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Pai Skincare The Pioneer Geranium & Thistle Moisturiser

The Pioneer™ Moisturizer

Name: The Pioneer™ Moisturizer
Brand: Pai Skincare
SKU: PAI-1059
Price: 59.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$59.00

50ml / 1.7 fl.oz

The formula that launched the brand. A lightweight mattifying moisturizer that rebalances oily, combination, and blemish-prone skin without irritation.

Benefits:

Mattifies
Balances
Smoothes
Patch tested

GUIDE TO LAYERING:

Step 1: Cleanser

PHAZE PHA Clarifying Face Wash for sensitive skin

Phaze™ Clarifying Face Wash

$49.00

/ 100ml / 3.4 fl.oz

Step 2: Booster

Salicylic Acid 2% Clarifying Booster

$34.00

/ 10ml / 0.3 fl.oz

Step 3: Moisturiser

The Pioneer™ Moisturizer

$59.00

/ 50ml / 1.7 fl.oz

Add full routine - save 10%

The Pioneer™ Moisturizer

$59.00

Why You'll Love It

Master mattifier.

Lightweight and quick to absorb, this moisturizer is built for oily, blemish-prone skin. It hydrates the dry areas, dials down the shine where it shows up, and brings the rest back into balance. Customers swear by the hydration that never tips into greasy, and the way it softens the look of breakouts, blackheads, and excess oil. Makeup artists swear by the smooth matte finish, an ideal base for foundation.

Glowing and shiny aren't the same thing. This moisturizer is the line between the two. A formula that's gentle on sensitive skin, while delivering everything combination skin has been asking for.

Thistle Oil is the workhorse here. It's exceptionally rich in linoleic acid, which oily and blemish-prone complexions are typically deficient in. Topping it back up helps recalibrate sebum production and visibly refine pores. What you get is a smooth, matte canvas that makeup glides across effortlessly.

"After years of skin sensitivity I was at breaking point, and breaking out. So I decided I’d create the moisturiser my skin was craving. Pai was born and has blazed a trail ever since. So here it is, our Pioneer – a moisturiser that tackles sensitivity yet is light enough to help minimise visible blemishes."

SARAH BROWN
FOUNDER, PAI SKINCARE

What is The Pioneer and who is it best suited for?

The Pioneer is a fast-absorbing mattifying moisturiser designed specifically for oily and blemish-prone skin. It hydrates without greasiness, helping to control shine, minimise blackheads and leave a smooth matte finish that works beautifully under make-up.

How should I use The Pioneer in my skincare routine?

Apply a small amount to cleansed, toned skin morning and evening. It pairs well with All Becomes Clear Serum if you want targeted blemish support underneath.

How does The Pioneer work as a base under make-up?

The Pioneer absorbs quickly and leaves a smooth, matte finish that make-up artists genuinely rate as a pre-make-up base. It controls shine without drying your skin out, so foundation sits evenly and stays put rather than sliding or breaking up through the day.

Will The Pioneer clog my pores or cause breakouts?

No. The formula is non-comedogenic and built around lightweight plant oils like Safflower and Jojoba that support blemish-prone skin rather than aggravate it. It also contains Lactic Acid to gently encourage cell turnover, helping keep pores clear rather than congested.

Is The Pioneer safe to use during pregnancy?

Yes. The Pioneer is confirmed pregnancy safe, with no essential oils above 0.17% concentration. It's free from parabens, sulphates, synthetic fragrances and all the usual suspects, so it's a straightforward choice throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.

How do Safflower and Borage oils help oily skin without making it greasy?

Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius) and Borage oils are lightweight, linoleic acid-rich oils that absorb quickly and actually help regulate your skin's own oil production. They deliver hydration to the areas that need it without adding shine, which is why The Pioneer feels so different from heavier moisturisers.

What does the Jojoba Oil in The Pioneer do?

Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Oil closely mimics your skin's natural sebum, which helps signal to your skin that it doesn't need to overproduce oil. It's also non-comedogenic, so it hydrates without clogging pores, making it one of the few oils genuinely suited to oily and blemish-prone skin types.

What certifications does The Pioneer hold?

The Pioneer is COSMOS Organic certified (79% organic excluding water, 100% naturally derived), vegan and Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certified. It's also independently patch tested for sensitive skin and is free from parabens, silicones, sulphates, alcohol and gluten.

What makes The Pioneer different from other mattifying moisturisers?

Most mattifying moisturisers rely on silicones to create a matte finish. The Pioneer skips them entirely, using lightweight, linoleic acid-rich plant oils (Safflower, Jojoba and Borage) that actually help rebalance oil production rather than just masking shine. It's 100% naturally derived and made in Pai's London lab, so you get real oil control without synthetic trade-offs.

Overall rating: 4.6217947 / 5 from 468 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The Pioneer™ Moisturiser is praised for its ability to hydrate and balance oily skin, providing a healthy and matte look. Customers appreciate its gentle and refreshing feel, soft and delicate texture, and clean, cruelty-free ingredients. The product is also noted for its pleasant scent and for minimizing blemishes and blackheads.

Summary topics

Appearance (5%): It was reported by customers that this product makes their skin look healthy and hydrated all day.
Product Quality (4%): It was observed by customers that the Super crème is super, with multiple reviews mentioning its greatness.
Skin Feel (14%): Customers expressed appreciation for how this moisturizer feels on their skin, describing it as gentle, refreshing, and natural-looking.
Overall Satisfaction (19%): Many customers raved about the cream, describing it as the best day cream ever and highly recommending it.
Ingredient Quality (3%): It was highlighted by customers that the ingredients in the product are clean and cruelty-free, making it a popular choice.

