Ascorbic acid, vitamin C, is derived from glucose and many animals can make it starting from glucose. Primates like humans can not synthesize it (we lack an enzyme in that pathway), making ascorbic acid a vitamin because we cannot make it but need it, so we have to ingest it from a source that is contains it, like orange, lemons and other fruit.

The vitamin C we ingest with our food and multivitamins may not reach our skin in quantities high enough to do everything that vitamin C is supposed to do. Ascorbic acid (and derivatives that our body can use) protect us from free radicals like those formed during exposure of our skin to UVA and UVB radiation. Ascorbic acid is also necessary to synthesize collagen, where is required to hydroxylate the amino acid proline after synthesis of the protein. Scurvy is a syndrome of vitamin C deficiency and is related to defective collagen synthesis. Ascorbic acid is known to inhibit synthesis of melanin, probably because melanin is made by our skin in response to stress, and ascorbic acid is in the first line of defense, preventing the damage before melanin synthesis can be initiated. Ascorbic acid and its derivatives promotes wound healing, controls inflammation and reduces erythema. In short, ascorbic acid is a safe active that will bring multiple benefits to your skin, preventing future damage but also repairing past damage to your skin by age and sun.

Best used after a shower or bath (skin permeability increases). Add ¼ cup of water (55mL) to half a teaspoon (1.7 g) and mix until well dissolved (it takes a few seconds)to create a solution (3%). Apply with cotton wool or similar to skin. Leave on, or rinse if it stings. Afterwards, apply a cream containing lipophilic antioxidants. Can be used in creams but we recommend using the more stable Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) instead for large batch sizes or if the cream contains peptides and proteins.

Question: What about L and D ascorbic acid?
 
Answer: Some molecules exist in mirror forms (D and L). These molecules have at least one asymmetric carbon atom, i.e. a carbon atom that has each of its four bonds occupied by four different atoms or groups of atoms. Ascorbic acid is one such molecule. L-ascorbic acid means that the compound's stereochemistry is related to that of the levorotatory enantiomer of glyceraldehyde.
Please see - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirality_(chemistry)
 
Regarding chirality of ascorbic acid and skin care, there are two questions
 
1)         Does it matter whether a chemical is D or L? Yes, it does, because the special distribution of atoms is part of the structure of the chemical and will determine some of its properties.
 
2)         Does it matter whether you are using the L- stereoisomer or a racemic mix of ascorbic acid on your skin? No. When no enzymes are involved either isomer will do. You need a minute amount of L-ascorbic acid, a cofactor for enzymes involved in the hydroxylation of pro-collagen amino acid residues. A racemic mix of ascorbic acid will have will have more than enough L-isomer  to do the job and it is much less expensive. We have chosen our ascorbic acid to be very fresh (reduced) and in very fine crystals so that it can do a better job.

Product rating

Customer Reviews

• Author: Lisa
  This is my favorite active. I use it as a toner mixed with some distilled water every other day. Makes my skin look super healthy, clear and tight. There was a visible difference after using for about two weeks, now I cannot do without it.
• Author: Susan
  I took a skin care class in which the instructor advised, Only 2 things actually work for wrinkles: Retin-A and Vitamin C. She added, Vitamin C cream is expensive. So I started an Internet search for Vitamin C, ended up here and purchased the Ascorbic Acid powder. I mix a little with water and splash it on my face after washing and WOW, I cannot believe the effects! My 55-year-old skin looks better than it EVER has and I do not need any moisturizer! Unbelievable! I recommended it to my neice who complained even the lightest moisturizer caused her to break out. She is just as impressed as I am. It just seems to make my skin "new!" I'm so thrilled!
• Author: Kimberly
  This has got to be one of my favorite skin care discoveries of all times. I tell everyone about it. At first, I made a toner, then I found that after bathing if I just gently rubbed a small amount of crystals from head to toe on my wet skin (I usually splash a little water on my face afterwards) it was absolutely the best exfoliating product I have ever used. Wow, great exfoliating and a dose vitamin C as well. My skin, at 49, is smoother and softer than it has been in decades. It also seems to be slowly tightening some age spots. Afterward, I put on light layer of rose hip oil and I am good to go. What could be easier or more natural!
• Author: AIA
  On Kimberly's advice I started using this in the shower for a bit of exfoliating. I am amazed at how soft my skin gets. Use a little as it can sting, though. Great product.
• Author: Bee
  I've used this both as a scrub (rubbing an itty bitty scoop of crystals over my damp face) and as a toner as described in the instructions. Using it as a scrub softens and smooths my skin scrumptiously... this is my skin, really??? I'm not sure what results I'm getting with using it as a toner because my whole Skin Actives regime is working wonderfully for my skin! Highly recommended!