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Learn how to make your own homemade Vitamin C Serum!
Many of you know that I am such a girly girl when it comes to beauty and skincare (and clothes and shoes!), but I don’t put anything on my skin that I wouldn’t eat. This is quite the dilemma in a chemically filled beauty and skincare world, as you can imagine.
*cue superhero music*
So then enters Jenni, from the blog Jenni Raincloud, aka my new internet crush. I’ve been mildly stalking (who am I kidding? Obsessively is more like it) Jenni’s blog ever since I discovered it. You see, Jenni is an aeshtetician and loves beauty and all that girly stuff just as much as me! Her blog consists of recipes for homemade, organic, all natural skin creams, makeups, salves, etc. It’s like total heaven. You’ve got to check out. So far I’ve made her homemade Neosporin, her homemade vapor rub, and her all natural perfume. And I have a lot more on my list to try.
Jenni literally charges hundreds of dollars for her facials and then teaches us how to make the same skincare she uses for pennies! I’m already totally in love with her Vitamin C serum recipe and I just started using it a few days ago. I think you and your skin will absolutely love it, too.
Hi everyone, I'm Jennifer from Jenni Raincloud! Today I'm going to tell you how to make an incredibly amazing anti aging Vitamin C serum!
Vitamin C does great things for the skin. I am an aesthetician and have been in the skin care industry for more than a decade. I've worked in some high end spas and performed Vitamin C facials for 100's of dollars a pop! Little did I know at the time that I could recreate that facial at home for much less money. Do I have your attention??? Read on for an easy recipe that is going to recharge your skin and take years off your face!
Young skin is full of Vitamin C. Vitamin C produces collagen. As we age, our levels dramatically drop, therefore collagen production slows. Collagen is a protein that makes the skin have elasticity which keeps wrinkles from forming. Vitamin C also lightens age and sun spots. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It reduces the number of sunburned cells as well as reverses age-related damage to skin. It can reverse UV damage like spots and lines! Vitamin C can also reduce inflammation.
You can buy a "vitamin C" cream or serum at many department stores but what they don't tell you is that once vitamin C is added to a serum or cream it loses it's potency. It has a tiny shelf life. Vitamin C is tricky. It is very unstable. First off, you need a dark amber/blue glass bottle (find them HERE). An easy way to make sure your Vitamin C is in the perfect form to get the most benefits you can use a pH test strip. Your serum should be right around 3.5. Secondly, make a small batch and use it only for 3-5 days. It is some extra work, but trust me, the benefits are worth it. Your radiant glow will make this worth your time. So, let's make a serum and reap the benefits of this amazing vitamin!
- 1 teaspoon Vitamin C Powder (Find non GMO, natural Vitamin C HERE)
- 1 teaspoon distilled water
- 1 teaspoon glycerin (optional) (Find HERE)
- ⅛ teaspoon Vitamin E (optional) (Find non GMO, natural Vitamin E capsules HERE)
- small amber or dark glass bottle (Find them HERE)
- Mix ingredients in a small bowl until the granules are dissolved.
- If you omit glycerin and vitamin E add an extra teaspoon of water so that your serum isn't too strong.
- Transfer to a dark glass bottle.
- Apply to the skin at night after cleansing and toning.
- Let the serum soak in and then apply your moisturizer as usual.
Secondly, make a small batch and use it only for 3-5 days. It is some extra work, but trust me, the benefits are worth it.
Feel free to use this on the backs of your hands as well. As most of us already know, sun spots show up on the hands first. Vitamin C can cause your skin to be irritated at first. When you apply it, a small amount of tingling is normal. If it is burning, remove it immediately. Don't worry - you can just add more water and/or glycerin to your mixture. This will dilute the Vitamin C so it is more suited for your skin.
Like this Vitamin C serum and want to try an easy Vitamin C Mask recipe? Jenni has one on her blog! Click HERE to see it!
