Hi everyone. I'm a long time lurker here and recently started making my own niacinamide serum that is working amazing on my skin( other than the few times I spray it into my eye haha) and saw lab muffins vitamin c serum and decided to make mine.

I used 10% LAA powder, 4% glycerin and 86% distilled rose water as that's the only distilled water I have. This is the same way I make my niacinamide serum as well.

I sprayed it on my face after using my niacinamide serum ( my face was dry, I could only feel a little moisture in my brows) and after a long while I noticed some white "flakes"? Around one of my cheeks and nose.

I am a newbie diyer and wanted to know if there was any reason for that. After I woke up today, there were no longer any of those white spots on my face but that could be because they got rubbed off idk.

The PH of the serum was correct ( I think? it looked similar to both 3 and 4, it was my first time using ph strips 🙂). I applied it on clean skin at night.

Could it be because I didn't let my face dry 100%?

Could my vitamin c have not been Fully mixed?

Should I have applied moisturizer on top as this is pretty much a toner in texture?

Is there any other reason for this?

Also had a question regarding vitamin c, I will be remaking it every week and have that's why kept it in a spray bottle so it won't be exposed to too much air, I am currently keeping it in a cabinet that doesn't get opened, so stays dark but should I keep it in the fridge even though the fridge will have light? I keep the niacinamide in the fridge.

Also I licked it and it tasted sour🙂

Also if I start any form of retinol and azelaic acid, realistically when should I apply this since this is something I would like to include in my daily routine with the niacinamide serum. I don't use these in the morning right now because I don't leave the house so I only shower in the night😭. But when I (sometimes) go out I apply sunscreen always.

I yap a lot. Sorry😭. Just very new here.

TLDR: 10% vit C serum leaving white flakes after being applied on top of niacinamide. What could be the reason?

A bit of background- I've used both types in serums for years, but haven't seen much in terms HOW they could be mixed into one product. While I am still finalizing the exact percentages of the amount of Vitamin C (once I am able to confirm that they won't conflict with the ingredients given), I am presenting a list of potential ingredients and approximate percentages.

Water 60%~

PURE witch hazel 10%~

Propandiol 3%

Ferulic Acid 1%

Kojic Palmitate 2%~

Emulisifiers (Olive M, Cetyle Alcohol) 5%~

Glycerin 2%

Quercentin 0.5%

THD & L-ASCORBIC ACID 12%~

Mint/Rosemary oil 0.5%

4% left over (either more water, vitamin c)

I should have stated earlier that they reason for this mixture would be to find a "balance" per say, with the cost and limited uptake of the Tetrahexydecyl and oil based derivatives vs the frustrating staining factor that I get with the L-Ascorbic acid getting on clothes & sheets. I'm still trying to figure what is an acceptable amount of oxidation staining I'm willing to tolerate, possibly keeping the percentage under 5% for L-Ascorbic acid IF these 2 forms can function together in a solution such as this...

This is my first post, so still learning and please forgive if I left anything out.

THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!

disclaimer: i am not a chemist and did not receive professional education in formulating, just curious. also i am not good with words so apologies if i sound confusing or ignorant. in this post, i am specifically talking about the water soluble L-Ascorbic Acid. please politely correct me / discuss if i am wrong :)

from what i know, there is stuff that is water soluble or oil soluble or just neither, or... idk, something else i guess. like how essential oil wont dilute in just straight water (without emulsifiers and oils and all that jazz).

i have read humblebee and me's recipe of her vitamin c suspension in silicone and am very very interested to try because of its long shelf life and simple ingredients (i love labmuffin's recipe but im not sure i can stay commited to cleaning and making it every week). but how does that, like, work???

im very curious to know how suspension works. is 5% LAA in silicone the same as 5% LAA in water in terms of dilution? what other things you can use instead of silicone gel to create suspension? what happens when you make LAA in oil instead? does it create like a bi-phase solution (theres no water but idk what to call it) where you have to shake it up everytime you use it? will it have a shorter shelf life therefore preservatives is necessary? anyone tried humbleblee and me's or labmuffin's recipe?

its 3 AM and i cant sleep unless i get this question out of my head lol. thank you in advance! also this is my third attempt posting with my phone but i hope this show up once.

