Total Package Serum is one of the most popular skincare products on Amazon. It's sold by a brand called Sun Coast Sciences, and is described as an "anti-aging facial super serum."
But does Total Package Serum contain research-backed ingredients for anti-aging? Does it contain any questionable additives? How does it compare to other top Amazon cosmetics? And which retailer sells the product for the best price?
In this article we'll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in Total Package Serum to give our take on whether or not it's likely to be effective for anti-aging, and whether or not it's healthy.
We'll also compare Total Package Serum to other popular skincare products on Amazon, and provide a cost comparison to show which retailer sells this product for the best price.
Key takeaways:
- Contains research-backed active ingredients for anti-aging
- Contains a preservative combination we consider unhealthy
- We do not currently recommend Total Package Serum
Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Total Package Serum are shown below:
Some of the active ingredients in this formulation have been shown in research studies to be effective against aging, and to improve skin quality.
Acetyl hexapeptide-8 was shown to be effective for reducing the appearance of wrinkles in a 2020 clinical trial.
Chamomile flower extract was described as having the potential to "relieve skin irritation, and reduce redness and swelling of the skin" in a medical review published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology journal.
Green tea leaf extract was shown in a review published in the Molecules journal to delay visible signs of skin aging like wrinkles.
We consider the two synthetic preservatives in this formulation to be unhealthy when used in combination.
Phenoxyethanol is a common synthetic preservative that was shown in a clinical trial to be toxic to human cells.
Ethylhexylglycerin is a synthetic preservative shown to potentiate the toxic effects of phenoxyethanol in a 2016 medical review.
Overall, we consider Total Package Serum likely to have anti-aging effects. We don't currently recommend this product due to the preservative combination described above.
Total Package Serum vs. the Competition
Here's how Total Package Serum stacks up to other top cosmetics on Amazon in our opinion:
Green Mask Stick
Significantly cheaper and also contains green tea extract, but we have serious concerns about the lack of an official manufacturer, and the resultant product safety and quality issues.
Winner: Total Package Serum
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Provides highly effective active ingredients (such as hyaluronic acid) at a low price. However, contains three synthetic preservatives that we consider unhealthy (one more than Total Package Serum), as we documented in our The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum reviews article.
Winner: Total Package Serum
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Contains many research-backed active ingredients. Contains the same preservative combination that we called out in Total Package Serum. Much lower price.
Winner: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Our Clean Anti-Aging Picks
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top anti-aging serum.
It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.
Ritual HyaCera is our top anti-aging skin supplement.
It contains wheat oil extract which is clinically shown to "improve skin damages induced by aging."
Both of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients that we consider to be unhealthy.
Customers Rate Total Package Serum
We consider Amazon to be a better resource for honest customer reviews than a brand's website.
Total Package Serum has been reviewed over 400 times on Amazon, and currently has an average review rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars.
A top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named "KimberlySV" who gave the product a 5/5 rating:
"My skin drinks up this serum, and it leaves it looking smooth, brighter, and with a glow. My skin looks overall more even toned, and so hydrated."
A top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named "rosemary kupniewski" who gave the product a 1/5 rating:
" Did not see any results. Been using it for 3 weeks. Not looking for miracles , but did not soften skin at all"
Sun Coast Sciences currently has an average review rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) site of 4.25 out of 5.
Where to Get the Best Price
Total Package Serum is currently sold on the brand's website and on Amazon.
Here's a price breakdown at the time of publishing this article:
Brand website: $49.95 (free shipping), link
Amazon: $44.96 (free shipping), link to official Amazon listing
Purchasing on Amazon currently yields a 10% cost savings.
Total Package Serum Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Total Package Serum in our opinion:
Pros:
- Contains active ingredients for wrinkle reduction
- Contains at least one anti-inflammatory active ingredient
- Fragrance-free
- Free shipping from brand's website
Cons:
- Contains phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin
- Amazon review rating isn't particularly impressive
