The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, Vitamin C Serum

by The Ordinary · skin_care

Editor's Take

The 12% vitamin C derivative earns its brightening pitch, though the clean positioning falls short once you look past the tidy, fragrance-free bottle.

Four-pillar formula scores

  • Efficacy: 7.5 / 10
  • Modern Tech: 6.0 / 10
  • Clean Beauty: 5.0 / 10
  • Sustainability: 9.1 / 10

The Verdict

Strong efficacy: Ascorbyl Glucoside at 12% gives this brightening serum a stable, purposeful active level. Dimethyl Isosorbide and Ethoxydiglycol support delivery, earning Some Modern Features rather than relying on vitamin C alone. Sustainability is Good, but the clean score is dragged down by Triethanolamine and Isoceteth-20. Worth it for fragrance-free brightening when performance matters more than strict clean-beauty standards.

Full INCI list

Aqua (water), Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Triethanolamine, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan Gum, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol.

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