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

free skin care · Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:05 am

LOL you are the exact opposite of me. I agonize over the correct amounts. Drove Kassy nuts asking how much is a pinch???

You can probably save the body lotion by adding much more Gold Bond. The face stuff I don't what will thicken that up Confused

My only word of caution is with the growth factor it is incredibly sensitive and the tube you have is designed for 4 oz of base. If you are using less than 4 oz for your base you do not want to add the whole tube. I know it looks like such a tiny amount but it is a signal not an active so you will be wasting the extra if using in less than 4 oz of base. I have mixed the growth factor and saline together used a couple of drops and put the rest back in the fridge. I don't know if that is exactly recommended but the growth factor should keep for about 6 months like that.

Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:15 am

I don't even know why I ordered the growth factor.

What the heck should I do with it, put it in 4oz base by itself?

What is it good for?

free skin care · Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:36 am

Apparently it is supposed:
"Application of EGF to the skin will accelerate healing and, when applied to aging skin, it will increase the rate of skin renewal, which decreases with age."

I know it is my anti-aging cream, LMC serum from skinactives, I put a couple of drops in my eye serum. Does it work - how knows. It needs to mixed with a water base not oil.

free skin care · Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:23 am

i found this on Walgreen's website, are any of these the right glycerin to use to make vitamin C serum?

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100311&navAction=jump&navCount=0&nug=VPD&skuid=sku3155255&id=prod3156422

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=304653&navAction=jump&navCount=2&nug=VPD&skuid=sku4117393&id=prod4118523

free skin care · Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:42 am

ace I believe you could use either.

I am not familiar with the c-serum recipe that uses glycerin would love to see it.

free skin care · Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:04 pm

Alley wrote:

ace I believe you could use either.

I am not familiar with the c-serum recipe that uses glycerin would love to see it.

Here's one for 1oz @ 15% concentration;

1 tsp LAA
3 tsp distilled water
2 tsp glycerin

Dissolve the LAA into the water stirring frequently (can take up to 45 minutes!). Then add the glycerin.. Stir well and put in dark dropper bottle. Keep in fridge.

If you add a few drops of vitamin E oil (to the glycerin prior to mixing together), it will be a little more stable, and also work synergistically with the C.. Also, halving the recipe to 1/2oz will assure it remains stable till used up.

Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:22 pm

^^^I can do this I tell ya.

I can.

Cool

Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:41 pm

Hi all, I was wondering if i was missing anything in this formula i'd like to try out

Double C Serum:

I'd like to use...

Dissolve: Ascobic Acid & Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate in filtered water.
Refridgerate over night
Add 1% vit E AND sodium hyaluronate

Question: Do I need glycerin?

Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:03 pm

Kassy_A wrote:

Cross posting from the 'Dr Kassy' thread, for my DIY buddies .. Very Happy

Vitamin C Serum (Just about 20%)

1 tsp LAA
½ tsp MAP
¼ tsp Ferulic Acid
¼ tsp Vitamin E oil (or whatever other oil you use with high E content)
3 tsp H20 (distilled)
1 tsp SKB
½ tsp Glycerin
½ tsp Hyaluronic Acid
5 gtts Kukui Oil (optional, but supposedly it helps with melasma + hyperpigmentation)

So all my ingrediants arrived and I whipped up my first batch. It was so much fun, I felt like a chemist! I omitted the SKB and Kukui Oil, but now I'm wondering (and worried)if that alters the PH? Any thoughts?

free skin care · Mon Mar 09, 2009 2:00 pm

jencarl wrote:

Kassy_A wrote:

Cross posting from the 'Dr Kassy' thread, for my DIY buddies .. Very Happy

Vitamin C Serum (Just about 20%)

1 tsp LAA
½ tsp MAP
¼ tsp Ferulic Acid
¼ tsp Vitamin E oil (or whatever other oil you use with high E content)
3 tsp H20 (distilled)
1 tsp SKB
½ tsp Glycerin
½ tsp Hyaluronic Acid
5 gtts Kukui Oil (optional, but supposedly it helps with melasma + hyperpigmentation)

So all my ingrediants arrived and I whipped up my first batch. It was so much fun, I felt like a chemist! I omitted the SKB and Kukui Oil, but now I'm wondering (and worried)if that alters the PH? Any thoughts?

To keep it at the same concentration just add 1 tsp of H2o (or 1/2 tsp each of glycerin and H2o

If you leave it as is, it would make it about 18 to 20% ish concentration.. The ph should be a bit lower (which is fine) if leaving out the SKB..

No worry's!

Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:28 am

Thanks for the quick reply Kassy, you're the best!!!

free skin care · Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:35 am

Has anyone found a place to get all of the ingredients?

