DIY Vitamin C Question?
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free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 4:29 am

I have been reading through the forums voraciously on home made Vitamin C serums. Laughing

As a newbie, I really am grateful for all the knowledge shared here. Surprised

I notice that in making the C-Serum there are usually 2-3 phases with the LAA being mixed separately into room temp distilled water. This is then mixed into the other 1-2 phases.

My question is this. Would it be possible to just make up a 'base' of the other 2-3 phases of the serum in 'bulk'? Could this base then be added to freshly dissolved LAA and distilled water on a weekly basis?

I thought this might be possible after seeing the SKin Actives video on youtube of how to mix their 20% C Serum.

Apologies in advance if this seems like an obvious question or if this question has been posted before.

Thanks Smile

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 8:34 am

ShiningStar77 wrote:

My question is this. Would it be possible to just make up a 'base' of the other 2-3 phases of the serum in 'bulk'? Could this base then be added to freshly dissolved LAA and distilled water on a weekly basis?

Thanks Smile

Yes, you can do this. You do need to think about how you preserve the base if you won't use it for a while.

I use a base mix and add my vitamin C POWDER to it every day. That way it is really fresh. I use a fine powder and mix it in my hand before applying. The key is to have a fine powder that dissolves quickly.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 9:44 am

ShastaGirl wrote:

ShiningStar77 wrote:

My question is this. Would it be possible to just make up a 'base' of the other 2-3 phases of the serum in 'bulk'? Could this base then be added to freshly dissolved LAA and distilled water on a weekly basis?

Thanks Smile

Yes, you can do this. You do need to think about how you preserve the base if you won't use it for a while.

I use a base mix and add my vitamin C POWDER to it every day. That way it is really fresh. I use a fine powder and mix it in my hand before applying. The key is to have a fine powder that dissolves quickly.

Thanks so much for the reply Shasta.

Just to be sure I am understanding you correctly, you mix the LAA powder in the palm of your hands with water and then add the base? or you add the powder to the base and mix?

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 9:54 am

Also I notice that there has been a lot of discussion re the effectiveness of freely soluble LAA from different suppliers.

I plan to get my LAA from Skin Essential Actives in the first instance. They claim their LAA is ultra fine but I have also read on this forum that it is not completely freely soluble and I may need to let it 'sit' to completely dissolve.

Conversely, I have heard a lot of good things about makingcosmetics and lotioncrafters on this forum, however the shipping from makingcosmetics is $45/55 to the UK. Not sure what it is from lotioncrafters but I am guessing it is along the same lines. And then there is the possible customs delays and charges which can arise. Sad

So to keep things simple my feasible options are Skin Essential Actives or Active Formulas in the uk (who are the 'sister' company of Skin Actives in the US).

Can anyone comment on the LAA from either Skin Essential Actives or Skin Actives?

TIA Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 10:29 am

ShastaGirl wrote:

I use a base mix and add my vitamin C POWDER to it every day. That way it is really fresh. I use a fine powder and mix it in my hand before applying. The key is to have a fine powder that dissolves quickly.

Do you see extra skin benefits from having your Vitamin C so fresh? What differences have you experienced? I am tempted to do this, myself and want to justify the effort. Smile

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 11:18 am

ShiningStar77 wrote:

ShastaGirl wrote:

ShiningStar77 wrote:

My question is this. Would it be possible to just make up a 'base' of the other 2-3 phases of the serum in 'bulk'? Could this base then be added to freshly dissolved LAA and distilled water on a weekly basis?

Thanks Smile

Yes, you can do this. You do need to think about how you preserve the base if you won't use it for a while.

I use a base mix and add my vitamin C POWDER to it every day. That way it is really fresh. I use a fine powder and mix it in my hand before applying. The key is to have a fine powder that dissolves quickly.

Thanks so much for the reply Shasta.

Just to be sure I am understanding you correctly, you mix the LAA powder in the palm of your hands with water and then add the base? or you add the powder to the base and mix?

I mix the base and LAA directly. I don't add additional water since my base has water already.

My base is a mix of HA powder, water, peptides and germaban (preservative).

As for LAA powder, I currently have the one from Skin Essential Actives. I do have to wait a minute or two before applying it for it to dissolve. Sometimes it does feel a little gritty though. The LAA I had prior was more powdery. I don't still have the bag, I think it was from Lotioncrafters. I've used Skinactives as well, about 3 years ago, it was more gritty than SEA or Lotioncrafters.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 11:24 am

AngelaE8654 wrote:

ShastaGirl wrote:

I use a base mix and add my vitamin C POWDER to it every day. That way it is really fresh. I use a fine powder and mix it in my hand before applying. The key is to have a fine powder that dissolves quickly.

