Our Rating: stars

Osmosis Replenish is back! This one-time bestseller and TIA community favorite, was reformulated without astaxanthin and some users reported allergic reactions. As a result we decided to stop selling it. But Osmosis has listened to our pleas and has brought back the original formula and we are delighted to bring back this great skin smoother to the TIA shop at $44.

Astaxanthin is an excellent ingredient and Replenish is one of the few serums to feature it. It is a powerful free radical scavenger and an efficient absorber of specific ultraviolet sunlight rays. One study claims it is 6,000 times more effective than vitamin C.

Replenish packs a powerful antioxidant punch with nothing at all from the Truth In Aging nasties list. A dominant ingredient is phosphatidycholine, which is said to create smoother skin, increase moisture level and support skin regeneration.

One of the real superheros in Replenish could well be chlorella vulgaris extract. This algae is loaded with amino acids such as lysine, proline, glycine, and alanine, all of which are the essential building blocks of proteins and constitute each individual collagen unit. Its large amino acid component leads many to believe that it has the ability to restructure and smooth out the surface of the skin, particularly with scarred or aging skin. In some studies, a small concentration of .016% stimulated collagen synthesis and concentrations of .4% strongly increased the density of the epidermal layer.

Osmosis says that this version is suitable for sensitive skins and it has tweaked the original formula adding in ergothioneine, a number of useful botanical extracts and a Matrixyl-like peptide that may stimulate collagen.

I should add that this serum is a helpful wrinkle smoother, but is not especially hydrating and unusually for me, I found I needed to layer a moisturizer over the top. After some experimentation, I found that Skin Nutrition Cell CPR is an excellent partner and the combo (which has been bundled at 20% off) won me a lot of compliments.

Great ingredients at a great price. The welcome return of an old friend.

Ingredients: Aqua (Harmonized Water), Lecithin (Phosphatidylcholine), Glycerin, Niacinamide, Alcohol Denat., Chlorella Vulgaris Officinalis Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Pyridoxine HCl, Panthenol (D), Lactic Acid (L), Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Fulvic Acid, Beta-Glucan (D), Thioctic (R-lipoic) Acid, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Glutathione (L), Ergothioneine (L), Astaxanthin, Polygonum Cuspidatum (Giant Knotweed) Extract, Tocopherol (D-alpha), Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Cholecalciferol”