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Stratia

Liquid Gold.

Stratia Liquid Gold

About this product

A lightweight barrier-repair moisturizer serum hybrid containing niacinamide, ceramides, lipids, and plant oils designed to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.

Best for

Dry skinSensitive skin

The Guru Index verdict

82%

Approved

Approved · 82%
3Reviewers
3Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus are unanimous in their praise, treating this as a workhorse barrier-support product with proven staying power. The recurring themes are its effectiveness at healing and maintaining skin barrier health, its lightweight hybrid texture that layers well, its affordability, and the niacinamide plus lipid blend that delivers both soothing and brightening benefits. Several reviewers have used it for years as a non-negotiable staple. No significant complaints emerged across the reviews.
Synthesized from 3 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

NiacinamideHyaluronic acidVitamin ECeramidesSqualaneFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Niacinamide, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Rosa Mosqueta (Rose) Hip Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Seed Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Oil, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Squalane (Olive-Derived), Cetyl Alcohol, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"I absolutely love the Stratia Liquid Gold. This has been a favorite of mine for years, it was one of the first products I spoke about here on the channel when I set it up 5 years ago, still going strong. This product has that 5% niacinamide which is perfection, but it's also got all those lipids, those ceramides, those other barrier boosting ingredients. If your skin is going through it at the moment, maybe you know we're coming out of winter here in the northern hemisphere, your skin might be dry, sensitive, and you want to get it in tiptop health for the summer, this product is a must have. It is amazing, feels beautiful on the skin, uses that niacinamide responsibly alongside some other amazing ingredients, and it's super affordable. Use it as your moisturizer, this is so hydrating. Most of us can do without having a moisturizer after. Use this as like a barrier boosting niacinamide serum and a moisturizer all in one. An absolute favorite of mine."
All 3 takes from Mad About Skin
SKINCARE LIVE - Celebrating 5 Years On YouTube
"I ended up swapping out of the Stratia Liquid Gold which by the way is gorgeous. I love both of those, both are so so good."
NIACINAMIDE - The Biggest Lie In Skincare (What We Now Know)
"I absolutely love the Stratia Liquid Gold. This has been a favorite of mine for years, it was one of the first products I spoke about here on the channel when I set it up 5 years ago, still going strong. This product has that 5% niacinamide which is perfection, but it's also got all those lipids, those ceramides, those other barrier boosting ingredients. If your skin is going through it at the moment, maybe you know we're coming out of winter here in the northern hemisphere, your skin might be dry, sensitive, and you want to get it in tiptop health for the summer, this product is a must have. It is amazing, feels beautiful on the skin, uses that niacinamide responsibly alongside some other amazing ingredients, and it's super affordable. Use it as your moisturizer, this is so hydrating. Most of us can do without having a moisturizer after. Use this as like a barrier boosting niacinamide serum and a moisturizer all in one. An absolute favorite of mine."
SKINCARE FAVOURITES WE FORGOT - What Happened To These?
"The liquid gold, it's just that it's liquid gold in a bottle. It hydrates, it nourishes, it calms. It comes in a great pump, it looks beautiful, it's ticking every single box. If you're looking for extra hydration and calming and soothing at the same time, this is a really great moisturizer. I'd say it's kind of a moisturizer serum hybrid. It's not as thick as some moisturizers, but it definitely has a thickness that maybe doesn't align with serum, so it's somewhere in between. Definitely the standout of their collection."
Approved
"This is by Stratia, it's their Liquid Gold. It's a barrier repair cream and it just happens to have some of my favorite soothing ingredients like camellia sinensis in it as well. There is niacinamide, and I suspect my skin can handle this now, and I'm right. I'm not feeling any sting or tingle from it, so that's good."
All 2 takes from Susan Yara
Microneedling Treatment u0026 Cosmelan Peel For My Melasma! | Susan Yara
"This is by Stratia, it's their Liquid Gold. It's a barrier repair cream and it just happens to have some of my favorite soothing ingredients like camellia sinensis in it as well. There is niacinamide, and I suspect my skin can handle this now, and I'm right. I'm not feeling any sting or tingle from it, so that's good."
New Skincare Products I’m Trying: Youth to the People, Versed, and More! | Susan Yara
"I think that people with really sensitive skin could use this product. It has nice oils in it, it has niacinamide in it so you're actually even getting a brightening effect to your skin, but people don't realize that niacinamide does so much more and it actually helps to strengthen your skin barrier as well. So this is just a really nice product. It's got this beautiful gold tone to it too."
Approved
"Stratia Liquid Gold retails for $28, and this is really great if your skin is a little bit on the drier side. This is the product that actually helped me heal my skin barrier back in 2018, and I really do stand by this product."
Sponsored
All 19 takes from Kelly Driscoll
Barrier Repair on a Budget: $50 Core Routine (+ $75 Complete Upgrade)
"Stratia Liquid Gold retails for $28, and this is really great if your skin is a little bit on the drier side. This is the product that actually helped me heal my skin barrier back in 2018, and I really do stand by this product."
