Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum for mature skin
Ascorbic Acid
Phas
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Extract
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best serums for mature skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Excellent for your normal skin, this serum effectively targets wrinkles and fine lines with 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which promotes collagen synthesis and provides antioxidant protection. Gluconolactone further refines skin texture, contributing to a smoother appearance.
- The inclusion of Tocopherol and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate offers additional antioxidant benefits and soothing properties, enhancing overall skin health and comfort for your normal skin type.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull or aging skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to instantly brighten the complexion and provide a glass skin glow, often noting improvements in texture and hydration. A moderate number of users report severe allergic reactions, including redness and swelling, suggesting it may be potent or irritating for sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Instant brightening Mostly Mentioned
- “gives a beautiful radiant glow”
- “skin looks glass-like”
- “instantly brightens dull areas”
- “complexion felt clearer and bouncier”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs fast without being sticky”
- “layers well under SPF”
- “makeup glides right over it”
- “feels lightweight going on”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like fresh orange juice”
- “scent is lightly sweet”
- “refreshing citrus smell”
- “mood-boosting scent”
Hydrating and plumping Sometimes Noted
- “plumps the skin”
- “feels like a drink of water for my face”
- “helped with dryness”
- “skin feels dewier”
Allergic reactions Sometimes Noted
- “eyes and face were swollen”
- “red burning rash around nose”
- “tiny blistering pimples”
- “caused chemical burn”
Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
- “leaves face sticky for hours”
- “can't stand the stickiness”
- “feels tacky on the skin”
- “hair sticks to my face”
Misleading name Rarely Noted
- “expected banana scent”
- “smells nothing like bananas”
- “misleading name”
- “just smells like vitamin C”
Orange tint Rarely Noted
- “looks like orange juice”
- “stained my hands orange”
- “left an orange cast”
- “oxidized quickly”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, olehenriksen.com, boots.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum a great fit for mature skin?
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for mature skin?
This serum is a great fit for mature skin because it contains 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid to help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles while offering antioxidant protection. Gluconolactone further refines your skin texture for a softer look, and sodium hyaluronate keeps your face feeling plump and hydrated.
What does Vitamin C do for mature skin?
Vitamin C helps mature skin by smoothing out wrinkles, brightening dark spots, and boosting firmness. It works by encouraging collagen production to keep skin looking youthful and radiant.
What do PHAs do for mature skin?
PHAs help smooth and plump mature skin while fighting signs of aging. They are very gentle and well tolerated, making them a great fit even if you have sensitive skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, as vitamin C treatments are best used at night for extra safety around sun exposure. It helps smooth fine lines and protect mature skin with antioxidants.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying them on alternate nights or using vitamin C in your morning routine and retinol at night to prevent irritation. Combining these active ingredients helps target wrinkles and smooth texture, but spacing them out is safer for maintaining skin comfort.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits your mature skin very well and is used in the evening routine, starting at once a week to see how your skin reacts. Antioxidants and gentle exfoliants like vitamin C and acids help smooth fine lines and brighten skin with a low risk of irritation when used carefully.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This serum is a great fit for mature skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts, as it contains no heavy or harsh ingredients that typically clog pores. It helps smooth fine lines and refine texture safely, though some users may experience mild allergic reactions or a sticky residue.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, linalool, and citral).
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
Ingredients
Water, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Gluconolactone, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Triethyl Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Betaine, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Aminomethyl Propanol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Gluconic Acid, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Succinoglycan, Phytic Acid, Mica, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caramel, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Sodium Phytate, Lemon Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Extract, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Red 4 Ci 14700
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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