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

free skin care · Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:45 pm

Keliu wrote:

I don't like the residue that SKB leaves on the skin either - although I do use it as a mask which I wash off after 15 minutes. So I replace the SKB with Glycerin in my Vitamin C recipe.

You can also do 50/50 with glycerin and SKB and have the best of both!

Glycerin is great for all but the most 'oily' girls!

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:14 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

Any port in a storm, is what I always say.. Gin will suffice.. It's the alcohol in it that counts, so I choose vodka because it's colorless and the smell dissipates once it's fomulated in..

SKB is a great ingredient, but in certain formulations, it will definately leave that residue..(Again, a bit of alcohol will help in that regard too!)

You can make a vitamin C toner with water in a little spritz bottle kept in fridge, which will probably last a few days to a week.. Making a few ounces often is best for that.

I bought formulating PH test strips ages ago, but if I can find the site again I'll post it.. It's absolutely imperative that an L-Ascorbic Acid formulation, have a PH of 3.5 or lower, or it won't penetrate the skin.....Any of the recipe's I've shared for C, meet that criteria.

i initially added some E and ferulic to the spritz... will that make it last longer?

how do you know when it goes bad? does the pH change?

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:39 pm

Toby wrote:

I love skinactives and would highly recommend DMAE(it tightens) and Let's Make collagen. Everything I have gotten from skinactives has been great for my skin. My only regret is that I am just now finding out about it.
Toby

Toby, have you used Let's Make Collagen as a base for your vit C serum? Would it work? I'm just looking into making my own C serum and want to combine what I have that already works.
DMAE makes me break out in painful cysts, so I avoid it.
I use RAM, SkinCeuticals C+E ferulic, HA serum, Uriage Bariederm (in the winter), and SS right now.
TIA!

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:59 pm

fawnie wrote:

Toby, have you used Let's Make Collagen as a base for your vit C serum? Would it work?

Not Toby, but I use Let's Make Collagen but don't know that I'd use it as a base for Vitamin C. It contains excellent ingredients like Niacinamide, Glucosamine, Epidermal Growth Factor etc. etc. So I'd be inclined not to fiddle with it. I apply this in the evening.

To make Vitamin C serum you can simply use a base of distilled water and glycerin (what could be simpler?) If you want to replicate Skinceuticals just add a pinch of Ferulic Acid and 1/4 tsp of Vitamin E. You can apply this in the morning.

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 5:46 pm

Thanks Keliu!
Where does LMC work in with Retin-A? Do you apply it after a waiting a while?

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:04 pm

fawnie wrote:

Where does LMC work in with Retin-A? Do you apply it after a waiting a while?

After washing my face in the evening I apply LMC and wait for it to sink in. Then I apply the Retin-A, wait half an hour and apply emu oil. Applying the LMC before the Retin-A hasn't made any difference to the efficacy of Retin-A IMO. I"M working on the theory of thinnest to thickest.

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:41 pm

Ah! Thanks! I will try that: LMC then RAM then oil.

I'm waiting for my bottle of Nature's Gift Cleopatra's Secret Serum to get here....so I can apply that over my RAM. It contains argan oil and frankincense, among other things. I figure by the time I wait in between layers, it will take me around 2 hours to get ready for bed.... heh.

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:55 pm

fawnie wrote:

I figure by the time I wait in between layers, it will take me around 2 hours to get ready for bed.... heh.

Yes, by the time I've done my morning routine, it's time for lunch! So one hour break, and it's on to the evening routine! Laughing

free skin care · Thu Dec 11, 2008 11:02 pm

dagnolia wrote:

i initially added some E and ferulic to the spritz... will that make it last longer?

how do you know when it goes bad? does the pH change?

When it begins to oxidize, it will start to turn yellow.. When that happens pitch it out.. Using E and FA will both help to stabilize it for a longer period of time.. And of course keep it refregerated.

FA is only slightly soluble in water, so it might be a little gritty!

free skin care · Fri Dec 12, 2008 12:25 am

I bought the pure vitamin powder of Dr. sebagh, and I combined it with night cream or other serum,it lightens my face.

free skin care · Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:13 am

Vitamin C serum is great, but I do not like the smell of Vitamine c. How to let the smell out?

free skin care · Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:19 am

rainbowcheng wrote:

Vitamin C serum is great, but I do not like the smell of Vitamine c. How to let the smell out?

Vitamin C serum should not have any smell to it. What brand are you using?

free skin care · Wed Dec 17, 2008 5:51 pm

I'm not rainbowcheng, but I just want to ask where I might find pH test strips that go down to 3.5?? I'd like to find a store, not online, if possible. Tried pet stores and health food stores - but none that go as acidic as 3.5. Any other ideas??? I thought of wine-making shops, but none are here in BFE!!

free skin care · Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:12 pm

fawnie wrote:

I'm not rainbowcheng, but I just want to ask where I might find pH test strips that go down to 3.5?? I'd like to find a store, not online, if possible. Tried pet stores and health food stores - but none that go as acidic as 3.5. Any other ideas??? I thought of wine-making shops, but none are here in BFE!!

