Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster Review
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster
Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster ($48.00 for 1.0 oz.) is described as “a high-potency vitamin C complex that prevents and corrects signs of aging while promoting brightness.” It contains 10% vitamin C. This is supposed to firm, smooth, feel weightless, absorb quickly, and provide “instant and long-term hydration.”
I had enough trouble with the packaging that was enough to make me hesitant to repurchase this in the future, even if it turned out to be a really good product. It’s great that it’s packaged in a glass bottle with a pump dispenser, and it is slim and travel-friendly from a size perspective (but it’s glass, so it’s much more fragile). The problem was with the pump–it pumps out far more product (I’d say almost twice the amount) than you really need. I always ended up having so much excess that I was still looking for places to apply it after my face and neck (and I don’t think my neck needs any brightening serums right now).
UPDATED @ 6/9/2012: The folks at Ole Henriksen sent me a replacement bottle after reading this review, and I absolutely wanted to update this post to update you on my packaging woes. The bottle I have now is infinitely better! A full pump is certainly too much for me, but you can easily control how much you pump out. I was able to go a quarter, halfway, or three-quarters of the way. I’m really glad they fixed the packaging problem, and it was actually a problem and not a feature! (e.g. Benefit Stay Don’t Stray didn’t really acknowledge it as a problem and tried to “teach” us how to tap the pump with a video even) It’s also really awesome to see a brand keeping tabs on what is being said about their product range.
It’s just a product where a little goes a long way, particularly because of how easily spreadable the liquid is. It’s very water-like, so it just slides and covers well without needing gobs of it. I often had the product harden in the pump as well, which meant that when I went to pump it, not only did I get too much, but it flew to parts unknown (OK, the counter top, my eye once, but you get the picture!). I went through a 1 oz. bottle in about three weeks of morning-only usage.
The Truth Serum smells like orange citrus, not overly sweet but definitively orange-like, so it’s pleasant, subtle, and doesn’t linger for long. Like the brand promises, it also absorbs incredibly quickly (that’s probably my favorite characteristic). I saw some brightening and evening out of my skin tone. I know some people have recommended using this alone, as both a serum and a moisturizer, but Ole Henriksen suggests applying face/eye cream after this (per the brand’s website). If you have oilier skin, you could more likely get away with it as a two-in-one product. My more normal-to-dry skin needed this plus a regular moisturizer.
With vitamin C products, you have to watch for whether it includes a stabilized form of vitamin C, which this does in the forms of sodium ascorbyl phosphate and calcium ascorbate. Sodium hylauronate is an excellent hydrator, which is likely one of the reasons that those who need less hydration can get away with using this alone. The product has a lot of excellent, good-for-your-skin ingredients, and the best part is that they’re listed in the beginning of the ingredient’s list–not the end!
For me, I did not have powerful enough results to merit $48 every three weeks, but brightening can be difficult to “see” and gauge, especially when after only three weeks (but I had no more!). It gets a lot of rave reviews (and a friend’s raves is what made me want to try it myself!), though, and with the strength of the ingredient list, I’d still say it’s worth checking out.
Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Calcium Ascorbate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Euphrasia Officinalis Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Oleth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thioctic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Fragrance (Parfum), Yellow 6
It’s paraben-free, so it may be worth it for me to try this (at some future point). Do you (or anyone else reading this) know if it has firming capabilities?
@xamyx For me, yes! Definitely. Plumped it up but made it firm at the same time. And it evened out my skin tone in addition to massively brightening it. I love O/H in general because I think the quality, ingredients and efficacity are superb across the line with just a few rare exceptions. But this (and the night-time serum) are particularly amazing, imo. They are my HG for serums and I’ve bought, rebought, rebought….
