Is Skinceuticals worth the money vs DIY or SkinActives?
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free skin care · Sat Sep 07, 2013 8:18 pm

Right now, I use DIY C&E at night, after 30 mins or so, then I put the Medical Barrier Cream of Epionce over the serum.

The reason I use it in the pm because I find that the serum makes my skin flaky very much when I use it in the morning.

Use it in the pm, I don't see it anymore.

BTW, I am tempted to try the formulary of Lotioncrafter but the shipping cost is very high to Asia if I buy all from them.

free skin care · Wed Sep 11, 2013 7:39 am

I know that the recipe of the C&E Serum of Lotioncrafter is a duplicate of Skinceuticals and the serum of the latter has being in the market for years but I would like to know what your comments are about the safety of such high percentage of these 2 solvents.

20% Ethoxydiglycol
10% Propylene Glycol

free skin care · Wed Sep 11, 2013 9:30 pm

summer2004 wrote:

I know that the recipe of the C&E Serum of Lotioncrafter is a duplicate of Skinceuticals and the serum of the latter has being in the market for years but I would like to know what your comments are about the safety of such high percentage of these 2 solvents.

20% Ethoxydiglycol
10% Propylene Glycol

Skinceuticals C,E, Ferulic Ingredients:

Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Alpha Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate

This is so easy to dupe, (in a good way), that I still cringe when I hear people paying $160./oz for this... Sad

free skin care · Thu Sep 12, 2013 5:42 am

Hi Kassy,

I want to buy the ingredients from Lotioncrafter to make the knock-off but wonder if the high percentage of solvents is good for skin.

http://www.lotioncrafter.com/c-e-with-ferulic-acid-kit.html

http://www.lotioncrafter.com/formulary/DIY_C&E_With_Ferulic_Acid.pdf

free skin care · Thu Sep 12, 2013 3:26 pm

Hi Summer,

I wouldn't be comfortable with that high % of solvent & PG either. BUT, for die hard Skinceutical fans, it probably would be worth it to them.

To be honest summer, I think that $60. would be better spent on just buying the *ingredients* necessary for a decent C serum (and then some!)

I just worked this recipe out, (using the best actives in SC), and plan to whip it up myself over the weekend. Maybe you can give it a try as well. (Note the 2oz volume, which is the minimum I would make, because it's quite the hassle heating/holding & preparing less.)

20% C,E,FA & dl-Panthenol (B5). 2oz Volume (9-12-13)

Distilled Water (68%) 38.56 gms
L-Ascorbic Acid (20%) 11.34 gms (better than 15% unless very sensitive!)
E-Wax (3%) 1.70 gms
Propylene Glycol (2%) 1.13 gms (to solubize FA and also enhance penetration)
Glycerin (2%) 1.13 gms
Jojoba OR Meadowfoam oil (1%) 0.57 gms (will help extend shelf life + also penetration enhancer of sorts
Optiphen (or preservative of choice) (1%) 0.57 gms
Vitamin E Oil (1%) 0.57 gms
dl-Panthenol (pro vit-B5) (1%) 0.57 gms
Ferulic Acid (.5%) 0.28 gms
Citric Acid (.5%) to bring pH under 3 and also extra preservation (I use as much/little as I need for my target pH of 2.5!)

To Prepare:

Heat water(slowly/gently) to 140F then set aside (decant 1oz into a shot glass.) You will add your water soluble actives to it when it cools to 80F or less.

Heat E-wax, and oils (slowly/gently)to 140F and set aside, but do not allow it to get solid. The PG/FA can be added as soon as it cools down to 80 or 90F (Having supplies all prepared will allow you to work quickly!)

In a separate shot glass, measure out the propylene glycol and add the ferulic acid to this. Stir well and leave it be while the above phases are heating.

To the 1oz of water that has cooled to 80f, you can now add and stir in your l-aa, panthenol, citric acid and Optiphen. Add and stir each ingredient well, starting with the l-aa. Now add the glycerin and stir.

Add both phases together and continue to mix with a stick blender until the product cools completely (about 8 or 10 minutes perhaps.)

Hope that helps a little... wave

free skin care · Fri Sep 13, 2013 4:31 am

Hi Kassy,

2% of Propylene Glycol makes a lot of sense. Except dl-Panthenol , I have all ingredients that you have listed. I may either leave it out or replace it with HA.

Can't want to mix one batch.

Thx for the detailed instruction!