Thanks for reading my guest post! Please visit my blog, Jenni Raincloud for more skin care recipes as well as household recipes and a variety of healing salves!
About Jennifer from Jenni Rain Cloud
Jennifer lives in Edmond Oklahoma with her husband and 2 daughters. She has been in the skin care world for over a decade. She believes beautiful skin comes from the inside out. In order to achieve youthful skin a healthy lifestyle must be in place. If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin are her words to live by! She sells her skin care products on Etsy, runs her “at home spa” for close clients and blogs full time. She is happiest staying home with her family and cooking up healthy skin care products in the kitchen! You can follow Jenni Raincloud on Facebook, Pinterest and Etsy.
Thank you for sharing! Is this okay to use while pregnant?
Hi Kendall, it’s Jenni Raincloud-It is very gritty. I’ve tried everything and there is no way around it. You can take a spoon and smash it into the glycerin-that helps some. If the results weren’t so immediate and if this wasn’t so good for skin I wouldn’t mess with Vitamin C, but it’s that good. It delivers results so to me, it’s worth it. Thanks for your question!!
Thank you Jenni!
I have to agree with you, it’s only been day two, and I already feel and see a slight difference. Thank you for this gem!!!
So even though the vitamin C didn’t fully dissolve in your formula, did it still work? I don’t want to have to return the Vitamin C powder I bought so I want to know if I can get away with using it even though it’s not fully dissolved.
Hi. I’m using a vitamin C capsule and empy one in my cocunut oil for my face. I was wondering if that’s as good as the powder?
If you have not already receives an answer the vit c will not dissolve in glycerine. You must dissolve it in the water first. It takes a lot of shaking and it never dissolves fully but still works vey well. If it is too strong or stingy, use more water initially.
i just saw ur blog about serum i used 2 put homemade things on my face then i didnt find time coz of kids now i startd using products 4rm clinique i got facial recently 4rm spa bt nt hapy with it my black eads on nose r as same i wil try ur serum can u tell me if i use thyre rose petal with hazwl witch instead of water
Try mixing the vit c in a herb blender or coffee grinder (clean of course) and once its a finer powder it will dissolve better
Hi Nicole, Yes this is safe for pregnancy! If there was a chemical component to the Vitamin C (like an acid that would dissolve dead skin) I would say no, but this is so simple. In fact, during pregnancy you can be sensitive to sun and gain sun spots and even get the pregnancy mask so this will help fade any spots. Be sure to up your sunscreen though. I’m not sure but this could make you even more sensitive to sun.
Can I just add the vitamin C to a carrier oil instead of the water-glycerin combo? Seems like it might last longer that way, but I don’t know if the vitamin C would react to the oil or not.
Hi Amy, Yes you could use any carrier oil. It won’t prolong the shelf life though. Vitamin C starts to react with any liquid no matter what it is. You can play with the proportions as well. It all depends on what your skin needs and how the Serum feels to your skin. Thanks for the question!
Vitamin C is water soluble
http://www.activeformulas.com/products/ascorbic-acid-l-vitamin-c
unless you have Ascorbyl Palmitate.
http://www.activeformulas.com/products/ascorbyl-palmitate-vitamin-c
You can try using pure aloe vera gel instead
Can i use the vit c and dilut it in aloe vera
Yes!
Hi Kelly!
Can you tell me, is the serum supposed to be slightly “gritty”, no matter how
Much I try to mix it it, it won’t seem to dissolve.
Thank you so much!!!
I wonder if running the vitamin C powder through a coffee mill and grinding it finely first before mixing would make it less gritty.
Use a mortar & pestle to grind the vitamin c powder as fine as I can get it. I add the other ingredients and combine well. Then I strain it through a tea strainer. I end up with just liquid. It works well for me.
Hi Jenni!
One further question, if you don’t mind. I’m finding both glycerin
And vitamin E oil to be unbarably sticky, all day even. I normally use an
Organic jojoba oil as my moisturizer, would that work as the carrier oil
In this recipe, and would it be as beneficial?
