The actives and the oils
Vitamin C
Pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is powerful but unstable: it oxidises and turns brown quickly. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate and ascorbyl glucoside are stabilised forms that skin converts back to vitamin C.
- On a list as
- Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate · Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate · Ascorbyl Glucoside
- What it does
- Antioxidant; brightening
- Where it comes from
- Synthetic, stabilised forms of vitamin C
- Vegan?
- Yes
Why it’s in a formula
They brighten, help even the look of tone and dark spots, and act as antioxidants, with far less irritation and far better shelf life than pure ascorbic acid. They trade a little potency for that stability.
Where you’ll find it at Divina
Read from each piece’s published ingredient list. 3 pieces.
Lumière
Brightening Serum — 30ml
$118
Listed as Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Vegan, going by its list
La Brume
Rose Face & Body Mist — 118ml
$48
Listed as Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Vegan, going by its list
La Crème de Jour
Day Cream — 30ml
$96
Listed as Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Not vegan: honey (as mel extract)
Questions
Are vitamin C derivatives as good as ascorbic acid?
Ascorbic acid has the most research behind it, but it is unstable and can sting. Derivatives are gentler and keep far longer; for many skins they are the better daily choice.
Can I use vitamin C with retinoids or peptides?
Yes. A common routine is vitamin C in the morning and retinoids at night; peptides can go either way.
How we know: every ingredient list on this site is the manufacturer’s own, read piece by piece and shade by shade, and the pieces above are worked out from those lists each time the site is built. Ingredient names and functions follow the EU’s CosIng database. This page describes cosmetic ingredients; it isn’t medical advice.
From the journal
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