Have a beautiful weekend!

free skin care · Fri Sep 13, 2013 10:45 pm

I mix a basic LAA crystals with any water based serum and it comes out as good as any other DIY I have done. And I've made MANY DIY. This is Easy - Peazy girls.

I have used Skinceuticals and many DIY on the threads. These days I'm all about what works best. Right now I'm mixing with NCN DNA serum and I love it.
Sara Vaughtner has an LAA mixture on her forum (it's her famous dermarolling forum) Her mix puts it with water only - just need to use within a week.
Very inexpensive in the scheme of things. LAA and water... That's my next try.

Bottom line:
If the goal is to have C in the serum - you dont' need to do a lot of mixing up or other additives for effectiveness. The difference is you need to use it up quickly. After several years of C serum usage this is what I know.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:43 pm

summer2004 wrote:

Hi Kassy,

2% of Propylene Glycol makes a lot of sense. Except dl-Panthenol , I have all ingredients that you have listed. I may either leave it out or replace it with HA.

Can't want to mix one batch.

Thx for the detailed instruction!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Just get another antioxidant in there summer.. It's all about teamwork when it comes to antioxidants.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 7:48 pm

sister sweets wrote:

Sara Vaughtner has an LAA mixture on her forum (it's her famous dermarolling forum) Her mix puts it with water only - just need to use within a week.
Very inexpensive in the scheme of things. LAA and water... That's my next try.

Don't do it Sis! You will have a pro-oxidant situation on your skin. (Not to mention the critters, without benefit of a preservative.) Citric Acid would work as a nice (natural) preservative. At the very least, add some vitamin E oil to your mix. Teamwork, or faghedaboudit..

I cringed when I saw that on Sara's site.. Shock

free skin care · Mon Sep 23, 2013 11:58 am

Kassy_A wrote:

sister sweets wrote:

Sara Vaughtner has an LAA mixture on her forum (it's her famous dermarolling forum) Her mix puts it with water only - just need to use within a week.
Very inexpensive in the scheme of things. LAA and water... That's my next try.

Don't do it Sis! You will have a pro-oxidant situation on your skin. (Not to mention the critters, without benefit of a preservative.) Citric Acid would work as a nice (natural) preservative. At the very least, add some vitamin E oil to your mix. Teamwork, or faghedaboudit..

I cringed when I saw that on Sara's site.. Shock

Kassy - What if you made up a very small amount and used within 3 days - kept in frig? I was surprised at the rather large amount she was proposing..without the benefit of some form of preservative material.
It sounds like she needs a little help with her DIY C suggestions.
Lately I've been putting it in NCN's DNA serum lately which is considered a water base and it seems to work nicely.

free skin care · Mon Sep 23, 2013 2:55 pm

sister sweets wrote:

Kassy - What if you made up a very small amount and used within 3 days - kept in frig? I was surprised at the rather large amount she was proposing..without the benefit of some form of preservative material.
It sounds like she needs a little help with her DIY C suggestions.
Lately I've been putting it in NCN's DNA serum lately which is considered a water base and it seems to work nicely.

If you think Sara's bad, whatever you do don't buy the "DIY Infopack" from that Dr that sells on that site I can't remember now.. It's all about using supplement capsules and stirring with "fingers"... Laughing

Here’s the full ingredient list for Nanci-Panci’s DNA Serum:
DNA Serum: (Juvinity™: Geranylgeranylisopropanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride) is added to: Organic Aloe Vera, Purified Water, Sunflower Seed Extract, Amalaki Berry Extract, Algae Extract, Fennel Fruit Extract, Sea Buckthorn, Gluconolactone, Natural Alpha Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Optiphen.

It’s just a suggestion Sis, but if I were you I would add a tea extract and/or vitamin E, or even cucumber extract to that lovely DNA serum, because of the lovely botanicals/polyphenols already in there. Anyhoo, that would be the one I’d consider for that. “Fennel Fruit Extract” is a wonderful, lovely smelling ingredient, with superb antioxidant activity when combined with other compatible goodies (as are in your serum already!) It’s also a great chelator of metal ions, which is always a good thing to have in with botanicals. I don’t believe L-AA is a good addition to the DNA Serum, (and apparently neither does Nanci or it would be in there…lol) Also Sis, don't forget about the really low 3 or less pH that is necessary for the absorption of L-AA. Nanci has Gluconolactone (acidifier) in there, but I highly doubt she would make this serum under 4.5 to 5.5 pH.. (I could be wrong, but that's what I'd shoot for in this type of serum.)