GLOW UP OVERNIGHT! PM Skincare Routine for Plump, Glowing, Glass Skin in the AM!
"I have been doing some version of this barrier care step in my routine for eight years. It's been a really long time using Stratia Liquid Gold, but it really is my ride or die for my skin barrier. I love this product, and I especially like to incorporate it into my routines right alongside the exfoliation from the AHA and BHA, like my retinoids. It just really keeps my skin nice and strong. The oil also helps to condition my skin, make it really nice and smooth and moisturized and supple, and that goes a long way for that glow in the morning, but also immediately as I apply this to my skin."
My End of Winter Retinal PM Skincare Routine
"It is incredibly barrier supportive, which is another thing that I keep my eye on in the winter because it will definitely go a little bit weak, especially with the retinol use. So this just keeps my skin in good shape. And I just really like the amount of moisture that it brings to my skin. The Stratia Liquid Gold really does help to repair that skin when it's in that peeling state as well. Right now it's a maintenance product for me and it just feels really good, but it can also come to the rescue if your skin needs a little extra TLC, especially with barrier care."
Sick Skincare Go To's
"I've been using this for about 2 months now and it worked perfectly. It's a really gentle, simple product with very minimal ingredients, which really helped since my skin was feeling a little bit more sensitive. I do about two layers after toner, sometimes mixed with the Stratia Fortify Oil. All the lipids and fatty acids in Liquid Gold really help fortify my skin barrier and condition my skin. I do have a little bit of flaky skin right now and this really helps soften it but it also really helps to strengthen my skin. If your skin doesn't lean particularly dry or dehydrated, this probably isn't a step you need, but for me with combination skin that leans dry, it makes a really big difference in my skincare routine."
How I Started YouTube, My 12 Year Journey | Chatty AM Skincare
"I'm doing one pump of Stratia Liquid Gold and then three drops of the Fortify Facial Oil mixed together for all that good barrier support."
My EVERYTHING Skincare and Self Care Snow Day! | AD ft iRESTORE
"Stratia Liquid Gold is all about those three ingredients, ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, plus there's 4% of niacinamide. I can't skip that step because this is what keeps my skin barrier strong, and keeping my skin barrier strong really helps to resist dehydration. Ultimately, to resist dehydration you need to keep your skin barrier strong. This is what keeps my skin really strong, resists the dehydration, keeps it really nice and moisturized."
Melt the Day Away | Calming Skincare Routine
"There is a little bit of body to it which I think is pretty important if you're going to do more of like an eye serum instead of like an eye cream, you don't want it dripping all down your face. I was a little afraid at first when I tried it this morning like how runny it might be, but it actually kind of stayed in the area that you apply it pretty well. I do about a pump of Liquid Gold and mix it up in the back of my hand. It's very very rich, nourishing, oil-based. When I apply it mixed with other products, it helps the layers absorb better for my skin, and it just does feel more breathable and airy compared to applying products separately."
PM Routine w/ Tret | What Well-Aging Means to Me
"I love this stuff I use it every single routine. I just mixed three drops of oil into a pump of Stratia Liquid Gold and then I apply it that way. My skin just accepts these layers when they're mixed together a lot better than if I were to do a layer of like an emollient cream and then an oil on top it would just feel too thick for my skin. This way when I mix it I get all of that nourishing goodness and comfort but without a lot of thickness or greasiness on my skin."
Rating My Empty Skincare with Emojis! 😍💩😒
"Stratia Liquid Gold, I'm going to rate it with a heart eyes emoji because how many of these have I emptied since 2018? This has never been out of my skincare routine. I tried to not buy it, I tried to use something else in its place, and I was like I'm irresponsible, I'm gonna save money, I don't need to buy it right now. Yeah no, it only lasted about three days and I put my order in."
Tips for Using Tretinoin in Winter | AD ft Dermatica
"Stratia Liquid Gold is something I've been using for so many years I swear by this product. It has ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids, which are the three main elements found in the skin barrier, so I always like to use skincare products that have these three ingredients in them to keep my barrier strong."
11/10 ⭐ Skincare Empties I Recommend!
"Stratia Liquid Gold, I've been using this since 2018. There's not much I can say, it's definitely an 11 out of 10. I do find their products to be on the gentler side, but there is something about this one that is very robust, very effective, and works very fast. I have mad respect for this product, it's probably one of my favorite products."
4 Steps to Glowing Skin in Winter
"I really landed on Stratia Liquid Gold. This is really the product that I credit for really helping me get back on track. They're using ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. They've also included other helpful ingredients like 4% niacinamide as well as sea buckthorn, which can be really moisturizing and very strengthening for the skin. I personally like to use this like a serum or an emulsion in my skincare routine. I top it off with another moisturizer because it's not enough to protect my particular skin type, it's too light, but I use it like a treatment step or a serum in my skincare routine to keep my barrier strong and then I put another moisturizer on top. So it's pretty flexible on how you use it, but it is really just the special Goldilocks formula that really helped me heal my skin, and I'm very passionate about this product."
