Best Gentle Vitamin C Serum? The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside 12%
Looking for a gentle vitamin C serum that actually works? In this video, I review The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%, a stable and beginner-friendly form of vitamin C that brightens skin, evens tone, and supports collagen—all without the irritation that pure ascorbic acid can cause.
I’ll cover:
✨ What makes ascorbyl glucoside different from other vitamin C serums
✨ How it helps fade dullness and uneven pigmentation
✨ Texture, application, and how it fits into my skincare routine
✨ Who should use this serum—and who might not love it
✨ My personal results after weeks of consistent use
If you want to start using vitamin C but need something gentle, hydrating, and affordable, this serum might be perfect for you.
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🔍 In this video:
00:00 – Intro
01:09 – Ingredients
03:34 – Texture
04:10 – How I Use It In My Routine
09:28 – Who Is This For?
09:54 – Who Is This NOT For?
10:24 – My Experience
11:14 – Precautions
12:09 – Final thoughts
📌 Related video: Check out my Double Cleansing Tutorial for the perfect base before applying vitamin C!
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Until next time—Stay Glowing ✨
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Tired of dull, uneven skin tone that just won’t glow no matter how many steps you add to your routine? Imagine if one serum could brighten, protect, and smooth your complexion while still being gentle enough for everyday use. Meet The Ordinary ascorbal gluccoside solution 12% a stable form of vitamin C that delivers all the benefits without the irritation that pure ascorbic acid can sometimes cause. Vitamin C is one of the most researched and beloved skinare ingredients out there. It fights dullness, supports collagen, evens skin tone, and gives you that fresh, healthy glow. But not all vitamin C is created equal. The Ordinary chose ascorbial gluccoside, a water- soluble derivative that’s more stable and easier to tolerate than loscorbic acid. That means you still get the brightening and antioxidant benefits, but with a smoother, gentler experience. [Music] In today’s review, we’ll break down how this formula works, what makes Ascorbalucaside special, and whether this serum deserves a spot in your routine. The highlight of this product is its 12% concentration of ascorbial gluccoide, a vitamin C derivative bound with glucose. Once applied, enzymes in your skin slowly convert it into pure ascorbic acid, delivering a steady stream of antioxidant and brightening benefits over time. For your skin, this means a visibly brighter and more even tone as vitamin C helps fade dullness and reduce the look of uneven pigmentation, giving your complexion a healthy glow. It also provides collagen support since ascorbal gluccoside stimulates collagen production to keep skin firm and bouncy. At the same time, it offers powerful antioxidant protection, shielding against free radical damage from pollution and UV exposure to help prevent premature aging. And unlike stronger, more irritating vitamin C serums, this derivative is water soluble, which makes it stable, gentle, and suitable even for sensitive skin. What makes this serum work so smoothly, is its carefully chosen supporting ingredients. Propanodial boosts hydration and ensures the serum glides effortlessly onto the skin. While dimethyl isosorbide and ethoxyol enhance the penetration of ascorbal gluccoside so your vitamin C can deliver results more effectively. Xanfan gum provides a pleasant even texture, keeping the serum lightweight yet stable, and tricodium ethylene diamine duinate helps protect the vitamin C from breaking down, ensuring long-lasting potency. Gentle skin conditioning agents like capri glycol and hexandol maintain moisture and comfort, making the serum suitable even for sensitive skin. Together, these ingredients create a formula that’s stable, absorbable, and kind to your skin while maximizing the brightening and antioxidant benefits of vitamin C. And it doesn’t stop there. The formula is lightweight and layers beautifully with hydrating serums, nioinamide, or hyaluronic acid. So instead of having to choose between brightening, hydration, or barrier support, this serum fits seamlessly into your routine and delivers all three. If you want skin that’s as fresh and radiant as your morning coffee, hit that like button and subscribe. Join the Glow Gang because dull skin is so last season. This serum has a thin but not watery texture with a slightly milky consistency that makes it really pleasant to apply. It spreads easily across the skin and feels light, almost weightless, while still giving a sense of hydration as it sinks in. It absorbs quickly without leaving any greasiness or stickiness behind. So, it works well both in the morning under sunscreen and in the evening as part of a layered routine. The formula is designed to be flexible, so you can apply it right after cleansing and toning, and it sits beautifully under moisturizer or any other treatments you like to use. In the morning, I like to start with a gentle cleanser. This step is all about giving my skin a fresh start. Overnight, your face can build up oils, sweat, and residue from heavier creams or sleeping masks, and cleansing helps remove all of that without stripping away the skin’s natural moisture. I prefer something mild and hydrating that leaves my skin feeling clean but still comfortable, never tight or dry. I take my time massaging it in with circular motions, especially around areas like the T-zone where oil tends to collect. Then I rinse with lukewarm water, which is soothing and doesn’t shock the skin like very hot or cold water can. This cleansing step may seem simple, but it’s the foundation. Without it, the products that follow won’t perform at their best. After cleansing, I always reach for a hydrating mist or toner. This is one of my favorite parts of the routine because it instantly makes my skin feel refreshed and awake. A mist or toner helps bring back hydration that can be lost even during gentle cleansing, and it preps the skin so serums sink in more effectively. Think of it as giving your skin a little drink of water before the main course. I like to mist generously and then gently press the hydration into my skin with my palms. If I’m using a toner, I apply it with my hands instead of a cotton pad so I don’t waste any product and get maximum absorption. This step also helps calm the skin, restore its natural pH, and create that plump, dewy base that vitamin C loves to be layered on top of. Once my skin feels hydrated from the mist or toner, I move on to the ordinary Asarbil gluccoside solution 12%. Which is the star of this routine, I take a few drops into my palm. Usually 3 to four is enough for my entire face and neck and gently warm it between my hands before pressing it into my