Is ASCORBIC ACID safe to use in EU cosmetics?

ASCORBIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

What function does ASCORBIC ACID serve in cosmetics?

According to the EU CosIng inventory, ASCORBIC ACID carries the following function designation(s): ANTIOXIDANT, BUFFERING, FRAGRANCE, SKIN CONDITIONING.

How do I check if my formula contains ASCORBIC ACID?

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or use the substance market comparison to review this identity across all supported market datasets.

InventoryRef 7432815/10/2010

ASCORBIC ACID

Ascorbic acid

ASCORBIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng inventory, but no direct annex records are linked on this page yet.

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Regulatory evidence by market

No rule for this ingredient has been imported for any of the 13 markets tracked here.

That describes this inventory, not the law. No imported rule is not evidence that an ingredient is permitted: a rule may exist under another name or identifier, or in a dataset not yet imported here.

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Chemical identity and properties

PubChem 2D chemical structure for CAS 50-81-7

CAS 50-81-7PubChem CID 54670067

L-Ascorbic Acid

L-ascorbic acid is the L-enantiomer of ascorbic acid and conjugate acid of L-ascorbate. It has a role as a geroprotector, a coenzyme, a cofactor, a flour treatment agent, a plant metabolite, a food antioxidant, a food colour retention agent and a skin lightening agent. It is a vitamin C and an ascorbic acid. It is a conjugate acid of a L-ascorbate. It is an enantiomer of a D-ascorbic acid. — ChEBI

IUPAC name: (2R)-2-[(1S)-1,2-dihydroxyethyl]-3,4-dihydroxy-2H-furan-5-one

Molecular formula: C6H8O6
Molecular weight: 176.12 g/mol
Exact mass: 176.03208797 Da
XLogP3: -1.6
Topological polar surface area: 107.0 Å²
Hydrogen-bond donors: 4
Hydrogen-bond acceptors: 6
Covalent units: 1
Defined stereocentres: 2

Also known as

ascorbic acidvitamin CL(+)-Ascorbic acidAscoltinAscorbicapCevitamic acidAllercorbAscorbajen

16 more reported names

AscorinAscortealAscorvitCantaxinCebicureCegiolanCeglionCenetoneCergonaCetemicanCevatineRedoxonViscorinVitaciminVitacinCantan

Open full PubChem record PubChem annotations 3D structure image

External database identifiers

ChEBI:CHEBI:29073
ChEMBL:CHEMBL196
ChEMBL:CHEMBL40274
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID5020106
EPA DTXSID:DTXSID50986567
PubMed:14642847
PubMed:12569111
PubMed:12021333
PubMed:11895172
PubMed:11458272
PubMed:10331392
PubMed:9115810
PubMed:8144521
PubMed:5477017
PubMed:3015170
PubMed:1720598
PubMed:1698293

Retrieved from NIH PubChem on 2026-08-31 by checksum-valid CAS matching. Chemical properties do not replace the regulatory decision on this page.

Inventory details for ASCORBIC ACID

INCI name

ASCORBIC ACID

INN name

ascorbic acid

Ph. Eur. name

acidum ascoribicum

Description

Ascorbic acid

Record provenance

Inventory reference: 74328
Imported identity: ASCORBIC ACID
Source update: 15/10/2010

European Commission CosIng source notes

Annex records for ASCORBIC ACID

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Key data

CAS

50-81-7 / 62624-30-0

200-066-2 / 263-644-3

Restriction

—

Function

ANTIOXIDANT: Inhibiting reactions promoted by oxygen, thus avoiding oxidation and rancidity.
BUFFERING: Stabilising the pH of an aqueous medium in a narrow range even if an acid or base is added. Altering and/or maintaining a cosmetic product's pH at the desired level.
FRAGRANCE: Imparting an odour or taste. Creating a perceivable pleasant smell and/or masking a bad smell.
SKIN CONDITIONING: Maintaining the skin in good condition.

Official EU ingredient-name evidence

The ingredient name exactly matches the official 2025 EU glossary of common ingredient names.

#2414 · ASCORBIC ACID

Ingredients with overlapping formulation functions

AMMONIUM NITRATEBUFFERING

AMMONIUM PHOSPHATEBUFFERING, ORAL CARE

AMMONIUM THIOCYANATEANTIPERSPIRANT, BUFFERING, ORAL CARE, OXIDISING, REDUCING, VISCOSITY CONTROLLING

AMMONIUM VANADATEBUFFERING

ASPERGILLUS/DEFATTED SOYBEAN SEED FERMENT EXTRACTANTIMICROBIAL, BUFFERING, HUMECTANT, PRESERVATIVE

AZELAIC ACIDBUFFERING, FRAGRANCE

BABASSU ACIDBUFFERING, CLEANSING, EMULSION STABILISING

BAKUHANANTIMICROBIAL, ASTRINGENT, BLEACHING, BUFFERING, HAIR CONDITIONING, SKIN CONDITIONING

Additional official and scientific sources

11 external databases to check this identity in

Each link searches that source for this identity. What each source is, and its legal weight

ECHA CHEM / Information on chemicals PubChem PUG REST EU Safety Gate cosmetic product alerts ECHA CHEM US EPA CompTox Cosmetic Ingredient Review safety assessments FDA Global Substance Registration System ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards Japan NITE-CHRIP NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards OECD eChemPortal

How ASCORBIC ACID appears in the CosIng inventory

The CosIng inventory lists ASCORBIC ACID as a cosmetic ingredient and this page links it to 0 annex records. The inventory entry captures names and identifiers, while the annex records show where the substance is prohibited, restricted or positively listed in EU cosmetics law.

ASCORBIC ACID is also tagged with 4 cosmetic functions in the official data. Function labels describe intended use, but they do not replace regulatory review of linked annex records before formulation or labelling work.

Frequently asked questions

ASCORBIC ACID is listed in the EU CosIng ingredient inventory with no direct annex restriction records linked at this time. Absence of an annex link does not guarantee unrestricted use — always verify against the current official CosIng database before formulating.

According to the EU CosIng inventory, ASCORBIC ACID carries the following function designation(s):

CAS 50-81-7 / 62624-30-0 may appear across multiple EU annex records. Viewing the CAS lookup page shows all Annex II–VI entries sharing this identifier, which is useful for identifying cross-annex regulatory status of the same chemical substance.

Use the INCI Checker to screen a full ingredient list across selected markets, or compare this substance across all supported market datasets.

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Source note for ASCORBIC ACID

This page reproduces the CosIng inventory entry for ASCORBIC ACID from public European Commission cosmetic ingredient materials and shows linked identifiers even when no direct annex match is currently attached.

Use this inventory page to research ASCORBIC ACID and compare linked records, but verify restrictions and legal status against the current official source text and law before making regulatory decisions.

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Tools & next steps

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