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

free skin care · Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:05 am

mandapanda wrote:

It was in the packet that came with the prolight..It is the advanced LED treatment..
where you derma roll and then use the light, and then put the C on as a mask for ten minutes and rinse off and then ice cube your face, and apply emu oil or another oil.

It can take up to an hour for vitamin C to fully absorb, and once absorbed can't be washed off..

I wouldn't think 10 minutes is enough time to reap the benefits?

Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:18 pm

I have another question (sorry!). How do I know if my l-ascorbic acid powder has oxidized? When I dissolved the ascorbic acid in the distilled water, I noticed right away that it had a very slight yellowish tint. I hadn't noticed that before. Does that mean the powder has oxidized?

free skin care · Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:18 am

It should just look like clear water pretty much. Are you using distilled water? Using anything else can result in discoloration, because of the mineral content of other waters.

I'm still working on the same vitamin C crystals I opened a year ago, and haven't had a problem yet. (But I will be throwing out whatever remains after my next batch, just because!)

Sun Apr 05, 2009 12:27 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

It should just look like clear water pretty much. Are you using distilled water? Using anything else can result in discoloration, because of the mineral content of other waters.

I'm still working on the same vitamin C crystals I opened a year ago, and haven't had a problem yet. (But I will be throwing out whatever remains after my next batch, just because!)

Yes, I am using distilled water. It's the same distilled water that I have had for about 3 weeks. I keep it tightly covered, but could that be too old or something?

I'm also storing the C powder in a plastic baggie (as tightly closed as I can get it), and I'm keeping it in my closet so it's not exposed to light. The ziplock-type bag it was shipped to me in ripped when I tried to open it, so I just rolled it tightly closed and put it in another baggie.

When I made C serum a week ago, it was completely clear when I dissolved it in the water, but last night it was tinged a very light yellow. Now I'm not sure if I should be ordering more or not.

Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:17 pm

Kassy_A,

I am right now making your recipe, and the HA that I have is the 1% serum from Garden of Wisdom. Is that okay to use? Thanks!

free skin care · Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:06 pm

JLeigh wrote:

Kassy_A,

I am right now making your recipe, and the HA that I have is the 1% serum from Garden of Wisdom. Is that okay to use? Thanks!

Yep!

Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:26 pm

Thanks! I did make it (boy did the FA take FOREVER to dissolve lol), and I'm going to try it tonight. So far, I love the consistency. Smile

Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:43 pm

Can I bother you again, Kassy? I was wondering if I can ship some of this to a friend without it being oxidized, etc, by the time it gets to her. I live in WI, and she lives in OK.

free skin care · Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:50 am

JLeigh wrote:

Can I bother you again, Kassy? I was wondering if I can ship some of this to a friend without it being oxidized, etc, by the time it gets to her. I live in WI, and she lives in OK.

If you are shipping in the cool weather, like 50 degrees or lower, it should be fine.. If the heat is on, then pack it with a freezer pack, and send it overnight.

Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:14 am

Thanks, Kassy. Smile

Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:19 pm

Kassy,

I wanted to ask you about an SKB replacement. I think I'm allergic to the SKB because right after I started using it, my under-eyes started getting puffy. I'm going to try flax seed gel (unless you think that's a bad idea?), but if that doesn't work, do you have any other suggestions? I'm just afraid of getting those little blackheads again. Thank you for any help you can give me. Smile

free skin care · Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:42 am

I would love to make my own Vitamin C serums, but have concerns like -

(1) References to oxidation starting with just a couple days and that you cannot judge oxidation by serum color or shade changes.

(2) Ferulic acid - from what I have read, it is notoriously difficult to get this to dissolve in water and alcohol should be used for this...

BF

free skin care · Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:27 pm

JLeigh, you can make a C serum without the SKB.. Just replace the same volume amount with half glycerin and half vodka.

Barefootgirl, the 1st stage of oxidation starts as soon as the water hits it, and then when the bottle is opened, but it is still in the safe zone until you get to the 2nd stage, which is discoloration.. The 1st stage is just really a gradual weakening of the concentration, which isn't harmful to our skin. Ex: what started out at 15%, might wind up at 12% by the end of the bottle in a few months.

In my experience, not even one of the DIY C serums I have made for myself or others, has ever shown any visible sign of oxidation.. I'm sure it has to do with the addition of FA + vitamin E which help to stabilize the LAA, but the main thing is that it's as fresh as you can get, because you've just made it.. Laughing

For me it's a no brainer, and I would NEVER again pay for a retail C product that has been sitting around God knows how long, before I even buy it.. I learned a long time ago (when I was using Cellbone's C products), that the yellow color it is when opened is intentional, and designed specifically to cover the obvious sign of oxidation.

You will also read on many websites regarding C products, that it's "quite alright to use even if it's brown"... Shock

... What hogwash! Don't believe it cause it just ain't so..

Yes, Ferulic Acid is a b*tch to dissolve in water, but a cinch in ethanol.. Hence the addition of vodka, you will see in my latest recipe's..

Okay, I'm running off at the mouth now, and probably said much more than you cared to read.. Embarassed

Tue May 26, 2009 12:32 pm

Is it ok to dissolve the FA in some warm water? I usually pop it in the microwave for 5 sec to dissolve it and it seems to work fine. I don't think the warm/hot water breaks the FA ?!

free skin care · Tue May 26, 2009 2:15 pm

darilin wrote:

Is it ok to dissolve the FA in some warm water? I usually pop it in the microwave for 5 sec to dissolve it and it seems to work fine. I don't think the warm/hot water breaks the FA ?!

Ferulic Acid is NOT soluble in water.. You will wind up with gritty clumps if you try that. And heat is never a good thing for *most* actives.

