skincarecheck
INCI ingredient

Ascorbic Acid

Also listed as: Ascorbic ácid

Pure vitamin C, used as an antioxidant and, in higher amounts, as a brightening active.

What it triggers

  • Vegan originYesno animal source
  • FragranceNonot a perfume ingredient
  • ParabenNonot a preservative of this family
  • SulfateNonot a sulfate surfactant
  • SiliconeNonot a silicone
  • AlcoholNonot a drying alcohol

What it does

Ascorbic acid is vitamin C itself. In most products a trace protects the formula from oxidising; in serums it is the active ingredient, usually at a few percent and kept in a low-pH, airtight formula because it breaks down in light and air.

CosIng lists it as antioxidant, buffering and skin conditioning. Cosmetic vitamin C is made by fermentation and synthesis from glucose, so it affects none of the six checks.

Functions: antioxidant, skin conditioning

Products with Ascorbic Acid

in 242 products

Showing 24 of 242 products with this ingredient, most scanned first.

In the EU ingredient database

Functions listed by CosIng
  • antioxidant
  • buffering
  • fragrance
  • skin conditioning
  • antioxidant: Inhibiting reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
  • buffering: Stabilising the pH of an aqueous medium in a narrow range even if an acid or base is added. Altering and/or maintaining a cosmetic product's pH at the desired level.
  • fragrance: Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.
  • skin conditioning: Maintaining the skin in good condition.

CAS 50-81-7 / 62624-30-0 · EC 200-066-2 / 263-644-3

EU regulation

Not on a restricted-substances annex. Listed as an allowed cosmetic ingredient.

Source: CosIng, European Commission. Informative, no legal value; the regulation text is the reference.

Classification from the INCI name; product lists from Open Beauty Facts.Report a mistake