You can then make a very simple (but effective) make in your hand vitamin C serum to use during the morning, and keep the DNA for the evening. (My reason for the separation of time, is that you give your skin a continuous supply of AOX’s which will better serve to neutralize the free radicals we collect all day just living life. I swear by this method, and my skin is proof positive that antioxidants (well formulated and applied a.m. + p.m) work like nothing else. At least that is my experience.

So for a very simple “C in your hand”, you’d want to have ultrafine/powdered/pure L-AA, distilled water which you can sterilize by heating, and then keep an oz or so in the fridge, a good vitamin E oil (or an oil with a very high E content..like virgin palm, wheat germ or rice bran for instance.) If you simply want to eyeball it, I’d go with 1 tsp H2O, 1/16th tsp L-AA, 1/8th tsp oil. (Do it in that order.) That should be enough for face/neck/decollette/hands (perhaps.)

Vitamin E & C regenerate each other (if you don’t have more than one antioxidant, once it squelches a free radical it is done, kaput, hasta lavista baby. By using a “team”, the AOX’s are recycled and regenerated, so the free radical neutralizing can continue much longer.

Vitamin E or your oil of choice is what will penetrate and protect the lipid portion of the cell. Vitamin C will protect the aqueous part of the cell.. (We don’t want to do ½ the job!) I also read (but of course can’t find it now), that L-AA just mixed with water and applied to skin will “generate” ROS.. (We want to neutralize those ba$tards, not generate them..lol)

To your 1st question Sis… I don’t even keep things an hour without using preservatives anymore. If you want to make say a weeks supply, you could probably get away with using a few drops of tea tree +/or eucalyptus oil and citric acid. If you want me to work out an oz recipe for you let me know. (Keeping in mind that some EO's are more dangerous than synthetic preservatives in the wrong hands..) Not sure why some folks are hell bent on "natural", when sometimes the "synthetic" choice is safer..

Let me know if I can help further.

Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:02 pm

Thanks for posting that link, Jazzy! What a great before & after with using vitamin C!!

Tue Sep 24, 2013 5:08 pm

Kassy -- Many thanks for posting the various recipes! I have quite a few of the ingredients, so just need to source out the remaining few before I whip my own batch. I'm excited to try them out. Very Happy

Thu Sep 26, 2013 9:26 pm

Hello All,
I'm a newbie here and I have a question regarding the PH Meters. I have plowed through every post I can find regarding this topic... my question is.. can you use a gardening PH Meter? What are the differences? Bulk Actives meter has been sold out for over a month and I tried to inquire when they would receive more but have never received a response. Not sure it the one listed at Skin Essential Actives (called PH Meter sensor electrode) is one you put a strip into... does that then give you the reading in numbers so you don't have to decide? I do not want to use strips (been there done that with our pool test kit)
Any suggestions on where to purchase a trusted one would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry for the long post!!

Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Mon Sep 30, 2013 5:09 pm

Cosmetic Skin Solutions has a CE Ferulic Serum with the same ingredients as Skinceuticals and it only costs $40.

http://www.cosmeticskinsolutions.com/Product-List/VITAMIN-C-E-SERUM-ADVANCED-FORMULA.html

free skin care · Tue Oct 01, 2013 3:58 pm

jom wrote:

Cosmetic Skin Solutions has a CE Ferulic Serum with the same ingredients as Skinceuticals and it only costs $40.

http://www.cosmeticskinsolutions.com/Product-List/VITAMIN-C-E-SERUM-ADVANCED-FORMULA.html

Hi Jom! Great to see you again! Do you use the Cosmetic Skin Solutions?

free skin care · Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:00 pm

Where do you purchase the skinceuticals from?

I used it a few year ago and really liked it but I can't remember where I bought if from. My friend purchases it from E-Bay but I think I would worry it's not the true product.

Thanks, Lou

free skin care · Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:06 pm

rileygirl wrote:

jom wrote:

Cosmetic Skin Solutions has a CE Ferulic Serum with the same ingredients as Skinceuticals and it only costs $40.

http://www.cosmeticskinsolutions.com/Product-List/VITAMIN-C-E-SERUM-ADVANCED-FORMULA.html

Hi Jom! Great to see you again! Do you use the Cosmetic Skin Solutions?