@Kafka I’m almost 39, and although I’ve been *blessed* with amazing skin genes, I have about 3 deep lines across my forehead that need plumping up. I’ve had them since I can remember, so they’re in there pretty good, LOL. Argan oil has helped (alot), but I’ve been looking for something more intense. I’ve gotten sample sachets from Sephora, but they’re sooo small, I didn’t think there’d be enough for more than a feww apps, but if you could go 6-7 months on a 1 oz bottle, I should get at least a week out of the sample. Now, if I could only remember where I put them…
@xamyx @Kafka 6-7 months using it TWICE a day, not just in the mornings, so yeah, it definitely lasts. The trick is to press down the pump lightly a 1/4 way, not all the way. That said, putting a few pumps worth in a Sephora sample pot is something you (and others) should consider. The following is a rough estimate but with a full Sephora sample pot, you would only need about 2-3 fingertips worth of stuff for the whole face (including under the eyes), so a little pot should last you about a week. And about 2 full pumps should fill up the pot. So you see, the serum *VERY* fluid and a bottle can definitely last a while. I really hope others will consider it, despite the pump issue as it’s really, really easy to work around.
@Kafka I have an empty dropper bottle from Whole Foods I keep my oils in, it’s really small. OT, I eplied to your email-I hope you got it!
@xamyx could you please tell me for how long you used Argan oil and how well it worked? I’m 29 and completely wrinkle free except for some very fine laugh lines which I absolutely hate. I knew this would be the first place in my face to get wrinkles because the skin around my lips creases a lot when I smile (which I fortunately do a lot), but I really don’t like the way they look. You said Argan oil helped a lot with the lines across your forehead so I was thinking of giving it a try.
@andromeda18 I’ve been using it *steadily* for about 2 months, and I started really noticing results after about a month. The only issue is, you may have a period of breaking out, but it won’t last too long. I’m no longer prone to breakouts, so it wasn’t so bad for me, but I’ve read/heard some are more sensitive. I had a few “whiteheads”, but no cystic acne. Also, you can buy it at a health food store for under $15 for about 2oz, as opposed to the $40-something 1oz Josie Maran oil from Sephora.
@xamyx I’ve used facial oils before without breaking out so maybe I’ll get lucky with Argan oil as well. I’m definitely going to give it a try. Thanks!
@xamyx What argan oil do you use?
@Leslie I’ve been using Josie Maran, but I got a couple of bottles a while ago with my Sephora points. When I run out, though-soon, I’m just going to go with something from a health food store like Sprouts, whole Foods, etc. It’s all the same, just a fraction of the price. Just be sure it state “cold-pressed” on the packaging, as other methods can break down the molecules (from what I’ve read-I’m not a scientist).
@xamyx it is firming, yes. In fact for me it is primarily a firming product, not a brighter or moisturizer as much! I’ve been using it for about a year and it got me hooked on several OH products *_* (esp the glycolic and lactic acid night cream which has helped to reduce my acne scarring)As far as the pumping issue, I have noticed this a little, but I have the larger 1.7 oz bottle that allows me to pump out a teeny amount at a time if I simply press it gently. Maybe the 1 oz pump is designed differently, though. 1 oz of product lasts about 6 months for me with daily use.
@woolyowl Thanks! With two confirmations of about 6 months of product, it seems worth investing $48, and I can always transfer it into an apothecary bottle.
I’ve been using it and my skin seems a tad brighter and my acne spots and small brown spots have not budged. You’re right it finishes WAY to fast:( Won’t but again.
I don’t know if you’ve tried Clinique’s even better clinical dark spot correcter, but I found that one to be the most effective for my darker brown spots/freckles. The previous, weaker even better skin tone corrector didn’t do anything for me, but the new one seems much stronger and I saw results within a couple of months. However, it was just on the side of being too strong and after the first week it stung my cheeks where most of my freckles are, especially if it’s close to my eye area. I reduced the usage to every 2-3 days (making it less effective) just so my face doesn’t hurt, but I still think it’s what worked best for correcting hyperpigmentation. My skin is quite sensitive though, so you may or may not want to give it a try.
Vanillasnow, what do you mean by “previous, weaker even better corrector”. How do you know the bottle you have contains the old or new formula? Now I am confused I just got a new bottle of that 🙁
@casey23 Hmmm interesting, I can no longer find the old formula which is just called “Even Better Skintone corrector” or something. The new formula costs more and has the word “Clinical” in it… but if the old formula is no longer sold (can’t find it on both the clinique website and on Sephora), then it doesn’t matter. Anywho, if you’re a Sephora shopper, it is this product: http://www.sephora.com/even-better-clinical-dark-spot-corrector-P257535?skuId=1246644 . If you do try it, I really hope it works for you! Best of luck.