skin. This helps the serum spread evenly and ensures every part of my skin gets that vitamin C boost. I like to focus first on areas where I struggle with uneven tone, like my cheeks and around the mouth, before patting the rest across my forehead and neck. As I gently pat it in, I give it a moment to fully absorb, almost like letting the skin drink it up. Vitamin C is such a multitasker. It works on brightening dull areas, helping to fade the look of discoloration, protecting against environmental stressors and supporting collagen for that firmer, more youthful bounce. I think of this step as both an instant glow and a long-term investment in how my skin will look years from now. After the serum has settled, I follow with a moisturizer. This step is just as important because it seals in all the active ingredients while also keeping the skin barrier strong and resilient. I choose something lightweight but nourishing so my skin feels comfortable throughout the day without becoming greasy. The moisturizer acts almost like a shield, locking in hydration and making sure my skin stays balanced even in drier environments or under air conditioning. And of course, no morning routine is complete without sunscreen. SPF is truly non-negotiable, especially when using vitamin C. The two work hand in hand. Vitamin C boosts the brightening effect and gives antioxidant protection, while sunscreen blocks UV damage that can undo all of that progress. Applying sunscreen is what really locks in the benefits of the entire routine and protects my skin’s long-term health. I make sure to apply it generously, not just on my face, but also on my neck because those areas are equally exposed to the sun. And if you’re curious about what sunscreen I’m currently using, feel free to check out my other reviews. I’ve shared my thoughts on the Ordinary UV filters SPF 45 serum with antioxidants for a hydrating option and Lar Ro Pose Anthelios SPF 50 with melisil if you want something a bit more protective. Both pair really well with vitamin C serums like this one, helping to keep your skin bright and safely protected from the sun. By the end of this routine, my skin feels hydrated, protected, and visibly fresher. There’s a natural glow that lasts throughout the day, and I know that I’ve given my skin everything it needs to stay healthy and resilient. At night, I take a similar approach, but I always start with a double cleanse to make sure I fully remove sunscreen, makeup, and any buildup from the day. Double cleansing has become one of my favorite rituals. It keeps my skin clear without stripping it, and it creates the perfect base for the rest of my routine. If you’re curious about how I do it step by step, I actually have a dedicated video on double cleansing, so definitely check that out for a deeper dive. On evenings when I use exfoliating acids or retinol, I skip the vitamin C to avoid overloading my skin with too many activives at once. That flexibility is one of the great things about vitamin C derivatives. They can easily be adjusted around other products without disrupting your routine. This serum is perfect if you want to start using vitamin C but worry about irritation. It’s a great option for anyone in their 20s or 30s who is looking for a preventive brightening and anti-aging step, and it works beautifully if you prefer a lightweight, no fuss formula that layers easily with other products. If your main concern is dull, tired looking skin, and you’d like a steady glow up over time, this serum is a smart choice. If you’re looking for dramatic pigmentation correction or very fast results, this derivative might feel too mild compared to stronger vitamin C forms like eloscorbic acid or ethylated ascorbic acid. It’s a slow and steady serum, more about building long-term skin health than delivering instant transformations. Also, if you’re already using a very potent vitamin C serum or prescription brightening treatments, this might feel redundant. After using The Ordinary Esseril Gluccoide Solution, 12% for several weeks, my skin looks brighter and more even with a natural glow that doesn’t feel forced. Red marks from past breakouts fade a bit faster, and my overall tone looks healthier. What I appreciate most is the gentleness. No stinging, no redness, just a smooth application that layers well with everything else in my routine. I also really value that it doesn’t contain salicylic acid like some of the other vitamin C serums I’ve reviewed on my channel. Since I prefer to use exfoliants on their own, I can comfortably reach for this serum even after a night of exfoliation without worrying about irritation or overdoing it. It’s not a miracle worker overnight, but it builds a quiet, consistent brightness that lasts. Even though ascorbal glucoside is one of the gentler forms of vitamin C, it’s still important to patch test before applying it to your whole face. Always use it with SPF during the day because vitamin C can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and UV damage can reduce its brightening effects. If your skin is sensitive or prone to irritation, start gradually every other day or a few times a week and slowly build up to daily use. Avoid layering it at the same time as strong acids or retinol as this can cause redness or stinging. Instead, use vitamin C in the morning and acids or retinol in the evening or alternate nights to keep your routine safe and effective. Finally, store your serum in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Proper storage helps maintain its stability and potency so you get consistent results with every application. If you want to step into the world of vitamin C without diving into the deep end of irritation or instability, the ordinary ascorbal gluccoside solution 12% is a smart budget friendly choice. It’s reliable, gentle, and effective enough to make a real difference with consistent use. What makes it especially appealing for sensitive or dry skin is that it doesn’t contain salicylic acid unlike some other vitamin C serums. That means you get the brightening and protective benefits without the added risk of overd drying or irritation. It might not be the flashiest vitamin C out there, but it’s a workhorse, a steady support system for glowing, resilient skin. So, if you’re ready to bring a gentle yet effective brightening serum into your daily lineup, this one is absolutely worth considering. I’d love to hear from you. Which vitamin C serums have you tried and how did your skin react to them? Do you prefer gentler derivatives like ascorbal gluccoide or stronger eloscorbic acid formulas? Share your experiences, tips, or even questions in the comments. I love reading them and learning what works for you. Thank you for watching. Don’t forget to use my affiliate links in the description if you want to purchase any of the products. And make sure to follow me on Instagram. And until next time, stay glowing. [Music]