Thank you Jenni, take care.
Do you mean salve?
Hi Sue! No, it’s supposed to be a serum.
You mention a couple time the importance of getting the VitC serum the proper PH. Does adding more Vit E for example bring it to a more alkaline state if your PH reading is to acidic?
Lauren, pH is a tricky subject, but yes, I believe that adding more Vitamin E will help reduce the acidity in your serum.
Thanks, Jennifer
I’ve made the serum and have been using it for a couple of days.
Is it safe to use on the skin of your upper eyelids or is it mostly for using in the corner and below the eye area? I have some elasticity/sagging problems starting on my upper lids since I am in my late 30s and wondered if this could help but I don’t want to make the problem worse.
I make my own Vit C from drying organic orange skins and grinding in a coffee grinder.
Tell me Jenni…. what do you think of the idea of using some of those granules as an exfoliator? I put my cleanser on and work it around and then add a little of the granules to my hand and work that in with the cleanser. I have seen a real difference in my skin with this and the natural oils from the skins seem to add a real bonus.
I like the sound of your serum. Since others have commented that it is a little gritty, I am thinking my home made Vit C might work for that as well?
Please advise and thanks for a great article.
Dorsey, That is really awesome! I LOVE that you are using a real orange-I would continue doing that for sure-I’m going to try it too! Sounds like an amazing exfoliator! You for sure should try it with the serum. If you are seeing results then the orange rind is an effective source of Vitamin C.
Thanks for reading!
Just so you understand….. it is the whole peel….zest and white part. This gives you a great natural Vit C. I understand that 1 tsp. is equal to daily requirement …. but take more if not feeling up to par. I put it in my kefir smoothie at lunch. 🙂
I keep a small container of it in the bathroom to use for my skin. 🙂
I too dry orange peel,grind it. mix grind oatmeal,almond flower,grind rose petal,grind mint.
Before using as scrub,add honey,olive oil n some yogurt.
Has worked wonders for me.
What if you use Retin A at night? Can you use the Vit. C serum in the morning, under sunscreen?
Donna, You would have to be careful with the Vitamin C, but you can use it during the day. Retin A could make your skin extra sensitive and the Vitamin C Serum, depending on how strong you make it, can be strong as well. I could see the serum being too irritating or burning while on your skin. If you really want to try the Vitamin C you can adjust your levels of Vitamin C to Glycerin until it feels comfortable on your skin.
Thanks, Jennifer
I have a bag of Natural Traditions camu camu berry powder ( 1tsp provides 12 times the RDI of vitamin C would this be ok to use. It’s the purest form of vitamin C, I find ascorbic acid really hurts my stomach but this does not bother me in the least. Would this be a suitable substitute, do you think?
Thanks, Diana
Diane, This would be a great substitute! In fact, I have been looking for an alternative to L.Ascorbic acid and have wondered about Camu Camu. Vitamin C works wonders on the skin and the results are quick-you’ll know if it’s effective within a couple of weeks. Substituting the ascorbic acid with camu camu could not hurt, and in my opinion you might have a great serum on your hands!
Good luck! Jennifer
I Jenni
I use pure coconut oil for my face and body, can i add vit c to this?
Dorsey great idea!
Thnx
Siska, YES! Coconut oil is awesome for the skin. You could substitute glycerin for coconut oil for sure. Thanks!
This sounds great…what benefits would it have for a 50 year old?
Sherry-the older we get the less our skin produces collagen-after about age 20 production goes down and keeps going so anything we can do to boost collagen helps with elasticity and wrinkles! Plus, age spots and sun spots usually start to reveal themselves around the 30’s. Vitamin C will help to fade those spots!
I use carrot seed oil with coconut oil. Would your recipe be better or is what I am using alright?
