STILL can't find a good vitamin C serum recipe! Help!
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skincare Tools & Do-It-Yourself Skincare

Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:57 pm

I know the homemade vitamin C serum recipe topic has been discussed almost to death, but I still haven't found one that has the ingredients I would like. I don't want a complicated one, I don't have time for that. But I want more than just vitamin C and water. I know what ingredients I want, but I don't know what amounts to use. Any help would be so appreciated! Here is what I just posted on MUA:

I want to try making my own serum, and from all the recipes I have read and information about different possible ingredients, here are the ingredients I have decided I want:

L ascorbic acid vitamin C
Natural vitamin E oil
Tea tree oil
Water
Natural emulsifier like pectin or beeswax

I don't want propylene glycol because I've heard it can cause irritation and be bad for your skin, and the whole reason I am trying a serum is to help my red acne marks fade more quickly. (An antifreeze ingredient on my skin? blah) I also don't want a recipe any more complicated than that. I have next to zero free time with college right now, so even trying to mix this daily will be a stretch.

Anyway I want these ingredients but I don't know what amounts to use! I got the vitamin C and water recipe off stamoreowls notepad, but I'm not sure how to incorporate the others. She says to add 1% vitamin E, so is that the concentration of vitamin E, or is that 1% of the total volume? So for 20% serum she said to have 20:100 (1:5) parts vitamin C to water ratio. so would that mean a 1:20:100 parts vitamin E:vitamin C:water ratio? And anyone had experience with tea tree oil? I've read in several places (including webMD) that it helps kill bacteria that causes acne. I have searched every darn recipe on these message boards for hours on end the last couple days but to no avail! If anyone can point me in the right direction I will be SO GRATEFUL!!!! I'm desperate!

THANKS SO MUCH!!!

free skin care · Wed Feb 06, 2008 5:20 pm

marky has a great one from garden of wisdom try this link, it should take you to her posted recipes http://www.gardenofwisdom.com/Formulations.html

hth

free skin care · Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:18 pm

The following recipe will yield a 20% C serum;

1/2 tsp vit C powder
1/4 tsp hyaluronic acid (emulsifier)
1/4 tsp glycerin (emulsifier)
1 tsp distilled water
1 vit E capsule, or a few drops of E oil.

I'm not sure if tea tree oil can be used in C serum. Some actives can 'kill' the effectiveness of C. I'm not familiar with it though. You also want to keep the PH below 3.5.

The above recipe yields about 1/2 oz, and will be stable till it's finished if kept in fridge.

free skin care · Mon Feb 11, 2008 12:30 pm

dee000 wrote:

I don't want propylene glycol because I've heard it can cause irritation and be bad for your skin, and the whole reason I am trying a serum is to help my red acne marks fade more quickly. (An antifreeze ingredient on my skin? blah)

For the record, propylene glycol, in the tiny amounts used in creams, serums etc, is not at all harmful to the skin.

Kassy

free skin care · Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:31 pm

Thx for sharing!

free skin care · Thu Feb 21, 2008 4:40 am

I used to purchase the Vitamin C powder from Philosophy. It came with a tiny little spoon and the instructions were to add one spoonful of the powder to your favourite moisturiser and apply to clean face. I thought it worked ok - at least it did sting when applied to the face. BTW is stinging an indication of effectiveness?

Anyway, here is my question. I have just purchased some L-Ascorbic Acid powder from Bulk Actives. Instead of mixing it up in some sort of serum, do you think that I could add it to something in the palm of my hand and slap it on my face in the same manner as the Philosophy Vit C?

free skin care · Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:43 am

I had the same question a while ago - hopefully someone will see this and respond.

I'm adding it to my homemade masks. I have no idea if it's helping, hurting, enhancing, or what!

free skin care · Sun Feb 24, 2008 1:03 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

The following recipe will yield a 20% C serum;

1/2 tsp vit C powder
1/4 tsp hyaluronic acid (emulsifier)
1/4 tsp glycerin (emulsifier)
1 tsp distilled water
1 vit E capsule, or a few drops of E oil.

Kassy,
Is the 1/2 tsp HA in powder form or serum?
THX
Betsy

free skin care · Sun Feb 24, 2008 2:57 pm

serum

free skin care · Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:22 pm

Do you find your DIY serums to be as effective as the ones you purchase?

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