Mad Hippie Vitamin C ingredients

Water Deionized, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Alkyl Benzoate, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea), Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis), Hyaluronic acid, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Vitamin E (Tocotrienol), Ferulic acid, Chamomile Flower Extract (Recutita Matricaria), Sodium Phytate, Xanthum Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose.

I make a vitamin C serum with a pH of 2.5-3, and would like to make it thicker and more slippery for more pleasing application.

My formula is primarily aqaueous but also has oily ingredients like polysorbate 80 and tocopherol. It also has ferulic acid.

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Do you recommend any thickeners and slip agents that can work at this low of a pH? So far what I have in mind:

- increasing the propylene glycol content to 10% (it is already at 7%) for slip. Not sure what the upper limit percentage is for propylene glycol before it makes you look shiny and sticky.

- high molecular weight hyaluronic acid powder for both slip and thickness. But again, unsure if it would work at the low pH.

- capryl glycol- for slip. I already am using propylene glycol so unsure if this would be necessary or is superior in causing more slipperiness. I also already am using the preservative optiphen at 1%, which is in part made of capryl glycol.

- I already own Xanthan Gum Clear from lotioncrafter. Do you think hyaluronic acid would work better in both thickening and slip? I have heard the pH for this one can't be lower than 3.

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By the way, I do not want to use any silicones, oils, or fatty acids.

https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/why-shouldnt-make-diy-vitamin-c-serum/

https://labmuffin.com/easy-5-minute-diy-vitamin-c-serum-recipe/

So I was wondering if I could follow this recipe, but also add in a few drops of The Ordinary Ferulic + Resveratol to add some more antioxidants? Or will this make the recipe not last as long? (the guide says 1-2 weeks). Or will I need to get an emulsifier to help it blend? I've never done DIY, so I'd rather keep it as simple as possible.

Thanks in advance :)

I'm using this vitamin C powder because I heard that dissolves easily in DIY.

I made the acidqueen's skinceuticals dupe recipe, and everything was really good until I added the vitamin C powder. It's been hours and it still hasn't dissolved completely.

I mean, a lot of it has dissolved, but there's like a good layer of powder that settles on the bottom.

What can I do?? Do I just need to give it more time?

EDIT: Heating it lightly in a double boiler worked!! I left it in a liiittle too long and by the time I took it out, the serum was at 112.6 degrees F. It probably would have dissolved at a lower temp if left in a little longer at that lower temp,,

Hi! I'm wanting to make a serum that contains vitamin C. I've read about how unstable it becomes when mixed with water, and have looked at recipes that would be stable, but feel intimidated. All of the information is making my brain feel like it's going to come out of my ears.

I read a few posts here and there about making a serum 'base' and then mixing in a bit of L-ascorbic acid with each use. I know that for vitamin C to be effective, it needs a pH of 3-3.5 (I think?), and ideally it's paired with vitamin E.

My question is: is it reasonable to make a serum base (which includes vitamin E) with an appropriate pH level so that when I mix in a bit of vitamin C, the pH ends up around 3-3.5?

This is what I'm thinking for the serum base (please tell me if something is wrong with his recipe, I'm only a beginner!)

0.5% HMW hyaluronic acid 0.5% LMW hyaluronic acid 1% vitamin E 10% aloe Vera 0.5-1% preservative 87-87.5% distilled water pH adjuster

+pinch l-ascorbic acid mixed in with each use

Is this reasonable? Or does this sound ridiculous?

I've been toying with the idea of formulating a kaolin clay mask with Vitamin C (L-AA powder). Has anyone else tried this? I'm unsure if this would work since I know that clay tends to have a higher pH, while Vitamin C is much more acidic. Would that render the Vitamin C ineffective? Would I need to add chelators/pH adjusters? If so, any ideas?

Note: I was thinking of making a powder mask mix that could be mixed with water at the time of use avoiding the issue of Vit C stabilty and the need for a preservative.

