Ascorbic Acid
RATING: EXCELLENT
- CAS #: 50-81-7 / 62624-30-0 | EC #: 200-066-2 / 263-644-3
- Origin(s): Vegetal, Synthetic
- INCI name: ASCORBIC ACID
- Food additive: E300
Quick Facts
- Also known as Vitamin C
- Derived from citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits and some berries
- Known for being very unstable when added into formulations and can oxidise with exposure to light or air
- Improve the skin’s tone and reduce the pigmentation of dark spots
- Can boost the skin’s production of collagen making the skin look and feel firmer
Who can use it?
Anyone who isn’t prone to skin sensitivity as ascorbic acid can cause slight irritation. Always check with a dermatologist before applying it all over the skin if you have any concerns.
What is Ascorbic Acid?
Known by many as vitamin C, ascorbic acid is one of the heavyweights of the skincare world. By this I mean it can deliver a vast and impression amount of skincare benefits for almost every skin concern. It can rejuvenate the skin by improving the overall look of the complexion, as well as targeting acne, pigmentation and loss of elasticity and collagen. Packed with antioxidants it can restore the skin barrier enabling it to protect itself from any free radicals and other forms of damage it encounters on a day-to-day basis. By applying a serum enriched in ascorbic acid everyday under a sunscreen will result in a complexion that is smooth, even and glowing with health.
Side effects of Ascorbic Acid
High amounts of vitamin C can irritate the skin, especially if its prone to sensitivity and flare-ups in rosacea and eczema.
Scientific Evidence of Ascorbic Acid
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Volume 11 (4) – Dec 1, 2012, Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives
- Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Volume 4 (1) – Jan 1, 2005, Relevance of vitamins C and E in cutaneous photoprotection
- Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 27 (2) – Feb 1, 2001, Topical L‐Ascorbic Acid: Percutaneous Absorption Studies
- The Journal of investigative dermatology., 2005 Oct;125(4):826-32., Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin.
- Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999;125(10):1091-1098., Use of Topical Ascorbic Acid and Its Effects on Photodamaged Skin Topography
- Exp Dermatol. 2003 Jun;12(3):237-44.,Topical ascorbic acid on photoaged skin.
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 133 (1)– May 14, 1996, Glutathione stabilizes ascorbic acid in aqueous solution
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Sep 28, 2006, , Volume 322 (1) – Influence of sodium metabisulfite and glutathione on the stability of vitamin C in O/W emulsion and extemporaneous aqueous gel
- Leslie Baumann, MD, Cosmetic Dermatology, 2nd edition, Vitamin C - pages 297-298
