Vitamin C products have gained superhero status amongst skincare enthusiast, and for good reason. Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient with numerous skin benefits that range from visibly fading dark spots to minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. So, what’s not to love? Well, there’s a caveat every savvy, skin-conscious consumer should be aware of before investing hard earned dollars into just any Vitamin C product. That’s where Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate comes in to play.
What Is Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate?
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate also known as THD ascorbate is an oil-soluble, vitamin C ester that’s extremely stable in comparison to its more common vitamin C relative L-ascorbic acid. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate has gained quite the reputation and cult following for its outstanding ability to penetrate the skin. What makes tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate truly an A-list player is its gentle, yet result-driven nature, making it compatible with most skin types, even sensitive.
What You Need To Know Before Buying A Vitamin C Serum
Only when formulated and packaged properly is vitamin C able to deliver on its promises of far-reaching skin benefits.
The most common form of vitamin C used in skincare is L-ascorbic acid. It’s a cost-effective form of vitamin C, making it attractive for the bottom line. However, among industry insiders and experts, it’s known for being notoriously unstable and prone to oxidation. This is especially true when packaging exposes the formula to light and air. If you’ve purchased a vitamin C serum in the past and found that it turned brown, that is an indicator that it has oxidized. This is why many vitamin C serums are unreliable and sometimes unable to deliver the glowing results we’ve come to expect from our vitamin C serums – leaving us with irritation and buyers remorse.
Many forms of vitamin C require water-based formulas. This makes it difficult for the products to successfully penetrate beyond the skin’s protective water barrier. Most water-soluble forms of vitamin C are also highly acidic, which can disrupt a healthy skin barrier and cause major irritation.
Now we know this isn’t making a good case for incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine. So before you give up hope on finding the best vitamin C serum, let us introduce you to a version of vitamin C that goes by the name of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate or THD ascorbate. This is a more stable and dependable form of vitamin C that truly outshines L-ascorbic acid. It is significantly more expensive, hence the reason most companies choose to use the more cost effective L-ascorbic acid.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Vs. L-ascorbic Acid
When comparing tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate to L-ascorbic acid, the main benefit of THD ascorbate is stability, a key factor in efficacy.
What Are The Benefits Of A Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Product?
A Vitamin C product using tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate helps to support a healthy-looking glow — without having to worry about your formula oxidizing and causing skin issues. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate works as a powerful antioxidant. It helps to protect your complexion from free-radicals, which can cause a breakdown in collagen and cause premature signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. However, the benefits don’t stop there. Let’s dive into all of the ways vitamin C can benefit your skin needs and concerns below.
What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Skin?
Why is vitamin C touted as one of the best skincare ingredients to include in an effective skincare routine? Because vitamin C helps to promote the appearance of a brighter, more even-looking skin tone and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. As you can see there are many benefits, and with the numerous forms of vitamin C available on the market today, there’s no need to settle for just any vitamin C. We should reach for the best vitamin C serum for our skin health — one that we can depended on to deliver results – without negative side-effects or chance of oxidation. This is what makes tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate so exciting!
Here are some of the top reasons why you should consider incorporating a vitamin C product with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate into your skin care routine.
Vitamin C For Wrinkles
Wrinkles and fine lines are inevitable, but we can make a concerted effort to keep them at bay. A great way to start is by eating a healthy diet and pairing it with well-formulated skincare products designed to support optimal skin health — without the use of questionable ingredients. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate’s benefits help to visibly firm, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines – while protecting skin from free-radicals. It should be noted that tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate has an EWG rating of 1.
Vitamin C For Acne
This may come as a surprise, since vitamin C isn’t the first ingredient we think of when it comes to managing breakouts or acne. However, research has demonstrated that vitamin C has blemish-busting benefits, which makes it a powerful tool in keeping your skin looking its best. Many people find that over time their skin becomes irritated and sometimes allergic to ingredients in conventional acne treatments, especially people with sensitive skin. That’s where tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate comes in handy. This gentle vitamin C ester helps to minimize the appearance of breakouts and any visible marks that may be left behind.
Vitamin C For Sensitive Skin
Finding a vitamin C for sensitive skin can be challenging. The search for results-driven products that respect your sensitive skin barrier can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is renowned for being a gentler form of vitamin C that’s suitable for sensitive skin. As always, its important to remember that no skincare formula, no matter how gentle or natural, is compatible with everyone. You are unique and so is the way your skin responds to products.
Vitamin C For Chronically Sun Exposed Skin
Skin exposed to too much sun over many years benefits from gentle products that are also highly effective. We recommend caring for skin that exhibits uneven skin tone or dark spots due to excess sun exposure the same way you would sensitive skin. This is because excessive sun exposure can cause skin to become dry and fragile. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate helps to gently reduce the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone while improving the overall look of your complexion.
When To Use A Vitamin C Product In A Skin Care Routine
The skin care rule of thumb is to apply your products in order of lightest to heaviest. Always apply your products to freshly cleansed skin. In the morning, after cleansing and apply your vitamin C product.
Ingredients To Look For In A Vitamin C Serum
As you can see, vitamin C in the form of tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is a powerhouse ingredient. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate performs best when paired with complimentary antioxidants such as vitamin E, ferulic acid, resveratrol to name a few.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate: The Bottom Line
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is one of the most exciting and promising vitamin C forms in skin care. Its unique stable nature and greater ability to penetrate the skin, compared to other forms of vitamin C (including L-Ascorbic Acid), means it can effectively deliver on its promises. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate helps to protect skin from environmental stressors, minimizes the appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone, reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and helps brighten the look of skin — a win-win… win.