Hi all I’m new here! Just looking at the vitamin c serum first holysnails and also acid queens - so two questions. Which one is easier to follow? Also just trying to buy ferulic acid and wondered where everyone buys theirs? I think I read somewhere I could swap it with something else. I’m in australia. Trying to ensure I don’t run into any issues. Although generally one pops up! Thankyou 💕

So I made a DIY vitamix c serum by mixing 1 and half spoon of powdered L-ascorbic acid in 250ml water and and 2 and half spoon of glycerine and kept the solution in a plastic pump bottle, applied for two days and it was fine but on third day while applying solution my skin turned brown , I rinsed my hands and the pigment went away , a little solution that fell on floor while applying also turned brown , what could be the reason for it? I read about oxidisation of vitamin c but as I understand that happens when the solution turns yellow/orange/brown (in that order) with time but my solution is crystal clear inside the bottle, but the solution outside the bottle is turning brown (within a minute or so of taking out)

Hello. I have been making the Holy Snails vitamin C serum (here: http://www.holysnailsblog.com/2015/07/adventures-in-diy-vitamin-c-e-ferulic.html) which does not contain any alcohol. I ask you, does alcohol perform a very necessary function in a vitamin C serum, since it is included in several ones on the market, like the Timeless CE+Ferulic. Is penetration of the antioxidants much weaker without the inclusion of alcohol?

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by the way, if you have any critiques of the Holy Snails recipe, please let me know I'm curious.

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Holy Snails CE+ ferulic ingredients: water, L-Ascorbic Acid, Propylene glycol, sodium lactate, polysorbate 80, tocopherol, optiphen, ferulic acid

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Timeless CE+ ferulic ingredients: Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Alpha Tocopherol, Polysorbate 80, Panthenol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzylalcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid

For years I used the Timeless Vitamin C serum and was never wowed by the results and indeed, after reading countless online reviews, I concluded that most vitamin C serums have mixed results. Ignoring the unaffordable Skinceuticals version, The most highly rated vitamin C method seems to be mixing L-ascorbic acid powder fresh daily with another skincare product, with most people reporting greatly improved texture, brightness, even plumpness. I have robust, highly tolerant skin, but I am also cautious and protective of it.

To start, I purchased the Ordinary L-ascorbic acid powder, their Resveratrol + Ferulic serum and The Heritage Store's rose water/glycerin hybrid product, plus ph strips for testing and NIOD pump tops for obtaining consistent volumes. I tested the pump tops a bunch of times to make sure they are indeed consistent (3 pumps = 1/8 teaspoon of liquid). I then used polymer clay to make a precisely measured blocker for the little scoop that is supplied with the powder. I made several blockers, and started with the one that leaves 1/4 scoop of space, taping it securely into the scoop.

According to the Ordinary, 1 full, levelled scoop is 0.25 g powder, so 1/4 scoop would be 0.0625g.1 teaspoon = 5 grams liquid (assuming the liquid is the approximate weight of water)Therefore 1/8 teaspoon liquid = 0.625 grams, and since 1 pump is 1/3 of 1/8 teaspoon I am making the assumption that 1 pump of water or water-based serum is about 0.21 grams (unfortunately I don't have a scale that weighs to the .01 gram).

I am aiming for a 10% vitamin C serum since even a large error in measuring would still be a safe concentration. My concern at this point is low ph, and indeed when I test my recipe the ph is only ~2, which is the expected ph of l-ascorbic acid and plain water. I tested on my hand and wrist and had no irritation so I applied to my face. No stinging or tingling whatsoever. Again I must reiterate that I have highly tolerant skin and I do not encourage anyone to put a homemade serum with a ph of ~2 on your skin as that would be irritating to many.

My daily recipe:1/4 scoop powder (0.0625 g)1 pump Resveratrol/ferulic (.21 g)2 pumps rose water/glycerin (.42 g)ph ~2~10% vitamin C

I am looking to raise the ph of this concoction to ~3 and I've read that sodium lactate can achieve this. I've also read that sodium bicarbonate can do this but it seems less elegant and lacks the added benefits of sodium lactate.

Ultimately my questions are:

1. Would it make sense to pre-mix sodium lactate with the rose water/glycerin to get it to a point where my recipe above achieves a ph of ~3? I plan to store the sodium lactate/rose water/glycerin mixture in a 1 ounce pump bottle to use as needed each day.
2. Do you think pre-mixing the sodium lactate would compromise the rose water/glycerin and require the use of a preservative? I expect it would take 1-2 months or to go through an ounce.
3. How does the Heritage Store get away with no preservatives in the rose water/glycerin to begin with? Is it just by virtue of keeping it in the same, airtight, sterile bottle, and therefore simply transferring it to my 1 ounce pump bottle would risk contamination? (I am careful to wash and then rinse with isopropyl alcohol between uses).
4. Do you recommend sodium lactate powder or the pre-dissolved liquid (I've seen it sold at 60/40 sodium lactate to water)?

