Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

The Ordinary

Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone

The Ordinary

vitamin-c-suspension-30-in-silicone

Serum

9784787665189

Morning or Evening?

Morning
Evening
Both

How often will you use this product?

Everyday
Every other day
Every 3 days
Every 4 days
Every 5 days
Every 6 days
Once a week
Twice a week
On specific days
As needed
On rotation

Notes

Add to Routine
Compare with Similar

Compatibility Score

0%

Microbiome
Ingredients
Biological
Environment
Lifestyle

How It Fits Into Your Skincare Routine

Login to see compatibility score and learn how this works with your skin.

Highlights

WHAT IS IT?

Vitamin C Serum with 30% L-Ascorbic Acid

FEATURES

Water-free formula, Suspended in silicone base, Stable L-Ascorbic Acid

BEST FOR

All Skin Types

CHECKS

Alcohol-free, Water-free, gluten-free, silicone-free

Who Is It For?

Adults Concerned With Aging Signs And Uneven Skin Tone

What Does It Help With?

Signs Of Aging Uneven Skin Tone Brightening Balancing Skin Tone

Budget

Affordable (under $30)

How To Use

Which routine should it be used in?

Morning
Evening
 
Cleanse
Tone
Eyecare
Serum
Moisturize
Suncare
 

Instructions:

Apply a small amount to face once daily, ideally in the evening. Avoid eye contour. Use sun protection during day. Can be mixed with other oils to reduce strength if tingling occurs.

Key Information

Vegan
Cruelty-free
Sensitive-safe
Non-comedogenic
Hypoallergenic
Microbiome-safe
Preservative-free
Eco-friendly
Pregnancy-safe
Oil-free

What The Ordinary Says

Product Description:

A powerful Vitamin C brightening formula with a cream-like feel that uses direct Vitamin C to help visibly reduce signs of aging by brightening and balancing uneven skin tone.

About the Brand:

Revolutionizing skincare transparency, The Ordinary offers clinical formulations with established technologies at radical price points. Founded by Brandon Truaxe under DECIEM in 2016, this disruptive brand focuses on single-ingredient integrity and scientific communication. Experience advanced actives without marketing hype or inflated costs through straightforward formulations that democratize effective skincare.

Ingredients Overview

Ingredients List

Dimethicone, Ascorbic-Acid, Polysilicone-11, Peg-10-Dimethicone

Key Ingredients

L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

Ingredients Details

Ascorbic Acid

Common Name(s): Vitamin c,l-ascorbic acid,l-ascorbate

CAS Number: 50-81-7

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Ascorbic acid neutralizes free radicals, stimulates collagen production, inhibits melanin synthesis for a brighter complexion, and supports skin repair.

Why It's Used: It is used because it offers comprehensive antioxidant and brightening benefits supported by extensive clinical evidence. it is the most bioavailable form of vitamin c for topical application.

How It Works: As an antioxidant, it donates electrons to neutralize reactive oxygen species. it is an essential cofactor for the hydroxylation of proline and lysine in collagen synthesis. it inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin production, reducing hyperpigmentation.

Typically Found In: Vitamin c serums,brightening moisturizers,antioxidant formulations,spf products,eye creams

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient โ€“ vitamin c

Secondary Functions: Collagen booster,tyrosinase inhibitor,ph adjuster

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 5%โ€“20% (effective range: 10โ€“20%; ph must be below 3.5 for activity)

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes โ€“ synthetically produced or corn/plant-derived

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced by reichstein synthesis or guangxi fermentation process from glucose. some plant-derived versions exist.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 2/5 โ€“ low to moderate; low ph formulations can cause initial tingling or stinging, especially at concentrations above 15%

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ€“ non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Acidic ph can irritate sensitive or compromised skin barriers. highly unstable โ€“ oxidizes rapidly when exposed to air, light, and heat (turns orange/brown). use in the morning under spf.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Use with caution โ€“ start at lower concentrations (5โ€“10%). stabilized derivative forms (vitamin c derivatives) may be better tolerated.

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Very safe; well-studied. key concern is formulation stability, not safety. ewg hazard score: 1.

