The Ordinary

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%.

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About this product

A vitamin C serum with 12% ascorbyl glucoside, a stabilized form of vitamin C designed for brightening and evening skin tone.

Full ingredients

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

Guru Score

72%

Mixed

5 experts · Moderate agreement

What they liked

Stable vitamin C at a high concentration

What they flagged

Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

What the gurus are saying

Ascorbyl glucoside skips the irritation of straight ascorbic acid, which matters when addressing hyperpigmentation because further inflammation is exactly what skin does not need. At $17 for the same active concentration found in a $380 luxury serum, this stabilized formula offers compelling value, especially when the formula is properly packaged in a way that prevents oxidation and extends shelf life.

Synthesized from 5 expert reviews · most recent take July 2026

Type

Drops & dropper

Key actives

Vitamin C

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

208SkinDoc

2.10M subs

~Yay

"You can get the Ordinary ascorbyl glucoside 12 percent, which has that same active ingredient as the $380 Augustinus Bader serum, for about $17. What matters most is the concentration of vitamin C, the pH of the formula, and whether it is packaged in a way to prevent oxidation, and you can get all of that in a really affordable formulation like this one."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Yay

"In here we've got ascorbyl glucoside which is a stable form of vitamin C. It potentially shows to have all three of the anti-aging benefits of vitamin C or ascorbic acid: antioxidant protection, collagen boosting, and fading hyperpigmentation. So this one is well worth a try in my opinion. This one's great for brightening your skin."

Dr. Somji Skin

360k subs

~Yay

"Ascorbyl glucoside is very very popular now, you've got The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside, I think it's 12%, and it's very very popular mainly because if you have sensitive skin or you've previously been sensitive to ascorbic acid then you can use ascorbyl glucoside and it's great for sensitive skin and is one of my recommendations."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

~Yay

"The one I would recommend is Ascorbyl Glucoside 12% so this is less irritating than ascorbic acid which is important for hyperpigmentation because we're trying not to trigger any more hyperpigmentation"

All 2 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

HYPERPIGMENTATION LAYERING

Brightening Serums Rated on NYKAA

"Your skin is naturally slightly acidic, about 5.5, and that's the best pH for actives to work. When you mix something alkaline and you do it every day, it can lead to a damaged skin barrier over time. It does, however, have a good penetration system. There are no secondary actives though in this formula. I'd call this more of a preventative antioxidant rather than a pigmentation treatment itself. And that's for that reason I'll give it a 5.5 out of 10."

Nipun Kapur

412k subs

~Nay

"At 12% pH there's not much happening with your skin because it's a very stabilized gentle form"

Translated from the guru's original language.

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

A vitamin C serum with 12% ascorbyl glucoside, a stabilized form of vitamin C designed for brightening and evening skin tone.

Is The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 72%.

What is The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%'s Guru Score?

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% holds a Guru Score of 72%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 expert reviewers we have collected.