Distilled water for DIY Vitamin C serum...
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free skin care · Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:50 pm

I read in a post, {sorry, I forget which one and who posted} that 3 days after opening a jug of it, it isn't pure anymore? Is that right.. I have a gallon for making my Vit C and have made several batches.. Is it still going to work, or wprk as well, or is this something that needs to be replaced all the time.. If that's the case, it's a good thing it's cheap!!!

Thanks for any and all help...

Kiki

free skin care · Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:31 pm

Hi Kiki,

This is the thread you mentioned.

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=10937

Carekate mentioned that she uses her water at room temperature and does not store it in the fridge. She did not mention doing anything special like boiling so I assume it is ok.

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:09 am

pnw wrote:

Hi Kiki,

This is the thread you mentioned.

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=10937

Carekate mentioned that she uses her water at room temperature and does not store it in the fridge. She did not mention doing anything special like boiling so I assume it is ok.

Well, that's news to me. No, I don't do anything special to preserve my distilled water, other than buy a fresh jug every other month....

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:12 am

I was the one who mentioned that. It was from information I got from the site and the book called Biochemistry of Beauty.

After 3 days of being opened, it's still distilled, of course ... however, once opened it becomes affected by air, dust, bacteria etc.

Now, the Biochemistry of Beauty woman has far more scientific knowledge and understanding than I do Laughing

... so I opt for boiling my distilled water if the jug has been opened more than 3 days. It doesn't take much time ... and I figure "What can it hurt?"

That said, I used jugs of distilled water straight from the jug all the time prior to reading this. Wink

I suspect that the caution about boiling had more to do with people who are marketing their products to other people ... and one can understand that one has to be even more fastidious about such things as "product purity" if one is attempting to sell these things to someone else.

However, having been raised with a "healthy" amount of guilt ... after reading that distilled water jugs opened for 3 days or longer ... well ... I found myself being unable to use it without boiling! Confused

This is a personal thing. I just figure that if someone who knows more than I do says that I should do something ... I should probably do that something! Smile

It doesn't mean that everyone should do this ... it's just my own personal caution ... passed along from what I've read. Very Happy

Mary

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:17 am

hpjrt wrote:

I was the one who mentioned that. It was from information I got from the site and the book called Biochemistry of Beauty.

After 3 days of being opened, it's still distilled, of course ... however, once opened it becomes affected by air, dust, bacteria etc.

Now, the Biochemistry of Beauty woman has far more scientific knowledge and understanding than I do Laughing

... so I opt for boiling my distilled water if the jug has been opened more than 3 days. It doesn't take much time ... and I figure "What can it hurt?"

That said, I used jugs of distilled water straight from the jug all the time prior to reading this. Wink

I suspect that the caution about boiling had more to do with people who are marketing their products to other people ... and one can understand that one has to be even more fastidious about such things as "product purity" if one is attempting to sell these things to someone else.

However, having been raised with a "healthy" amount of guilt ... after reading that distilled water jugs opened for 3 days or longer ... well ... I found myself being unable to use it without boiling! Confused

This is a personal thing. I just figure that if someone who knows more than I do says that I should do something ... I should probably do that something! Smile

It doesn't mean that everyone should do this ... it's just my own personal caution ... passed along from what I've read. Very Happy

Mary

That's a good point. And since I DO use a bit of distilled water in my homemade lash serum which I'll be "marketing" to all my faithful friends here, I'll definintely be sure to boil it before mixing a batch -- especially since the eye area can be more prone to irritation than most other areas. But that doesn't mean that I've changed my mind about getting you guys to sign that waiver!! Very Happy

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:39 am

Thanks everyone for the replies...

Yes, it was your post I had read... I can see why you boil yours, Mary.. But at the same time, I think since I use it just for myself and a couple family members, I'm not going to boil it.. That said, just watch me boil it, for the reasons you mentioned...LOL

carekate, since you didn't boil yours, and noticed nothing bad, I can have a nice conversation with myself about not going a head and boiling...LOL

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:55 am

Hi again Kiki,

I know exactly what you mean! I thought the same way as you did ... but I had already read the darned thing ... and try as I might ... I was unable to use my distilled water from the jug ... without first boiling it! Laughing

What is it about reading something written by someone you acknowledge has more validity than yourself? I mean ... I hadn't noticed anything going "off" when I didn't boil it ... but it's like an invisible restraint on my arm ... any time I go to pour just the distilled water from the jug! Laughing

But I took the whole thing one step further ... I went out and purchased an inexpensive kettle just for boiling distilled water. Why? Well ... I reasoned that if plain old air could harm the purity of distilled water ... what on earth could my tap water do to it?

Therefore ... I wanted to boil my already distilled water in a kettle that hadn't been used to boil ordinary tap water in! Rolling Eyes

I know ... it doesn't make a lick of sense! Not talking

I just pass these things along folks ... because then I don't feel quite so silly doing them myself! Laughing

Mary

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:17 pm

hpjrt wrote:

But I took the whole thing one step further ... I went out and purchased an inexpensive kettle just for boiling distilled water.
Mary

Doesn't make sense???? Ummmm, I was planning on doing the exact SAME thing...LOL I also thought of just doing it in the microwave, with a 'special' cup for only that too...LOL I was even wondering about getting something with a spicket, to add the distilled water to after boiling the new jug.. My thinking is, that with a spicket, no air would get back into it, after removing the amount needed.. Now if this would even work, I have no idea...LOL

Mary, how much do you boil up at a time? Do you make more than one 'potion' at a time? I usually am only making on vial of Vit C at each given time.. And if you boil a lot, do you toss it or put it back in the jug?

I've been having a tug of war with myself over the boiling/not boiling thing sicne I read that... It's nice to know I'm not alone in things like this!

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 6:32 pm

Carol D. wrote the book, Biochemistry of Beauty. She is very knowlegable and careful. I don't boil my water, but I can understand why one would.

With microwaves, it only takes a min. or two anyway...hmmmm, maybe I'll start boiling Rolling Eyes

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:24 pm

Now I have another question.. After boiling it, do you let it stand to cool down, and wouldn't that cause it to end up in the same, maybe worse condition?

I hate it when I start thinking, that's why I try never to do it!

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 7:53 pm

Kiki,

Blame it on that "thin air" where you live Laughing

free skin care · Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:56 pm

donnababe wrote:

Kiki,

Blame it on that "thin air" where you live Laughing

Actually the thin air works best for me.. Ask anyone who has been around me down on flat lands...LOL I am a natural blonde tho.... Laughing

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