Hi Riley, thought I'd check in and see what was going on here. No I haven't tried the CSS yet. I just learned about it. I just started back with Skinceuticals. I had been using the Marie Veronique capsules but they are pricey. The next time I need Vitamin C I'm going to try the CSS. I hear it works just as well and there are great reviews on the website.

free skin care · Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:07 pm

Loumomofthree wrote:

Where do you purchase the skinceuticals from?

I used it a few year ago and really liked it but I can't remember where I bought if from. My friend purchases it from E-Bay but I think I would worry it's not the true product.

Thanks, Lou

Hi Lou, I purchase the Skinceuticals fromwww.skinmedix.com I've never had a problem with them and it is authentic.

free skin care · Tue Oct 01, 2013 5:22 pm

jom wrote:

Hi Lou, I purchase the Skinceuticals fromwww.skinmedix.com I've never had a problem with them and it is authentic.

Thanks so much for the quick reply.

Lou

Mon Oct 07, 2013 6:02 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

Hi Summer,

20% C,E,FA & dl-Panthenol (B5). 2oz Volume (9-12-13)

I want to start by saying thanks for the formula. I've never used a Vitamin C serum and would like to know if you would recommend this to someone who suffers from mild acne and clogged pores?

Since I have no prior experience, how would you rate this against the famous Skinceuticals Vitamin C formula?

Thanks.

Sat Dec 07, 2013 1:27 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

summer2004 wrote:

Hi Kassy,

2% of Propylene Glycol makes a lot of sense. Except dl-Panthenol , I have all ingredients that you have listed. I may either leave it out or replace it with HA.

Can't want to mix one batch.

Thx for the detailed instruction!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Just get another antioxidant in there summer.. It's all about teamwork when it comes to antioxidants.

Sun Dec 29, 2013 8:26 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

sister sweets wrote:

Sara Vaughtner has an LAA mixture on her forum (it's her famous dermarolling forum) Her mix puts it with water only - just need to use within a week.
Very inexpensive in the scheme of things. LAA and water... That's my next try.

Don't do it Sis! You will have a pro-oxidant situation on your skin. (Not to mention the critters, without benefit of a preservative.) Citric Acid would work as a nice (natural) preservative. At the very least, add some vitamin E oil to your mix. Teamwork, or faghedaboudit..

I cringed when I saw that on Sara's site.. Shock

Kassy,

I'm a beginner and need some enlightenment with diy serums. I too purchased LAA from owndoc's site and used it mixed with distilled water only. As long as I only use it when it is freshly made then am I still at risk for making a pro-oxidant? All this is sounding pretty scary! I am very motivated to take care of my aging skin and hopefully reverse some damage but first I want to "do no harm"!!

free skin care · Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:01 am

wannabeageless wrote:

Kassy_A wrote:

sister sweets wrote:

Sara Vaughtner has an LAA mixture on her forum (it's her famous dermarolling forum) Her mix puts it with water only - just need to use within a week.
Very inexpensive in the scheme of things. LAA and water... That's my next try.

Don't do it Sis! You will have a pro-oxidant situation on your skin. (Not to mention the critters, without benefit of a preservative.) Citric Acid would work as a nice (natural) preservative. At the very least, add some vitamin E oil to your mix. Teamwork, or faghedaboudit..

I cringed when I saw that on Sara's site.. Shock

Kassy,

I'm a beginner and need some enlightenment with diy serums. I too purchased LAA from owndoc's site and used it mixed with distilled water only. As long as I only use it when it is freshly made then am I still at risk for making a pro-oxidant? All this is sounding pretty scary! I am very motivated to take care of my aging skin and hopefully reverse some damage but first I want to "do no harm"!!

I answered your PM, and hope it will get you on your way with both Ultrasound gel and Vitamin C serum. Wink

free skin care · Mon Dec 30, 2013 2:11 am

Vigilence wrote:

Kassy_A wrote:

Hi Summer,

20% C,E,FA & dl-Panthenol (B5). 2oz Volume (9-12-13)

I want to start by saying thanks for the formula. I've never used a Vitamin C serum and would like to know if you would recommend this to someone who suffers from mild acne and clogged pores?

Since I have no prior experience, how would you rate this against the famous Skinceuticals Vitamin C formula? Thanks.

Question 1; The change I would make to adjust for your skin type is to reduce the glycerin by 1% and increase the jojoba oil by 1%.

Question 2; I would humbly say it kicks Skinceutical's arse. Very Happy

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