Ascorbic Acid is commonly known as Vitamin C. Salts of Ascorbic Acid, such as Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate may also be used in cosmetics and personal care products. These ingredients are used in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products including makeup, as well as skin and hair care products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) includes Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate and Sodium Ascorbate on its list of substances considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) as preservatives. Ascorbic Acid is also on the list of GRAS nutrients.
The safety of Ascorbic Acid, Calcium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate has been assessed by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel. The CIR Expert Panel reveiwed the sceintific data and concluded that Ascorbic Acid and its salts were safe for use in cosmetic and personal care products.CIR Safety Review: The CIR Expert Panel noted that Ascorbic Acid was not genotoxic in most of the assay systems, but did yield a positive response in a few assay systems. When acting as an antioxidant, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that Ascorbic Acid was not genotoxic. Ascorbic acid was not carcinogenic in studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program. Because of the possibility that certain metal ions that could combine with Ascorbic Acid and related ingredients producing pro-oxidative activity, the CIR Expert Panel cautioned formulators to be certain that these ingredients are acting as antioxidants in cosmetic formulations. The CIR Expert Panel also considered clinical experience and data from a study using 5% Ascorbic Acid, coupled with an absence of reports in the clinical literature of sensitization, as strong support for the safety of Ascorbic Acid and related ingredients.
FDA: Link to the Code of Federal Regulations for Ascorbic Acid and its Calcium and Sodium Salts
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRS...
Ascorbic Acid and the salts of Ascorbic Acid may be used in Europe according to the general provisions of the Cosmetics Directive of the European Union.
Link to the EU Cosmetics Directive
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/cosmetics/html/consolidated_d...
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives has established an Acceptable Daily Intake of 0-15 mg/kg body weight for Ascorbic Acid and its Potassium and Sodium salts. http://www.inchem.org/documents/jecfa/jecmono/v05je20.htm