Regina, Hi! Carrot seed oil is a very regenerative oil, it is excellent for the eyes and contains quite a bit of Vitamin C, so you are on the right track. L.Ascorbic acid is a pure form of Vitamin C so it’s more potent then carrot seed. Coconut oil and carrot seed oil are awesome. If you have sun/age spots that you are trying to fade I would use this serum as well. Thanks!
Thank you!! The link you give for the vitamin c, says it’s unavailable. What other do you suggest?
I purchased the vit c that you recomended in your ingredients list. The color of the powder is slightly tinted brown/red. Should the vit c powder be white or is that normal for this brand/type?
Can I mash the vitamin C pill? Thanks, will give u my feed back in a couple days..I have very dry skin I add vitamin E to my face cream for help.
Hi I noticed when i first look at this the L ascorbic acid was shown in the white tub. I looked at the recipe again today and i noticed that you are now showing an all natural vitiam c power. Can either of these be used. Why did you switch products?
Thanks
Lalena
I am wondering this as well. The link is showing me acerola berry powder which I understand is a natural source of vitamin C. But I had recently purhased a large tub of non-GMO ascorbic acid to use in making a homemade liposomal C (for internal use) and am wondering about just using that for this recipe. I’ve been using a vitamin C serum by Avalon Organics and seeing good results so far.
Are there any studies or examples to show it actually works?
Thanks.
This is great – thx. I have vitamin C powder, however its buffered with calcium (calcium ascorbate powder) – would this be ok to use for the serum?
Also, I have just recently purchased some rosehip oil. Could this be used in conjunction with the vitamin C serum?
thanks
Sandy
did anyone find out about the vit C. I dont see a response up here. Can the all natural C be used topical?
Hi! I have a jar of Vitamin C Crystals. It lists the Vitamin C as “Ascorbic Acid” in the ingredient info. Is that the same as L-Ascorbic Acid? If not, will mine work for this recipe? Thanks I am so anxious to try this!
why “distilled” water. i have e/o – is that good enough?
Just received my vitamin C powder today (I ordered through your link) and I’m excited to try this! Thanks!
I am so excited to make this!!! And I love the suggestion of the Camu Camu! But the Vit E?? I was told that vit e was usually source from Soy? Is there something else we could use? Maybe Argan oil?
Hi. Quick questions. I’m having a hard time handling the stickiness this serum leaves on my skin and neck. Its driving me crazy in fact 🙂 Can I substitute the Vit E with the jajoba or coconut oil, omit the glycerin and add an extra tsp (or 1/2) of water? As long as I have the ph correct, theoretically the Vit C should still do its job.
Second question, I use braggs cider as a toner, would this leave me susceptible to skin irritation if I use both of these together at night? Or no, since its an acetic acid?
Third, if I just use the vit c and water alone, then moisturize with jajoba or cocnut oil after application that won’t interfere with the results this serum is supposed to produce?
Thanks!!
Oops, I replied to a random post above instead of posting here.
I’ve made the serum and have been using it for a couple of days.
Is it safe to use on the skin of your upper eyelids or is it too harsh and mostly for using in the corner and below the eye area? I have some elasticity/sagging problems starting on my upper lids since I am in my late 30s and wondered if this could help but I don’t want to make the problem worse.
Hi Jenni!
I have been making this and I love it! the only drawback for me was the grittiness… I though about smashing the crystals with a mortar and pestle before mixing in the water and glycerin, and while that turned the crystals into powder, it also turned it a yellowish color, and full on orange once I mixed it with the water and glycerin! I measure the PH and it was at 2, so is it oxydized? I am so confused!
can i use the juice of a fresh lemon?
Hi! I made the serum for the first time a few days ago and have been using it since. I followed the recipe exaxtly but could not seem to get the ph beyond 1. I tried adding more glycerin and water, but it hasn’t worked. For my next batch, what can I do to reach the optimal ph of 3.5?
Getting ready to make this but waiting for answers to some of the last questions. (Never thought I’d be ordering glycerin. lol.