@Vanillasnow oh yeah i have this one :))) I bought this and Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone something… I started to use Estee but I does absolutely nothing to my skin!!!! (good or bad!) but I made my boyfriend buy it for me so I have to use it until I finish it 🙂 Then I will use this serum hope it works thank you!!
@Vanillasnow Thank you for the advice I’m on my way to check it out!(:
I love this product. Love, love, love and then love some more. It’s been an absolute miracle saver for my skin. If I could, I would spend one whole paragraph just typing out the word LOVE. I’m 42, have combo skin and it’s never made me break out, never created oiliness (regardless of whether I use a moisturizer on top or not) and I see a visible difference for the worse if I forego it for a few days. After just one week of use, I saw differences in my skin and had *other* people ask me what I was doing. After a month, I felt actually good going makeup free & without concealer. In fact, I went makeup free into Sephora and had my main skincare lady rave that she had *NEVER* seen my skin look so clear and so good in the 4+ yrs she’s known me. It’s so much cheaper than the super expensive Dr. Brandt line I’d been using up to then and it is the most effective thing I’ve ever encountered (along with O/H night time serum). And I’ve tried a LOT of things.
You’re absolutely right about the pump putting out too much but I think you can learn how to tap it so gently as to make a lesser amount come out. Is it a pain though to learn that (and still not always be successful)? Absolutely! But sometimes, I just put a whole lot in a small Sephora sample pot and then just use that. It’s a simple easy way to get around the pump issue and this is so worth it. I personally love the light orange smell, too, but if someone is totally smell-averse and hyper-sensitive, they may want to check it out in person first. I better stop now before I actually type out a whole paragraph with just the word LOVE in it. lol.
Oh I hate packaging like that, don’t think I will be checking it out because of that actually! Thanks for the review, Christine! 🙂
I wonder if you’ve tried Dermalogica’s Map 15 Regenerator. It’s a super potent highly stabilized vitamin C product and it’s pretty amazing, though also a little pricy. I haven’t bought it myself, but my esthetician is always giving me samples of it. It might be worth checking out the next time you’re at Ulta or something.
I love this product. Love, love, love and then love some more. It’s been an absolute miracle saver for my skin. If I could, I would spend one whole paragraph just typing out the word LOVE. I’m 42, have combo skin and it’s never made me break out, never created oiliness (regardless of whether I use a moisturizer on top or not) and I see a visible difference for the worse if I forego it for a few days. After just one week of use, I saw differences in my skin and had *other* people ask me what I was doing. After a month, I felt actually good going makeup free & without concealer. In fact, I went makeup free into Sephora and had my main skincare lady rave that she had *NEVER* seen my skin look so clear and so good in the 4+ yrs she’s known me. It’s so much cheaper than the super expensive Dr. Brandt line I’d been using up to then and it is the most effective thing I’ve ever encountered (along with O/H night time serum). And I’ve tried a LOT of things.
I didn’t have your problem of the 1 oz. bottle lasting only 3 weeks. Yikes! If that had been the case, I would definitely NOT have been pleased. My first bottle lasted me over 6 or 7 months!! And, in the beginning, I used it both morning *and* night! As you noted, a little goes a LONG way, spreads all over fluidly and is very quickly absorbed. You’re absolutely right about the pump putting out too much but I think one can learn how to tap it ever so gently as to make a lesser amount come out. Is it a pain though to learn that (and still not always be successful)? Absolutely! But sometimes, I just put a whole lot in a small Sephora sample pot and then just apply from there. It’s a simple easy way to get around the pump issue and this is so worth it. I personally love the light orange smell, too, but if someone is totally smell-averse and hyper-sensitive, they may want to check it out in person first. I better stop now before I actually type out a whole paragraph with just the word LOVE in it. lol.