(Edit to add that this would be for making the recipe on p.8 of this thread.)

I have gotten it down to 2 places (aside from the distilled H2O and glycerin that I will buy locally), but the price still seems awfully high.

Do I have the right ingredients in my cart? The first order is from Garden of Wisdom and the second is from Skinactives.

Order Details
Code Item Price Quantity Amount
Kukui Nut Oil CP / 2 oz
$6.90 1 $6.90
L-ascorbic Acid *powder* / 1 oz
$4.85 1 $4.85
MAP [magnesium ascorb phosphate] / 15 gr
$9.45 1 $9.45
Vitamin E 1300 IU/gram FCC/USP / 1 oz
$8.85 1 $8.85
1 oz Amber Glass Bottle w/dropper
$1.05 1 $1.05
Hyaluronic Acid Powder [rooster] / 1 gr
$6.05 1 $6.05
Shipping and Handling:
Priority Mail up to 16 ounces total weight $4.80
Taxes: $0.00
Your Total: $41.95

********
Order Summary
Qty. Product List Price Discount% Total Price
1 Ferulic Acid
5 gm $9.50 0.00% $9.50
1 Sea Kelp Bioferment
2 fl oz $15.00 0.00% $15.00
Order Sub-Total: $24.50
Discount Code Coupon Discount: $0.00
International Insurance: $0.00
Shipping: $6.00
Total: $30.50

Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:57 pm

I just linked Marta from Truth In Aging to this very thread!

free skin care · Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:27 pm

Actually, I think I am just going to forgo trying to make the Kassy's recipe and just go with some ideas from her and Carekate.

Thinking about:
LAA
Distilled Water
Propelene Glycol (since I have oily skin and can always switch to glycerin later on since I already have that at the house or can buy it locally)
Vitamin E

I'm just having some problems deciding on amounts of course...

Thinking about....

1 tsp LAA (appx 5ml)
5-10 drops Vitamin E if I can find the liquid (.25 - .5 ml)
5 ml Propelene Glycol
17.5 ml Distilled H20

I think this would put it around 18% Vit C and 0.9% - 1.8% Vit E.

I am curious if this will keep the ph in a good range and also how the amount of PG to H2O looks. Carekate's recipe was 50/50, but that seemed like way too much PG.

**As a side note, I am just about to begin Retin A at night and have considered dermarolling. I have been reading for a while now, but I am still not certain on it. I did note that they recommended C + A before hand so I figured adding a C would prep me for dermarolling if I decide to do it or just be good for me in general if I pass on the dermarolling.

free skin care · Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:01 pm

aa6660 wrote:

Has anyone found a place to get all of the ingredients?

Order Details
Code Item Price Quantity Amount
Kukui Nut Oil CP / 2 oz
$6.90 1 $6.90
L-ascorbic Acid *powder* / 1 oz
$4.85 1 $4.85
MAP [magnesium ascorb phosphate] / 15 gr
$9.45 1 $9.45
Vitamin E 1300 IU/gram FCC/USP / 1 oz
$8.85 1 $8.85
1 oz Amber Glass Bottle w/dropper
$1.05 1 $1.05
Hyaluronic Acid Powder [rooster] / 1 gr
$6.05 1 $6.05
Shipping and Handling:
Priority Mail up to 16 ounces total weight $4.80
Taxes: $0.00
Your Total: $41.95

********
Order Summary
Qty. Product List Price Discount% Total Price
1 Ferulic Acid
5 gm $9.50 0.00% $9.50
1 Sea Kelp Bioferment
2 fl oz $15.00 0.00% $15.00
Order Sub-Total: $24.50
Discount Code Coupon Discount: $0.00
International Insurance: $0.00
Shipping: $6.00
Total: $30.50

if you want to purchase from just one place, u can leave out the optional ingredients if your skin does not need it. i believe they are:

kukui nut
hyluronic acid powder
skb

(can someone confirm this?)

free skin care · Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:54 am

Can anyone give me ratios/amounts to use if I want to try the anhydrous serum using Monistat Chafing Gel & LAA? And what about if I want to add a little Vitamin E? My skin generally does well with silicones, so that's why I want to try this one first.

I found one recipe using grams, which isn't helpful to me since I own nothing that will weigh in grams.

I've read about the difficulty in getting the LAA to "dissolve" or suspend in the gel without being grainy, so I plan to order the LAA from bulkactives since that seems to be the most powdery in general consensus.

Anyone able to help?

Thu Mar 12, 2009 7:40 pm

tessera wrote:

havana8 wrote:

Info on pH and product application wait times
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=18360&highlight=ph
Smile

Havana8 - Thank you for that thread information. I did my search based on "layering actives" and wouldn't have ever come up with "wait times."

