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ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Score:
Data: Fair
Cancer 
Cancer: Ingredients linked to cancer in government, industry or academic studies or assessments.
Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
Developmental and reproductive toxicity: Ingredients linked to developmental and reproductive toxicity, a broad class of health effects that range from infertility and reproductive organ cancers to birth defects and developmental delays in children.
Allergies & Immunotoxicity
Allergies and immunotoxicity: Ingredients linked to harm to the immune system, a class of health problems that manifest as allergic reactions or an impaired capacity to fight disease and repair damaged tissue in the body.
Products with this Ingredient
| moisturizer | 152 products |
| facial moisturizer/treatment | 142 products |
| shampoo | 125 products |
| conditioner | 123 products |
| hair color and bleaching | 117 products |
| serums & essences | 117 products |
| mask | 103 products |
| lipstick | 72 products |
| facial cleanser | 68 products |
| exfoliant/scrub | 65 products |
| foundation | 65 products |
| concealer | 54 products |
| hair treatment/serum | 51 products |
| daily use with SPF | 46 products |
| body wash/cleanser | 36 products |
| sunless tanning | 31 products |
| around-eye cream | 31 products |
| toners/astringents | 26 products |
| recreational sunscreen | 26 products |
| hand cream | 25 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant | 24 products |
| eye liner | 21 products |
| hair styling aide | 21 products |
| CC cream | 20 products |
| anti-aging | 17 products |
| lip balm with SPF | 15 products |
| lip gloss | 15 products |
| makeup remover | 12 products |
| body firming lotion | 12 products |
| makeup primer | 12 products |
| facial powder | 10 products |
| BB cream | 10 products |
| hair spray | 9 products |
| mouthwash | 9 products |
| bubble bath | 8 products |
| bar soap | 7 products |
| after sun product | 7 products |
| bath oil/salts/soak | 7 products |
| blush | 7 products |
| setting powder/spray | 7 products |
| detangler | 6 products |
| lip balm | 6 products |
| baby sunscreen | 6 products |
| styling gel/lotion | 5 products |
| nail treatment | 5 products |
| antiperspirant/deodorant (men's) | 5 products |
| mascara | 5 products |
| tanning oil | 5 products |
| 5 products | |
| skin fading/lightener | 4 products |
| eye shadow | 4 products |
| liquid hand soap | 4 products |
| baby lotion | 4 products |
| beard oil | 4 products |
| bronzer/highlighter | 3 products |
| body spray | 3 products |
| after shave | 3 products |
| body oil | 3 products |
| damaged skin treatment | 3 products |
| beard care | 3 products |
| cuticle treatment | 2 products |
| brow liner | 2 products |
| eye makeup remover | 2 products |
| styling mousse/foam | 2 products |
| toothpaste | 2 products |
| shaving cream | 2 products |
| polish remover | 2 products |
| muscle/joint soreness | 1 products |
| nail polish | 1 products |
| foot moisturizer | 1 products |
| other eye makeup | 1 products |
| lip plumper | 1 products |
| baby shampoo | 1 products |
| hair-loss treatment | 1 products |
| foot cleansing | 1 products |
| body art | 1 products |
| body powder | 1 products |
| baby toothpaste | 1 products |
| glitter | 1 products |
| beard cleanser | 1 products |
| pore strips | 1 products |
Data gaps
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment method deficiencies and data gaps - Maximum reported "as used" concentration is basis of safety assessment by industry safety panel (Cosmetic Ingredient Review, CIR) - implicit safe concentration limit in product | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
| 66172 studies in PubMed science library may include information on the toxicity of this chemical | NLM PubMed |
Informational
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Industry or government recommendations for safe use: restrictions on concentration, impurities, product types, or manufacturing methods - any | Cosmetic Ingredient Review Assessments |
Ecotoxicology
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Classified as not expected to be potentially toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as a low human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Not suspected to be persistent | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Multiple, additive exposure sources
| Concern | Reference |
|---|---|
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Everything Added to Food |
| Designated as safe for general or specific, limited use in food | FDA Food Additive Status |
Data Sources
- CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.
- NLM (National Library of Medicine). 2012. PubMed online scientific bibliography data. http://www.pubmed.gov.
- EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry.
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). 2008. EAFUS [Everything Added to Food]: A Food Additive Database. FDA Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) 2006. Food Additive Status List. Downloaded from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/opa-appa.html, Oct 16, 2006.
ABOUT THE SKIN DEEP® RATINGS
EWG provides information on personal care product ingredients from the published scientific literature, to supplement incomplete data available from companies and the government. The ratings below indicate the relative level of concern posed by exposure to the ingredients in this product - not the product itself - compared to other product formulations. The ratings reflect potential health hazards but do not account for the level of exposure or individual susceptibility, factors which determine actual health risks, if any. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
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Beyond providing Skin Deep® as an educational tool for consumers, EWG offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria. Before a company can use EWG VERIFIED™ on such products, the company must show that it fully discloses the products' ingredients on their labels or packaging, they do not contain EWG ingredients of concern, and are made with good manufacturing practices, among other criteria. Note that EWG receives licensing fees from all EWG VERIFIED™ member companies that help to support the important work we do. Learn more | Legal Disclaimer
