The Ordinary

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

face serum

Added Last edited

Fit by skin type

General, ingredient-based — not your personalized match.

Dry
50%
Combination (dry)
50%
Balanced
80%
Combination (oily)
90%
Oily
90%

See how this fits your skin

Take the skin test and I'll show you how suitable this product is for you.

Take the skin test
12
Ingredients
4
Benefits
1
Actives
Find Dupes

A highly-stable, water-soluble vitamin C derivative that has been shown to offer enhanced skin-brightening benefits

Key Insights

Benefits

4
Anti-Aging
Dark Spot Fading
Evens Skin Tone
Hydration

Active Ingredients

1
Vitamin C

Full Ingredients

12 total
WATER ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE Vitamin C PROPANEDIOL AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL TRIETHANOLAMINE ISOCETETH-20 XANTHAN GUM DIMETHYL ISOSORBIDE ETHOXYDIGLYCOL TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE 1,2-HEXANEDIOL CAPRYLYL GLYCOL

About Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

Overview

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is a watery-light serum from The Ordinary, a brand based in Canada. The formula is built mainly around hydration. The ingredient list runs to 12 ingredients, each broken down in full below.

Texture and finish

By its ingredient list the formula reads as very light — essentially a water-and-humectant base with little emollient weight. With almost no emollient load it should absorb quickly and finish close to matte. Hydration is handled by Propanediol and Water, humectants that pull water into the upper layers of skin rather than sealing it there.

What the formula does

Hydration: High. Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin, and here that comes from Propanediol and Water.

Antioxidant support: Moderate. Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution, and here that comes from Ascorbyl Glucoside.

Brightening: Moderate. Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks, and here that comes from Ascorbyl Glucoside.

Who it suits

On richness alone it suits Combination (oily) and Oily skin best, and is the least natural fit for Dry and Combination (dry) skin. Nothing in the list is flagged as a common irritant, which is a reasonable starting point for reactive skin — though a patch test is still the only way to know.

What it does not target

The formula contributes little or nothing on barrier support, oil control, soothing and cell renewal. That is not a fault — most products are not meant to do everything — but if one of those is your priority, this is not the product that will address it.

What is not in it

Reading the full list, the formula is fragrance-free, essential-oil-free, no drying alcohol, paraben-free, silicone-free and microplastic-free. Those claims come from the ingredient list itself, not from the packaging.

Where it fits in a routine

It can be used morning and evening. In a routine it goes after toner, before moisturiser. Apply to clean, dry skin and give it a minute to absorb before the next layer. Introduce one new treatment at a time so you can identify what is working.

This summary is generated from the product's ingredient list. It is not a review, it is not the brand's own marketing claims, and it does not replace advice from a dermatologist.

Pros and cons

Drawn purely from the ingredient list

Pros

  • No fragrance or declared allergens
  • No essential oils
  • No drying alcohol
  • Silicone-free
  • No microplastics
  • Strong humectant content for hydration
  • No common irritants flagged in the list
  • No recognised malassezia (fungal acne) triggers

Which skin types it suits

Scored on how rich or light the formula reads from its INCI order.

Suitable for

  • Combination (oily) skin
  • Oily skin

May suit

  • Balanced skin

Less suitable for

  • Dry skin
  • Combination (dry) skin

Sensitive skin

No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.

Skin concerns

Based on the curated benefits documented for this product's ingredients.

Helps with

  • Hydration 2 ingredients

    Attracts and locks in moisture to keep skin plump and dewy

  • Anti-Aging 1 ingredient

    Boosts collagen and cell turnover to reduce fine lines and wrinkles

  • Dark Spot Fading 1 ingredient

    Fades hyperpigmentation and evens out dark spots over time

  • Evens Skin Tone 1 ingredient

    Brightens and balances complexion for a more uniform appearance

Does not target

Anti-Acne Blackhead Reducing Oil Control Pore Minimizer Smooths Bumpy Skin Soothing

None of the ingredients in this formula are associated with these benefits. This is not unusual, as most products are designed to target a limited number of concerns.

Key ingredients

The actives, UV filters and benefit-carrying ingredients in this formula, in the order they are listed.

Water

1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.

Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water

Hydration
Ascorbyl Glucoside Vitamin C

2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

2-O-alpha-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid

Anti-Aging Dark Spot Fading Evens Skin Tone
Propanediol

3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

1,3-dihydroxypropane

Hydration

Formula analysis

Each axis is scored from the ingredients present and how high up the list they sit.

