Tree to Tub occupies that sweet spot between indie darling and quiet achiever, so if you have somehow missed its rise in the clean skincare space consider this your friendly nudge. The California brand has built a reputation on ultra-gentle formulas that lean on botanicals and skin identical actives while keeping sustainability front and center.
Their latest mouthful of a launch, the Ginseng Green Tea Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream, all but promises to tuck your complexion in at night and send it to boot camp while you sleep. According to Tree to Tub, the cream pairs retinol and vitamin E to smooth fine lines, loads hyaluronic acid for lasting hydration and sprinkles in aloe, rose and green tea to keep sensitive skin calm. Urea teams with shea and cocoa butter for softness, fruit acids for a touch of overnight glow and the whole formula remains proudly fragrance free, vegan and cruelty free.
Over the past two weeks I swapped out my usual evening moisturizer for this well intentioned multitasker to see if its long ingredient list translates into visible results and if it deserves a spot in your nighttime routine or just a polite round of applause.
Disclosure: This review is not paid or sponsored. The thoughts that follow reflect my personal experience and, as with any skin care product, your own results may differ.
What Is Ginseng Green Tea Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream?
This cream is an overnight treatment, meaning it is designed to sit on skin while you sleep and take advantage of the body’s natural repair cycle. Unlike a lighter night lotion or a wash-off mask, an overnight treatment is left on until morning so its active ingredients can stay in contact with skin for several uninterrupted hours.
Tree to Tub has positioned the formula as a one-step alternative to layering separate serums and moisturizers. Retinol and vitamin E target fine lines and uneven texture, hyaluronic acid draws in water to keep skin comfortably hydrated through the night, and urea plus shea and cocoa butter create a softening barrier that helps lock that moisture in place. Fruit acids offer a mild surface exfoliation while a trio of calming extracts—aloe, rose and green tea—aims to reduce the chance of irritation that can come with retinol. The product is free of added fragrance, is vegan and is marketed as suitable for sensitive skin.
In practical terms you would apply it as the final step after cleansing and any water-based serums. By morning it claims to leave skin smoother, more hydrated and generally better prepared for the next day’s routine.
Did It Work?
In the name of very serious science I benched my usual overnight treatment for three days before cracking open the jar so my skin could reset and give the new kid a fair audition. Fourteen nights felt like a reasonable test drive for a product that promises quick wins on hydration and fine lines, so that is the window we are talking about here.
Nights 1 to 3 were all about texture and tolerance. The cream is richer than it looks, spreading with the slip of a classic butter blend yet sinking in faster than I expected. One pea sized amount covered face and neck, two if I felt indulgent. There was a faint medicinal note from the actives that vanished after application. I got a mild tingle around the nostrils on night one which never returned. No redness, no morning tightness, no surprise breakouts – always a relief with a new retinol.
By the end of week one hydration was the clear headline. My cheeks stayed comfortably plump until the alarm clock instead of needing a mist at 3 a.m. The usual flake zone around my chin looked calmer though not completely gone. Fine lines on my forehead appeared a touch softer in the bathroom mirror but I would call it a flattering blur rather than a true smoothing effect.
Week two is when I look for something beyond basic moisture. The cream continued to keep water locked in even on nights the heater blasted. I started to see a slight improvement in overall tone – a gentle brightness rather than a peel level glow. Texture wise, my skin felt velvety when I washed it in the morning, yet the bump under my left cheekbone that serves as my personal litmus test for retinol strength stayed put. Make of that what you will.
Any downsides? The rich base can feel a touch heavy if you layer a hydrating serum underneath and on two separate mornings I woke up with a bit of residue along the hairline that needed an extra cleanse. Also the fruit acids are so mild they might as well be moral support for the retinol.
So did it deliver? Mostly yes. It hydrates impressively, keeps irritation at bay and offers a modest soft focus on fine lines. It just did not move the needle enough for me to retire my current lineup. I will finish the jar because wasting product feels criminal, but I will not be rushing to repurchase.
Main Ingredients Explained
The backbone here is retinol, the gold standard vitamin A derivative that encourages cell turnover, helps soften fine lines and evens tone over time. Tree to Tub uses an encapsulated form so the release is slower and irritation is less likely yet it is still potent enough that beginners may want to start with every second night.
