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HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES Learn more About EWG VERIFIED®

Data: Limited

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

IMAGE SOURCE: PubChem

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Other Concerns

SYNONYMS

● L-THREO-HEX-2-ENONIC ACID, GAMMA-LACTONE
● NCI-C54808
● CE LENT
● L-3-KETOTHREOHEXURONIC ACID LACTONE
● LEMASCORB
● L-ASCORBATE
● LIQUI-CEE
● L-XYLOASCORBIC ACID
● VITAMIN C
● ASCORBIC ACID

Restricted

Restricted: EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation

Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) is a naturally occurring antioxidant.

Common concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • LOW
    Cancer
  • LOW
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • LOW
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient concerns

  • CONCERNS
  • DATA SOURCES

Products with this Ingredient

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exfoliant/scrub163 products
mask207 products
moisturizer268 products
facial moisturizer/treatment314 products
styling gel/lotion29 products
bath oil/salts/soak17 products
anti-aging48 products
body firming lotion38 products
facial cleanser124 products
around-eye cream75 products
conditioner256 products
body wash/cleanser80 products
shampoo279 products
hair spray29 products
hair styling aid38 products
skin fading/lightener8 products
CC cream3 products
toners/astringents50 products
makeup remover18 products
eye liner49 products
tanning oil8 products
brow liner9 products
muscle/joint soreness1 products
serums & essences256 products
eyelash glue2 products
facial powder20 products
antiperspirant/deodorant39 products
antiperspirant/deodorant (men's)9 products
nail treatment16 products
lip balm29 products
damaged skin treatment4 products
hair relaxer1 products
hair treatment/serum114 products
hair-loss treatment4 products
hand cream46 products
mascara6 products
shaving cream4 products
hair color and bleaching432 products
mouthwash13 products
makeup primer19 products
foundation89 products
detangler11 products
eye shadow6 products
bar soap14 products
blush21 products
body spray7 products
after shave3 products
styling mousse/foam5 products
Oils & Serums11 products
nail polish4 products
after sun product19 products
sunless tanning96 products
daily use with SPF36 products
cuticle treatment2 products
hand sanitizer2 products
toothpaste9 products
baby lotion5 products
tooth whitening1 products
lip balm with SPF7 products
lip gloss9 products
liquid hand soap8 products
concealer85 products
BB cream10 products
baby toothpaste1 products
lipstick51 products
body art1 products
body powder1 products
bubble bath8 products
vapor rubs1 products
body oil4 products
glitter1 products
setting powder/spray16 products
bronzer/highlighter28 products
Nail Creams and Lotions1 products
Other Hair Care Preparations1 products
foot moisturizer4 products
eye makeup remover3 products
Exfoliants5 products
Under Eye Concealers1 products
baby sunscreen4 products
recreational sunscreen34 products
foot cleansing1 products
pore strips1 products
Hair Styling Gel1 products
depilatory1 products
acne treatment1 products
foot odor control2 products
Facial Cleansing Water1 products
Face Wipes2 products
beard cleanser2 products
polish remover4 products
beard oil4 products
beard care3 products
lip plumper2 products
baby shampoo1 products
baby soap1 products
Tanning Sprays1 products
fragrance for men1 products
Dry Shampoo and Hair Powders1 products
Facial Sun Care2 products

Multiple, additive exposure sources

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in foodUS. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Data gaps

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported 'as used' concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in productCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Informational

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - anyCosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmfulEnvironment Canada
Classified as a low human health priorityEnvironment Canada

Persistence and bioaccumulation

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be persistentEnvironment Canada
Not suspected to be bioaccumulativeEnvironment Canada

Ecotoxicology

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CONCERN REFERENCE
Not suspected to be an environmental toxinEnvironment Canada
  • US. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  • Environment Canada

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend
WEIGHT-OF-EVIDENCE APPROACH

A product’s hazard score is not an average of the ingredients’ hazard scores. It is calculated using a weight-of-evidence approach that factors in all of the hazards or health impacts associated with the ingredients.

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability
NONE

Ingredients have not been assessed.

LIMITED-FAIR

There is only a modest volume of research.

GOOD-ROBUST

Ingredients have been studied extensively.

Can’t find your product?

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