I just made some of this. I used ground up organic orange peel. Mine is not a liquid at all, it is very, very thick. It’s going to be a bit tough to get out of the bottle, but that’s ok as long as it is ok to use this thick or should I thin it down? What consistency should it really be?
I love making my own natural products, thanks for sharing the recipe. 🙂
Hi Ruth. How did you get your serum so thick?
Hey Jen…Cathy from Aus
Hey Jen,
This is amazing. Thanks for sharing. But i have a slight problem, I cannot get the items listed above from Amazon, as it does not ship those items to my region. I even tried ebay. Is there another way around it? I’m desperate. I am located in the middle East. Thanks
Can I sub out the glycerin for hemp seed oil?
Hi Jen ..
just wondering … when the serum ıs made up and applied to the face
how long b4 can ı apply moısturıser or as ı comonly apply rosehıp seed oıl on to my face as a part of my routine.
do ı need to wash off the serum b4 apply others on to my face
Also could u pls tell us what type of moısturısers and oıls mıght counteract wıth the serum
hence makıng ıt ıneffective
Hello, I was wondering if you had a recipe for a “Hyluronic Cream”? I haven been able to locate one that is fairly simple. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any help that you may offer.
Judy Mercado
Some of the suggested traders don’t ship to the UK/Europe and I’m having a tricky time finding others that do. Can anyone recommend any?
Ta, Rae.
Great write up! You may want to correct the grammar error in paragraph below *que super hero music – to for salves instead of that other word 🙂
thanks Kristi! will do 😉
Hi, I came upon your blog and I liked what I read about the vitamin C serum, so I decided to make my own with my probiotic kefir goat milk cream instead of distilled water. I’m curious why the ph acidic level is so high.
Thank you for your blog.
Victoria
Hi, can I know if I can add hyaluronic acid or something else this serum for more firm/anti-agingand hydrating purposes?
Hi Jennifer, instead of using Vitamin C powder, do you think the juice extract directly from Lemon and or limes does the same effect ? Thanks for your opinion. Cheers n regards
Would I be able to add Vitamin K in some way to this recipe?
The solution we found for helping the vitamin C to disolve so that it was not gritty was we put the bowl in a hot water bath on the stove and that helped disolve the grittiness. Just wanted to share that for people that were dealing with it not disolving and being gritty.
I wouldn’t recommend applying heat to Vitamin C at all. Any form of heat will oxidize your C and render it useless. You need to buy the Ultrafine powder from Lotion Crafter and it will dissolve within the mix.
It’s discussed here: http://skinandbeautytalk.com/techniques-reverse-signs-aging-2
It’s soooo sticky and didn’t seem to soak into my skin….is this correct? Anyone have a way around this?
I did not like the Healthforce Vitamin, C. My readinfs tell me that ascorbic acid is required, and “ascorbic acid” was not listed anywhereon the jar.ALso,it appears that this is more like a whole food product rich in vitamin C, but containing other substances as well. the powder was not white, but dark colored, and when mixed with distilled water it was brown colored, similar to brown sugar. When I added vegetable glycerin, the mixture became gloppy and stringy, and appeared to have separately some. the color was more homogenous by the next day. I tried using it and couldn’t help noticing how sticky it was. I think it is important to have a clear solution because as I understand, L-ascorbic acid starts turning yellowinsh when it degrades, so how could you tell if the “serum” is already brown. I have since bought another prep of “ascorbic acid, USP”. it is white, and I am 3 days into using it. I am now using the Healthforce” stuff, in my smoothies.
Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for vitamin C. As I understand it the “L” indicates it is from a natural source. The product linked to here is from sourced from non GMO Acerola Cherry powder (a food source) as I understand it and maybe that’s why it has a darker tint, though that’s a guess. The pure white Ascorbic acid you purchased is probably what is most often used in skin care products and probably preferred because it doesn’t add any color. Most of that product I believe is not sourced from food products. It’s confusing but both will do the job we are looking for here. That’s my understanding anyway.
hi jenn
just wandering where can I get the hyaluronic acid or what food can I incorporate that has same effect that I can use combined with vitamin c and coconut oil. I need recipe that I can create of my own and apply continuance thru out my skin from my face neck and beyond.