Do you see extra skin benefits from having your Vitamin C so fresh? What differences have you experienced? I am tempted to do this, myself and want to justify the effort. Smile

I do find that I "feel" the freshness. I can feel a little burn when I mix the C and apply it right away. When I use a pre made serum, I don't always notice it.

LAA in general has brightened my skin. I have no pigmentation issues, which I attribute to LAA and Retin A. I am prone to freckling so this is a good thing for me.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 12:54 pm

Hi ShastaGirl, thanks for the feedback. I quite like the idea of mixing in the Vit C as and when needed. Would take experience though to get the amount down to an exact science.

I am now wondering if the shipping would be slightly less if I made one LAA order from makingcosmetics or lotion crafters and then just get all my other supplies elsewhere.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 1:31 pm

ShiningStar77 wrote:

Also I notice that there has been a lot of discussion re the effectiveness of freely soluble LAA from different suppliers.

I plan to get my LAA from Skin Essential Actives in the first instance. They claim their LAA is ultra fine but I have also read on this forum that it is not completely freely soluble and I may need to let it 'sit' to completely dissolve.

Conversely, I have heard a lot of good things about makingcosmetics and lotioncrafters on this forum, however the shipping from makingcosmetics is $45/55 to the UK. Not sure what it is from lotioncrafters but I am guessing it is along the same lines. And then there is the possible customs delays and charges which can arise. Sad

So to keep things simple my feasible options are Skin Essential Actives or Active Formulas in the uk (who are the 'sister' company of Skin Actives in the US).

Can anyone comment on the LAA from either Skin Essential Actives or Skin Actives?

TIA Very Happy

I did today the serum using LAA from Skin Essential Actives and it dissolved easily. I did it as per Kassy's C-E-LA with jojoba recipe and the very fine powder of LAA melted in the water in a few minutes.
Light

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:10 pm

ShiningStar77 wrote:

Can anyone comment on the LAA from either Skin Essential Actives or Skin Actives?

I mix the LAA from Skin Actives with Avene thermal spring water and SA sea kelp coral in my hand and it completely dissolves. No grittiness at all and it takes no time to dissolve.

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 2:22 pm

light123 wrote:

ShiningStar77 wrote:

Also I notice that there has been a lot of discussion re the effectiveness of freely soluble LAA from different suppliers.

I plan to get my LAA from Skin Essential Actives in the first instance. They claim their LAA is ultra fine but I have also read on this forum that it is not completely freely soluble and I may need to let it 'sit' to completely dissolve.

Conversely, I have heard a lot of good things about makingcosmetics and lotioncrafters on this forum, however the shipping from makingcosmetics is $45/55 to the UK. Not sure what it is from lotioncrafters but I am guessing it is along the same lines. And then there is the possible customs delays and charges which can arise. Sad

So to keep things simple my feasible options are Skin Essential Actives or Active Formulas in the uk (who are the 'sister' company of Skin Actives in the US).

Can anyone comment on the LAA from either Skin Essential Actives or Skin Actives?

TIA Very Happy

I did today the serum using LAA from Skin Essential Actives and it dissolved easily. I did it as per Kassy's C-E-LA with jojoba recipe and the very fine powder of LAA melted in the water in a few minutes.
Light

Hi Light thanks so much for the feedback. Is there a link for Kassy's recipe?

TIA Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Sep 22, 2013 3:02 pm

Sure, here it comes

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?p=474653#474653
Light

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

light123 wrote:

Sure, here it comes

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?p=474653#474653
Light

That one's more than 4 years old (before I knew what I was doing..lol)

I'd recommend this;

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?p=6395390#6395390

Or the one on this page that I posted recently; (I made it last week and I really like it. Great texture, pure white and smooth as silk and fully absorbs in a few minutes.)

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?tid=49326&start=25

Here's another recent recipe that worked out very nicely;

20% l-ascorbic acid
5% propylene glycol (don't gag, it emulsifies and enhances penetration)
5% of a 1% HA serum (it's in the DIY recipe forum)
1% vitamin E oil
2% glutathione (cause more than that does better in a higher pH, but it's a great antioxidant)
1% citric acid (helps to preserve + reduces pH (shoot for 2.5 for best penetration)
1% preservative of choice
60% distilled water
5% carrier oils (my choice does double or triple duty, and are typically a combo of: meadowfoam, rice bran, walnut, evening primrose, sesame + almond.. jojoba gets in there too..)

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