In case it's helpful, here is another older thread I stumbled on...

Tangal's Vitamin C Uses, and Wait Time info (Long):
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=18491

free skin care · Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:31 pm

Hi! I have questions for Kassy. I am going to order some LAA to make 15% serum. I have some LLA that is about 4 years old from the Personal Formulators, so I'm sure that's expired. I also have glycerin and propylene glycol from that order. Do those things expire?

Also, I have a great cream by Derma E. It is the DMAE - Alpha Lipoic - C-Ester Retexturizing Crème. I'd like to add niacinamide to it. Do you think this would work? Would I have to dissolve the niacinamide first? How much should I add per oz. of cream?

Here are the ingredients of the cream: Water (Aqua), Dimethyl MEA (DMAE), Stearic Acid, Thioctic (Alpha Lipoic) Acid, Allantoin, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Cetyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Glyceryl Stearate and Peg-100 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl Palmitate (C-Ester), Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Natural and Fragrant Oils.

Thanks!

free skin care · Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:44 pm

Seabliss - Did you refrigerate your LAA? This will make a difference as to retaining potency. I'll defer to Kassy from here....

free skin care · Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:36 pm

No, unfortunately I did not. It is a container of crystals (that really don't dissolve that easily!) that I kept in the box in my room, so in the dark at room temperature.

Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:15 pm

Hello everyone! I'm new here, and new at all of this stuff! You're board is so informative and I am so thankful.

I am currently using a DIY serum that contains only the LAA and distilled water, I'm using it in a spray bottle. I've gotten the PH testers and so far I'm pretty sure I've done everything right.

I just have a quick question I was wondering if anyone could help me with... Is it possible to mix LAA with emu oil? Would the emu oil help get the Vit C deeper into the skin?

free skin care · Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:30 am

Tagging another question on to the others...

Had another go at the serum. At first cloudy C & water, but added another 1/4 tsp. of water and crystal clear!

Feeling pretty good since I had never been able to accomplish even that, added the FE and stirred. Rinse and repeat x 100. Still cloudy. Added another tsp. of water. Stir. Stir. Stir Alas, no change.

Finally decided to just mix everything and leave it for a day, shaking occasionally. It's. Just. Plain. Cloudy.

What am I shooting for here? Is the DIY CEF clear or is it a milky serum.

I must say, it smells soooo fresh. So much nicer than that nasty hot dog or butylene glycol smell. Am addicted and don't even think I've done it right!

Oh, one more question, adding another tsp or two of water to the recipe that's approx 20% would bring the C potency to... min. 15%? If I need to try to make it work with less water I will. Don't want to dip below 15%.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, ladies!

free skin care · Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:26 pm

Tea wrote:

Tagging another question on to the others...

Had another go at the serum. At first cloudy C & water, but added another 1/4 tsp. of water and crystal clear!

Feeling pretty good since I had never been able to accomplish even that, added the FE and stirred. Rinse and repeat x 100. Still cloudy. Added another tsp. of water. Stir. Stir. Stir Alas, no change.

Finally decided to just mix everything and leave it for a day, shaking occasionally. It's. Just. Plain. Cloudy.

What am I shooting for here? Is the DIY CEF clear or is it a milky serum.

I must say, it smells soooo fresh. So much nicer than that nasty hot dog or butylene glycol smell. Am addicted and don't even think I've done it right!

Oh, one more question, adding another tsp or two of water to the recipe that's approx 20% would bring the C potency to... min. 15%? If I need to try to make it work with less water I will. Don't want to dip below 15%.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction, ladies!

You've changed the whole recipe, so I really can't help you.. From what you shared I would put *your* serum at 10 to 12% max, and the ph around 4.5 which is much too high.. (In other words, it might look the way you want it to, but it's not going to penetrate your dermis or cells.. Crying or Very sad

) (What's wrong with a nice milky white serum anyhoo, most of us love it.. Very Happy

)

BTW, C serum with .5% ferulic *should* be a milky white. (Ferulic will turn any clear serum or lotion milky whilte as well.)

I hoped when we didn't hear back from you after the *dissolving* issue, that things were going well..

free skin care · Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:29 pm

So, milky is good? Good!

Just wanted to be sure I was on the same page.
Adding extra water...not good. Got it.
(Only added it thinking the FE was supposed to be clear, too, and was hoping it would help with that.)

Will go back to the original recipe posthaste!

Have ordered ph strips to make sure am on the right track, but haven't received.

Thanks for setting me straight! Very Happy

Again...

free skin care · Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:25 am

I am always curious about adding the Vit E to any of these water based Vit C forumla's. Doesn't it just bead up and float on the surface?? That has been my experience. I prefer to just put a couple of drops in my palm and add it to the serum as I put it on my face.

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