Works Well With: Vitamin e (tocopherol) โ€“ synergistic antioxidant effect,ferulic acid โ€“ stabilizing and boosting,spf,hyaluronic acid,niacinamide (use at different times if concentrations are high)

Avoid Combining With: Retinol (use at separate times โ€“ ph incompatibility),benzoyl peroxide (oxidizes vitamin c),ahas/bhas (cumulative irritation risk)

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

L-ascorbic acid is the only form of vitamin c that is proven bioactive in skin at the molecular level. its instability (rapid oxidation) has driven development of numerous stable derivatives including ascorbyl glucoside, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment,pinnell et al. studies,journal of the american academy of dermatology

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

Dimethicone

Common Name(s): Pdms,polydimethylsiloxane,silicone fluid

CAS Number: 9006-65-9

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Provides silicone-characteristic silky feel and skin protection with adjustable viscosity.

Why It's Used: The benchmark cosmetic silicone โ€“ sets the gold standard for silky application feel, spreadability, and skin protection in virtually all skin care categories.

How It Works: Polydimethylsiloxane chain flexibility provides extremely low surface tension and high spreadability. inert si-o backbone provides chemical stability and excellent skin tolerance. occlusive film formation reduces tewl. higher viscosity grades provide more intense conditioning.

Typically Found In: Moisturizers,foundations,primers,sunscreens โ€“ nearly universal

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ€“ polydimethylsiloxane

Secondary Functions: Barrier sealing,softening

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ€“30%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes โ€“ synthetic

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Plant-derived, synthetic or animal-derived. verify source.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ€“ very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 1/5 โ€“ low; formulation-dependent

Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.

Works Well With: Humectants,ceramides,actives as carrier

Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Dimethicone's exceptional silky feel arises from its very low intermolecular attractive forces (weak van der waals forces due to non-polar methyl groups) that allow silicone chains to slide freely over skin. the coefficient of kinetic friction for pdms against skin (~0.04) is among the lowest of any cosmetic material โ€“ explaining why even small amounts transform product feel.

Last Verified: Cosing database,cir safety assessment

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

Peg-10 Dimethicone

Common Name(s): Peg-based nonionic emulsifier,ethoxylate surfactant,o/w solubiliser

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Stabilises o/w emulsions by reducing interfacial tension, solubilises oils and fragrances in aqueous systems, and wets oil-phase components for improved formulation homogeneity.

Why It's Used: Peg emulsifiers are selected for their precise hlb, broad ph stability (unlike soap emulsifiers that lose function at acidic ph), and compatibility with both anionic and cationic co-ingredients in the formulation system.

How It Works: Peg chain length determines hlb: longer peg = higher hlb = more hydrophilic = better o/w emulsification. at the o/w interface, the peg chain extends into the water phase forming a hydrated steric barrier that prevents droplet coalescence. nonionic character provides ph-independent function across the full cosmetic ph range.

Typically Found In: Emulsions,fragrance solubilisation

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient โ€“ cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 1%โ€“10%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Yes

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ€“ very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ€“ non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ€“2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Mixed peg emulsifier systems (e.g., peg-100 stearate + glyceryl stearate) form more cohesive interfacial films than single emulsifiers โ€” the geometric complementarity of the co-emulsifier pair providing better mechanical emulsion stability than either component alone.

Last Verified: Cosing database,peg-10 dimethicone peg emulsifier review

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12

Polysilicone-11

Common Name(s): Polysilicone-11,cosmetic active,functional ingredient

CAS Number: N/a

DESCRIPTION

What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.

Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.

How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class โ€” physicochemical or biological interaction with skin proteins, lipids, or receptors as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.

Typically Found In: Skin care formulations

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Primary Category: Active ingredient โ€“ cosmetic active

Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning

Application Areas:

Facial Skincare

Body Care

Hair Care

Beard Care

Color Cosmetics (Makeup)

Dietary/Oral Supplements

Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ€“10%

SOURCING & ETHICS

Vegan Status: Conditional

Halal Status: Yes

Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.

SKIN COMPATIBILITY

Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ€“ very low

Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ€“ non-comedogenic

Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.

Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes

SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY

Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ€“2.

Works Well With: Standard skincare actives

Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities

SCIENTIFIC NOTE

Polysilicone-11 has an established safety and efficacy profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.

Last Verified: Cosing database,polysilicone-11 technical literature

Primary Sources: 2026-03-12