l-Ascorbic acid alkyl esters action on stratum corneum model membranes: An insight into the mechanism for enhanced skin permeation.

•Skin permeation enhancement agents affect the elasticity of SC lipid membranes.•ASCn, as well as oleic and stearic acid, alter in-plane structuring of SC lipid films•Enhancers partition preferentially into the thinner phase of the SC lipid system•The non-enhancer stearic acid concentrates on the Ceramide-enriched thick phase•The physical properties of SC lipids are of importance in the permeation enhancement