An aqueous topical serum having stabilized bioactive L-ascorbic acid has a pH of from 3.4 to 3.8 and comprises from 10% to 18% by weight of L(+)-ascorbic acid, 0.2% by weight retinyl propionate, and from 0.005% to 0.5% by weight of a mixture selected from the group consisting of glabridin, silibinin and thyme.