Here's a short review on Antipodes' Hosanna H2O Skin-Plumping Serum. Antipodes is one of my favourite brands.
(See here for another Antipodes review)
Claims
A water-charged serum that immediately plumps thirsty skin while helping to intensively improve your skin appearance over time. Revolutionary antioxidant Vinanza Grape from New Zealand sauvignon blanc grapes helps powerfully protect and build resistance to damage caused by environmental aggressors and pollutants. Extract of mamaku black fern helps foster cell renewal, making this an everyday essential item for plump, healthy, youthful skin.
My experience
There isn't much I can say from an ingredient perspective. This serum prides itself as a certified organic product, and as such you can expect a combination of plant extracts. It contains lavender distillate (for its calming properties - unless you are allergic to lavender!), grape seed extract (natural antioxidant), some fancy water rich in minerals and manuka black fern which I couldn't find much information on, but apparently it is used to boost skin cell renewal.
The properties that I like most about this serum are smell and texture.
Its lavender scent is very noticeable. The fragrances used in the serum is rose and cardamon. The combination of the scents is quite strong, but it has a good calming effect on me. The smell is not for everyone though - I feel that it is a love-it or hate-it scent.
This serum has what I would describe as a "thick water" consistency. It does not feel silicone-y or oily. The xantham gum in the serum helps with the viscosity and makes it easy to use and spread. The serum is immediately absorbed with zero stickiness and tackiness.
The colour can be off-putting for some, certainly for my husband. He once said to me "why are you putting thousand island dressing on your face?!"
Results
This is a lovely lightweight serum that provides a slight hydration. My skin feels quite comfortable all day. I really like it for the user experience (texture and scent). As it is not a serum with loads of humectant, the best time to use it is spring and summer. It is also great for those who don't want to wait for product absorption before layering moisturiser and makeup.
Full ingredient list
(retrieved from priceline.com.au)
Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) distillate*, aqua (Waiwera® artesian) water, Cyathea medullaris (mamaku black fern leaf) extract, Vitis vinifera (Vinanza® grape seed) extract, Naticide® (natural preservative), caprylic/capric triglyceride, xanthan gum, essential oil fragrances of French rose & cardamon: benzyl benzoate†, cinnamyl alcohol†, citral†, citronellol†, d-Limonene†, eugenol†, farnesol†, geraniol†, linanool†.
† Component of essential oil. * Certified organic ingredient.
About me
Makeup artist and hair stylist based in Sydney. Founder of the well-known award-winning bridal specialist team Faces Makeup & Hair. Beauty junkie with an obsession for skincare.