What does Vit C do when used topically?
EDS Skin Care Forums Forum Index » Skin Care and Makeup Forum

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:56 am Quote

I had long been a dermalogica user but I recently tried the StriVectin and it made a big difference but it also gives me nasty breakouts.

I'm think of trying the DIY recipes but I am curious. What exactly does Vit C serums applied topically do? I'd really like to find something to replace the StriVectin that won't make me break out.

Thanks in adavance

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:03 pm Quote

Hi Gwynnie

Vitamin C serum is an antioxidant and as such it fights free radical damage. It helps in the production of collagen, and improves skin tone and texture. It's an anti-inflammatory,
fights sun damage, and improves pigmentation problems.

The DIY formulation is easy and I like that I can "customize" it. For instance, I began with a 10% solution ... and have now bumped it up to a 15% solution.

What's more, having used a commercial Vitamin C serum in the past, I can compare the effectiveness of both. The commercial one, while certainly not one of the more expensive ones, did nothing for my face. However, the DIY version, for mere pennies a day, is fabulous! In less than 3 months I have seen a marked improvement in the "brightness" of my skin ... as well as tone and texture.

I generally make a new batch every 5 to 7 days.

Mary

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 2:48 pm Quote

hpjrt wrote:

What's more, having used a commercial Vitamin C serum in the past, I can compare the effectiveness of both. The commercial one, while certainly not one of the more expensive ones, did nothing for my face.

Mary

Hello hpjrt,
Which commercial Vitamin C serums you tried and had no results? Please share your experiences.
Thanks a lot,
Wild Cat

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 5:30 pm Quote

Quote:

What's more, having used a commercial Vitamin C serum in the past, I can compare the effectiveness of both. The commercial one, while certainly not one of the more expensive ones, did nothing for my face. However, the DIY version, for mere pennies a day, is fabulous! In less than 3 months I have seen a marked improvement in the "brightness" of my skin ... as well as tone and texture.

I generally make a new batch every 5 to 7 days.

Mary

That's it!!! I am going to stop being lazy and try making my own Vit. C Serum.

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:28 pm Quote

What's your vitamin c recipe? water and vitamin c crystals, or with PG? Your post makes me want to start making my own again, but last time I did it, I didn't get any result so I stopped

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:36 pm Quote

Wow Mary, u make a new one every 5-7 days? I made mine 2 weeks ago and I still have a good amount left. I followed Carekate's recipe. How is your different? I know u also have pectin in yours.

enjoys freebies · Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:01 pm Quote

I use Carekate's recipe ... sort of.

For a 10% solution I use:

1/4 tsp l-ascorbic acid
1 1/2 tsp of pectin solution*
1/2 tsp of PG

*[Actually I empty the "envelope" of liquid pectin into a brown bottle and add distilled water so that it's a 50/50 pectin/distilled water mix.]

In my reading of various forums, including The Personal Formulator, the general concensus is that in any Vitamin C serum with water, the potency is only "effective" for a maximum of 7 days, if kept refrigerated. If made with only water, it would only remain effective/potent for 24 hours.

What I think that means is that a 10% solution might have degraded slightly by day throughout that 7 day period [to say 8%] ... and would then drop off more quickly.

Because I can make 7 or 8 serums from one 25g jar of l-ascorbic acid jars at a cost of about $2 Canadian per jar ... and the pectin is cheap ... I figure that each serum costs me about 30 cents Canadian each ... so it makes sense to me to remake it every week to ensure that I'm getting as much serum at full potency as possible.

Now, as to which commercial Vitamin C serum I used ... I can't recall the brand name of it ... but it wasn't one of the "expensive" ones. It cost somewhere in the neighbourhood of $20 Canadian for a 1 ounce bottle [disturbingly in clear albeit frosted glass] and I got it at a health food store.

It did nothing that I could discern ... but the bottle was nice and it currently holds jojoba oil. Laughing

Unfortunately, I removed the brand label from the bottle before putting it through the dishwasher and sterilizing it!

Having stumbled across the home crafted version of the serum ... it just made more economical sense to me to make my own at a fraction of the cost than to try yet another commercial version. Besides, the ingredients in the homemade version don't adversely affect my skin ... and I can't always count on that with any commercial preparation.

I find making the serum a snap. In fact, it's so simple to make that I can't justify spending money on a commercial version!

I put the l-ascorbic acid in a sterilized amber bottle [I use my vegetable steamer to sterilize the bottles] ... add the pectin and shake ... the crystals disolve rapidly in the pectin ... then add the PG and shake again ... put it in the fridge ... and the next time I clean my face it's ready to use. Very Happy

Of course, I'm basically "frugal" by nature. It's all my mother's fault! Laughing

Mary

enjoys freebies · Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:42 am Quote

Quote:

What exactly does Vit C serums applied topically do?

Hi Gwynnie Smile

welcome to the forum! Vit C is an antioxidant. But unlike most antioxidants which are preventative, it is also corrective -it exfoliates, lightens and rejuvenates. The positive results of topical Vit C have a solid scientific backing and IMHO that it should be one of the cornerstones of a good skin care routine.

Vit C taken orally probably helps our skins too, but perhaps only minimally. If at the time of ingestion our bodies require Vit C for other purposes other than skin health it will be used for those purposes first, so whatever is left, if any, is all that goes to skin improvement. Vit C is very good for us, but our bodies cannot make or store Vit C. HTHS

enjoys freebies · Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:51 am Quote

Thanks for the amswers.

It looks like it's time to put in an order to the Personal Formulator.

I did pick up some brown rice powder to slip into my cleanser when I want to exfoliate and it worked well when i tried it this morning. Now I'm feeling empowered and want to try more >; )

enjoys freebies · Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:13 am Quote

It also thickens your skin, right?

Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:29 am Quote

Vitamin C is a popular topical application because of its many skin care benefits, from skin rejuvenation to skin lightening and skin protection. Vitamin C is naturally potent such that even its topical, superficial application is effective in stimulating other product components to seep through the skin. Vitamin C generally constrains the production of melaning, and triggers the function of antioxidants. Learn more about Vitamin C in ezinearticles.

enjoys freebies · Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:36 pm Quote

Remember Vitamin C works in the water parts of a cell, not the fatty parts. It also gets used up fast!

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