African Botanics Nutritive Molecule Serum

It's no secret I love eco luxe brand African Botanics. They were one of my favorite discoveries last year. I've been slowly working through the line and next up for discussion is the Nutritive Molecule Serum. I quite love the African Botanics packaging. Their glass bottles with pumps are minimalistic and stunning. This cutting edge antioxidant serum is housed in a metallic sparkling steel gray bottle. Love it. What's inside the bottle is even better than the stellar packaging. Details per African Botanics:

An extremely rejuvenating serum that incorporates a superior complex of antioxidants and advanced biotechnology to supplement and protect skin against the main types of free radicals: oxygen, carbon and nitrogen while improving skin’s texture, brightening and providing a strong protective barrier against pollution and cellular damage.

Infuses skin with 3 types of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid, Tannic Acid, Niacinamide, Superoxide Dismutase, Resveratrol, Green Coffee and Yeast to accelerate antioxidant activity. These potent antioxidants help prevent wrinkles, sun damage and fade dark spots.

It replenishes and retains an abundance of moisture with Plant hyaluronic acid on multiple levels while delivering advanced antioxidants with anti-inflammatory molecules to protect the skin from damage due to age, urban pollution, UV exposure, stress and dryness.

Sea Kelp and Green Algae - a natural source of polysaccharides and antioxidants, boost cell renewal and collagen. This lightweight serum is enriched with botanical peptides and moisture barrier enhancers.

Key Benefits

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD Ascorbate) - most stable and non-acidic form of Vitamin C. This oil-soluble form of Vitamin C can penetrate the lipid bilayer of the skin. The problem with most topical forms of vitamin C is they’re water soluble and can’t make it through the lipid-rich skin barrier to reach the dermis of skin where they could have maximum benefits. The antioxidant action of THD Ascorbate is 80 times longer than Ascorbic Acid.

Decreases redness, inflammation and calms the skin with intense doses of anti-inflammatory botanicals - Resurrection Plant, Immortelle, Centella, Arnica, Aloe Ferox, Calendula, Hibiscus and Azelaic acid.

Directions Apply 2 pumps to clean face and neck every morning and evening with uplifting strokes, patting gently on the skin to aid absorption.

So I will start off acknowledging that this serum is a pricey option for a vitamin C/antioxidant serum. It'll set you back $250 for an ounce. It's one of the most expensive (if not the most expensive) serums I've ever tried. I used only one pump once a day, in the mornings, until it was empty. It took me just over four months to finish the bottle. The directions say to apply two pumps, I used only one which was enough to cover my face easily. If doing neck and face it would take two pumps. The product has a light gel serum texture so it spreads easily. It has that usual fragrance free African Botanics scent, which is comprised of natural ingredients and oils. The color of this serum is a muddy orange (don't worry it doesn't stain the skin or anything).

If you look at the inci list you'll see it's very long. I won't get into all the ingredients or this would be a mile long post. This serum is packed full of natural antioxidants and skin loving ingredients. This isn't a typical vitamin C serum. You're getting a whole lot more than that. This serum has soothing and hydrating ingredients like beta-glucan, rice and wheat protein, sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid, aloe, allantoin, pro vitamin B5, cucumber, calendula, arnica & chamomile. This also has collagen building ingredients like soy peptides, sea kelp, green algae, resurrection plant & centella asiatica. This serum has various oils like baobab, kalahari melon, marula, wheat germ, jojoba, moringa & sunflower. There are a few ingredients you'll see in all African Botanics products like ferox aloe, the resurrection plant, marula oil, coffee bean extract. I talked about the resurrection plant in more detail HERE.

The antioxidants in this product are three types of vitamin C (all non L-ascorbic acid types), superoxide dismutase, niacinamide, green coffee bean extract, resveratrol, ferulic acid, vitamin E, green roiboos tea and the polyphenol tannic acid. Found naturally in our bodies superoxide dismutase is an enzyme that catalyzes the dismutation (simultaneous process oxidation and reduction) of superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. In simple terms it counteracts the damaging effects of superoxide (the most common free radical) and protects the cells.

The three versions of vitamin C are all more stable non L-ascorbic acid derivatives. The vitamin C derivatives are less irritating in general for people who can't tolerate L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C derivatives are hit or miss for me. Some work well, some don't. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is one that works for me. In the four months I used this serum it managed to lighten my skin by two foundation shades. It took care of my uneven pigmentation quite well. Beyond a strong L-ascorbic acid (the gold standard of vitamin C but most unstable and most irritating) this is the best vitamin C derivative I've tried to date.

So yes while this serum is pricey, if your goal is to lighten and even skin tone through vitamin C, plus get a healthy dose of other powerful antioxidants then you might want to check this out. I could even consider using this every other day as it's so powerful I would probably still get results. I would buy Nutritive Molecule Serum again even with the hefty price tag. It delivers a multidimensional treatment approach in a serum. It’s your anti-aging, collagen building, brightening, skin tone evening, dark spot corrector, hydrating, soothing & antioxidant protecting serum. You have no need for using any other serums with this one. Except maybe retinol at night if you use it. Just follow with an oil after if desired and a cream or lotion.

Ingredients

Aqua (Deionized Water), Hamamelis Virginia (Witch Hazel) Extract, Glycine Soja Protein (Soy Peptides), Superoxide Dismutase, Oxido Reductases, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Yeast Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein (Di- and tripeptides), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Bulbine Frutescens*, Myrothamus Flabellifolius (Resurrection)** Plant, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Adansonia Digitata (Baobab)** Seed Oil, D-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Glycerin, Panicum Miliaceum (Millet) Seed Extract, Tannic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Potassium Sorbate, Honeybush* Leaf Extract, Carbomer, Citrillus Lanatus (Kalahari Melon)** Seed Oil, Rosa-Senensis (Hibiscus) Extract, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B5), Azelaic Acid, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula)** Seed Oil, Allantoin, Aspalathus Linearis (Green Rooibos)* Tea Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture (Swiss Apple), Xanthan Gum, Lecithin, Aloe Ferox Leaf Extract*, Acetamide MEA, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hyaluronic Acid, Phytic Acid, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Linoleic Acid, Sommondsia Chinensis (Jojoba)* Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol (Sugarcane derived), Sorbitol, Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate (Vitamin C), Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Hydrocotyl (Centella Asiatica)* Extract, Chamomile Martricaria Extract*, Chlorella Vulgaris (Green Algae) Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Sea Kelp, Aminomethyl Propanol, Arnica Cordifolia (Arnica) Extract, Moringa Oleifera (Moringa)** Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis* Flower Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower)* Seed Oil, Ethyl Ferulate (Ferulic Acid), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)* Leaf Extract, Resveratrol, Disodium Uridine Phosphate, Green Coffee Bean Extract, Helichrysum Angustifolium (Everlasting/Immortelle)* Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol.

*Organic, **Wild-Harvested Ingredients. Formulated without silicones, mineral oils, parabens, allergens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, PEGs and SLSs. 100% Vegan.