I bought the full sized bottle of this after trying out the small 0.5oz deluxe sample size that I got as part of my 500-point Sephora gift set. I admit I don’t use this every day (maybe every other day since I alternate between this and a REN brightening product), but the sample sized bottle deposits a fairly good amount that was perfect for my face and neck. After about 3 months, I am finally finishing the sample size! I am disappointed to hear that the full sized version deposits way too much, so I may give it a try and then maybe transfer the product over to it’s mini dispenser instead. I cannot comment on how effect this product alone is for evening out skin tone and brightening, but as part of the rotation of my skin care routine, I have noticed that my skin tone and texture HAS improved overall. I have a lot of dark, obvious freckles that I have managed to lighten up over time, and I have less blotchy redness than I used to. This product was easy to apply, smells nice, feels good, and never broke me out. Although it is $48 USD, it is also one of the more affordable brightening products out there. I would say this is worth checking out, and I like it much better than the Body Shop version of a similar product.
@Vanillasnow Which REN product? I love, love, love the Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask and use it once a week. As for the full-sized version of the Truth Serum, the solution is exactly what you noted: put a little in a Sephora sample pot and use that on a daily basis. I think it’s worth it because, like you, the Truth Serum has really impacted, improved and changed my skin.
@Kafka Let’s see! On one day I would use REN resurfacing AHA concentrate followed by REN radiance perfecting serum (this was the brightening product I was thinking of), then another day use OleHenricksen truth serum collagen booster followed by OleHenricksen invigorating night gel. I too, am using the REN glycolactic skin renewal peel mask whenever I remember (usually once every week or every other week, I get lazy or forget) and so far I am liking the products from both brands quite a bit!
As for the Sephora deluxe sample, it’s actually a mini version of the full sized product, right to the glass packaging and pump! It’s so cute and dispenses the perfect amount.
@Vanillasnow Thank you so much. It’s great to know that the rest of the line is as good as that Radiance Renewal mask. I’ll keep that in mind if I ever decide to to cheat on dear Ole with another brand. ;P Joking aside, REN is definitely one line I’d seriously consider exploring more. Do you happen to know if REN makes an absorbing mask, like a clay one type of thing for blackheads, etc? That’s one thing I need but O/H doesn’t seem to make and I’m not satisfied with the ones I’ve found thus far elsewhere.
@Kafka I think REN make two clay masks, one is for blemishes, but the one that sounds most like the one you want is the Invisible Pores Detox Mask, it’s really good.
@Karina, thank you! Something that might — just might, miraculously — deal with the pores as well is *definitely* something I’m interested in. I really appreciate the tip! Off to Google/Sephora now to look for it. 🙂
@Kafka I haven’t tried a clay mask by either brand yet, and I have been looking for some sort of pore cleansing mask myself! I tried the charcoal one from Origins because of it’s popularity and high ratings, but it hasn’t worked for me thus far… although I think it may be due to the fact that I don’t have a steamer to open up my pores first. I dunno~ I might give the Invisible Pore Detox Mask a try as well as invest in a steamer while I’m at it. Thanks for the recommendation!
Hi Christine, Have you tried any of the Kiehl’s products? They use the stabilized form of Vit C extensively in their products. I’ve been using the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution from the brand since a few weeks and I do see a glow on my face. Its priced at $49.50, similar to this and lasts a good 7-10 weeks as well.
I actually really enjoy this but I feel the same way as you, Christine. The pump is HORRIBLE and it wastes so much. It makes me very hesitant to repurchase. I love a lot of other Ole Henriksen products though!
Don’t give up on this product because of the packaging. it’s very easy to just depress the nozzle less than all the way!!!
The product is totally worth it, in my opinion. I use it as part of the Three Little Wonders set. I swear by Ole Henriksen products–I don’t use anything else. The 3 piece set is well worth the money, but this particular product is just excellent. My skin was so smooth and even and blemish free, no other product has ever had the same effect. I love it and I would recommend it to anyone!
I tried MANY times to get less – pretty much ever since the first pump, I had been trying to pump out less. I tried tapping, lightly depressing, turning it upside down, sideways, etc. It was always an all or nothing situation.
Trust me, while I know many think I’m pretty vapid, I’m not a complete idiot – after getting this stuff in my eye and having it burn as bad as when I accidentally got laundry detergent in my eye and left residual stinging for another four hours after washing it out – you can bet the last thing I wanted was a repeat.
