Understanding PPM for Pure Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid)

PPM stands for Parts Per Million, which is a unit used to express the concentration of a substance within a mixture or solution. In the context of cosmetic ingredients like Pure Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), the PPM value indicates the concentration of the Vitamin C when it is incorporated into a formulation, such as a serum, cream, or lotion.

Here's how you can understand and calculate PPM in relation to percentage:

• Conversion: 1% is equivalent to 10,000 PPM. This is because 1 million is 10,000 times greater than 100.
• Calculation Example (30,000 PPM): If a product claims to contain 30,000 PPM of Pure Vitamin C, this means the concentration of L-ascorbic acid in that product is:
  30,000 PPM / 10,000 PPM per % = 3%
  So, 30,000 PPM is the same as a 3% concentration.

It's important to note that Pure L-ascorbic acid powder itself is considered 100% concentration. The PPM value or percentage concentration (like the 3-15% usage rate mentioned for Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) (Fine) and Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) (Ultra-Fine)) refers to the amount of the powder used within a larger formulation.

What does the claimed PPM value signify?

When brands claim a specific PPM value for an ingredient, they are stating the concentration of that active ingredient in their final product. It is a way to quantify the amount of the active substance relative to the total weight or volume of the product. A higher PPM value indicates a higher concentration of the ingredient in the formulation.

While percentage (%) is a very common way to express active ingredient concentrations in cosmetics, PPM is also used and conveys the same information about the ingredient's level in the product.

Products like Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) (Fine) and Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) (Ultra-Fine) are pure L-ascorbic acid powder, intended to be used at specific concentrations (e.g., 3-15%) in formulations to achieve the desired PPM or percentage in the final product.