THIS is What I Do Weekly for Bright & Glowy Skin!
"Stratia Liquid Gold is all about keeping your skin barrier strong with ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, some niacinamide, and some sea buckthorn, which is where it gets that golden color from. I've been doing this mixture of Stratia with some form of oil, often their oil, since 2018 because it keeps my barrier really strong. Back in 2018 I damaged my moisture barrier very badly, and that was probably the worst skin I've ever had because my barrier wasn't functioning, my skin was really dull, really red and inflamed because it was so dehydrated. These types of ingredients and products can actually make the difference between just merely clear skin and really healthy, youthful, dewy, glowy skin."
Only 5 Products? Skincare I'm Taking to a Deserted Island
"I have been using this, I legitimately have not stopped using this since 2018. I originally started using it when my barrier was damaged and it really helped my skin heal up. I keep it in my routine to keep my barrier strong. Absolutely ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, my skin thrives on them. I really like to have that foundation of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in any product in my routine. This is a great one, but it also has some other great ingredients in here that are fantastic for well aging, with a really heavy focus on antioxidancy. Buckthorn in here really brings the beautiful golden color but also it brings that antioxidant protection and also has some capabilities for helping with the complexion and brightening it up just a little bit. This also contains four percent of niacinamide, so talking about brightening benefits, but it's also the percentage that's great for stimulating collagen production on the skin. It's also the percentage that's great for supporting your skin's moisture barrier."
My Most Repurchased Skincare | 2024 Edition
"I have been loving this product since 2018. I bought this when my moisture barrier was super duper messed up, it was incredibly damaged. I had used way too many actives, I had thrown way too much new stuff at my skin, I was pushing my skin way too hard and my skin was like enough. My barrier was so damaged, my skin was so irritated, it was so red, it was so inflamed. I was getting the worst breakouts and my skin just looked terrible too. It felt worse than it looked but it looked really bad."
I'm Breaking Out! Routine for Breakouts and Hyperpigmentation
"Liquid Gold is a formula that's really emollient, it's got some great moisture in it, and it really does promote healing and barrier strengthening. I've been doing this for my skin for years and it really works. It's not going to be for everybody, and it isn't necessarily a big part of an acne treatment routine, but my skin has been accepting it really well."
5 HG's for Eczema Flare-Ups! | AD ft Stratia
"The formula delivers so many beautiful lipids, ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids right into our skin to really help fortify that moisture barrier. I do always talk about Liquid Gold in the context of how it can help to strengthen or heal a weak or damaged moisture barrier. When you do have eczema-prone skin you are probably more prone to a weak moisture barrier, and I have personally made that link between the times where my barrier is feeling more weak where my flareups are more likely to happen. So part of my strategy to managing my eczema skin and helping to prevent flareups is keeping that moisture barrier really strong. For me personally, as we're going into the colder drier temperatures, those fluctuations and that dry cold air really do test my moisture barrier, really do increase that transepidermal water loss. When my skin is dehydrated, when it is dry, when that barrier is not helping to keep all of that hydration into my skin, I am more prone to having flareups. The majority of my flareups do happen in the wintertime, so I do like to make sure that I'm building in those beautiful lipids again, ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids to keep my barrier strong."
Stress-Free AM and PM Summer Skincare Routine
"At night time it's really not negotiable, I really love this product so much. I use one pump of this, and it's ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids, with four percent niacinamide in here, sea buckthorn, that's where you get that really beautiful golden color, which is a fantastic antioxidant for your skin. It's all about protecting your skin, strengthening your skin, and of course helping with some well aging too."
If I was repairing my skin barrier today I'd use...
"Stratia Liquid Gold has got to be the first one that I mentioned because that is actually truly the product that I used in 2018. This is the product that helped me through when my barrier was like non-existent and completely damaged. It is a really good mix of barrier strengthening and healing ingredients: the ceramides, the cholesterol, the fatty acids, we also have some niacinamide in here, we have panthenol, we have squalane, we have sea buckthorn. There's a lot of really great emollient ingredients in here that offer a lot of that comforting moisture and nourishment to the skin. If you're feeling very dry, that really helped to ease that discomfort from moving my face and my skin, but it really did help to strengthen my moisture barrier as well. This is like a serum lotion hybrid product you can use it a couple of different ways. If your barrier is damaged though, I would highly suggest you use this as a serum, not as a lotion or a moisturizer. You need something more occlusive on top of this because your barrier is not working the way it's supposed to. You need something to act as a temporary barrier."
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