The ingredient, explained

Sodium Ascorbate

A published expert safety assessment covers this exact ingredient.

Antioxidant

Explore connections

Ingredient guide

What it is and what it does

Sodium ascorbate

About this ingredient: EU CosIng ingredient registry (via Open Beauty Facts taxonomy) ↗

Antioxidant: Limits oxidation, including deterioration of formulation ingredients. This label alone does not show a clinical antioxidant effect in skin.

Function definitions: European Commission ingredient function definitions (SCCNFP/0299/00, pages 16 to 20) ↗

Registry functions describe possible formulation roles, not results for a finished product. A dictionary entry is not an approval or a safety assessment.

A closer look

What the research shows

Safety assessment

Panel supported cosmetic safety under the reported use practices, with care that formulations retain antioxidant rather than pro-oxidant action.

What this does not tell us

Dated group read-across from ascorbic acid. Metal-ion/pro-oxidant formulation caveat. Local intradermal microdialysis does not establish topical cosmetic benefit.

Sources for this summary. PubMed 16154915 ↗

Research review checked Oct 1, 2026

Bounded review of local candidates, exact-name indexed primary journal/PubMed safety and topical searches; not a systematic review.

Ingredient research is not proof that a product containing this ingredient works.