Herbivore Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum
Works for
Evens skin toneTetrahexyldecyl ascorbateWorks well
“Works to visibly improve dark spots and even out skin tone”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
MoisturizingGlycerin, Hyaluronic acid + 4 moreWorks
“What Else You Need to Know: This serum contains THD vitamin C, a highly efficacious form of vitamin C that nourishes the skin.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, hyaluronic acid.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
Anti-agingSide benefit the brand mentions · Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Hyaluronic acidWorks well
“This ultra-stable vitamin C improves the look of hyperpigmentation. . Turmeric.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extract + 5 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Sodium anisate, Ocimum sanctum leaf extract + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate~8.6–10.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
More about Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbateGlycerin~4.4–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinC9-12 alkane~3.4–4.2%
Sodium stearoyl glutamate~2.7–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium stearoyl glutamatePropanediol~2.2–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolCetearyl olivate~1.9–2.3%
Sorbitan olivate~1.6–2%
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf extract~1.3–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Curcuma longa root extract~1–1.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can contain an active compound curcumin, that may have some anti-inflammatory properties when applied to the skin, but solid research is lacking and the typical concentration used in skincare products is too low. Can be an irritant
More about Curcuma longa root extractTerminalia chebula fruit extract~0.8–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extract~0.7–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant effect in skin, but evidence is lacking
More about Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extractHyaluronic acid~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin. Naturally present in skin. Typically has large molecule size unless advertised otherwise on the product label. Helps support skin's barrier function and may help to reduce inflammation
More about Hyaluronic acidPolyglyceryl-6 stearate~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Polyglyceryl-6 stearateSclerotium gum~0.55–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create gel-like formulas and stabilize emulsions
More about Sclerotium gumPolyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleateSodium levulinate~0.55–0.8%
Sodium anisate~0.5–0.75%
Melia azadirachta flower extract~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might be helpful to neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Melia azadirachta flower extractCoco-caprylate/caprate~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin without creating a greasy texture
More about Coco-caprylate/caprateButylene glycol~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolMelia azadirachta leaf extract~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that has anti-bacterial properties. Can be used to preserve the product. Can be irritating
More about Melia azadirachta leaf extractOcimum sanctum leaf extract~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that is rich in a fragrance compound eugenol that is a frequent allergen and can be irritating. It might also contain anti-oxidants to help neutralize free radicals
More about Ocimum sanctum leaf extractSodium phytate~0.35–0.65%
Averrhoa carambola fruit extract~0.3–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polyglyceryl-6 behenate~0.3–0.6%
Ocimum basilicum flower/leaf extract~0.3–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used as a fragrance. Canbe irritating
More about Ocimum basilicum flower/leaf extractTocopheryl acetate~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateEchinacea purpurea extract~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties. Can be irritating
More about Echinacea purpurea extractAnanas sativus fruit juice~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Corallina officinalis extract~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might contain antioxidants
More about Corallina officinalis extractLeuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A preservative that comes from radishes fermented by a bacteria. New research suggests that the preservation properties in the ingredient come from an ammonium salt that is not present naturally in radish root but used in its cultivation. Is problematic because the exact amount of the preservative agents is difficult to determine
More about Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrateCitric acid~0.05–0.1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidIngredient list view
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Glycerin, C9-12 alkane, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Propanediol, Cetearyl olivate, Sorbitan olivate, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi leaf extract, Curcuma longa root extract, Terminalia chebula fruit extract, Terminalia ferdinandiana fruit extract, Hyaluronic acid, Polyglyceryl-6 stearate, Sclerotium gum, Polyglyceryl-6 polyricinoleate, Sodium levulinate, Sodium anisate, Melia azadirachta flower extract, Coco-caprylate/caprate, Butylene glycol, Melia azadirachta leaf extract, Ocimum sanctum leaf extract, Sodium phytate, Averrhoa carambola fruit extract, Polyglyceryl-6 behenate, Ocimum basilicum flower/leaf extract, Tocopheryl acetate, Echinacea purpurea extract, Ananas sativus fruit juice, Corallina officinalis extract, Leuconostoc/radish root ferment filtrate, Citric acid
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| HerbivoreNova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening SerumYOUR PRODUCT | Herbivore BotanicalsNova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum | Kate SomervilleKx Active Concentrates Vitamin B3 + Vitamin C Serum | Youth To The PeopleSuperfood Firm + Brighten Serum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 75% | 66% | 65% |
| Price | $68.00 | $65.00−$3.00 | — | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | — | Niacinamide | 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid |
| Irritancy | High | High | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: skinmade Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C serumAwake Beauty Dream Dewdrops Hyaluronic Serum
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6Efficacy of a New Topical Nano-hyaluronic Acid in Humansncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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