DIY Vitamin C Serum
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skincare Tools & Do-It-Yourself Skincare

free skin care · Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:58 pm

Hi all,

I have done my DIY Vitamin C Serum for the very first time last night.

I encountered with two problems:

1. The vitamin C powder seems not to be dissolved easily as I can see the residue left at the bottom of my amber bottle. What's wrong with me? Has anyone faced the same problem before?

2. Did you feel a little bit hot when you touch the serum with your fingers and also while applying on your face?

I am confused, what have I done wrong

free skin care · Thu Apr 17, 2008 1:56 am

Can anyone help, please? Carakate.....

free skin care · Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:00 pm

Could you please share a little more info, and I'll try to help you.

What recipe did you use, and what are the measurments?

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:17 am

I had the same issue. I tried to make the vit. c. with Glycerine and distilled water. The vitamin c crystals did not disolve.

I tried it using the glycerine first with the crystals to disolve. I shook and shook and shook for hours. and nothing. I tried using the water and did the same shaking. Nothing. I tried heating the water. Nothing. Still saw the crystals in there. What gives. How did you all do it?

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:12 am

Okay, here's the deal; first lets be sure you have the right vit C. L-Ascorbic Acid crystals/powder is what you need.

It is readily absorbable in water + propylene glycol, but the proportions have to be right. You may have used too much vit C... Tell me what % you want your serum to be, and I'll give you the recipe. I would suggest 10 or 15% though.. More than that is a waste, as your skin will only absorb so much. In any case, I wouldn't recommend more than 20%. Also keep in mind that the higher the %, the longer it will take the crystal to dissolve.

You also don't want to really heat the water, because hot water, although it will melt the crystals, will also degrade it.. gentle heating only in a warm water bath for a couple of minutes only.

Tell me the % you want, and what you have on hand to formulate with.

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:01 pm

I bought my Lysorbic Acid (Vit-C)crysals acid from personal formualtors along with the glycerine.

I tried disolving it in the distilled water alone and then tried the glycerine alone. nothing worked.

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:18 pm

Try this which will make 1oz of a 15% serum. (It's so reasonable, that you can use it on your arms and legs as well.) Keep in fridge. I haven't had any issues with oxidation before it was used up in about 8 weeks.

1 teaspoon vit c crystals/powder
3 teaspoons distilled water
2 teaspoons glycerin

Dissolve the vit c in the distilled water. I use a shot glass and stir frequently until it dissolves. This usually takes about 30 minutes.

When it has fully dissolved, add the glycerin, put it in a dark bottle, and shake.. I keep mine in the fridge.

If you are very impatient, or if it doesn't fully dissolve after 30 minutes, add 2 or 3 drops of vodka to the water.. Laughing

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 12:20 pm

Vodka? Are you serious?

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 8:58 pm

sherryf13500 wrote:

Vodka? Are you serious?

If for some reason, after giving it plenty of time to absorb, if noticable crystal is still in the bottom, 2 or 3 drops of vodka will do the trick..

I just made up a batch using the exact recipe I gave you above, and the C dissolved in 20 minutes. I sat it in a gently warmed water bath for 2 minutes while stirring..

free skin care · Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:22 pm

i usually dissolve the vit C in distilled water first. if it's not completely dissolved, I will put it in microwave for 3-5 secs (at most!) it would then be easily dissolved!! I will add the glycerin or PG afterwards.

free skin care · Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:36 am

daydreamingda wrote:

i usually dissolve the vit C in distilled water first. if it's not completely dissolved, I will put it in microwave for 3-5 secs (at most!) it would then be easily dissolved!! I will add the glycerin or PG afterwards.

I would think the heat would destroy or oxidise the vitamin c during this time.

free skin care · Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:49 am

miranets wrote:

daydreamingda wrote:

i usually dissolve the vit C in distilled water first. if it's not completely dissolved, I will put it in microwave for 3-5 secs (at most!) it would then be easily dissolved!! I will add the glycerin or PG afterwards.

I would think the heat would destroy or oxidise the vitamin c during this time.

Heat will definitely oxidize vitamin C.. If your having a hard time dissolving the crystals, you can 'gently' help it along in a warm water bath for a few minutes. Not hot, and no microwaving.. Just moderately warm water from the tap.

My previous post's will explain a bit more.

free skin care · Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:09 am

Kassy....
I did it. It worked. I used your recipe and your directions and it worked. Thanks. I also ran it under some warm water to clean off the bottle and that worked well too.

Thanks.

free skin care · Tue Apr 29, 2008 10:12 am

I'm glad to help sherry!

free skin care · Fri May 02, 2008 5:50 am

I'm using L-Ascorbic Acid from Bulk Actives and I don't have any problems with it not disolving. I put it straight into distilled water that I keep in the fridge and it disolves in seconds.

However, does anyone know if putting the vitamin C into cold water would degrade it?

free skin care · Fri May 02, 2008 6:17 am

Is there a web site "Bulk Actives" that you purchase your actives from?

free skin care · Fri May 02, 2008 6:24 am

sherryf13500 wrote:

Is there a web site "Bulk Actives" that you purchase your actives from?

It's justwww.bulkactives.com

free skin care · Fri May 02, 2008 6:30 am

Thanks for the quick response.

free skin care · Fri May 02, 2008 2:28 pm

Keliu wrote:

However, does anyone know if putting the vitamin C into cold water would degrade it?

I think only heat is a problem Keliu.

free skin care · Sat May 10, 2008 10:50 am

I do use vitamin C crystals for my C serum, and I found that the Vitamin C does not totally dissolve in water, but I had total success dissolving it in liquid beta glucan or flax seed gel.

free skin care · Sat May 10, 2008 10:29 pm

Why use distilled water? Can you use regular filtered water??

free skin care · Sun May 11, 2008 2:33 pm

Chrissie wrote:

Why use distilled water? Can you use regular filtered water??

No Chrissie, the filtered water won't do. 'Distilled Water' has all of the harmful things removed.

Use distilled water, which can be purchased at any food market for about $1. per gallon.

free skin care · Mon May 12, 2008 9:29 am

Can you regulate how strong the Vit. C serum is buy how much c you put in the mix?

free skin care · Mon May 12, 2008 9:42 am

Kassy_A wrote:

Try this which will make 1oz of a 15% serum. (It's so reasonable, that you can use it on your arms and legs as well.) Keep in fridge. I haven't had any issues with oxidation before it was used up in about 8 weeks.

1 teaspoon vit c crystals/powder
3 teaspoons distilled water
2 teaspoons glycerin

Dissolve the vit c in the distilled water. I use a shot glass and stir frequently until it dissolves. This usually takes about 30 minutes.

When it has fully dissolved, add the glycerin, put it in a dark bottle, and shake.. I keep mine in the fridge.

If you are very impatient, or if it doesn't fully dissolve after 30 minutes, add 2 or 3 drops of vodka to the water.. Laughing

free skin care · Thu May 15, 2008 12:01 pm

Better to use MilliQ water.

Do not heat.

Add the Vit C bit by bit.

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