DIY Vit C
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Mon Nov 13, 2017 11:04 pm

Hi Everyone

Just a quick question on DIY vit c. Ive mixed some of Vitamin C powder in one of my face creams that is water free at 20% concentration. The vitamin c doesn't dissolve as expected so I was going to apply that on damp skin to dissolve the vitamin c. Ive tested the ph and its 2.7. My question is that when I mix it in the cream the cream becomes very watery and separates. I don't have a problem mixing it everytime I use it but is this a problem for the vitamin c? Why does this happen if its a water free cream I would think it should have no effect?

Thanks in advance

free skin care · Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:22 am

When you say you are using vitamin C,
which kind are you using.
Most people opt for ascorbic acid because it is water soluble and dissolves easily in water creating a serum. However there are many types out there,
some are even oil soluble meaning it won't dissolve unless you use an oil.

This may be the issue, the fact that the cream you are using has no water - so there isn't any solution for the Vit C to dissolve in. Vitamin C is also very unstable, light, oxygen, heat all make it become weaker so that too could be an issue.

damselindistress wrote:

Hi Everyone

Just a quick question on DIY vit c. Ive mixed some of Vitamin C powder in one of my face creams that is water free at 20% concentration. The vitamin c doesn't dissolve as expected so I was going to apply that on damp skin to dissolve the vitamin c. Ive tested the ph and its 2.7. My question is that when I mix it in the cream the cream becomes very watery and separates. I don't have a problem mixing it everytime I use it but is this a problem for the vitamin c? Why does this happen if its a water free cream I would think it should have no effect?

Thanks in advance

Tue Nov 14, 2017 3:28 am

Thanks for the response. Its the Ultra fine L-Ascorbic acid. I had thought that if its in a solution with no water it will not oxidise. So I would apply it on damp skin so effectively would be like mixing it fresh every morning.
But when the cream gets weaker even though the mix is grainy, it didn't make sense to me

Thanks!

free skin care · Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:01 am

Afraid not. If only it were that simple. L-Ascorbic acid easily oxidises even without water. However most people create serums using water as its easier to apply and dissolve and not so grainy. However if you want to use your cream, you can still do so. You just may want to add some water to it first and then mix into the cream.

Applying it to damp skin doesn't actually provide you with the same benefits. Yes I know it seems logical that applying it to damp skin would have the same benefits but its much harder to test the ph and part of the beauty of using ascorbic acid in a serum is that its easier to test the ph prior to applying. With applying directly to damp skin you really can't do that.

Without knowing the ingredients in the cream its like searching for a needle in a haystack unfortunately. Why not instead make a water serum that you apply first and then use the cream on top to help it penetrate deeper?

damselindistress wrote:

Thanks for the response. Its the Ultra fine L-Ascorbic acid. I had thought that if its in a solution with no water it will not oxidise. So I would apply it on damp skin so effectively would be like mixing it fresh every morning.
But when the cream gets weaker even though the mix is grainy, it didn't make sense to me

Thanks!

Thu Nov 16, 2017 5:29 am

Thanks for your help. I guess its more complicated than I thought.

So the ingredients in my cream are Shea, Coconut oil, Aloe Gel, Aloe Oil, Calendula, Lavender & Chamomile.

Can I mix a quarter teaspoon of the L-ascorbic acid, half a teaspoon of cream and half a teaspoon of water to give me a 20% vit c serum/lotion? Ill check the PH before using.

free skin care · Sat Nov 25, 2017 6:15 pm

this is a link to a blog for a basic recipe of vitamin c serum that is water based.

http://www.skinacea.com/diy/diy-recipes.html#VITC

You can apply the serum first, then add your moisturizer, sunscreen, etc.

free skin care · Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:51 pm

The reason it turns watery is you have lowered the pH of the cream (more acidic). Most emulsion system has a gel-emulsifying agent (eg xanthan gum) which is pH sensitive.

If you like to experiment, add some vit C powder to a hair gel or a cheap serum, you will find that it will turn from gel to water.

Hope that helps.

damselindistress wrote:

Hi Everyone

Just a quick question on DIY vit c. Ive mixed some of Vitamin C powder in one of my face creams that is water free at 20% concentration. The vitamin c doesn't dissolve as expected so I was going to apply that on damp skin to dissolve the vitamin c. Ive tested the ph and its 2.7. My question is that when I mix it in the cream the cream becomes very watery and separates. I don't have a problem mixing it everytime I use it but is this a problem for the vitamin c? Why does this happen if its a water free cream I would think it should have no effect?

Thanks in advance

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