FA is soluble in ethanol, that's it.

Wed May 27, 2009 2:02 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

darilin wrote:

Is it ok to dissolve the FA in some warm water? I usually pop it in the microwave for 5 sec to dissolve it and it seems to work fine. I don't think the warm/hot water breaks the FA ?!

Ferulic Acid is NOT soluble in water.. You will wind up with gritty clumps if you try that. And heat is never a good thing for *most* actives.

FA is soluble in ethanol, that's it.

Sorry for the confusion. I actually dissolve it in Propylene Glycol. it seems to dissolve beautifully when I warm it up a little.

Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:14 pm

darilin wrote:

Kassy_A wrote:

darilin wrote:

Is it ok to dissolve the FA in some warm water? I usually pop it in the microwave for 5 sec to dissolve it and it seems to work fine. I don't think the warm/hot water breaks the FA ?!

Ferulic Acid is NOT soluble in water.. You will wind up with gritty clumps if you try that. And heat is never a good thing for *most* actives.

FA is soluble in ethanol, that's it.

Sorry for the confusion. I actually dissolve it in Propylene Glycol. it seems to dissolve beautifully when I warm it up a little.

The recipe for Version A does not have ethanol to dissolve the FA...I would like to make the serum today, but I was wondering about the FA dissolving since it's mentioned that FA does not dissolve in water. Would appreciate some help Smile

free skin care · Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:01 pm

I've been making Kassy's recipe for the past couple of years:

What you need for 1oz C,E, Ferulic 15%;
- 2 glass shot glasses
- 1oz cobalt or amber dropper or pump bottle
- 1 tsp L-Ascorbic Acid
- 1/4 tsp (1 ml) Vitamin E (equals 1%)
- .5% of Ferulic Acid (1 good pinch)
- 2 tsp SKB (Sea Kelp Bioferment)
- 3 + 1/2 tsp of distilled water
- 1/2 tsp of vodka (don't laugh, you need it to dissolve the FA so it's not gritty, and it also keeps the ph low enough!)

I'm having troubles dissolving the FA in vodka. I've stirred and kept it in vodka for over an hour but it never completely dissolves. The result is a gritty liquid. Last night, after making a new batch, I decided to strain it through a coffee filter. I had a lot of fine deposit, to the point that my new serum has NO FA
The FA I'm using is from SkinActives.
Any advice? Anybody?
Thank you for reading this,

free skin care · Mon Jan 17, 2011 6:26 pm

Either try Everclear way more potent than Vodka, if it's legal where you live.. I call it legal moonshine Smile

or the propylene glycol.

Question are you keeping the vodka in the freezer? It dissolves much easier if you do?

If you go for Everclear here is what you are looking for. Smile

I prefer it for DIY.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everclear_(alcohol)?wasRedirected=true

Get the 190 proof if possible. Don't drink it! LOL

Everclear is a brand of neutral grain spirit manufactured by Luxco (formerly the David Sherman Company).[1] Everclear is relatively low in congeners and is available in concentrations of 151- and 190-proof, which are 75.5 and 95 percent alcohol, respectively.[2] In contrast, other hard liquors such as rum and vodka are typically 80 to 120 proof, which contain 40 to 60 percent alcohol.

free skin care · Tue Jan 18, 2011 6:59 am

Thank you DM, I don't know what everclear is... What else can I use?

free skin care · Tue Jan 18, 2011 7:07 am

Bellezza wrote:

Thank you DM, I don't know what everclear is... What else can I use?

Everclear is a consumable clear grain alcohol with a much higher percentage of actual alcohol than Vodka. You can call your local liquor store and ask.
If not and you have tried Vodka in the freezer propylene glycol is the other choice, you would need to order from a DIY supplier.

free skin care · Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:58 pm

Bellezza wrote:

I've been making Kassy's recipe for the past couple of years:

I'm having troubles dissolving the FA in vodka. I've stirred and kept it in vodka for over an hour but it never completely dissolves. The result is a gritty liquid. Last night, after making a new batch, I decided to strain it through a coffee filter. I had a lot of fine deposit, to the point that my new serum has NO FA
The FA I'm using is from SkinActives.
Any advice? Anybody?
Thank you for reading this,

I find my FA liqufies as soon as the vodka hits it. I use room temp vodka, that is stored in my pantry. Even if it feels a tiny bit gritty at this point, once it's incorporated into the rest of the serum it should completely blend in. (I must admit though, I never really noticed it gritty.)

For those having a problem, I would encourage you to use an emulsifier (of choice) at 1%.

Thu Oct 06, 2011 11:33 am

So please pardon me if this has been answered or is obvious, but I've read and still unsure... My question: is it going to be acceptable to substitute propylene glycol for the vodka, in the same quantity as the vodka? I don't have a problem dissolving, just don't want to use vodka. I don't drink and thus don't keep it around the pantry. Smile

For those having a problem, I would encourage you to use an emulsifier (of choice) at 1%.[/quote]

free skin care · Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:49 pm

I don't know about propylene glycol but my ferulic acid dissolves well in glycerine (I read that somewhere on the www), so maybe you could try one of the serums with glycerine?

Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:15 pm

Well, I tried roughly 2/3 propylene glycol and 1/3 vodka (had a few drops left in a bottle, literally), because I had the propylene glycol; don't have any glycerin on hand. Started with just the propylene glycol and it was still gritty after 1/2 hour, so added the vodka; still gritty after another 1/2 hour (I had figured I'd top up the volume with another 1/3 propylene glycol if the FA dissolved). Back to the drawing board (though I'm going to use up the batch of serum up anyway, if nothing else, it's still C + E + HA...)

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