I also for got to mention that serum syrup portion where the seeds are at from melon Cantelope I normally apply on my face its lil sticky but it tightens the skin up you might want dilute just lil but with all these expensive anti aging products that are costly I figure experiment try it see what happens .im more of the natural holistic way.would like to learn more anti aging home made beauty secrets recipes please share .
You achieve the greatest effects as soon as you implement
the facial toner after shower whenever the face continue to looks as well as seems
clean, warm, as well as wet. Finally, apply a moisturizer that’s designed for your unique skin.
Astringents are meant to help control oil production by removing it from the surface layer of skin.
I recently used Peter Thomas Roth mega-rich body lotion on my face. Almost immediately my skin started burning so I cleaned it off, but it continued to burn. I was in Boston at the time, but flew home to California that night. I saw my doctor the next morning and was told the burned skin around my eyes was due to the Vit. C in the lotion. I was prescribed the following: a 20 mg tablet of prednisone and a 10 mg tablet of Zyrtec to take each morning, also a 25 mg to take at night, plus a 1% hydrocortisone cream to apply twice daily. I have been on this regimen for the past 3 days, but have not seen or felt any improvement in that time. I had read on your blog that using cream with Vit. C is good for the skin. What went wrong? Do you have any suggestions about healing my skin?
Wow, did your doctor say you were allergic to vitC or the form that is in what you used? Steroids seem like a pretty drastic step! The Zyrtec is to counteract heartburn which is a very common side effect of the Prednisone. It has many other side effects so don’t stay on it too long if you can help it. I might suggest trying some lavender essential oil on the area but make sure you are using high quality grade oil from a reputable company, it’s great for skin issues as well as burns and is used for allergies. I am happy to give you a couple options and discounts if you would like I use them frequently for medicinal purposes and have been for several years. There are several bases you could use as well as neat with lavender but I would suggest you patch test somewhere else first considering. I too have sensitive skin and have had similar (not as bad) experiences with things on my face, though chemical mostly I think. gwsevt@gmail if you would like. Either way hope it resolves soon, I have also been on those meds…felt great, until I didn’t…
Zyrtec is an antihistamine, not an antacid. It’s used to treat allergic reactions. She likely either had an allergic reaction to some thing else in the cream or her skin was sensitive to the acidity of the vitamin C. Using lavender oil could potentially make things worse if she’s allergic to lavender. Unfortunately her reaction is one that takes time to heal. There is no quick fix.
Is there a reason why you wouldn’t use liquid vitamin c?
Hi!
Excited to try this. I didn’t see how much to apply each time. Is it a dropper full? A few drops? How long should this recipe last? The 3-5 days you mentioned?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Hi Jenni,
Would it be beneficial to add Vitamin B3 powder to your Vitamin C Serum recipe? If not, what could I put the Vitamin B3 powder in?
Thank you
No one ever answered about putting the serum on the eyelids, well DO we or DONT we???? Are we going to burn our eyelids off or NOT???? (Frustrated)!!!!!!!
Sorry, Kathy! No, do not!!! It will burn!
If we can’t use the serum on our eyelids is their a serum for them, I inherited bad upper eyelids, can’t wear eyeshadow anymore because of it, help please!!!
i use on eyelids and it doesnt hurt even a little but be sure it doesnt get inside the eye while applying. Apply a thin layer. The serum is quite watery and it does roll into eyes.
dollar tree serum for the eyes contains vit. c, it can also be effective for crows feet and forehead wrinkles. It is available for $1.00. it’s safe and has kept me from Botox injections which I had for years. 42 now & get mistaken f9r 30.
To eliminate the gritty texture; warm the water a little bit, stir to mix the Vitamin C powder then add the other ingredients! Works great.
