I Finally Found a Vitamin C I Trust

By Gena Shepherd

I Finally Found a Vitamin C I Trust

Why I Finally Embraced Vitamin C

For years, people have asked me if I had a Vitamin C product in my line. And for years, I hesitated. Not because I didn’t love the idea—but because I hadn’t yet found a form of Vitamin C that felt in alignment with the way I approach skincare: gentle, stable, deeply nourishing, and safe for even the most sensitive skin.

Most of the commonly used Vitamin C ingredients—like L-Ascorbic Acid—can be harsh. They oxidize quickly, often before you’ve even finished the bottle. And they can be irritating, especially for reactive or maturing skin.

So I waited. I researched. I experimented.
 And then… I found THDA.

 

 

A Vitamin C That Feels Like Sunshine, Not Fire

THDA (short for Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) is a lipid-soluble form of Vitamin C. That means it blends beautifully with oils—and better yet, it’s able to penetrate the skin’s natural lipid barrier much more effectively than water-based forms.

This form of Vitamin C doesn’t sting. It doesn’t irritate. And because it’s stable, it doesn’t turn brown in your bottle. Instead, it slowly and gently works over time to brighten, smooth, and support the skin’s natural collagen production—without ever demanding that your skin “toughen up.”

I fell in love with it.
 And just like that, it earned a place in my collection.

 

 

Botanical Pairings That Nourish the Glow

I formulated three new products around THDA, each one carrying a slightly different strength and purpose:

  • Vitamin C Face Treatment (10%) – A powerful night treatment for skin that needs deeper rejuvenation

  • Brighten C Face Serum (3%) – A daily support serum, gentle enough for most skin types

  • Brighten Body Serum (2%) – A sun-kissed blend for shoulders, chest, and arms—anywhere your skin wants to shine

They’re lovingly crafted with rosehip, buriti, broccoli seed, jojoba, and sea buckthorn oils—botanicals known for their radiance-boosting and skin-repairing gifts—along with a hint of essential oils for gentle scent and vibrational support.

 

 

Why I Love It—and Why I Think You Will Too

What I love most about this form of Vitamin C is that it works in harmony with the skin, not against it. It doesn’t force exfoliation or rely on intensity to show results. It encourages your skin to renew itself gently, to glow from within, to respond—not react.

For those of you who’ve been searching for a Vitamin C that feels like a nourishing ritual instead of a fight—I made these for you.

And as always, I welcome your questions, your feedback, your stories. I’m so excited to share this next chapter of Salida Sunshine with you.

With warmth and radiance,
 Gena
 Founder, Salida Sunshine Botanicals