2Rank 02 of 10 · Vitamin C Serums
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
The highest declared L-ascorbic acid percentage in this ranking, suspended in a water-free silicone-and-squalane base so that the vitamin is not dissolved until it meets the skin.
7.2BPR score
- €9Price
- 23% L-ascorbic acid in a water-free suspension — percentage in the product nameForm of vitamin C and declared concentration
- 2 of 10in Vitamin C Serums
- 7.2BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
This is for buyers who understand the trade-off: the strongest pure vitamin C number in the list at the lowest price per gram of ascorbic acid, delivered as a gritty, anhydrous suspension rather than an elegant serum. Ascorbic acid is the first ingredient on the INCI list we read on Notino.de, followed by squalane and a run of esters and alkanes; there is no water. That is the point of the format: L-ascorbic acid degrades in water, so keeping it undissolved is a stability strategy rather than a texture choice.
Two cautions. First, 23% is above the 10–20% range that the Al-Niaimi and Chiang review describes as optimal, and the same review notes that higher concentrations may cause irritation. Second, a water-free suspension has no meaningful pH to publish, so you cannot compare it on that axis with the water-based serums here.
There is no vitamin E or ferulic acid; BHT is the only added antioxidant. We found no clinical or consumer study for this product, and the 4.2/5 average on Notino.de rests on just five reviews. We could not open The Ordinary's own product page (404 and robots blocks), so the composition and price are from the Notino listing.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Vitamin C form
- Ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid)
- Declared concentration
- 23%
- Pack size
- 30 ml
- Price (Notino.de)
- €9.30
- Price per 30 ml
- €9.30
- Base
- Water-free suspension (squalane, esters, alkanes)
- Vitamin E
- No
- Ferulic acid
- No
- Added antioxidant
- BHT
- Other actives
- Sodium hyaluronate (2% HA spheres per product name)
- Fragrance
- No
- Notino rating
- 4.2/5 (5 reviews)
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- 23% L-ascorbic acid — the highest declared dose here
- Water-free base, so the vitamin is not dissolved in storage
- €9.30 for 30 ml
- Short, fragrance-free ingredient list
- Includes sodium hyaluronate
Worth knowing
- Above the 10–20% range the 2017 review calls optimal; review notes possible irritation at higher doses
- No vitamin E or ferulic acid
- No published study of any kind
- Only five Notino reviews
- Official product page could not be opened
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Vitamin C Serums.
| Product | Score | Form of vitamin C and declared concentration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revitalift Clinical Vitamin C SerumTop score | 7.5 | 12% ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid) — percentage stated in the Notino.de listing; L'Oréal's own page could not be opened | €18 |
| Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%This product | 7.2 | 23% L-ascorbic acid in a water-free suspension — percentage in the product name | €9 |
| Category average10 products analysed | 6.7 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why does this product feel gritty?
Because the vitamin C is suspended as undissolved particles in a water-free base. The ingredient list we read contains no water, which keeps L-ascorbic acid out of solution until application.
Is 23% better than 15%?
Not necessarily. The 2017 review in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology describes 10–20% as the optimal range and notes that higher concentrations might cause some irritation.
From the same ranking
Other products in Vitamin C Serums.
The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
-
No. 017.5/ 10
Revitalift Clinical Vitamin C Serum
A 12% L-ascorbic acid serum with tocopherol, hyaluronate and a little salicylic acid for under…
-
No. 036.9/ 10
Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
A 10% L-ascorbic acid serum built on CeraVe's ceramide and cholesterol base, without fragrance…
-
No. 046.9/ 10
Vitamin C+ Glow Booster Serum
A cheap, well-reviewed brightening serum that uses the derivative 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid…
-
No. 056.7/ 10
LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum
A 15% L-ascorbic acid serum with vitamin E and pine-bark extract, backed by brand-run tests on…