Hydration High

Ingredients that pull and hold water in the upper layers of skin

Barrier support None

Lipids and repair signals that support skin barrier integrity

Antioxidant support Moderate

Ingredients that mop up free radicals from UV and pollution

Oil control None

Ingredients that moderate sebum or absorb shine

Brightening Moderate

Ingredients that act on uneven tone and post-inflammatory marks

Soothing None

Ingredients aimed at visible redness and reactivity

Cell renewal None

Retinoids, acids and enzymes that speed surface turnover

Firmness signalling None

Peptides and growth factors that signal for collagen support

Active and supporting ingredients

"Active" here means an ingredient carrying a recorded active type or a recognised UV filter.

Active ingredients (1)

Supporting ingredients (11)

Solvents, emollients, texture agents and preservatives — the formula that carries the actives.

Water Propanediol Aminomethyl Propanol Triethanolamine Isoceteth-20 Xanthan Gum Dimethyl Isosorbide Ethoxydiglycol Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate 1,2-hexanediol Caprylyl Glycol

What is and is not in it

Read from the full ingredient list. A brand's own claim may differ.

Free from

  • Fragrance-free
  • Essential-oil-free
  • No drying alcohol
  • Paraben-free
  • Silicone-free
  • Microplastic-free
  • Sulfate-free
  • Dye-free
  • Oil-free
  • No animal-derived ingredients

What to layer it with

Judged by the same curated rules our routine checker uses. It reads the ingredients, not the label.

Compatible with

  • Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)
  • Retinoids (retinol, retinal)
  • AHAs (glycolic, lactic)
  • BHA (salicylic acid)
  • PHAs (gluconolactone)
  • Benzoyl peroxide
  • Azelaic acid
  • Copper peptides
  • Bakuchiol
  • Niacinamide
  • Hyaluronic acid
  • Ceramides
  • Signal peptides
  • Panthenol
  • Sunscreen

Nothing in this formula belongs to a group our rules can put in conflict, so it layers freely. Order still matters — thinnest texture first.

Where it fits in a routine

Morning Evening
  1. Cleanse
  2. Toning
  3. Treat
  4. Moisturise
  5. Protect

This product is the "Treat" step.

  • Apply to clean, dry skin and give it a minute to absorb before the next layer.
  • Introduce one new treatment at a time so you can identify what is working.

Safety and suitability

Flags to check, not verdicts. None of this is medical advice — if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or treating a skin condition, ask a doctor.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not clearance — ask your doctor about anything you use daily.
Fungal acne (malassezia)
No ingredient here is a recognised food source for malassezia.
Sensitive and reactive skin
No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.

Ingredients by function

Most ingredients do more than one job, so these counts add up to more than the 12 ingredients on the label.

5
Solvent

Dissolves and carries everything else

3
Surfactant

Lifts oil and dirt, or holds oil and water together

3
Texture agent

Sets the thickness, spread and stability of the formula

2
pH adjuster

Sets the acidity the formula needs to work

1
Active

Changes how skin behaves rather than how it feels

1
Antioxidant

Neutralises free radicals from UV and pollution

1
Humectant

Draws water into the upper layers of skin

1
Emollient

Softens and smooths by filling gaps between skin cells

1
Chelator

Binds trace metals that would otherwise spoil the formula

Ingredient breakdown

Every ingredient on the label, in order, with what it does and roughly how much of it is likely to be there.

1 Water Solvent
Estimated level
30–80%
Confidence
Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles
Solvent

1st on the list, which puts it at an estimated 30–80% of the formula.

Aqua (EU),Deionized Water,Distilled Water,Micromatrix Fractile AN,Onsen-Sui (JPN),Purified Water

Hydration
3 scientific references
  • Skin Research and Technology, May 2015, pages 131-136
  • Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, November-December 1999, pages 344-351
  • Journal of Cosmetic Science, September-October 1993, pages 249-262
2 Ascorbyl Glucoside Active
Estimated level
5–20%
Confidence
Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles
Active, Antioxidant

2nd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

2-O-alpha-D-Glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid

Anti-Aging Dark Spot Fading Evens Skin Tone
11 scientific references
  • Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, December 2020 Supplement, page AB192
  • Nanomaterials, August 2020, pages 1-13
  • Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, May-August 2020, pages 374-382
  • Genes, February 2020, ePublication
  • Cosmetics, October 2019, ePublication
  • International Journal of Cosmetic Science, August 2019, pages 378-386
  • International Journal of Pharmaceutics, May 2019, pages 21-29
  • Asian Journal of Beauty and Cosmetology, December 2018, pages 599-607
  • Nutrients, August 2017, pages 1-27
  • Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, January-March 2013, pages 4-11
  • Skin Research and Technology, May 2006, pages 105-113
3 Propanediol Texture agent
Estimated level
5–20%
Confidence
Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles
Texture agent, Solvent

3rd on the list, which puts it at an estimated 5–20% of the formula.

