vit.C serum yellow coloured - to use or not to use?
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enjoys freebies · Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:14 am Quote

I`ve purchased samples of Skinceuticals 20AOX serum and it has deep yellow colour.
The seller insists it`s fresh & new, and I know Skinceuticals says it too - that their vit.C serums can have colour ranging from slighty yellow to dark yellow and it does not affect their effectiveness.
BUT I bought samples of Skinceuticals CE Ferulic and Phloretin before and they were clean, with probably slight yellow cast.

so - should I use it or not?
I wouldn`t want to do more harm than good using an old (oxidated) vit.C serum...

enjoys freebies · Mon Jul 06, 2009 12:19 pm Quote

its ok, just as long as it doesnt turn blood red.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:47 pm Quote

calorblind wrote:

its ok, just as long as it doesnt turn blood red.

ok, I see.
thank you!

enjoys freebies · Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:29 pm Quote

It sounds like it oxidized already, but I have not used that particular skinceuticals product to know what the color of it is supposed to be. I don't trust any C that is not clear to champagne in color, any darker in my mind means it has oxidized.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:50 pm Quote

I agree, it is sounds like it oxidized. I wouldn'r risk it. I had a samples before and they wasn't deep yellow colour.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jul 06, 2009 8:24 pm Quote

I know that Skinceuticals always says it's ok to use C serum with slight yellow or dark yellow color.

But I would like to know what happened when the Serum gets yellow? Is it actually some other things that oxidized so to protect the L-Acsorbic C, or is the C oxidized?

enjoys freebies · Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:31 am Quote

Lara1 wrote:

I agree, it is sounds like it oxidized. I wouldn'r risk it. I had a samples before and they wasn't deep yellow colour.

I agree, you skin is not worth putting it on.

enjoys freebies · Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:36 pm Quote

It's oxidised. It wouldn't have any antioxidant effect.

enjoys freebies · Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:11 am Quote

of course it will be a waste to throw it away but if i changes color , that means it is oxidised: gone bad. best to throw it away or use it on other parts of the body.better be safe than sorry!

enjoys freebies · Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:56 am Quote

I have read over and over again, that when a vitamin c serum turns color, this is the 2nd stage of oxidation, and at this point it becomes "Pro" oxidant, and is harmful to our skin.

The 1st stage of oxidation (of L-Ascorbic Acid) is when it is mixed with water at the get go. This is not dangerous though, and can safely be used until discoration starts..

Personally, I find any company that intentionally uses an ingredient in their C serum that causes yellowing from the get go, very suspect, and I would not use that product even for free.. (The Idebenone in Cellbone's serums, is the reason why I started my research to make my own.) I have never used Skinceuticals, and have no respect for them or their product, because they have the audacity to tell people to "use it up to the point it's blood red".. That is simply hogwash, and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Here's a nice little site with some good info on all things skincare, and some good information on C serums.. (Even a simple, basic DIY recipe is included at the bottom!

http://www.natural-skin-care-info.com/vitamin-c-serum.html

I would like to ask Skinceuticals users a question that I've been trying to figure out for a while.. A while back a few members mentioned a distinct "hot dog smell" with their C, E + FA serum..

I've made a tremendous amount of C serums using L-AA and never once recall 'any' smell no matter how long I had it... Twice, I made a serum using MAP, and both times at about the 6 week mark, they had a distinct (and quite gross) hot dog smell...

So my question is this; why does Skinceuticals C, E + FA serum get that 'hot dog' smell, when they don't have "MAP" listed as an ingredient?

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 3:11 am Quote

This is a problem I have had too. I have had Obagi's C Clarifying serum and it was yellow to start with. I think they put a yellow tint in it which I was really unhappy about because I guess you can't tell when it has oxidised. Unless it was actually oxidised from the start Shock

I have researched to find out how to tell if this serum has oxidised and can only see stuff about "Obagi has a stable Vitamin C serum" blah blah. I'm going to throw it out as I think it's been getting darker.
Are there any Vitamin C serums out there that are totally clear ie no tint? Are they supposed to be clear "white" or do they always have a bit of a colour like champagne as said above?

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:47 am Quote

TTD wrote:

This is a problem I have had too. I have had Obagi's C Clarifying serum and it was yellow to start with. I think they put a yellow tint in it which I was really unhappy about because I guess you can't tell when it has oxidised. Unless it was actually oxidised from the start Shock

I have researched to find out how to tell if this serum has oxidised and can only see stuff about "Obagi has a stable Vitamin C serum" blah blah. I'm going to throw it out as I think it's been getting darker.
Are there any Vitamin C serums out there that are totally clear ie no tint? Are they supposed to be clear "white" or do they always have a bit of a colour like champagne as said above?

I have been trying various vitamin C serum throughout the years and - so far - found three brands that are perfectly clear for at least 3-5 months after opening: CellularskinRX C+, SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF and SkinMedica C Complex.

Smile

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 5:53 am Quote

I have been using SkinCeuticals CE+Ferulic serum since it came out. But, back in March I started using a prescription of Finacea for small brown patches on my skin, and stopped using the C serum. I purchased the bottle back in March and maybe used it 2 times. Well, I went to start using it again the other day and it has turned a very dark yellow. So, it's been about 4 months and I have to assume it is no longer good. It is a shame because it is a new full bottle. I decided I won't throw it out, but maybe use it on my lower neck/chest area. I will order a new bottle to use on my face. Smile

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:19 am Quote

I bought some Skinceuticals C serum sample paks off Ebay once. They had a very slight yellowish caste so I contacted the company and they told me the product was fine and this was normal. It didn't look right to me so I returned it. It may be that all their C serums look this way, but I'm not willing to take the chance. That is why I started making my own. Wink

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:39 am Quote

Oops, I wanted to add that I buy directly from SkinCeuticals and when I receive the C serums, they are always clear. No color whatsoever. Over time they do turn a slight pale yellow color, but I am usually finished with a bottle before it gets to that point.

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:57 am Quote

I use another brand vitamin c serum. I also find it turns brown in colour. I ask the agent it is suitable to continue use or not. They say it is not a problem and I can use it. But I still confuse because vitamin c is easily to be oxidated. So if it is oxidated, the effect of this product should be affect. That means it is an useless skincare even it can be used. Am I right??

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 7:04 am Quote

Garden of Wisdom has Vit C & Ferulic serum thats very reasonably priced. I think its around $30 for 1oz bottle. I have not tried it but plan to order it when I run out of SkinCeuticals C serum. I always store SC's in the fridge and it remains clear to use the entire bottle.

enjoys freebies · Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:44 am Quote

Thanks for the information, all.

tckmtracy: Doesn't sound like there will be any benefit from continuing using that. As I understand it oxidised Vitamin C will actually cause damage.

GirlieGirl: Let me know how the GoW Vit C turns out

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