The other day in Sephora, I received a free trial size bottle of Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster. That night, I tried it and loved it so much after one use that I went out and bought it the next day after work.
Ole Henriksen is a brand I’ve found interesting (no parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals etc.) but never got round to trying. It was a good job I was given the initial freebie otherwise I might never have discovered this product!
Okay, the reason why I love this serum so much after so little use is that I used it overnight under my usual night moisturiser (currently Forest Secrets iRejuvenate Step 1), and woke up with the softest skin I’ve had since… hmmm well, a very long time. Have I mentioned the air is SO DRY in New York in winter?? It’s SO DRY. No-one believes me until they get here and their lips immediately start cracking and bleeding. Anyway, it makes it extra difficult to achieve radiant skin. I can’t wait for it to warm up here.
Back onto the serum. Even after cleansing and drying my face in the morning, my skin still felt noticeably soft and smooth. I kept touching my face because I was so confused, until I remembered that I had used the serum the night before. I’ve now used the serum morning and night for a few days and I feel silly for saying this, but my skin is looking more even-toned and has more "clarity" about it. I don’t have any major complaints with my skin… but I do feel in the last couple of years I’ve been losing the fresh-faced, woman-child skin I used to take for granted. Somehow, this serum has airbrushed my entire face and just makes me look so much better even without a scrap of make-up.
After the first use, I thought to myself, "Wow if this is the effect after just one use, what will happen if I use it for a longer period of time…?" and that’s why I went out and bought it.
In terms of the serum itself, it’s an orange-coloured, tangerine-smelling, viscous watery substance. It’s not a silicone-based serum, so it doesn’t have that slick or slippery feeling. It absorbs almost instantly (I have to spread the serum across my face really fast before it sinks in) and just leaves the skin feeling fresh and bare. I don’t find it offers much moisture but I do have exceptionally dry skin, and I use moisturiser over the top anyway. I have quite sensitive skin, and this serum doesn’t irritate it at all.
The main active ingredient is high potency Vitamin C to calm and heal skin and strengthen collagen. But another interesting ingredient is licorice extract which helps to even out pigmentation. I should point out though that I’m not expecting this serum to lighten any of my UV-induced freckles. I think I’m stuck with those for good!
