Are you using Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant in your skincare regimen to fight free radical damage and signs of ageing? And are you using the best kind for your skin? 

In today's blog post, we talk about the benefits of Vitamin C and the best form of Vitamin C you can use on your skin, especially when combined with bakuchiol, the natural plant alternative to retinol - a powerhouse combination (unlike traditional Vitamin C and retinols), is safe for use in the daytime, on sensitive skin types and during pregnancy.  

What is Vitamin C and what are the benefits of this ingredient in my skincare?

Vitamin C is a naturally occuring antioxidant that can be applied topically and is well researched to protect skin from oxidative stress that causes signs of ageing. 

Vitamin C helps brighten uneven skin tone, fade hyperpigmentation, improve skin texture, smooth fine lines and wrinkles by protecting skin from environmental stressors that can accelerate ageing.

Studies show that concentrations of vitamin C as low as 0.1% can have important antioxidant and anti-ageing benefits! 

Which form of Vitamin C is best in skincare?

Vitamin C can come in many many forms including L-Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THD ascorbate), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Ascorbyl Palmitate and Ascorbyl Glucosamine. 

L- ascorbic acid is one of the most popular and purest forms of Vitamin C. It is well researched to be super effective however is highly vulnerable to light exposure and air making it oxidise easily and breaking down in efficacy. 

It is important to choose the right kind in your skincare product to ensure it is:

• Stable in the bottle and formulation so it does not oxidise when exposed to light and air 
• Stable on your skin so you get maximum results and the ingredient is working

This is why we recommend Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate- see below for more!

Why Tetrahexydecyl Ascorbate is one of of the best and better forms of Vitamin C for your skin

Tetrahexydecyl Ascorbate is an oil soluble ester of Vitamin C that is researched to be 50 times more stronger than L-Ascorbic Acid and does not cause skin irritation. Unlike ascorbic acid, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is lipid (fat) soluble meaning it can reach deeper into the layers of your skin. 

Studies have show Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate can penetrate not only the upper layer of the skin but also the deepest layer.. and faster.  It is an excellent Vitamin C active ingredient that has an advantage over L-ascorbic acid because it can reach into the dermis to help promote collagen production. 

Tetrahexydecyl ascorbate is a stable, safe to use on a daily basis without irritation, and effective for all skin concerns including sensitive skin.

The clinically proven benefits of THD Ascorbate Vitamin C are:

• At 0.1% concentration reduces melanin synthesis by 80% (aka. reduced pigmentation!!)
• At 10% concentration eliminated age spots in 16 weeks
• At 3% in vivo reduces Delta-L value by 15% vs. placebo (22 people), a way to measure whitening effect
• Increases collagen synthesis at least twice as much as ascorbic acid
• Protects the cells against UV-B better than other esters of Vitamin C

 At Zen Botanics, we choose to use high quality Vitamin C in the form of Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. We have combined it with bakuchiol and blueberry seed oil to formulate the ultimate antioxidant facial oil -  Age Defy Facial Oil  for maximum anti-ageing benefits to fight dullness, uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation and improved appearance of skin texture. 

Pair Age Defy Facial oil with sunscreen to give your skin the best antioxidant protection as a second layer of defence against the Sun’s UV damage – more effective than just using sunscreen alone. ⁣Apply in the morning under moisturiser and sunscreen. ⁣⁣⁣

Check out Age Defy Facial Oil via link here!

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References: 

• Vitamin C in dermatology, Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2013 Apr-Jun; 4(2): 143–146. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.110593
• Topical ascorbic acid on photoaged skin. Clinical, topographical and ultrastructural evaluation: double-blind study vs. placebo. Humbert PG, Haftek M, Creidi P, Lapière C, Nusgens B, Richard A, Schmitt D, Rougier A, Zahouani H.Exp Dermatol. 2003 Jun;12(3):237-44. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2003.00008.x.
• Final Report - Safety Assessment of Ethers and Esters of Ascorbic Acid as Used in Cosmetics - 2017 Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel , 6 October 2017 
• The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health  U.S. National Library of Medicine. NCBI National Center for Biotechnology Information. Published online 2017 Aug 12. doi: 10.3390/nu9080866