Tag: Vitamin c shelf life

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a powerful antioxidant, but it is notoriously unstable and susceptible to degradation. While a tightly sealed container of pure ascorbic acid powder might last for years with minimal potency loss, the same cannot be said for many liquid formulations. Understanding the factors that impact its stability is crucial for ensuring you get the maximum benefit from your vitamin C products.

Vitamin C is a notoriously unstable active ingredient, with its efficacy diminishing upon exposure to air, light, and heat. Learning how to tell if vitamin C has oxidized is essential for ensuring your skincare product is still potent and providing the benefits you expect.

Most vitamin C supplements have a shelf life of about two years, though their potency can degrade significantly over time, especially when not stored correctly. As a notoriously unstable vitamin, factors like light, air, and heat play a huge role in determining how long can you store vitamin C effectively before it loses its benefits.

Vitamin C, the primary ingredient in Emergen-C, can lose significant potency over time, with one study showing nearly a 92% loss in concentration after just 12 months in some supplements. So, is it okay to drink expired Emergen C, or are you just sipping a less effective, potentially compromised effervescent drink?