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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®
Product score: 03

Data Availability:

Limited

Herbivore Brightening Serum, Nova

Herbivore Brightening Serum, Nova

WHERE TO BUY

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CATEGORY

Serums & Essences

BRAND

HERBIVORE

DATA LAST UPDATED

April 2022

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • MODERATE
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
GLYCERIN
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) denaturant, humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
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Ingredient score: 01
C9-12 ALKANE
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) solvent
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM STEAROYL GLUTAMATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) cleansing, emulsifying, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant - cleansingagent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
PROPANEDIOL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) solvent, viscosity controlling, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Enhanced skin absorption
• Endocrine disruption (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
CETEARYL OLIVATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning, hair conditioning agent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
SORBITAN OLIVATE
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) emulsifying, surfactant - emulsifying agent
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Ingredient score: 01
ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI (BEARBERRY) LEAF EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
CURCUMA LONGA (TURMERIC) ROOT EXTRACT
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, fragrance ingredient, not reported
CONCERNS • Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
TERMINALIA CHEBULA FRUIT EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, not reported
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
TERMINALIA FERDINANDIANA (KAKADU PLUM) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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Ingredient score: 01
HYALURONIC ACID
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) antistatic, humectant, moisturising, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, viscosity increasing agent - aqueous
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Ingredient score: 01
POLYGLYCERYL-6 STEARATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emollient, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, surfactant - emulsifying agent
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
SCLEROTIUM GUM
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emulsion stabilising, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, viscosity increasing agent -aqueous
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Ingredient score: 01
POLYGLYCERYL-6 POLYRICINOLEATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emulsifying, skin-conditioning agent - emollient, surfactant - emulsifying agent
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM LEVULINATE
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Enhanced skin absorption
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM ANISATE
Data Availability: Limited
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CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
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Ingredient score: 01
AZADIRACHTA INDICA FLOWER EXTRACT
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, not reported
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Ingredient score: 01
COCO-CAPRYLATE/ CAPRATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emollient, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
CONCERNS • Enhanced skin absorption
• Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
BUTYLENE GLYCOL
Data Availability: Fair
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FUNCTION(S) humectant, masking, skin conditioning, solvent, viscosity controlling, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, viscositydecreasing agent
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
AZADIRACHTA INDICA LEAF EXTRACT
Data Availability: Fair
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CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Endocrine disruption (low)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
OCIMUM SANCTUM LEAF EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM PHYTATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) chelating, oral care, chelating agent, oral care agent
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA (STARFRUIT) FRUIT EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
POLYGLYCERYL-6 BEHENATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) emulsion stabilising, emulsion stabilizer, slip modifier, surface modifier
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
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Ingredient score: 06
OCIMUM BASILICUM (SWEET BASIL) EXTRACT
Data Availability: Robust
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FUNCTION(S) perfuming, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Cancer (moderate)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Multiple, additive exposure sources (low)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Contamination concerns (HYDROQUINONE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ANANAS SATIVUS (PINEAPPLE) FRUIT JUICE
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
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Ingredient score: 01
CORALLINA OFFICINALIS EXTRACT
Data Availability: Limited
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FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, not reported
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Ingredient score: 01
LEUCONOSTOC/ RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE
Data Availability: None
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FUNCTION(S) antidandruff, antimicrobial
CONCERNS • Contamination concerns (Didecyldimethylammonium chloride)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
CITRIC ACID
Data Availability: Good
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FUNCTION(S) buffering, chelating, masking, chelating agent, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Aqua/water/eau, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, C9-12 Alkane, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Terminalia Chebula Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Sclerotium Gum, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Butylene Glycol, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Sodium Phytate, Averrhoa Carambola Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Juice, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid

Directions from packaging:

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Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.


PETA Cruelty-free Companies

Companies that join the "Caring Consumer" program of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a leading international animal rights advocacy organization, attest that "neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations or finished products, and that they pledge not to do so in the future."

LEARN MORE ON PETA.ORG

Leaping Bunny

Products bearing the Leaping Bunny mark are certified cruelty-free under the Humane Household Products Standard, managed in the U.S. and Canada by the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics, a coalition of eight national animal protection groups. Participating companies must open their processes to independent audits throughout the supply chain.

LEARN MORE ON LEAPINGBUNNY.ORG

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

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