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Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane

What Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane is & what it does

Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane is a hydrogenated derivative of curcumin, the yellow pigment from turmeric, modified to be more stable and far less colored than the original. In skincare and sunscreen formulas it is used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. A notable property is that the hydrogenation removes most of curcumin's intense yellow staining while retaining antioxidant activity.

What does Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane do in skincare?

Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane is a hydrogenated curcumin derivative used as an antioxidant and skin-conditioning ingredient. It is designed to be more stable and far less yellow than ordinary curcumin. This lets formulators use a turmeric-derived antioxidant without heavy staining.

Is Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane natural or synthetic?

It starts from curcumin, a natural turmeric pigment, but is chemically modified through hydrogenation, so it is best described as nature-derived and processed. This modification improves its stability and reduces color. The final material is considered a semi-synthetic derivative.

Is Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane safe?

Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane is used in cosmetics as an antioxidant and is generally considered well tolerated at the low levels typical in formulas. Individual responses can vary. If you have specific concerns, a patch test or professional advice is reasonable.

Sunscreens with Tetrahydrodiferuloylmethane

We rate 18 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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