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Ascorbic Acid

Home / Ingredient Glossary / Ascorbic Acid
overview

known as ascorbic acid, l-ascorbic acid, LAA, vitamin C

source synthetic

function brightening, antioxidant, firming

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Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid is vitamin C in its pure form. This gold-standard, well-studied antioxidant offers multifunctional, clinically proven results. Ascorbic acid can visibly brighten the skin, support collagen synthesis to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and guard from oxidative damage.

Ascorbic acid can have its drawbacks. It is generally unstable when dissolved in water or exposed to light and air. Also, it’s most often formulated at a very low pH (2.5-3) to help improve stability. This low pH can cause irritation in sensitive skins, so standard ascorbic acid serums aren’t for everyone.

In C-Shield, we use a specialty delivery system known as Microsponge® to dramatically improve stability and tolerability of ascorbic acid. This system allows formulation at a skin-friendly pH (4-4.5) and delivers ascorbic acid with a time-release effect.

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