As
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Ascorbyl PalmitateAntioxidant
Oil-soluble vitamin C derivative. Stable in oil-based formulations; conversion to active vitamin C is modest.
What it does
Ascorbyl palmitate is a single-palmitic-acid-tail vitamin C derivative — oil-soluble, stable in lipid formulations, but with a less impressive conversion-to-active rate than ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. Often used as an antioxidant additive (preventing other oils from going rancid) more than as a primary brightening active. The functional skin effect is modest at typical use rates.
The evidence, graded
strongVitamin C shows brightness and tone-evening improvements in 4–8 weeks. Collagen-mediated firmness benefits take 12+ weeks. Photoprotection benefits are immediate when paired with sunscreen.Humbert 2003 · Experimental Dermatology ↗
Graded per the methodology: strong · moderate · emerging · expert consensus. A weak source on a strong claim gets the weaker label.
Also known as
vitamin c, ascorbic acid
Pairs worth knowing
Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.
This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.