Kerassentials is an antifungal oil that’s applied to nails and skin. The brand claims that their formula is “unlike anything you’ve ever tried,” and is made from “a bespoke proprietary formula of 4 special high-quality oils.”
But does Kerassentials contain ingredients proven in resarch studies to reduce fungus? Does it contain any unhealthy or toxic ingredients? Why is it a risk to purchase this product on Amazon? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Kerassentials?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Kerassentials to give our take on whether or not the product is likely to be effective for reducing fungus levels, and whether or not it's healthy.
We’ll also explain why we think purchasing it on Amazon is riskier than purchasing from the brand’s official website, and feature real Kerassentials customer reviews.
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Kerassentials are shown above.
This formulation does contain some research-backed ingredients.
Undecylenic acid is the first active ingredient, and this chemical compound, which is derived from castor oil, has been shown in a 2016 clinical trial to be highly effective in controlling levels of at least one pathogenic bacteria called Candida albicans in a test setting.
Flaxseed was shown to be effective against three different types of fungi in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Food Science.
Tea tree oil is one of the most well-studied natural antifungals. As referenced in our review of another antifungal product called Crystal Flush, tea tree oil is clinically proven to reduce levels of a variety of fungi when applied topically.
Lavender oil was shown in a 2005 clinical trial to “reduce fungal progression.”
Lemongrass oil is not only an effective antifungal, but also was shown in a 2020 clinical trial to have a “biofilm inhibitory effect,” and the study authors suggested that this natural ingredient is so highly effective that it may have applications in desanitizing medical devices.
Manuka oil was found in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy to reduce fungus levels in vitro (test tube setting) and in vivo (in live animals).
This is an impressive result, given that most antifungal trials are in vitro only.
The good news about this product is that it’s entirely free of questionable additives.
Overall, we consider Kerassentials likely to be effective as a topical antifungal.
It’s one of the most potent over-the-counter (OTC) antifungals that we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.
Why to Avoid it on Amazon
According to the footer of the Kerassentials website, the product appears to be retailed by a company called “BuyGoods.”
However, the brand names associated with all of the Kerassentials products on Amazon vary, as shown below:
You can see in the screenshot above that the brand associated with the most-reviewed Kerassentials product on Amazon is “EELEAN.”
We have never heard of that brand, nor is it mentioned on the official Kerassentials website, which is a red flag in our opinion about a potential scam product.
The risk of counterfeit or otherwise damaged goods, as well as the risk of diminished legal recourse, is increased when purchasing from an unverified, third-party seller on Amazon.
This is why we recommend purchasing directly from a manufacturer whenever possible.
It’s also worth noting that there is no mention of Amazon on the Kerassentials website, which suggests that none of the brands selling products labeled “Kerassentials” on Amazon are authorized distributors.
Customers Rate Kerassentials
Amazon is a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
Although we can’t 100% verify that the Kerassential’s product on Amazon is the same as the one on the brand’s official website, it can still be a useful resource for prospective buyers.
Kerassentials has currently been reviewed over 50 times on Amazon, with an average review rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “Katie South” who gave the product a 4/5 rating:
“My toenails do look much better as they are growing out. Somewhat cleaner looking. I just need to use it more.”
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Teresa Baran” who gave the product a 1/5 rating:
“This product has no ingredients listed on the bottle, who know where it is made. It’s supposed to be oils it is the consistency of water and has no smell. This is a scam and Amazon should vet the products before allowing these companies to sell items. Do not buy!”
BuyGoods, the official retailer of Kerassentials, has a high rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website of 4.42 out of 5 stars.
The brand appears to respond to the majority of customer feedback and complaints, which are signs of a high-quality brand.
How Can You Prevent Nail Fungus?
Treating toenail fungus is a priority once it’s already a problem, but once it resolves, prevention becomes incredibly important to avoid a future infection.
A video from the American Academy of Dermatology is under 3 minutes long, and includes six tips on preventing toenail fungus:
Where to Get the Best Price
Kerassentials is sold at a variety of online retailers.
Here’s a per-bottle price breakdown at the time of updating this article:
Brand website: $69 (free shipping, link)
Walmart: $28.95 (free shipping, third-party seller, link)
Amazon: $19.99 (free shipping, third-party seller, link)
The extreme price discrepancy (Kerassentials is over 70% cheaper at Amazon than at the brand’s website) is another red flag in our opinion that the Amazon listing may be a counterfeit product.
In this case, we recommend that consumers desiring to purchase this product do so directly from the manufacturer.
Does Kerassentials Cause Side Effects?
Kerassentials doesn’t appear to have been studied in any clinical trials, which makes it challenging to say for certain whether or not the product will cause side effects.
However, we can make an educated guess based on its ingredients.
While the active ingredients in Kerassentials are naturally-derived, essential oils can irritate the skin if not properly diluted.
The Kerassentials website does not currently publish the concentration of each essential oil in the formulation, which suggests that individuals with sensitive skin may wish to avoid this product.
However, given that there are no harmful ingredients, we consider Kerassentials unlikely to cause any side effects in healthy adults.
This is one of the most non-toxic and safe OTC antifungal formulations that we’ve reviewed to date on Illuminate Health.
Our Clean Antifungal Picks
Performance Lab MCT Oil is our top oral antifungal pick.
Medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil was shown in a clinical trial published in the Nutrients journal to be a "therapeutic intervention for reducing fungal colonization."
MBG Vitamin D3 Potency+ is our top vitamin anti-fungal pick.
A medical review published in the Current Medical Mycology journal found that vitamin D3 had antifungal activity against Candida species (a pervasive fungal pathogen) and also inhibited biofilm formation.
Dr. Bronner's Organic Coconut Oil is our topical anti-fungal pick.
A medical review concluded that "coconut oil should be used in the treatment of fungal infections in view of emerging drug-resistant Candida species."
We're not suggesting that either of these products should be used to treat any disease or health condition.
Both of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
Kerassentials Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Kerassentials in our opinion:
Pros:
- Effective active ingredients
- No questionable additives
- Should reduce fungus levels
- Manufacturer appears high-quality
- Free shipping from brand's website
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Essential oil concentrations not disclosed
- Doesn't appear to be clinically tested
- Amazon resellers may be illegitimate
