The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
2.3
/ 10
Moisturizing
4.6 Humectancy icon Humectancy
0.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Rich
in Antioxidants

Review

Does The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% work?

Based on the ingredient list analysis by CreamScan AI, these are the key benefits you can expect from using The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%:

  • Light moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 2.3 out of 10.
  • Antioxidant protection.

Basic moisturizer for oily skin

According to CreamScan analysis, The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is lightly moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 2.3 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Purely humectant. It has zero occlusivity (we didn't find any occlusive ingredients on the ingredient list) and a moderate humectancy of 4.6 out of 10, primarily due to the high content of Propanediol (est. ≈4.0%).

This product, when used alone as a moisturizer, can provide light humectant hydration in a fast-absorbing formula without any occlusive ingredients. This could work for people with oily skin who need a basic level of hydration.

Tip: Certain studies suggest that humectants alone may not effectively moisturize the skin. If you use this product as your only moisturizer, we recommend following it with one that contains at least some occlusive ingredients.

Since it contains a moderate amount of humectants, it can also positively contribute to the moisturizing efficacy of any skincare routine when used as a step before applying the main moisturizer.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Questionable anti-wrinkle efficacy

According to CreamScan analysis, The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% has a zero anti-wrinkle rating.

It contains Ascorbyl Glucoside, an ingredient often marketed as effective in reducing wrinkles. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of Ascorbyl Glucoside provide insufficient evidence of its efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards. Therefore, this ingredient does not generate the anti-wrinkle rating.

Moisturizers, when used regularly, are proven to prevent wrinkle formation and even reduce existing wrinkles. Therefore, this product, like any other moisturizer, can deliver some anti-wrinkle effects through its moisturizing action.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Rich in skin-protecting antioxidants

We estimate that The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is rich (> 3%) in antioxidants, specifically Ascorbyl Glucoside (est. ≈12.0%).

A key benefit of antioxidants is their ability to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and therefore prevent accelerated skin aging. Studies also show that antioxidants can protect against environmental damage such as UV radiation and pollution, and help reduce inflammation and skin redness.

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
80
12
4
1
1
1
1
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Function:
Origin:
Propanediol
Function:
Origin:
Aminomethyl Propanol
Function:
Origin:
Triethanolamine
Function:
Origin:
Isoceteth-20
Function:
Origin:
Xanthan Gum
Function:
Origin:
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Function:
Origin:
Ethoxydiglycol
Function:
Origin:
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Function:
Origin:
1,2-Hexanediol
Function:
Origin:
Caprylyl Glycol
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
4.6
4
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
2.3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 4.6 10
4.6
4
0.3
0.3
Occlusivity All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
None
Moisturizing rating
2.3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
4
0.3
0.3
All humectants 4.6 10
4.6
All humectants
4.6
4
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
None
All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
n/a
- 12 -
Total
0
Ascorbyl Glucoside
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
12
Anti-wrinkle rating
0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
12
All antioxidants 12 3 Rich in antioxidants
All antioxidants
12
Ascorbyl Glucoside
12
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
None
All soothing 0 5 No
All soothing
0
None
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %80
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Est. %12
Function
Origin
Ascorbyl GlucosideA derivative of vitamin C. It is more stable and less irritating than ascorbic acid. There are unfortunately no clinical studies on ascorbyl glucoside’s anti-pigment or anti-acne efficacy alone.
Propanediol
Est. %4
Function
Origin
PropanediolAn excellent solvent capable of mixing water with normally water-insoluble ingredients. It also functions as a humectant due to its water-loving alcohol groups. Propanediol can control the viscosity of a product by reducing its thickness.
Aminomethyl Propanol
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Aminomethyl PropanolA synthetic ingredient that helps to adjust the pH of a product to make it less acidic.
Triethanolamine
Est. %1
Function
Origin
TriethanolamineA clear, colorless, and highly viscous liquid, this ingredient is an excellent pH adjuster. When it is necessary to neutralize an acidic solution or to generally increase the pH of a product, triethanolamine is a common choice.
Isoceteth-20
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Isoceteth-20A synthetically produced emulsifier and surfactant. It can create foam for mild cleansing or help stabilize oil-in-water emulsions.
Xanthan Gum
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Xanthan GumA natural multi-functional ingredient that originates from fermented sugars. Xanthan gum acts as a viscosity-building agent to thicken skincare products. It is also an excellent stabilizer and works well to hold other ingredients together.
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Dimethyl IsosorbideA solvent for active ingredients that is claimed to help them better penetrate the outer layer of skin. It also helps to reduce the thickness of a product.
Ethoxydiglycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
EthoxydiglycolA type of alcohol with humectant moisturizing properties. It also acts as a solvent, since it mixes well with a variety of other compounds, including water and even some oils.
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Trisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateA chelating agent that disables harmful heavy metal ions present in skincare.
1,2-Hexanediol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
1,2-HexanediolA multi-functional formula helper. It is a well-studied preservtive against bacteria and can help pigments and fragrances disperse evenly in a formula.
Caprylyl Glycol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Caprylyl GlycolAn emollient that improves product spreadability and offers a silky feel on the skin. It also acts as a preservative booster that improves the efficacy of other preservatives. According to the manufacturer, it is also a humectant moisturizer.