I make a great eye cream recipe that calls for coconut oil, Vitamin E and essential lavender oil.
Awesome, thank you Sue!
Hi Sue,thanks for that comment,I am also having trouble with the grittiness of the serum,I was afraid if I warm the water,the serum would oxidize
I actually make this every day! I use my dried citrus peel powder – oranges, clementines, limes, any fruit peels that are acidic basically – camu camu powder, distilled water, glycerin and sweet almond oil. After I shower at night, I apply this to my face, neck, breasts and shoulders, then mix in more sweet almond oil and some cocoa butter and it is the best body moisturizer I’ve found. Morning, I apply my eye cream (your recipe using cucumber juiced for the water part in tea) around my eyes, my upper nose, and any little bumps trying to start, a drop of castor oil to my lashes and sweet almond oil before sun screen.
I’m 33 and get carded at R rated movies. 15 year high school reunion – well, my ugly pale skin and ghetto poor life was pretty good revenge without saying a word.
Love that, Esa!!
The vitamin C serum and its benefits to the skin are reassuring to know especially coming from an aesthetician like yourself Jenni!
I find blending pure Aloe Vera gel with Vitamin C makes a great serum in which I also add macerated Carrot oil, Carrot seed essential oil, Orange essential oil and Franciscense essential oil.
I also apply it on my upper lids. The firming effects are amazing!
So I tried everything to make my vitamin C powder more fine but it still won’t dissolve in the distilled water. Would heating up the distilled water do any damage to the vitamin C powder. That’s the only way the powder will dissolve.
Thanks,
Claudia
Now that I look at it, I might have bought the wrong kind of Vitamin C powder. What brand do you use?
Am I doing something wrong?? I’ve tried the serum with the glycerin which was uber sticky. I’ve tried it without the glycerin and it feels like an egg mask.. HELP!!
Your adding too much glycerine .. that’s what makes it too sticky. There is a 5% guide. yes it makes it thicker and easier to use but you need to find a balance.
I add in some aloe vera gel too and that help thicken serum
I still find it a bit gritty and you cant really use this day time. I put it on at night going to bed. Seems if you add a bit of water to dissolve it you lose the potent cause of the heat. There is another great way it’s the little envelopes Vit C 1000mg you drink as it has all the vit B’s, mag, potassium etc in it. Great stuff.
Note, when you buy Vit E but make sure it’s Tocopherol and NOT Tocopheryl Basically has to end with OL to be PURE and NOT YL! SiSu and NOW are pure.
Thanks, Helene! Great tips! It’s been about a year since Jenni wrote this post and I am still loving this recipe and still notice a big difference in my skin, BUT I’ve been using it as a mask 1 -2x a week instead of a serum because of the sticky-ness / gritty-ness. Since it’s gritty, it makes an awesome exfoliator. I just rub it around my skin for a minute or two and then leave it on for about 15 minutes. I love that it does double duty as an exfoliater and mask – and I notice a difference right away in my skin after I rinse it off 🙂
Hey there, Yes I also do this only at night. Sure does clean all the dead skin like “exfoliating”. But once you reach 50 our skin needs to firm up even more. Recipes are great. Too bad Jenni isnt working on the site more as people are asking questions and no one answers them 🙁 But heh, what do you want to do. If you/we come across anything that’s even better lets post it. Recipes too…
Cheers dear
H.
Just what I have been looking for. I will be shopping after work today!.
I have been using vitamin E oil on my neck and have had good results. I have old lady skin there! I just leave it on for awhile and let some soak in and then gently wipe off the excess. Then I put on some moisterizer and that helps the residue soak in better. Has been working well, but need to do it every day.
Your website is awesome. I will be reading it thoroughly. Thanks for having it.
Thank you, Shelia! Another recipe you may want to try is the miracle salve recipe >> http://www.primallyinspired.com/miracle-salve-recipe-free-printables/
I have been loving this, especially during the cold winter months. I’m using it for both my nightly face cream and for my body. It’s AWESOME!!!
