Elizabeth Dehn for OLO Vitamin C Serum

Did you know that an easy way to sneak green tea into recipes is to substitute it for wherever the recipe calls for water? Thanks interwebz for this tip. This morning I had green tea in my pancakes (based on this recipe), green tea on the side, and green tea on my face à la Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics’ Active Moisture Vitamin C Serum.

I sampled this over the summer via One Love Organics’ active moisture sample pack, which by the way is very affordable and gives a good feel for the products (aka I got hooked on this and the cleanser, both of which I got in full size). I began using the cleanser and this serum after my midday yoga session, and between how soft it made my face, the research on the importance of topical vitamin C, and the fact that green tea is the first ingredient on the list, I upgraded to full size ($68 for 24ml) after my sample ran out.

What makes this product special is twofold: its moisturizing properties and stable vitamin C. Green tea seed oil has “outstanding moisture-retaining ability”, is rich in fatty acids and vitamins, and contains squalene, an “important component of the skin’s natural emollient system”. Sunflower seed oil, shea seed oilbaobab, and sea buckthorn oil all contain moisturizing vitamins (among which are E and scar-fighting A). Vitamin C in general is a wrinkle fighter by stimulating collagen production and protects against UV damage–all very desirable things! However, vitamin C is tricky in skincare, as vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid can be unstable and cause the formation of more free radicals–the very thing it is supposed to fight! Luckily, vitamin C in the form of fat-soluble ascorbyl palmitate, also known as vitamin C ester, is less irritating and more stable, which is what is used in this serum. It shows “greater antioxidant activity and performs at much lower doses” than ascorbic acid, and even “[increases] the antioxidant effect and protection of vitamin E, which is another free radical fighting powerhouse” in the serum.

No matter the season or what I layer the serum under or over, this rose-scented serum always makes my face feel very moisturized, supple, plump, and bright. During the summer, I would add one pump on top of my YÜLI M.E. Skin Fuel during the day every now and then or by itself after a yoga session. When I used the serum alone, I did not find it to help with my main skin concern, acne, so I’ve primarily designated this as an extra injection of moisture into my skin, which it does very well. Now in the drier winter, I have especially been appreciating this serum. Two pumps over M.E. Skin Fuel (or Cell Perfecto PM at night) and a cream moisturizer keeps my face from feeling uncomfortably dry. If I’m low on time, I’ll add one pump to my favorite Consonant sunscreen and be left with a radiant look.

tl;dr Packed with super moisturizing ingredients like green tea (yum) and stable vitamin C that fights free radicals instead of causing more. Love how soft and plump it leaves my skin.

Have you tried this serum? What are your thoughts?

Ingredients: organic camellia sinensis (green tea) seed oil, organic helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, butyrospermum parkii (shea) seed oil, organic adansonia digitata (baobab) oil, poly- hydroxystearic acid, sambucus nigra fruit extract (elderberry) extract, l-ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin c), tocopherol (vitamin e), organic supercritical hippophae rhamnoides (sea buckthorn) oil, organic rosehip (rosa canina) fruit extract, proprietary natural & organic fragrance

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7 Comments

  1. Audrey Nature
    January 15, 2014 / 8:49 pm

    Looking really nice! I love serums in general! so effective !
    x

  2. RM
    January 16, 2014 / 10:22 pm

    I've been using OLO's cleansing oil and loving it! It's perfect for my dehydrated but very acne- and congestion-prone skin. I've been curious about some of their other products. The word "hydrating" immediately perked up my ears. I'm having a hard time with excessive dryness + acne and am unable to use heavy, waxy creams, especially overnight, but a hydrating serum with vitamin C sounds nice! I know it doesn't help acne but will it exacerbate it? Thanks for the review!!

  3. Jade
    January 17, 2014 / 2:49 am

    Hi RM! Glad you are loving OLO's cleansing oil–it's definitely a favorite of mine (two empty bottles are proof of that). This serum definitely does not make acne worse at all for me. My skin just drinks up the hydrating ingredients. If you're unsure if this make break you out, I would definitely recommend the sample pack so you can give the serum a try without committing to it too fast. Good luck with your dryness and acne!

  4. Jana D.
    January 19, 2014 / 12:37 pm

    Oh I need this! And I love the photo<3 xx

  5. Jade
    January 24, 2014 / 5:48 am

    Thank you Jana! I agree, definitely need this 😉

  6. Anonymous
    February 3, 2014 / 2:00 pm

    I have not tried the olo serum or cleansing oil as it is sadly not available in europe… I use yuli's liquid courage though (vit c and ferulic serum) and love it. How does it compare to the oli serum (if you tried it)? Lara

  7. Jade
    February 4, 2014 / 2:13 am

    Hi Lara! That is too bad the serum and the cleansing oil are not available in Europe. Content Beauty seems to stock everything but the Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics products from One Love Organics, which is too bad. I haven't tried YÜLI's Liquid Courage, but I've heard great things about it, and if it's anything like their other products, I'm sure it is great. The ingredient list is really delicious, which probably explains why the price is almost twice as much as OLO's serum. Neiman's Idealist (https://neimansidealist.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/my-current-routine-the-regulars/) and the Fetch Hunter (http://thefetchhunter.blogspot.com/2012/10/winter-skin-care-essentials_24.html) have written good things about it.