I’m so glad it works for you! Maybe my bottle was defective – I could not get the pump to dispense less.
@Christine (Temptalia) I had the same problem! My sample
Size lasted me almost 2 months. The sample size from my beauty test tube pumps perfectly, so luckily I sill had it and pump product into there to use! If you can find one I highly suggest. 🙂
@Christine (Temptalia) damn, that must;ve been the citric acid 🙁 very irritant to the skin…and eyes, idk why they’d put that in a face cream :/ it’s usually found in soda
@Christine (Temptalia) Hi Christine, I work at OLEHENRIKSEN, and would like to let you know that we did in fact have a defective pump issue that we have rectified. We’re SO sorry that you have happened to receive a defective pump…there are still some out there on the market and we’re working hard to fix them all! We would love to send you a new truth serum with a better pump, please let us know where we can do this. Best wishes!
Hi Jenn!
You can reach me at christine[at]temptalia.com! 🙂
@Jenn- Wow. I love you guys. Ole Henriksen is really the best and, now, apparently, it seems your customer service is fantastic too! You should send her a whole host of your stuff (like Truth Revealed or See the Difference) so she can see just HOW good O/H is, across the board. 😉 lol
@Christine (Temptalia) Your goodies are on the way. So sorry again for this poor experience. PROMISE you will LOVE the truth serum…it’s a favorite around here 🙂
@KK, ditto! I swear by O/H, too and for the same reasons as you. In fact, it was this Truth Serum that started a very intense love affair with a lot of his line. With the exception of Dr. Brandt’s microdermabrasion and Dr. Brandt’s foaming cleanser (which I’m just trying to finish/use up), I use nothing but O/H stuff and my skin has never looked better. Such natural ingredients but, even better, they really and truly WORK!
@KK, ditto! I swear by O/H, too and for the same reasons as you. In fact, it was this Truth Serum that started a very intense love affair with a lot of his line. With the exception of Dr. Brandt’s microdermabrasion and Dr. Brandt’s foaming cleanser (which I’m just trying to finish/use up), my daily skincare routine is almost entirely O/H and my skin has never looked better. Such natural ingredients but, even better, they really and truly WORK!
@Kafka Thank you for saying that. We strive to make not only amazing products, but a FABULOUS experience from start to finish. Very happy to hear that you notice that about our company. Best wishes!
I LOVE this serum! I got it in a kit around Christmas time and it worked beautifully for my skin. It also has an amaaazing scent.
I’m not a fan of it myself- the smell is ridiculously overly-orange..and I didn’t notice any difference. Christine, do you have any favorite AHA/BHA-containing products?
I would have pumped the product into a small container, then used it that way.
@eltscott Yep, that is, in fact, what I do the majority of the time with it. I hope others won’t give up on the product because of the dispenser but opt instead for going this route. It’s *definitely* worth it.
I had a problem with the pump too, i went back to sephora exchange the new bottle and it work fine.
You might got the defect pump.
This is a good product and I saw results immediately. I too experienced the erratic pump issue 🙂 but you simply pump softly instead of giving it the full push with your palm or forefinger. Easily fixed. I have already re-purchased this item but my first bottle lasted longer than 3 months…maybe 6. My skin looks brighter, clearer if you will. the scent is pleasant and non-lingering. it leaves a bit of a sticky feel on the face which dissipates in seconds. Initially I used it as my night moisturizer (I only apply at night). But now that my skin is becoming more normal and less oily due to my skin regimen, I do add a cream on top after it soaks in.
I received this product last summer as part of Sephora’s must have summer essentials kit and I must say while I enjoyed the product, I did not realize how much my skin declined when I stopped using it. It’s definitely a product where you may not realize how much your skin misses it until you stop using it. I recommend this product to anyone.
Yes I like it as we can see the result
I’ve tried this, and found a cheaper alternative with the same results with 40 Carrots Carrot + C Vitamin Serum for only $14.
I get instant perk from this product and am one who raves over it. I keep tiny sample bottles I refill if I need to travel so the glass is a non issue for me…and I learned to only pump about 1/4 of the way and get the exact amount I need.
