L-Ascorbic acid, the active form of vitamin C has many functions as a cosmetic ingredient including skin lightening, promoting collagen synthesis and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. Therefore, it helps to plump and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin’s surface and considered as one of the best antiaging ingredients in cosmetic industry. Although ascorbic acid is a superstar ingredient for the skin, it is very unstable and is easily oxidized in aqueous solutions and cosmetic formulations. To stabilise ascorbic acid and maintain potency until usage, we developed an advanced technology and manipulated the aqueous environment with a unique combination of water, ethanol and dimethyl isosorbide to markedly slow oxidation of the ascorbic acid, providing a stable storage and delivery environment.
To evaluate the efficacy of the serum, clinical trials were conducted on 14 panellists with lack of firmness on the face. A serum with 14% ascorbic acid combined with matrikine peptides were used once a day over a period of 3 months and 6 months. Both based on panellists evaluations of the product and objective image analysis using a Visia Skin Analysis, the serum delivered good to notable results in terms of skin texture, skin brightening, reduction of wrinkles and fine lines and appearance of firmness in 93% of panellists after 3 month and 100% of panellists after 6 month.
The evaluation of the skin’s firmness was also conducted on 20 panellists with lack of firmness on the face using a Cutometer. The test concluded that after 28 and 56 days of once-daily use, the product induced a significant improvement in cutaneous firmness parameter.