OleHenriksen Truth Serum - Exclusive to Boots
Works for
MoisturizingGlycerin, Peg-12 dimethicone + 4 moreWorks
“Supercharged with True-C Complex TM and boosted with collagen, this powerful age-defying serum helps brighen and firm, and delivers all-day hydration.”
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, caprylyl glycol.
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-agingSodium ascorbyl phosphate, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 2 moreMay help
“You see a healthier and more youthful-looking Ole Glow TM.”
This product contains thioctic acid. This ingredient help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they might be able to prevent early signs of aging (like fine lines and wrinkles), at least to some extent. These ingredients will not be able to "reverse" signs of aging.
ExfoliationNo ingredient credited for this claimNot delivered
“Ole Henriksen Ole Henriksen Truth Serum 30ml Truth Serum is like a daily multivitamin for the skin.”
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
Anti-oxidationSide benefit · Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 3 moreWorks well
This product contains antioxidants (thioctic acid) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - camellia sinensis leaf extract, sodium ascorbyl phosphate also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Anti-blemishSide benefit · Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Camellia sinensis leaf extract + 1 moreMay help
This product might be able to help reduce blemishes and clogged pores because it contains sodium ascorbyl phosphate.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy7 strong irritants: Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract, Citrus grandis seed extract + 5 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate~7.9–9.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A stable derivative of vitamin C. It is oil-soluble which means it is more likely to penetrate the skin compared to the pure form of vitamin C (which is water-soluble), but it is less bio-available and is way less effective in stimulating collagen and reducing wrinkles compared to the pure form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) and its other derivatives (for example, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate). At the same time, this vitamin C derivative has been shown in studies to be effective in reducing acne, blemishes and clogged pores. It is less irritating then the pure form of vitamin C
More about Sodium ascorbyl phosphateCalcium ascorbate~4.6–5.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sorbitol~3–3.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
More about SorbitolGlycerin~2.4–2.9%
- 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 GlycerinTocopheryl acetate~1.8–2.2%
- 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 acetateAloe barbadensis leaf juice~1.6–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceCitrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract~1.4–1.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that is used as a fragrance. Can be irritating and lead to photosensitivity
More about Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extractCamellia sinensis leaf extract~1.1–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation
More about Camellia sinensis leaf extractEuphrasia officinalis extract~0.8–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Rosa canina fruit extract~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties, but evidence is lacking
More about Rosa canina fruit extractCitrus grandis seed extract~0.55–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- High
Oleth-20~0.6–0.9%
Hydroxyethylcellulose~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcellulosePeg-12 dimethicone~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture
More about Peg-12 dimethiconeBenzophenone-4~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Sulisobenzone. A UV filter. Is typically used to improve the product stability under exposure to UV light. It is effective against both UVA and UVB rays. It can be used is larger concentrations as a sun protection ingredient for the skin, but can be irritating
More about Benzophenone-4Sodium urocanate~0.4–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Thioctic acid~0.3–0.5%
Phenoxyethanol~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolCitric acid~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidCaprylyl glycol~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolHexylene glycol~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps create a more spreadable product texture
More about Hexylene glycolLimonene~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneLinalool~0.1–0.15%
Citral~0.05–0.1%
Parfum~0.05%
- Irritation risk
- High
An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients
More about ParfumCi 15985~0.05%
Ingredient list view
Water, Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, Calcium ascorbate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Tocopheryl acetate, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Citrus aurantium dulcis fruit extract, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Euphrasia officinalis extract, Rosa canina fruit extract, Citrus grandis seed extract, Oleth-20, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Peg-12 dimethicone, Benzophenone-4, Sodium urocanate, Thioctic acid, Phenoxyethanol, Citric acid, Caprylyl glycol, Hexylene glycol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Parfum, Ci 15985
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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.
| OleHenriksenTruth Serum - Exclusive to BootsYOUR PRODUCT | Live No B.S.Vitamin C + E Serum | Skin Functional5% Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Inflamed Red Blemishes | eb5Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum Concentrate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 63% | 62% | 61% |
| Price | — | — | $15.06 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 5 | 3 of 5 | 2 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Ferulic Acid | Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract | Panthenol |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: June Jacobs Spa June Jacobs Elastin Collagen SerumEnough Secret with re-active lifting ampoule
Product summary
"OleHenriksen - Truth Serum - Exclusive to Boots" could be helpful for: Moisturizing, Anti-aging and Anti-blemish, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Humectants (glycerin 2.40% - 2.90%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "OleHenriksen" is cruelty free, but its parent company is not.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Sodium ascorbyl phosphate in topical microemulsionssciencedirect.com
- 3
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- 5
- 6
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