive, eczema- and rosacea-prone, acne-prone, and hormonally reactive skin. Our difference: consistency over intensity -New Zealand botanicals paired with proven actives in a routine your skin can actually stick with.

Find My Calm Routine

Small-batch care with founder-led guidance

Pure + Kiwi is personal: made with intention, with a brand voice that actually understands reactive skin. You’re not left alone after checkout - we help you use products in a way that supports your barrier and reduces flare risk.

Get My Routine Help