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Vitamin C serums have gained superhero status amongst skincare enthusiasts, and for a good reason. Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient with numerous skin benefits that range from decreasing wrinkles to fading dark spots. So, what’s not to love?

Well, there’s a caveat every savvy, health-conscious consumer should be aware of before investing hard-earned dollars into just any Vitamin C serum. And that’s where tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate comes in.

What You Need To Know…

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 and is no longer good to use. 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 buyer’s remorse.

Many forms of Vitamin C require water-based formulas. This makes it difficult for the serums to penetrate beyond the skin’s protective water barrier successfully. 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 dependable form of Vitamin C that truly outshines its not-so-charming Vitamin C relatives.

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 for skincare is its gentle yet result-driven nature, making it compatible with most skin types, even sensitive.

What Are The Benefits Of A Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Serum?

A Vitamin C serum using tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate helps to maintain a healthy, glowing complexion — 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 oxidative skin damage, which can lead to 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? Vitamin C helps to promote collagen production, inhibits melanin production, and repairs skin damage associated with over-exposure to the sun and environmental factors.
All of this translates to smoother, brighter, firmer skin.

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 depend 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 serum with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate into your skincare routine.

The Best 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 (toxins are so 2000). Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate’s collagen-boosting benefits help to visibly firm skin, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines – while protecting skin from future damage.

It should be noted that tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate has an EWG rating of 1.

The Best 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 powerful anti-inflammatory benefits, which makes it a viable blemish antidote since inflammation is the leading cause of acne.

Many people find that over time their skin becomes irritated and sometimes allergic to ingredients in conventional acne treatments, especially people with sensitive skin and during pregnancy. Pregnancy acne is very common, and many ingredients used in conventional acne treatments need to be avoided during this precious time.

That’s where tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate comes in handy. This gentle vitamin C ester helps keep acne under control by neutralizing inflammatory free radicals, reducing blemish recovery time, and minimizing the chance of post-acne scarring.

The Best Vitamin C For Dry Skin

Dry skin is predominantly a skin issue that comes with age or during significant changes in the body, such as pregnancy. Oftentimes, people find that their skin is oily or normal in some areas but have dry skin around the eyes and cheeks due to the fact that there are fewer oil glands.

Many forms of vitamin C exfoliate the skin; however, if you have dry skin, you want to avoid using a Vitamin C serum that exfoliates, as that can cause irritation and perpetuate chronic dryness.

However, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is not known to exfoliate the skin, and because it’s an oil-soluble ingredient, it can be combined with moisture replenishing oils that help to get rid of dry skin while delivering all of the glow-inducing benefits of a Vitamin C serum.

The Best Vitamin C For Sensitive Skin

Finding Vitamin C for sensitive skin can be challenging. The search for result-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, we recommend getting a sample and patch-testing before investing in a full-size product — just to be on the safe side. 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.

The Best Vitamin C For Pregnancy Skin Care

There are numerous skin changes that one goes through during pregnancy. Unfortunately, not all women experience the pregnancy glow. Hormone-related hyperpigmentation also referred to as melasma or mask of pregnancy, is a very common skin change during this precious time. Skin can also become sensitive, dry, and prone to acne.

That’s where a gentle vitamin C serum using tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate comes in handy, helping to not only reclaim that natural glow but also fade hyperpigmentation and keep hormone-induced blemishes in check.

The Best Vitamin C For Under Eye Wrinkles

The skin around the eyes is much thinner and more sensitive than the skin on the rest of your face. It’s normal to have dry skin around the eyes due to the fact that there are fewer oil glands.

That’s why we prefer Vitamin C oil with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate when caring for sensitive eye areas. This helps to replenish moisture to dry skin around the eyes, as well as reduce under-eye wrinkles and improve skin tone gently.

The Best Vitamin C For Sun Damaged Skin

A sun-damaged skin barrier requires gentle care that’s also highly effective. We recommend treating skin damage associated with excess sun exposure the same way you would care for sensitive skin.

Sun damage can cause the skin to become dry and fragile. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate will make sun damage and dark spots less visible while improving the overall look of your complexion.

How To Use A Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C serums are typically applied daily. If you’re using other active ingredients in your skincare routine like retinol or an alternative like Bakuchiol, we recommend giving each active ingredient its own day.

Using too many actives on the same day or in the same routine can overstimulate your skin and cause irritation.

When To Use A Vitamin C Serum In A Skin Care Routine

The skincare rule of thumb is to apply your products in order of lightest to heaviest. Always apply your leave-on products to freshly cleansed skin.

After cleansing and toning, apply your Vitamin C serum. Always apply your moisturizer last. (preferably a facial oil/serum).

Ingredients To Look For In A Vitamin C Serum

As you can see, Vitamin C in the form of THD ascorbate is an amazing ingredient.

As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate performs best when paired with complementary antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid, Resveratrol, and Astaxanthin.

What You Don’t Want In Your Vitamin C Serum

Selecting a serum with the best Vitamin C form for your skin needs determines the kind of results you get from your treatment. However, finding a formula that excludes ingredients that may interact or negate the benefits of a Vitamin C serum is equally as important.

Proper packaging will also play a major role in keeping your Vitamin C serum active. Packaging should protect the serum from light and air as they degrade antioxidants.

Avoid plastic, clear bottles, and droppers at all costs. Instead, opt for pumps and light-protective glass bottles.
When deciding to include active ingredients in your skin routine, such as Vitamin C, avoid formulas that contain:

— Parabens

— Fragrance/Parfume or Essential Oils

— Synthetic Colorants

— Petrochemical Ingredients like Mineral Oil and Butylparaben

— Ingredients with PEG in the name

Skincare Ingredients Not Compatible With Vitamin C

Certain active ingredients in skincare do not play well together, and mixing can render them inactive or, even worse, cause major skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Here is a list of skincare ingredients we recommend not mixing with Vitamin C:

— Niacinamide

— Retinol

— Chemical Exfoliants AHA’s, BHA’s, Lactic Acid, etc.

— Benzoyl Peroxide

— Hydroquinone

How Long Does It Take For A Vitamin C Serum To Work?

It takes the skin on average 4-8 weeks to begin demonstrating visible results from a Vitamin C treatment. This will vary depending on the strength of the Vitamin C serum, as well as your skin’s own rate of cell proliferation.

Others factors that affect results include the health of your skin, degree of skin damage or hyperpigmentation, as well as the root cause for certain skin issues. Some forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by internal factors, and unless those are addressed, topical treatments will have an uphill battle.

As with any skincare treatment, visible results only get better with time. A healthy dose of patience is recommended when starting a new skincare treatment. And remember, don’t give up too quickly; use your treatment for a minimum of 3-6 months.

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate: The Bottom Line

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is one of the most exciting and promising Vitamin C forms in skincare. 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.

THD ascorbate protects skin from environmental aggressors, minimizes the appearance of skin damage, smoothes wrinkles, targets acne, and helps to brighten skin tone — revealing the radiant skin you were born with.