The Clear Guide: SMOOTH OVER™Updated 16 minutes ago
What is SMOOTH OVER™?
Clear skin is just the beginning. Your future is smooth. SMOOTH OVER™ is CLEARSTEM's daily texture perfecting serum, made for skin that wants to age well and stay clear. It smooths the look of bumps and uneven texture, softens the appearance of fine lines, helps control oil for a less shiny look, and calms the look of redness.
Made with Bakuchiol, Plant Stem Cells, Tripeptide-85, Tranexamic Acid Derivative, and Milk Thistle Seed Extract, SMOOTH OVER is gentle enough for twice-daily use. It contains no retinoids and, like everything we make, no pore-clogging ingredients, ever. Formulated by The Acne Guru®.
Who is it for?
SMOOTH OVER is made for anyone who has worked hard for clearer skin and is ready for the next step, especially if you're dealing with:
- Bumps and uneven texture that never quite go away
- Early fine lines and wrinkles
- Shine or excess oil, including maturing skin that's still oily
- The look of redness
- Skin that hasn't gotten along with strong actives before
How do I use it?
- Cleanse, then tone with BRIGHTMEUP®.
- Apply a thin layer all over your face, neck, and chest. It's made for allover use, not just spots.
- Let it absorb for at least five minutes before your next step.
- Use it twice a day, morning and night. In the morning, always finish with YOUARESUNSHINE® SPF.
- With CLEARITY®: apply CLEARITY® first and let it sit for 10 minutes. It's the only serum that goes before SMOOTH OVER.
- New to SMOOTH OVER or have dry skin? As SMOOTH OVER isn't a retinoid you can start using daily right away, however if you'd like to phase in or have especially sensitive skin, you can start twice a week at night, before your moisturizer, and build up.
Where does SMOOTH OVER fit in my routine?
| Step | Morning | Evening (with CLEARITY®) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GENTLECLEAN (if needed) | VITAMINSCRUB® or GENTLECLEAN |
| 2 | BRIGHTMEUP® toner | BRIGHTMEUP® toner |
| 3 | SMOOTH OVER (thin layer, wait 5 min) | CLEARITY® or VIBRANCE-C (sit 10 min) |
| 4 | CELLRENEW® or BOUNCEBACK™ | SMOOTH OVER (thin layer, wait 5 min) |
| 5 | HYDRAGLOW™ | CELLRENEW® or BOUNCEBACK™ |
| 6 | YOUARESUNSHINE® SPF | HYDRABERRY™ or HYDRAGLOW™ |
Tip: keep it to two serums per routine and let each layer absorb before the next. That's the best way to avoid pilling and get the most from every step.
What makes SMOOTH OVER different?
- A retinol alternative: built around Bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to retinol known for smoothing the look of texture and fine lines, with no retinoids.
- Barrier-friendly: Plant Stem Cells and Milk Thistle Seed Extract support a healthy-looking barrier.
- Oil balancing: Tripeptide-85 helps skin look less shiny without stripping it.
- Calms the look of redness: with a stabilized Tranexamic Acid Derivative.
- Zero pore-clogging ingredients: plus no parabens and no synthetic fragrance, gentle enough for twice-daily use on blemish-prone skin.
What's in it?
| Ingredient | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Bakuchiol (Smooth) | A plant-derived ingredient that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, refine the look of texture, and even the look of skin tone |
| Plant Stem Cells (Renew) | Rich in antioxidants and protective nutrients that support the skin barrier for more resilient, healthy-looking skin |
| Tripeptide-85 (Balance) | An oil-balancing peptide that helps skin look less shiny without stripping it |
| Tranexamic Acid Derivative (Calm) | A stabilized derivative that helps visibly calm the look of redness and even the look of skin tone |
| Milk Thistle Seed Extract (Protect) | Antioxidants that help defend skin against environmental stress, supporting a healthy-looking barrier. |
How is it different from VIBRANCE-C and BOUNCEBACK™?
| SMOOTH OVER™ | VIBRANCE-C | BOUNCEBACK™ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Texture, fine lines, oil balancing, and the look of redness | Brightening, glow, uneven tone, the look of dark spots | Fine lines, wrinkles, firming, radiance |
| Key actives | Bakuchiol, Tripeptide-85, Tranexamic Acid Derivative | 3-O Ethyl Ascorbate, Gallic Acid, Bisabolol | Tri-Peptides, Argan Stem Cells, Plant Stem Cells |
| Use together? | Yes: apply SMOOTH OVER first | Yes | Yes: layer after SMOOTH OVER |
Is SMOOTH OVER a retinol?
SMOOTH OVER is a retinol alternative. It contains no retinol or retinoids. Instead, it's built around Bakuchiol, a plant-derived ingredient known for smoothing the look of texture and fine lines, so you get smoothing without the irritation retinoids can cause. It's gentle enough for twice-daily use.
Can I use it with retinol or prescription products?
If you use a prescription retinoid like tretinoin, check with your prescriber before adding new products. If you're adding a retinol to a routine that includes SMOOTH OVER, introduce it slowly and patch test first.
Why is SMOOTH OVER green?
We formulate for joy of use, and our founders loved the soothing look and feel of a soft green tint. It's subtle, so it won't leave a green cast or residue behind. Ingredients in the formula, like the Tranexamic Acid Derivative, are what calm the look of redness.
Is it safe for blemish-prone and sensitive skin?
Yes. Like everything we make, SMOOTH OVER has no pore-clogging ingredients, ever. That's our Clear Pore Promise®. It's gentle enough for daily use; as with any new product, patch test first. We haven't tested it specifically for rosacea, so please check with your dermatologist or provider.
Is there a fragrance?
SMOOTH OVER has a light blueberry scent and is made with no synthetic fragrance. The full ingredient list is on the product page and the packaging, and our team is happy to send it. If your skin is sensitive, patch test first.
Is it safe while pregnant?
SMOOTH OVER does not contain retinoids. Every pregnancy is different, so we recommend sharing the full ingredient list with your OB or healthcare provider to confirm what's right for you.
When can I buy it?
| Date | What Happens | Who Can Shop |
|---|---|---|
| 10.10 | Product page live, waitlist opens | Join the waitlist |
| 10.13 | Early access | ELITE members |
| 10.14 | Early access | CLEAR members |
| 10.15 | Early access | GLOW members |
| 10.16 | Launch day | Everyone on clearstem.com |
Not sure of your loyalty tier? Check your account: https://clearstem.com/pages/rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it dry out my skin? SMOOTH OVER has a moisturizing formula made to balance shine without stripping skin. If your skin runs dry, follow with moisturizer.
Is Tranexamic Acid Derivative an exfoliating acid? No. It's not an AHA, a BHA, or hyaluronic acid. It's its own ingredient that helps visibly calm the look of redness.
Why does it come in a tube? SMOOTH OVER is a little thinner than some of our serums, so the needle-nose tip gives you precise control over how much comes out. It's still meant for allover use.
Why is it pilling? Pilling usually means layers went on too quickly. Let SMOOTH OVER absorb for about five minutes before your next step, and keep to two serums per routine.
How much is it? $62 for 1 fl oz / 30 mL.
Can I subscribe? Yes, SMOOTH OVER is available on Subscribe + Save starting on October 16, 2026.
Where can I learn more? https://clearstem.com/ and within our Serums, Skin Perfecting, and Acne Scars Collections
*Individual results may vary. For external use only. Discontinue use if irritation occurs and consult a healthcare professional.