Hi i was just wondering if I could use my vitamin c serum and Hyaluronic acid serum in the morning instead of at nigh? Also can I use it under my makup? Thanks!
Hi Katherine! You could, but I’ve found this Vitamin C serum is a little gritty/sticky. Personally, I wouldn’t want to wear it during the day because of that. I don’t think it would work nicely under makeup because of the texture, too. It doesn’t bother me at night because I’m sleeping and the results have been totally worth it to me 🙂 I’ve also been using this serum as a mask with really good results – I just smear some all over my face, let sit for 30 minutes and rinse off.
hi. just want to know if i can just walk into any phamaceutical store and request for the white unsweetened vitamin c? is that what you are talking about?
Yes!
I’ve been using a store bought brand for months that I loved, but saw your recipe and decided to make it myself. My concoction feels SO STICKY on my face and neck!!! Is this correct? I can’t stand the way it feels : ( Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Valerie! I agree, it is sticky! I originally was wearing this just at night, but then I couldn’t stand the stickiness either. So I started using it as a mask, leaving it on for about 30 minutes. I am still getting the benefits that I love so much and don’t have to worry about the stickiness! Hope that helps!
One comment i wanted to make was to suggest to your readers to take anything you buy that is in plastic (glycerin) and put it into a glass bottle. The plastic leaches into the product and compromises your end product. Especially in the case of the glycerin, that bottle could potentially last years!
Love that advice! Thank you SunnyCO 🙂
Can I use a liquid Vit C instead of the powder form?
Yes!
I have Vitamin E soft gels. Can I use them in the serum? I don’t know if they have liquid or powder in them and if I can break them or not. Thanks!
Yes, that would be perfect, Pamela!
Hlo i am 22 Year girl my skin be dull and lost elasticity day by day i am taking vit c orally and use vit c serum in how many days i ll get my skin back.
You should start noticing a difference in a few weeks! You may want to try my favorite scrub and mask recipe, too – it’s super easy and so good for brighting and restoring the skin —-> http://www.primallyinspired.com/homemade-coffee-scrub-mask-recipe/
Hey, I’m brand new to making homemade things so I hope my question won’t seem dumb. I’ve ordered all the things listed to make the Vitamin C serum. Do I use the amber bottle to mix the items — mixing the Vitamin C with the distilled water first and thoroughly, or is it better to use a small bowl. Also I plan on using this on the back of my hands as well as face so would it be okay to make a “double batch” at one time since I will be using more.
Hi there! Not dumb questions at all! You’ll want to use a separate bowl for mixing and then put the finished product into your amber bottle. And yes you are correct – definitely make sure to mix the Vitamin C with the water first. Yes, a double batch will be great!
If the stickiness bothers you, don’t be afraid to just use it as a daily mask (leave it on for at least 15 minutes). You’ll still get all the benefits! That’s what I do now! Enjoy!
i’ve been using Vitamin C serum for 2 weeks and half now, i kinda like it cause my acne decrease a lot, it’s wonderful. This is amazing because my skin brighter, smooth, cleaner, My mother and my sister also use it, Vitamin c serum can be used for all ages. With your share, I might try made it, not buy :))) thanks for this!
Can I use Vitamin C Powder 5000 mg Ascorbic Acid from Thompson? And can I substitute glycerin with another natural oil?
Yes, that would work well, Deborah!
I only recently found your site like 4days ago on pinterest,i immediately went into action mode,bought my ingredients at my favorite healh store,i am amazed at the quick transformation to my skin,I’m 57 and I’ve tried to take very good care of my facials especially, but this homemade vitc serum takes the cake,within 1 day of usage,my features,has firmed up, my small wrinkles have begun to change already,thank you so much jenni.
That’s awesome!
Hey Jenni….
could you please provide the reference of this paragraph.
“using vita c to skin is 20x more effective then taking it orally”
Thanks