1,3-dihydroxypropane

Hydration
4 scientific references
  • PubChem Compound Summary, April 2021, ePublication
  • SpecialChem, Accessed April 2021, ePublication
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review, June 2018, pages 1-73
  • Cosmetics & Toiletries, May 2013, pages 81-86
4 Aminomethyl Propanol pH adjuster
Estimated level
2–10%
Confidence
Moderate — INCI order above the 1% line
Roles
pH adjuster

4th on the list, which puts it at an estimated 2–10% of the formula.

2-Amino-2-methylpropanol

5 Triethanolamine Surfactant
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Surfactant, pH adjuster

5th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

2,2',2''-Nitrilotriethanol

6 Isoceteth-20 Surfactant
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Surfactant

6th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

Alcohols, C16-branched, ethoxylated (20 mol EO average molar ratio)

7 Xanthan Gum Surfactant
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Surfactant, Texture agent

7th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

Xanthan gum

8 Dimethyl Isosorbide Texture agent
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Texture agent, Solvent

8th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

1,4:3,6-Dianhydro-2,5-di-O-methyl-D-glucitol

9 Ethoxydiglycol Humectant
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Humectant, Solvent

9th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

2-(2-Ethoxyethoxy)ethanol; Carbitol; Diethylene glycol monoethyl ether; DEGEE

10 Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate Chelator
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Chelator

10th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

L-Aspartic acid, N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis-, trisodium salt

11 1,2-hexanediol Solvent
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Solvent

11th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

12 Caprylyl Glycol Emollient
Estimated level
under 1%
Confidence
Moderate — listed below the 1% line
Roles
Emollient

12th on the list, below the 1% line — present at under 1%, which for most ingredients is the level they work at.

Octane-1,2-diol

People also compare

Products in the same category that share this formula's distinguishing ingredients.

Holy Hyssop Serum 30

Arencia

Shares 3 key ingredients with Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%: Water, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Glucoside

345 Relief Serum

Dr.Althea

Shares 2 key ingredients with Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%: Water, Propanediol

Frequently asked questions

What ingredients are in Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

WATER, ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE, PROPANEDIOL, AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, ISOCETETH-20, XANTHAN GUM, DIMETHYL ISOSORBIDE, ETHOXYDIGLYCOL, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL.

What are the active ingredients in Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

ASCORBYL GLUCOSIDE.

How do I use Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

-Use daily AM or PM before creams/oils.

What skin types is Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% good for?

Judged on how rich the formula reads from its ingredient list, it suits Combination (oily), Oily skin best. It is the least natural fit for Dry, Combination (dry) skin.

Is Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% good for sensitive skin?

No ingredient in this formula carries a common-irritant flag, making it a reasonable option for reactive skin. A patch test is still recommended, as individual skin reactivity varies.

Is Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% fungal acne safe?

No ingredient in this formula is a recognised food source for malassezia, the yeast behind fungal acne.

Can I use Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% while pregnant?

Nothing in this formula is on the standard pregnancy-caution list. That is not medical clearance — check anything you use daily with your doctor or midwife.

Is Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% fragrance free?

Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is fragrance-free.

Does Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% contain alcohol?

No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is no drying alcohol.

Is Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% silicone free?

Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is silicone-free.

Does Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% contain essential oils?

No. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is essential-oil-free.

Is Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% paraben free?

Yes. Reading the full ingredient list, this formula is paraben-free.

What can I layer with Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

It layers well with Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Retinoids (retinol, retinal), AHAs (glycolic, lactic), BHA (salicylic acid), PHAs (gluconolactone), Benzoyl peroxide.

When should I apply Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

Use it morning and evening, after toner, before moisturiser.

How many ingredients does Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% have?

It lists 12 ingredients, of which 1 are recorded as actives.

Who makes Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%?

The Ordinary, a brand based in Canada.

Brand
The Ordinary
Country
Canada
Visit website

Reviews

0 total

Log in to leave a review.

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.