Skip to content 
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is very important for human health. It participates in various physiological functions, such as tissue repair, immune function enhancement, and antioxidant effects. It is also an important whitening ingredient that promotes collagen synthesis, inhibits the oxidation of dopaquinone to melanin, and converts dark oxidized melanin into light reduced melanin, thus playing an important role in skin whitening.
However, vitamin C is water-soluble and not easily absorbed by the skin. It is also prone to oxidation and difficult to preserve. So the emergence of some vitamin C derivatives, such as ethyl ascorbic acid, can effectively solve these problems.
What is ethyl ascorbic acid？
Ethyl ascorbic acid, also known as 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, not only has specific vitamin whitening, anti-aging, and antioxidant properties, but also has very strong stability and is not easily discolored. Its hydrophilic and oleophilic characteristics not only make it convenient to use in the formula, but also make it easy to penetrate the stratum corneum and enter the dermis layer. After entering the skin, it is easily decomposed by biological enzymes to exert its vitamin C effect, thereby improving its bioavailability.
Structurally, vitamin C has four hydroxyl groups and cannot be directly absorbed by the skin. It is also prone to oxidation and discoloration, which limits its application as a whitening agent in cosmetics. On the hydroxyl structure of vitamin C3, ethyl is substituted to protect vitamin C from oxidation and damage its activity, resulting in vitamin C ethyl ether.
Characteristics of Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
1. Whitening effect
The main factor determining the depth of skin color is the content and distribution of melanin in the skin, which is secreted by melanocytes. In human skin, melanocytes are located in the basal layer of the epidermis, producing melanin that is then passed on to surrounding keratinocytes.
Ethyl ascorbic acid can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase in the skin, thereby preventing the formation of melanin, effectively removing spots and whitening the skin, improving dull and dull skin, and endowing the skin with elasticity. At the same time, it can promote skin metabolism and help remove pigmentation spots that have already formed.
2. Antioxidant
Free radicals play an important role in human activities, but their excessive generation can lead to oxidative stress, damage cells, and trigger various diseases, which is also an important cause of human aging.
Ethyl ascorbic acid has antioxidant properties and can eliminate free radicals produced in the body, protecting the skin from damage caused by free radicals.
3. Repair the skin barrier
Ethyl ascorbic acid achieves efficient skin repair through its unique molecular structure. Its hydrophilic and oleophilic properties enable it to penetrate the stratum corneum directly to the dermis layer. During this process, it is broken down by biological enzymes into active vitamin C, which directly stimulates dermal fibroblasts to synthesize collagen.
Experiments have shown that at concentrations of 1.25-2.5mg/ml, this ingredient can significantly increase collagen production, thereby enhancing skin elasticity and improving fine lines and sagging. At the same time, it can repair skin cell activity damaged by ultraviolet radiation or oxidative stress, and restore skin barrier function by activating cellular metabolic pathways.
4. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
The potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin ethyl ether stem from its unique molecular structure and multi-target mechanism of action. Experiments have shown that it significantly reduces UV induced inflammatory reactions such as erythema and edema by inhibiting 5-hydroxyamine activity in the skin and blocking the release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine.
Clinical data shows that after using skincare products containing VC ethyl ether, the improvement rate of skin inflammation-related redness symptoms reaches 65%, and the irritation to sensitive muscles is only one-third of that of the prototype VC. This dual anti-inflammatory mechanism (inhibiting inflammatory mediators + repairing oxidative damage) makes it of significant application value in sunscreen, acne removal, and postoperative repair products
5. Better stability
Introducing an ethyl ether group into the 3rd hydroxyl group of vitamin C to form a protective structure, blocking direct contact between the hydroxyl group and oxygen, and achieving stability far beyond the prototype vitamin C through molecular structure innovation.
The amphiphilic molecular structure allows it to exist stably in aqueous or oil phase formulations, without the need for strict light avoidance or low-temperature storage, and has good compatibility with ingredients such as nicotinamide and hyaluronic acid.
Application of Ethyl ascorbic acid
1. Skin care
The core use of ethyl ascorbic acid is in personal care products. With its high stability and amphiphilic molecular structure, it has become a star ingredient in the field of cosmetics. As a stable derivative of vitamin C, it has various effects such as whitening, freckle removal, anti-aging, and antioxidant, far exceeding other VC derivatives.
It is widely used in essence liquid, face cream, facial mask and other products. The recommended dosage is 0.5-3%. It is especially suitable for synergistic enhancement of whitening effect with nicotinamide, arbutin and other ingredients. At the same time, it becomes the core ingredient of anti-aging and sensitive muscle repair formula by inhibiting UV induced inflammatory reaction.
2. Food Industry
Ethyl ascorbic acid is mainly used as a nutritional fortifier and antioxidant preservative in the food industry. It effectively extends the shelf life of food by stabilizing the activity of vitamin C.
For example, it can inhibit browning reactions in jam and delay fat oxidation and rancidity in biscuits. In addition, its thermal stability in acidic environments (pH 3.0-5.0) makes it suitable for processed foods such as soy sauce and pastries, which can enhance nutrition and improve taste by neutralizing acidity.
3. Medical field
The application of vitamin C ethyl ether (3-O-ethyl ascorbate ether) in the pharmaceutical field is mainly based on its high stability and improved bioavailability. As a stable derivative of vitamin C, its molecular structure, formed through an esterification reaction, can resist oxidative degradation and release active vitamin C after enzymatic decomposition in vivo. Clinical studies have shown that its bioavailability is significantly higher than that of the prototype VC. Specific applications include:
Nutritional supplements: used for oral or injectable preparations to supplement the human body’s vitamin C needs, especially suitable for patients with gastrointestinal sensitivity. Its acid environment tolerance (pH 3.0-5.0) can reduce gastric mucosal irritation;
Wound repair: By activating the collagen synthesis pathway, it accelerates skin tissue regeneration, and experiments have shown that it promotes wound healing speed by about 30% compared to ordinary VC.
Antioxidant treatment: the ability to scavenge free radicals is equivalent to that of prototype VC, which is used to assist in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases (such as complications of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases), while enhancing the cellular antioxidant defense system by activating the Nrf2 pathway;
Pharmaceutical excipients: As amphiphilic solvents or stabilizers, they enhance the solubility and formulation stability of insoluble drugs (such as some antibiotics and anticancer drugs), and can also be used as biocompatible cleaning agents to remove pollutants in hemodialysis equipment.
Where to buy Ethyl ascorbic acid?
Runtai Chemical is a professional and reliable Chinese manufacturer of Ethyl ascorbic acid with higher purity and lower price for 15 years. If you are interested in our Ethyl ascorbic acid, feel free to contact us for free samples!
