Ellis Day's Balancing Phage Serum is the first-ever phage-containing cosmetic skincare product sold in the U.S. and is a result of years of research and development. The active ingredient is a proprietary blend, or 'cocktail,' of phages that specifically target and kill the bacteria associated with breakouts, skin irritation, inflammation, and discoloration. What’s more, it doesn’t contain any harsh ingredients like benzoyl peroxide that cause skin dryness, redness, and irritation.

We've conducted a 12-week clinical trial with a leading dermatologist. Our phages were shown to be effective (with a confidence level of 99.9%) to target and eliminate bad C.acnes bacteria, which is the culprit for many skin issues including acne, redness, and inflammation. We have also run long-term consumer beta tests with astonishing results: users reported rapid improvement in tone and texture, significant reduction in blemishes, breakouts, and inflammation. Since our Phage Serums work by rebalancing your skin microbiome, the eradication of problem bacteria happens over several weeks, not overnight.

We do not offer samples at this time. We do have a 30-day risk-free guarantee on your first purchase, so if you aren't happy just simply return the product and we will give you a full refund.

Bacteriophages are abundant in nature as well as on your skin and in your gut. In fact, a billion of them pass through your system every day. Phages also live in oceans, in the forest, and even in clouds - they are everywhere! While phages are designed to kill bacteria, they do not infect human cells.

Phages are specific to the bacteria they target and destroy. So, a phage that destroys the specific bad bacteria we want to eradicate from your skin won’t destroy or harm any other good bacteria.

Probiotics are ‘good bacteria’ and phages are another kind of microbe that lives on your skin, not bacteria. Live probiotics are used to repopulate an environment, such as your gut or skin, with good, beneficial bacteria. However, sometimes these bacteria have a hard time sticking around due to all the bad bacteria that are already there. Phages, on the other hand, can be used to kill the bad bacteria, which enables the good bacteria that are already there to grow and flourish. Also, note that a lot of probiotic skincare doesn’t actually contain live probiotic bacteria, but instead has chopped up bits of bacteria or bacterial by products (ferments). There isn’t any clear scientific data about the value of these non-living probiotic bacteria when applied to the skin.

Ellis Day has developed a proprietary formula for its phage serums, so they are stable at room temperature and at the pH of human skin. The phages in the formula stay happy and healthy six (6) months after opening your bottle. If you buy several bottles at once, you can put the extras in the refrigerator, but you don't have to...and never freeze a Phage Serum!

We recommend 2-3 pumps for each application to cover your entire face. If you are using one of our Phage Serums for your back ("backne"), you'll likely have to use 5-6 pumps, depending on how much area you want to cover.

Many users have reported an immediate improvement in tone and texture overnight. With consistent use over 4-6 weeks, users have reported a significant reduction in breakouts, inflammation and redness. Overall, users report that they have felt their skin become healthier and more balanced, with smoother, softer, clearer, and less inflamed skin.

Our serums are made from gentle, clean ingredients and are compatible with all skin types. In our clinical study, we tested it on both men and women, and across several ethnicities and age groups. None of the study participants experienced any adverse effects.

Unlike retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid, our Phage Serums are completely safe to use before, during, and after your pregnancy (hooray!). If you are pregnant or nursing, please note that it is always advisable to consult your doctor before starting to use any new product.

No. Our Phage Serums do not contain any ingredients that would increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun or cause sun damage. We do, however, always promote wearing sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage that may lead to skin cancer and to help prevent UV rays from prematurely aging skin.

We recommend that you do not use products that contain benzoyl peroxide, denatured alcohols, tea tree oil, or colloidal silver. These ingredients can be harsh to your skin microbiome, destroying both the good and bad bacteria on your skin. In addition, they will also kill the good phages that are working to eliminate the bad bacteria. If your product contains an alcohol ingredient near the end of its ingredient list, it should likely be compatible with our Phage Serums because of its low levels. However, if you are still unsure, feel free to write us at hello@ellisdayskinscience.com.

We love these three ingredients and our products are compatible with them all. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that our serums enhance the efficacy of these products. In the morning, we would suggest using one of our Phage Serums as the first product right after cleansing, then following with Vitamin C as you normally would. In the evening, we'd again recommend using our serums as the first product right after cleansing, then following with Retinol.

Our clinical trial users and beta testers used a vast variety of other skincare products while using our phage formulations; no one experienced a negative reaction when combining with other products. In many cases, there is evidence to suggest that our Phage Serums enhance the efficacy of many skincare ingredients like Vitamin C, Retinol, and Niacinamide. However, as mentioned earlier, we do not recommend using our products with any products containing benzoyl peroxide, harsh alcohols, tea tree oil, or colloidal silver, as those ingredients can kill the phages.

Yes. The bacteria that causes blemishes and breakouts on your face can crop up anywhere on the skin. So yes, we've got your back!

Because our product is safe, gentle, and non-irritating, you can use our products in the morning and night. Some of our beta testers who have used the product twice daily have been pleased with the results, although we haven’t tested once vs. twice daily usage in a clinical study to see what the exact difference is between the two regimens.

At Ellis Day Skin Science, we create products using ingredients that are found in nature, including our bacteriophages, or phages, for short. We choose ingredients that are biologically similar to the skin, and that support the skin’s natural ability to improve and maintain its overall health and wellness.

No. Ellis Day has never, and will never, conduct animal testing. No Ellis Day product contains any ingredients obtained from or that cause any harm to animals. As a company, we strive to protect the lives of animals and we proudly only test on willing human volunteers.

#AgainstAnimalTesting #CrueltyFree

Our phage serums are made in California. Our packaging is sourced from vetted, premium vendors in the US or South Korea to ensure the highest quality product, as well as sustainability. As a company, we try to use eco-friendly materials for packaging and shipping to the fullest extent that we can, including recyclable plastic and cardboard. Our plastic components are presently in the #2 category and, therefore, accepted at recycling centers. We do not use any plastics that contain Bisphenol A or other ingredients known to be a hormone disruptor, nor do we use any materials known to have links to carcinogens.

Products containing our phage ingredients are wrapped in an insulated, reflective silver pouch. This covering is provided to protect the phage serum from light and extreme hot or cold temperatures in the shipping process. To help us forge a more sustainable earth, please reuse this pouch if you can. Everything else in your package is 100% recyclable.

We currently ship anywhere in the US.

Orders are processed Monday through Friday and are usually shipped out within 48 hours of receiving your order, unless it's after 12pm PT on Friday, in which case it will go out on the following Monday. Depending on the day of the week your order is placed, it may take 5-7 days to arrive.

We have an easy return policy. To make trying our products as risk-free as possible, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all first orders. On all other orders, we offer replacements on damaged or defective goods reported within 30 days of receipt of the order.

Simply email us with your order number and the item(s) you’d like to return at hello@ellisdayskinscience.com within 30 days of purchase. We will provide return authorization, along with a free shipping label.

All refunds will be issued to the original form of payment within 10 business days of receipt of the returned product.