I really like this serum but it is kind of pricy (and it used up fast). I’m on my second bottle and have been trying to find good cheaper alternatives. I think the philosophy vitamin C powder is very good.
I bought the 1.7 oz bottle last October and just finished it earlier this month. Sometimes the bottle would get clogged up and I do agree that if you pushed down on the pump quickly, you’d get too much product. I tried my best to NOT push down on the dispenser too hard. I loved the way it made my skin feel.
I tried a sample of this once, and I actually didn’t like it. It felt like it never soaked in all the way for me (it left a greasy residue), and I broke out like the morning after the first time I used it. That’s mainly why I stopped using it was because I couldn’t handle all the new acne. But I have no idea why it broke me out that bad, would you know what ingredient(s) could’ve done that Christine?
There wasn’t anything in the first few lines of the list that really screamed out that they could be culprits. There is a chance that it was bringing existing acne to the forefront, since it is a gradual process before the acne surfaces!
Damn, they’re amazing. A big Hurrah for Ole Henriksen and the great people who work for him. (I hope they sent you the Truth Revealed moisturizer that they often pair with the serum; I think you’d really love it, esp. given your normal-to-dry skin. Somehow, the two together seem to really amplify each other’s effects.) Do you think you might give us an additional update after you’ve had a proper length of time to use the serum? It would be nice to know your thoughts and the final outcome.
@Kafka I finished using this a few weeks ago and already have a different set of products I’m testing, so I won’t be using this again for quite some time 🙂 I just tested out the pumping mechanism to see if it was different (and it was — very!!).
I received a good sized sample of this from Sephora (I’d never even considered looking at the product, let alone trying it) and I’m actually quite pleased with it – enough that I may buy a full sized bottle if I EVER use up something else in my routine! I really like their day cream with SPF – discovered that through a Sephora sample and bought the full sized jar….I really like it.
Thanks for the update, Christine! That’s awesome that Ole Henriksen actually paid attention to what was being said and fixed the issue! If only more companies did this!
The update is fantastic! Kudos to them for hearing your gripes and making the adjustment. That shows the integrity of a company, to me, that will acknowledge and issue and make a correction. And really, they could just tell consumers to “suck it up” and go through the product much quicker than we need to, but instead, they showed they care about the issue and remedied it. I had initially decided I wasn’t going to try this product, because I didn’t think I could justify the expense and “waste” of overpumping. But, if they have stepped up and fixed the issue, and we can now control how much (or how little) we need, I am reconsidering. Way to go, Ole Henriksen!
Citrus extracts can be very irritating to sensitive skin. Why do they include it in so many products?
Not a product for me, but I completely agree.. I’m super impressed with the Henricksen response to your feedback! I also have that damned Benefit Stay don’t Stray and I hate that pump beyond reason for the exact same reason. One pump is enough to use the product as full face make-up and I switched products as a result of the &%^$ pump. A video to ‘learn’ how to use a pump… seriously?? LoL
@wwendalynne Yeah, I was actually MORE bothered by them coming out with a video to show us how to “tap” it. I’d rather a company acknowledge that there is a problem and come up with a solution.
I have never had a problem with this pump and I most certainly would not compare it to Stray Don’t Stray’s pump, as that one is problematic in itself. After reading this review when it was posted I took note of my own Truth Serum to see if I had this problem (as it was not something that stood out before. I have to say, I am quite perplexed as to how you cannot pump out a variable amount. My pump allows me to slowly press down until I have the desired amount of product. My bottle is newer and I think I recall an old sample being more difficult to use. Don’t let the pump issue affect your interest in the product, as it is a nice to have if you aren’t in a budget.
I have always tried to take good care of my skin using it in natural way by avoiding to much exposure of the sun or just using my UV umbrella to avoid it and eating right of foods specially fruits and vegetables to my diets and keeps your skin looking young and preferred exercise.
Is this product an absorbic acid? Or contain rather?
Iwood like to know were to buy it in montreal canada
My teenagers are using this to calm down their acne and it is working better than anything they have ever tried. Bright clear faces all around!