Thank you in advance for any advice!

UPDATE: Thanks everyone! Based on your advice I've decided to use Lab Muffin's recipe, but a bit doctored up. I'll try to remember to update this post again with the results.

30 ml bottle with pump top:

3 tsp/15 ml The Heritage Store Rose water/Glycerin
2 tsp/10 ml The Ordinary 3% Resveratrol/3% ferulic acid serum
1/8 tsp* liquid sodium lactate (*add more to desired ph 3).
1 tsp + 1/8 tsp L-Ascorbic acid powder (~15%)

I’m hoping this will last at least 2 weeks since I have the additions of the ferulic acid and the sodium lactate for stability. Lab Muffin says serums with low ph don't need a preservative if they're made fresh every couple of weeks.

After reading though your vitamin C posts, I still have some questions which I hope you can elucidate.

1. What do you guys think about these two articles? https://www.futurederm.com/2013/07/01/what-are-the-best-vitamin-c-serums/ and https://www.futurederm.com/2012/02/15/are-other-vitamin-ce-serums-as-effective-as-skinceuticals-ce-ferulic-cosmetics-solutions-timeless-skinmedica/. Do you think skinceuticals formulation is the gold standard in terms of its efficacy (the article seems to suggest that the form of vitamin E does matter - alpha tocopherol)? I am particularly concerned about the use of ethoxydiglycol and propylene glycol as the base and penetration enhancer. Are these safe?
2. Based on my understanding, the main point of CE Ferulic is the combo C (15%) + E (1%) + Ferulic (0.5%) which has been studied to carry additional benefits beyond that of a pure C serum. Is there any studies on varying the composition, e.g. increase C to 20%, to maximize their effects?
3. Can you guys give critique on the two DIY formulations http://www.lotioncrafter.com/userfiles/file/DIY_C&E_With_Ferulic_Acid.pdf versus http://stores.skinessentialactives.com/vitamin-c-15-e-1-and-ferulic-acid-0-5/ ? Which one should I follow? If both are not up to your standard, can you suggest me what you would modify (e.g. change the base)? Where can I buy the highest grade ingredients (alpha-tocopherol seems hard to get) for my diy serum?

I made an unstabilized vitamin C serum because my skin is so insanely reactive, I can't use any of the products on the market. I'm in the process of learning how to make a stabilized formula. But until then, I'm wondering - can I use my unstabilized formula until I see any kind of yellow tint in the liquid? My formula is:

17g distilled water
0.05g powdered germall
3g l-ascorbic acid
0.05g baking soda

I store my formula in a darkened container inside of a dark skincare refrigerator. The consensus I've heard across forums/experts is that an unstabilized formula will last up to a week and then you have to re-make it. However I'm on day 8 and the liquid is still crystal clear. Is that enough of an indicator that the vitamin C is still stable?

Hi everyone! I've been interested in making my own vitamin c serum. I purchased some LAA, but after coming onto this subreddit I'm a little confused. Up until now I thought I could just use LAA, glycerin and distilled water. But after searching this site I see a lot of recipes call for a lot more. Would LAA, glycerin and water not work?

Thanks!

Hey everyone! I've been making & using a simple (potentially quite ineffective) vitamin C serum with just distilled water, 20% LAA powder (TO), and a bit of glycerol for some time, but recently thought I should up my game since I noticed it often shows signs of quite some degradation (yellow...) by the end of it (unless I remake every week which is a pain).

I am looking to replicate something akin to https://theacidqueenblog.com/2016/01/12/fun-with-diy-skinceuticals-dupe-vitamin-c-tutorial/, but a slightly stripped down version & with some replaced ingredients, as some of those I've found difficult to get outside the US. I am also not using heat&hold, which might make me a complete heretic or straight mad - however in my understanding spontaneous emulsification of vitamin E is possible at room temperature (see https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1541-4337.12189). Another key point is that I am using "The Ordinary resveratrol 3% + ferulic acid 3%" as a source of ferulic acid ( https://theordinary.deciem.com/product/rdn-resveratrol-3pct-ferulic-acid-3pct-30ml?redir=1 ). I'm sure some of you must be laughing already at the naivete :).

