COMPARATIVE STABILITY ANALYSIS OF COMPOUNDED VITAMIN C GELS IN PHARMACIES OF THE GREATER VITÓRIA REGION, BRAZIL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14450/infarma.e202612Keywords:
Acid Ascorbic., Chemical Stability., Magistral Preparations., Quality Control.Abstract
Vitamin C is widely used in cosmetic formulations due to its depigmenting, collagen synthesis–stimulating,
and antioxidant properties. However, it presents stability variations because it is water-soluble and
susceptible to degradation, especially when exposed to temperature fluctuations, light, and oxygen. With
the increasing demand for compounded cosmetic products, the stability of formulations containing vitamin C has become a critical factor to ensure the quality and safety of the final product. This study aimed to
evaluate the stability of 10% vitamin C gels compounded in four different pharmacies located in the Greater
Vitória region, Espírito Santo, Brazil. This was a quantitative, descriptive, and experimental study in which
the compounded formulations were evaluated for organoleptic characteristics, physicochemical parameters
(pH and viscosity), vitamin C content, packaging, labeling, and shelf life. The samples were stored under
refrigeration (2–8 °C), room temperature (19–30 °C), and in an oven (40 °C) and analyzed at 0, 14, 28,
42, and 56 days. The results showed that vitamin C content remained relatively stable in all conditions for
up to 30 days. However, formulations stored at room temperature and in the oven exhibited progressive
changes in physicochemical and organoleptic characteristics. It is concluded that refrigerated storage and
the use of packaging with lower oxygen permeability were determinant factors for maintaining the stability
of compounded vitamin C gels throughout the study period, and the standardization of these practices in
compounding pharmacies is recommended.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mayara Recke dos Santos Castello, Viviane Alves dos Santos, Odilon Azevedo Calian, Claudia Janaina Torres Müller, Fernanda Leite Pereira Martins
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