Hi fawnie,

try these sites:

http://www.lotioncrafter.com/store/pH-Fix-Indicator-Strips-pr-16464.html

or

http://www.makingcosmetics.com/index1.html

one goes to 0 and the other to 2 Smile

free skin care · Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:41 pm

fawnie wrote:

I just want to ask where I might find pH test strips that go down to 3.5?? I'd like to find a store, not online, if possible.

Try a store that carries teacher/science supplies.. They usually will have Litmus testing strips..

Once upon a time they had "spa" testing strips that went down to 3, but I don't think they make them that low anymore.

free skin care · Thu Dec 18, 2008 4:42 pm

Oh I never thought of that, thanks Kathy!

Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:12 pm

hi all....
i've been reading this forum for a while. I am confused to choose between water-based (the lascorbic acid)or oil-based (the tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) vitamin c serum to make... so i was thinking to make serum that contain both... and also contain vit e... can anyone give me a suggestion of a recipe? I know this forum contains a lot of recipe-genius Smile

I will purchase the ingredients from skinactive. As for the oil base of the vit c, which oil is good? I will be using at night... I'm 35 yrs old btw...

i have a digital scale. would it help?

thank u in advance Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:26 pm

Hi sherly
Welcome to the forum. Skin Actives will have recipes there for you and many here too.
I'm not sure if you need a digital scale. Personally, I like the simple Vit C with distilled water,this time I added glycol. I keep a small blue bottle in the fridge. Then after applying to dry face and letting absorb,I apply Vit E. I know youre going to have fun,so many things to make. Very Happy

Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:25 am

hi skin care addict
i am overwhelmed by the information contained in this thread... i'm so excited and can't wait to make my own serum... but i want to buy from 1 place so i only have to pay 1 shipping cost...

do you apply vit e separately or you put it in the vit c serum?

free skin care · Mon Dec 29, 2008 12:48 am

Hi all. I've been away for a while, but keep reading on and off..

Just wanted to let Kassy know I made her latest and greatest, and am LOVING it!

I've always used Carekates recipe, {which is a great starting place} and it was OK, but did take a while to absorb {with me anyway} Your's absorbs so fast, I LOVE IT!

Thanks so much for posting it. In no way am I even thinking I can do all the formulations, so people like you, that share are such a blessing to me..

free skin care · Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:48 pm

I'm Kiki wrote:

Hi all. I've been away for a while, but keep reading on and off..

Just wanted to let Kassy know I made her latest and greatest, and am LOVING it!

I've always used Carekates recipe, {which is a great starting place} and it was OK, but did take a while to absorb {with me anyway} Your's absorbs so fast, I LOVE IT!

Thanks so much for posting it. In no way am I even thinking I can do all the formulations, so people like you, that share are such a blessing to me..

Thanks Kiki, it's nice to know I was helpful, and you are enjoying it .. Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:39 pm

skin care addict wrote:

Hi sherly
Welcome to the forum. Skin Actives will have recipes there for you and many here too.
I'm not sure if you need a digital scale. Personally, I like the simple Vit C with distilled water,this time I added glycol. I keep a small blue bottle in the fridge. Then after applying to dry face and letting absorb,I apply Vit E. I know youre going to have fun,so many things to make. Very Happy

Sherly,hope you checked out all the DIY sites and found some new recipes and friends.
I just use my Vit E oil (after I apply my C and let it soak in a bit.) I havent purchased the FA yet.Ferlic acid-I am sure that's the wrong spelling.

free skin care · Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:25 pm

I tried making Kassy's last Vit C serum this afternoon, but didn't get past mixing the Vit C powder/distilled water stage. Its been sitting for hours and the powder still hasn't dissolved Confused

I'm afraid if I proceed the end result will be 'grainy' and less effective than if it were dissolved entirely.

Could any of you pros in the DIY field, give me some advice - should I proceed anyway?

TIA Very Happy

free skin care · Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:50 pm

hi anya,what kind of Vit C did you use ? it sounds like there are fillers that wont dissolve.Did you pm KAssey to double check her recipe ?
I got mine from GOW and it is very fine and melts into the water.
Sorry,youre having trouble with your DIY.

free skin care · Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:25 pm

Anya, did you buy L-Ascorbic Acid crystals/powder from a regular formulating place, as suggested?

I'll wait for your response, and then help you rectify the situation. As "skin care addict" mentioned, anything from a drug or health food store could have fillers, which will throw the whole thing off.

The 1 tsp of the right 'C' will dissolve without problems in 3 tsp of water.. If it doesn't, within about 30 to 45 minutes, it's either old, or has fillers..

ETA: Sorry I didn't see this till now. I'm having a heck of a time with my 'watched topics' disappearing into thin air ... Crying or Very sad

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