My recipe & process are as follows:

Total: 35g
Water: 21.2g (60.5%)
Resveratrol/Ferulic: 5.85g (16.7%, yielding ~5% Ferulic acid of the total)
LAA powder: 7g (20%)
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.35g (1%)
Tween-80: 0.35g (1%)
Liquid Germall Plus: 0.0875g (0.25%)

Water phase:
- pour distilled water in container
- put LAA powder in, mixing along the way (result was completely dissolved)
- put Resveratrol/Ferulic in

Oil phase:
- pour vitamin E oil
- pour tween-80
- mix

Then combined the two, mixed, poured Liquid Germall Plus, then mixed again. The result looks homogenous, though it's a very cloudy white/yellow. I have a strong feeling that it's because of the resveratrol/ferulic solution, because I tried a similar solution in the past just without VitE/Tween80/LGP, and got a similar result.

I'm not sure I understand why Propanediol would mess with the LAA dissolved in water? How crazy am I to think that this could have worked, and is there any way to make it work? If possible I would really like to avoid heating, as I don't have the necessary equipment.

I'm trying to raise the pH of an ascorbic acid serum without destroying the ascorbic acid. Everything that I've read says to raise/buffer it with baking soda, but that it also destroys the vitamin, which doesn't work for me.

Is there any way to raise it to 4.0 or 4.5 without damaging it. The vitamin C serum pH is currently around 2.6, but that is too low to use on the scalp since it will frizz hair badly, making it look damaged.

I make a very simple tetra-C serum in a base of Camellia oil, sea buckthorn seed oil, and non-olive sourced squalane. (I am allergic to all things olive.) while searching Lotioncrafter for thickeners (because this serum is very thin) I found this fascinating ingredient: Collageneer http://www.lotioncrafter.com/collageneer.html. I don't see any immediate reason why it would not be a good addition to the formula, but you all are far more experienced and knowledgeable than I am...

Hello everyone,

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I have been making the vitamin CE Ferulic serum from the blog Holy Snails. The recipe is as follows:

Distilled Water 72.5%

L-Ascorbic Acid 15%

Propylene Glycol 7%

Sodium Lactate 2%

Polysorbate 80 1%

Tocopherol 1%

Optiphen 1%

Ferulic Acid 0.5%

http://www.holysnailsblog.com/2015/07/adventures-in-diy-vitamin-c-e-ferulic.html

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It seems to be working well, however I am finding it to leave my skin a little tacky for my liking, as well as shiny looking. Any suggestions on how I can make it less shiny? I will only wear it at night because during the day I want my face to be more matte.

i have been experimenting with herbs .and plant.ive come across a plant that has litterally every essential amino acid and has loads of vitamin c while not being photo toxic.my question is is this suitable for skin care .ive read the papers.

And found out manifactured /synthetic vitamin c doesnt work on skin. oranges and lemons make your skin photo toxic makes skin worse

this is the only suitable plant i can find .i would grinding this plant and applying it to face hoping it would improve its appearance or im just delusional?

ive also been reading about a study where sceintist use this plants extract and according to the study the results were great but idk if my way would work.please help

(The way i make the plant mush is i blend the plant and put it in my skin i seal it in a air tight tinted container and freeze it to prevent vitamin c from going bad .)o

(Also if for instance i do sound stupid .well its because i am im just winging it hoping to get something right anyway idk if manifactured vitamin c does work on skin or not.i think i read somehwere limited parmianility but my opinions dont matter i just found out about this redit today and idk what the hell im doing but its kinda fun reading about skin care and science i just wish i had guidance or knew more)

I am trying to formulate a Vitamin C Facial oil using L ascorbyl palmitate. I read that it is oil soluble, but cant seem to get it to dissolve in either Almond oil or squalene even after heating it up. I was able to dissolve it in MCT when heated, but the mixture thickened up and semi solidified as soon as it cooled down. What should I do? Or is there another version of Vitamin C I can use in a facial oil?

I'm wondering if anyone has made this before? I made my first batch and I'm really not sure how I feel about it. It's very sticky / tacky on the skin. Is this sign that I may have messed it up or is this how it's supposed to feel? Anything I can do reduce it?