Review topics: ["smell","weight","results","issues","quality","feels","improvement","price","skin","packaging","texture","delivery","looks","breakouts","ingredients","moisturiser","base","hydration","oil","cream","face","balance","formula","works","bottle","consistency","spots","crème","fragrance","pores"].

Review highlights

"Nice texture, neutral smell, hydrates and feeds the skin nicely" — Svetlana K.
"I love the smell, the texture and it definitely helps my combination/acne-prone skin." — Guenievre B.
"Love their packaging, their philosophy and definitely their amazing INCI list - great clean ingredients." — Laura F.

Reviews

Made me breakout

"I really wanted to like this! Loved the smell and texture, but after a few days of using it, my skin broke out all along my jaw line, my hairline, and my forehead. I toughed it out for 2 weeks, but my skin only got worse. I hate to leave a negative review. Obviously most people have great results with this moisturizer. Apparently, my skin is just very reactive, sensitive to fragrances, etc. Back to my minimal ingredient, simple, fragrance free moisturizer. I know this is noncomedogenic, but be wary if you have acne prone skin!!"

— Annie (2/5)

Great product ! Perfect hydration.

"Great product ! Perfect hydration. My whole shipment came right away."

— Pauline R. (5/5)

"lovvvve ittttt"

— Jessica (5/5)

No complaints

"Pai skincare products are always nourishing for my skin, they go on easily and make me look more refreshed and hydrated. I want a full set in the future!"

— Mariam V. (5/5)

Light, kind to skin moisturiser.

"I was looking for a light, calming moisturiser and was recommended this product by Pai. It is so light, smells amazing and is ideal for the summer. It’s great for my breakout prone skin and gives it a matt appearance. I’d highly recommend it."

— Kathleen W. (5/5)

Keeps oil under control in the hot summer

"This moisturizer keeps oil production under control during the hot summer days. I love to add various boosters to it as well depending on my activities for the day. My husband even likes it!"

— Kimberly H. (5/5)

can't live without it!

"Always come back to this whenever my skin gets out of balance"

— MISS S. (5/5)

Best moisturiser I've ever come across

"I have combination, acne prone skin and have always gone for a gel based cream in the past. I was having problems with breakouts and a friend recommended this as a more hydrating and gentle moisturiser and it has been an absolute game changer! It's a light cream and feels really soothing. It's part of my daily regime, applied after using the middlemist seven cleanser and my skin has never felt or looked so good!"

— Katherine G. (5/5)

One for all the family

"Love this lightweight moisturiser. Great for oily prone skin! My sister's are both also hooked! We love it!"

— Holly H. (5/5)

Needs update

"Light moisturiser but needs an ingredients update in terms of what we know skin needs to function best. For oilier types that would include pre/postbiotics, for example, and I am not sure what benefit geranium has for oilier if breakout prone skin - would not camomile or willow bark be more appropriate? I like that it’s light and alcohol free."

— Ines (2/5)

Q&A

Bonjour, j'ai acheté il y a quelques jours des produits pai qui me correspondent. Jusqu'à présent j'utilisais le gel lavant phaze matin et soir (qui est super!!), le back to life le matin et le carbon star le soir. Maintenant, j'ai acheté en plus le booster à l'acide salicylique et la crème hydratante the pioneer. Le problème c'est que je ne sais pas comment intégrer ces produits correctement à ma routine habituel... Auriez-vous quelques conseils à me donner pour avoir une routine parfaite svp ? Merci d'avance pour votre réponse.: Bonjour Amandine, Nous vous recommandons d'utiliser Phaze, suivi du Back To Life Serum, du Salicylic Acid Booster et du Pioneer. Le soir, nous proposons un nettoyage en appliquant le Pioneer suivi de Carbon Star Oil. Équipe Expérience Client Pai
Hi. My skin is combination with a lot of blackheads in the T-zone plus I suffer from a slight seborrheic dermatitis in the nose wings area and my forehead. I was wondering if I should use The Pioneer or The Anthemis. I already use the Phaze cleanser and the carbon star and the rose hip oil on alternate nights. Thanks!: Hi Mary, We would recommend using The Pioneer as this is great for oily and acne prone skin. The Anthemis is better for those with redness, eczema and psoriasis. Pai Customer Experience Team
Can this product be used at night, or would you use a serum instead?: Hi Holly, Thank you for getting in touch. You can use The Pioneer in the morning and in the evening, it is our lightest Moisturiser. You can also add our Boosters to The Pioneer if needed. Customer Experience Team Member
Hi, My skin is oily/combination and I suffer from redness. I currently don't use a moisturiser either during the day or overnight. During the day I use an SPF and at night nothing - although I have just started using Instant Kalmer. For the days that I am not out in the sun what moisturiser would you recommend? Kind regards, Ali: Hi Ali, Thank you for getting in touch. Using Instant Kalmer Serum each evening is a great idea. You may like to add Tri-Mushroom booster to it too. If you have Oily/Combination skin The Pioneer would be a good option or you could also try C-2 Believe for the day.
Are your products coconut free?: Hi Star! Unfortunately, we're not able to guarantee that The Pioneer is free from coconut as it contains Cetearyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Sodium Anisate and Sodium Levulinate, all of which are derived from either coconut, soy or corn depending on the season. Pai Customer Experience Team

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