Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant and its pure form of L-Ascorbic Acid has been shown to help reverse multiple signs of skin ageing while brightening the skin when applied topically. This water-free formula provides 30% pure L-Ascorbic Acid which remains completely stable due to the absence of water. Due to the presence of very light silicones, this formulation feels smooth on the skin despite the suspension format of the formulation, avoiding the short-lived gritty feeling of our original Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% formula. This treatment is ideally applied at bedtime.

This product is a water-free suspension of 30% Ascorbic Acid powder. The Ordinary's portfolio of Vitamin C includes the following formulations: 

Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% - not yet available on our website
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10%

Topical Vitamin C offers a wide array of benefits to the skin. However, many forms of Vitamin C and many more formulations of Vitamin C are available commercially with a potential to confuse the audience. We have developed a guide that offers guidance on the formulations of Vitamin C offered under The Ordinary range. It also offers education on Vitamin C itself and on the differences between formulations of Vitamin C at large. Please click here for this guide.

Note: The format of this formula is a suspension of very fine L-Ascorbic Acid powder and, as such, provides the most direct exposure of extremely high concentrations of Vitamin C topically. With such format, a very strong tingling but non-irritating sensation is expected during the first 1-2 weeks of use until the skin's tolerance to such high exposure is elevated. If the sensation is too strong to tolerate, the formula can be mixed on each application with other creams or serums of your preference. 

Alternative products on the market offer suspensions of Vitamin C in water-free formulations in heavier silicone bases. These formulations do keep the Vitamin C stable but they are almost always offered in heavier silicone bases that interfere with efficient exposure of the entire Vitamin C content to the skin (the silicone entraps the Vitamin C). Our formula avoids the use of heavy silicones to offer better exposure to the Vitamin C content. However, please note that this formulation would still offer slightly less efficient exposure to Vitamin C than our silicone-free Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% formula. The additional Vitamin C content (30%) in this silicone base helps offset the slight impairment to dermal exposure. 

Directions

Apply a small amount to face in the AM or the PM (PM preferred). A tingling sensation can be expected after application. If this sensation is too strong, this formula can be diluted on each application with your favourite serum or cream.

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Say hello to Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone, our new offering to join the very big family of Vitamin C solutions from The Ordinary. This stable formula uses very lightweight silicones to offer a smooth skin feel and to avoid the short-lived gritty texture of stable Vitamin C suspension systems that some find undesirable. This formula is very strong and almost always causes a stinging sensation during initial periods of use, but can be diluted on each application with serums or creams to reduce this stinging while skin builds tolerance. Oh.. and it goes without saying that the formula contains no water as water always causes Vitamin C to oxidize regardless of how a formulation is packaged or stored, resulting in an ongoing change in colour toward orange. Water, without exception, causes Vitamin C to degrade and changes its potential from an anti-oxidant to a pro-oxidant. Some brands add orange-coloured ingredients to their formulations to mask the appearance of Vitamin C oxidation. If you see any signs of orange (or, in short, if you see pure Ascorbic Acid and water together in a formula), run as fast and as far away as you can. ❤️