Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate: The Best Vitamin C For Your Skin

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 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 buyers remorse.

Many forms of vitamin C require water-based formulas. This makes it difficult for the serums 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 its not-so-charming relatives (we’re looking at you
L-ascorbic acid).

 

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Vs. L-ascorbic Acid

When comparing tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate to L-ascorbic acid, the main benefit of thda is stability, a key factor in efficacy.

 

 

What Are The Benefits Of A Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Serum?

A Vitamin C serum 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 serum 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 (toxins are so 2000). 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 keep 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 consider their skin sensitive or during pregnancy. Pregnancy acne is very common and many ingredients used in conventional acne products need to be avoided during this precious time. 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 Dry Skin

Dry skin is predominantly a skin issue that comes with age or during significant changes in the body, such as pregnancy. Often times, 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 less 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 soften dry skin, while delivering all of the glow-inducing benefits of a vitamin C serum.

 

Vitamin C For Sensitive Skin

Finding a 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.

 

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 breakouts. That’s where a gentle vitamin C serum using tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate comes in handy, helping to not only reclaim that natural glow, but also reduce the appearance of dark spots and blemishes.

 

Vitamin C For Under Eye Wrinkles

The skin around the eyes is much thinner and more sensitive when compared 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 less oil glands. That’s why we recommend a vitamin C oil that incorporates tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate when caring for the sensitive eye area. This helps to replenish moisture to dry skin around the eyes, as well as reduce the appearance of under eye wrinkles and improve the look of skin tone.

 

 

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. It’s also not drying to skin when incorporated into in an oil-based formula, such as our Arctic-C brightening serum.

 

How To Use A Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C serums are typically applied daily. If you’re using other active ingredients in your skin care 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 skin care 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.

 

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. But as the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate performs best when paired with complimentary 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 you 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 cost. 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 age, condition of your skin and root cause of certain skin issues. Some forms of uneven skin tone are caused by internal factors and unless those are addressed, topical treatments will have an uphill battle. As with most skincare formulas, visible results only get better with time. A healthy dose of patience is recommended when starting a new skincare product. And remember, don’t give up too quickly, use your vitamin C serum for a minimum of 6-12 months.

 

Can I Use Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate With Retinol?

Yes, retinol and vitamin C, including tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate can be used together, without negative side-effects.

 

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.

 

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