Hello, Beauty!
Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient, but it’s also incredibly fragile.
Most products on the market use a form called L-ascorbic acid. It’s the industry standard because it’s inexpensive and recognizable, but it does come with a major downside: it’s highly unstable. The moment it’s exposed to light, heat, or air, it can start to oxidize — kind of like how an apple turns brown when you leave it on the counter.
And once Vitamin C starts to oxidize, it may become less effective in the formula and can be more likely to feel irritating on the skin, which is pretty much the opposite of what most of us are hoping for when we reach for a brightening product.
The packaging can make it even trickier.
A lot of Vitamin C formulas come in clear or light-colored glass. The issue is that UV light can break down delicate ingredients faster. So if you can see the liquid through the bottle, light can get to it too — and that formula may be losing its freshness long before you finish using it.
We knew if we were going to make a Vitamin C product, it had to be a version that could stay stable and supportive from the first drop to the last.
First, we use Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, also known as THD. It’s a bit of a mouthful, but it’s one of the most well-loved, oil-soluble forms of Vitamin C. Unlike more traditional water-soluble versions, THD is known for being incredibly stable.
And because your skin’s natural barrier is made up of lipids, or fats, this form of Vitamin C works beautifully in an oil-based formula. In plain English: it is designed to be more compatible with the skin, while helping support the look of brighter, smoother, more even-toned skin.
Second, we package everything in dark Miron glass. Miron is biophotonic, which is the very fancy way of saying it helps filter out light that can compromise the integrity of delicate ingredients.
It helps protect what’s inside, so the formula stays as fresh and potent as possible.
We also kept the formula lean: just this stable form of Vitamin C and Sea Buckthorn.
We added Sea Buckthorn because it’s one of those ingredients that brings a lot to the formula. It’s naturally rich in rare Omega-7 and fatty acids, which help nourish the skin barrier and support a softer, more supple feel. Paired with THD, it gives the formula a beautiful balance of brightening support and moisture-rich nourishment, leaving the skin with a healthy-looking, natural glow.
We wanted this to be a concentrated booster, not a whole new step in your routine. You shouldn’t have to ditch the serum or facial oil you already love to get the brightening benefits of Vitamin C.
Because this formula is concentrated and stable, you can simply add a drop or two into your current favorites. It’s an easy way to bring Vitamin C into your routine without the common downsides of more traditional formulas.
And yes, you can use Brighten alongside other brightening serums that already utilize Vitamin C, like our Wild Fruit Serum or Citrus Stem Cell Serum.
Think of it less like replacing those formulas, and more like giving them a little extra Vitamin C support.
For a limited time, you can get 25% off sitewide with the code ASCMEMDAY26 and you will receive a FREE Brighten Elixir with all orders over $150.
So if you are already restocking your serum, facial oil, moisturizer, or any of your daily staples, this is the easiest way to add a stable, concentrated Vitamin C booster into the routine you already love.
