L-Ascorbic Acid Powder (Pure Vitamin C) Professional cosmetic ingredient — not a finished product. L-Ascorbic Acid is the gold standard of Vitamin C in cosmetic formulation — the pure, biologically active form that your skin recognizes and uses directly. No conversion required, no efficacy lost in translation. At the right concentration and pH, it is the most potent brightening, antioxidant, and collagen-stimulating active available to formulators. The challenge isn’t whether it works — it’s formulating it correctly so it stays stable long enough to deliver results. This is the ingredient behind the most clinically studied Vitamin C serums in dermatology. If you want maximum potency and are prepared to formulate with precision, L-Ascorbic Acid is unmatched. What Is L-Ascorbic Acid? L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA) is the naturally occurring, biologically active form of Vitamin C. Unlike Vitamin C derivatives such as 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbyl Glucoside, L-Ascorbic Acid does not require enzymatic conversion — it is immediately active in the skin. This makes it the most potent and fastest-acting form, but also the most demanding to formulate: it oxidizes rapidly when exposed to air, light, water, and trace metals, turning yellow then brown as it degrades. Successful L-Ascorbic Acid formulation requires strict pH control (below 3.5), chelation, antioxidant synergists, and protective packaging. When done correctly, the results are clinically significant and unmatched by any derivative. Key Specs INCI Ascorbic Acid CAS No. 50-81-7 Appearance White to off-white crystalline powder Solubility Freely water-soluble; dissolves readily in the water phase Typical Usage Rate 5–20% (clinical range); 10–15% most common for brightening serums pH Requirement Below 3.5 for optimal stability and skin penetration; pH 2.5–3.5 ideal Processing Add at cool-down (