Hydration comes from a trio of glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and panthenol. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid pull water into the upper layers, while panthenol soothes and reinforces the skin barrier so that newfound moisture does not evaporate before morning coffee.
Urea at a skin friendly 2 to 3 percent level acts as both a humectant and a gentle keratolytic, meaning it keeps rough patches pliable and helps loosen dead cells that can dull the complexion. Shea and cocoa butter lend that rich slip you feel on application and form an occlusive layer that reduces overnight water loss. Be aware that both butters sit on the moderate end of the comedogenic scale which means they can clog pores for those who are acne prone, especially if multiple heavy products are layered underneath.
Plant extras like ginseng root, green tea, aloe and chamomile bring antioxidant support that can neutralize a portion of the free radical damage accumulated during the day. The green tea and aloe also have mild anti inflammatory properties, useful for counterbalancing the activity of retinol and fruit acids.
The formula relies on gentle fruit acids rather than a stronger glycolic punch. That translates to a subtle overnight glow without the sting or next day flakes you might get from a dedicated AHA serum. Great for sensitive types, less exciting for those chasing dramatic resurfacing.
No added fragrance, essential oils or drying alcohols make this jar friendly for reactive skin. All listed ingredients are plant derived or synthetic so the cream is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Expect a short shelf life after opening though, as natural extracts can oxidize faster once air hits the jar so keep that lid tight.
One final note on safety: retinol is generally not considered pregnancy safe because high levels of vitamin A derivatives have been linked to birth defects. Topical absorption is low but dermatologists still advise avoiding retinoids while pregnant or nursing unless a doctor specifically approves. If that applies to you, park this cream and reach for a bakuchiol or peptide alternative.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks of nightly use here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Rich yet quick-absorbing texture keeps skin hydrated until morning without an oily film on the pillowcase
- Encapsulated retinol plays nicely with soothing botanicals so even reactive areas stayed calm
- No added fragrance plus a vegan cruelty-free formula makes it an easy recommendation for sensitive or ethically minded shoppers
What to Consider:
- Heavy butter base can feel occlusive if layered over serums and may not suit acne-prone skin
- Fruit acid level is so mild that texture improvement is limited
- Results, while pleasant, did not outpace a separate retinol and moisturizer routine at a similar price point
My Final Thoughts
A solid overnight treatment is the skin care equivalent of a dependable friend who texts to check you got home safely and refills the water jug before bed. After two weeks in close quarters the Ginseng Green Tea Anti-Aging Retinol Night Cream earns that dependable badge, just not the coveted ride-or-die status. Hydration is its superpower and the encapsulated retinol behaves impeccably, which makes it a gentle initiation for anyone still nervous about vitamin A. If you are combination to dry, crave a richer texture and prefer formulas that skip fragrance, you are squarely in the target audience. If you are oily, blemish-prone or chasing fast-track resurfacing, the buttery occlusives and featherlight fruit acids may leave you wanting more.
I have rotated through my share of night creams promising miracles at midnight and feel confident this jar got a fair audition. On my scoreboard it lands a respectable 7/10: a product I will finish with pleasure but will not mourn when the base of the jar shows through. I would suggest it to a friend whose priority is comfort and gradual improvement, not to one already loyal to a punchier retinol serum and featherweight moisturizer combo.
For those curious but unconvinced, a few tried-and-tested alternatives spring to mind. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent all-rounder with a just-right texture that suits every skin type and the price tag is refreshingly kind. If your skin enjoys a buffet of superfoods the Superfood Midnight Facial by ELEMIS offers plush nourishment without heaviness. Fans of minimalist formulas with serious barrier support might prefer the Squalane + Ectoin Overnight Rescue from BIOSSANCE, while sleeper-mask enthusiasts can reach for the Cica Sleeping Mask by LANEIGE which soothes like a cool compress yet rinses off clean by morning. I have emptied each of these in the past and would happily reopen any of them.
Before you dive in a few housekeeping notes from your slightly over-protective reviewer: patch test a new product behind the ear or along the jaw for a couple of nights, keep expectations realistic and remember that any gains you see will stick around only if you keep up the routine. Sorry for sounding like a nagging parent but your future face will thank you.