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I’ve been anxiously waiting to share today’s recipe. Let’s start with a little story…
Last month, Dustin purchased a surprise birthday present for me: a spa day! Dustin’s not a big gift person, so the fact that he took time to look for a naturally-minded local spa, check out spa ratings, and secretly make an appointment for me was a huge deal. I was so grateful and excited for my big spa day, until I arrived at the spa and discovered that a facial was in the package.
I’ve received facials in the past, and each experience has been less than desirable. In fact, every facial has felt like nothing more than a chance for the spa to sell me expensive beauty products. Not exactly relaxing or fun! I was super skeptical about getting a facial, but I knew the hard work Dustin went through to create the spa experience, so I decided to go through with the appointment.
A few minutes into the facial, the gentle esthetician inquired about my skincare routine, “What products do you use on your skin?” I hesitated for a few moments. I figured the relaxed environment might make my delayed response seem intentional. Should I tell her the truth? Friend, I was fearful to admit that I use “green beauty” products. I was afraid of her reaction to such a radical idea. Silly, right?!
A few minutes later, I replied and told her all about my green beauty skincare routine. The esthetician, Gen, softly voiced her encouraging words, “That’s wonderful! Amazing!” Suddenly, I felt comfortable to discuss skincare with Gen. She then asked about my skincare concerns, to which I replied, “I would love to do something about the scars left on my face from my past skincare issues, and the brown spots. Ugh, those brown spots that appeared with my second pregnancy.” Gen offered a solution, which she claimed would dramatically improve my blotchy skin and scars: a vitamin C serum.
Gen knew her stuff, so I decided to act on her advice. But the more natural vitamin C serum the spa sold cost $85 for a 2 ounce bottle, so I passed on the product and decided to research a possible homemade solution.
After a few hours online, I discovered that making a vitamin C serum at home is 100% doable and pretty inexpensive compared to spa brands. I purchased vitamin C powder from my health food store, and started playing around with various ingredient combos using 90% base ingredients and 10% vitamin C powder.
To make a loooong story shorter, let’s talk about my results…
After over one month of using my Homemade Vitamin C Serum in my regular skincare routine (my aloe and honey cleanser, toner, and moisturizing oils), the overall appearance of my skin has significantly improved! My skin feels smooth and soft. Plus, the blotchy dark spots and scars appear to be fading. Thank you, Gen, for your recommendations. And Dustin, feel free to book another spa day.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is something that’s naturally found in the makeup of our skin, particularly on the dermis and epidermis. I know, flashbacks to Anatomy and Physiology 101, right?!
Vitamin C plays an important role in skin health due to its antioxidant properties. Just think about everything our skin must work to fight against. Vitamin C aids in the repair and renewal of skin cells. This repair and renewal helps keep our skin looking youthful and healthy. From my reading, this is a natural process that’s continually occurring within the cells of our skin particularly when we sleep. Our skin is very smart. But sometimes our skin needs a bit of help, especially as we age or experience major life events like pregnancy or too much sun, so adding vitamin C to a skincare routine may help someone like myself–a gal frustrated with brown spots and scars. This post explains more about the benefits of using a vitamin c serum on the skin.
According to Gen and my online research, it’s important to apply a serum to the skin for 3 months to see noticeable results. So far, I’ve been using my Homemade Vitamin C Serum for a little over a month, and have been impressed with the results. Some sources encourage starting with a ratio of 5% vitamin C powder and 90% base (water and aloe are my “base” ingredients), then increasing to 10% vitamin C powder and 90% base, and finally 20% vitamin C power and 80% base. I’ve been consistently using the same percentage from the start, but feel free to use my ingredients and work out the math to meet your own skincare needs. My formula is roughly 16% vitamin C powder and 84% water and aloe.
Homemade Vitamin C Serum
Ingredients
- 1 tsp vitamin C powder
- 1 tsp filtered water
- 1 TB aloe vera gel + 2 tsp, I think aloe juice may also work in this recipe. I haven't personally tried aloe juice in my serum, yet.
- 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the vitamin C powder and filtered water. Whisk the ingredients until the vitamin C powder is completely dissolved. Once dissolved, stir in the aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil.
- Pour the serum into a dark amber bottle (a funnel helps). Store the serum in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Around the two week mark you may notice the serum's pH level change*. Your serum may have a different color and consistency, depending on the vitamin C powder and aloe used to make this recipe. My vitamin C powder is pink, but many are white.
Notes
Recipe Variations:
I’ve played around with the recipe variations over the past month. Vitamin C serum can feel a bit dry on the skin, so I like to add the aloe and vitamin E oil to help compensate for this drying effect. I’ve also used this ratio: 1 tsp vitamin C powder, 1 TB each: water and aloe vera gel. The trick to this ratio is applying a fair amount of moisturizer before the serum fully dries on the skin since it can leave your skin feeling dry at first. I personally prefer the recipe above, with the extra aloe and vitamin E oil, but both have produced the same overall result for my skin. If your skin is irritated with my recipe then decrease the amount of vitamin C powder at first (use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon) and slowly work your way up to more, if desired.
Many sources call for using vegetable glycerin versus aloe, but I found glycerin to be very sticky on my skin. If you have glycerin on hand, it may be subbed for the aloe.
pH Testing:
According to my research, an ideal vitamin C serum should have a pH of 3. For reference, a pH of 7 is considered neutral. I purchased a set of pH testing strips from Amazon so I can test each batch of serum. Vitamin C has a very a short life span. The serum may begin to fluctuate in pH when it’s no longer suitable for use on the skin. A change in pH may result in more harm than good when you apply the serum to your skin. So far I haven’t had any issues with pH since I make a batch of serum every 1-2 weeks. At-home pH strips are really easy to use, so if you’re interested in testing the pH, I recommend purchasing a test kit.
I know this post was written ages ago but can you please share which PH testing strips you used?
Thank you
Hey Sophia, I used a set off Amazon that are no longer available.
What is a preservative that I can use to make this? Thank you
It would be good to check your links every now and then in virus total because I just checked them and they came up as “malicious”. It’s not safe for people to click on those.
Hi there, thank you for letting us know. Can you tell me which link it was? I was not able to find it.
Thank you.
LS Team
Good day your recipe is wonderful but can one use squeezed orange juice in place of the vitamin C powder. Thanks in anticipation of your response
I don’t think that would be a pleasurable experience.
LS Team
Have you tried using a preservative to be able to make bigger batches and so the batches could last longer?
You could but the issue is more that vitamin c in general doesn’t have a long shelf life as far as potency.
LS Team
Regarding your recipe – you instruct to “store the serum in the fridge for 1-2 weeks”. My question to you – after the 1-2 weeks does the serum require constant refrigeration?
Yes, because there are no preservatives in the serum.
LS Team
Hi! I’m looking online for a suitable Vitamin C powder and I’m having a bit of a hard time finding one that is safe to actually put on my skin. The link in the recipe to Amazon is not working. What brand of Vitamin C are you using??
Hey Sharonda, A whole foods based vitamin c powder is fav.
I made the vit c serum but it’s grainy and sticky, what di did I do wrong
Hi Helen,
What vitamin C powder did you use? It could be the vitamin C powder. It should be a bit sticky due to the aloe. Apply a moisturizer after this and it should help.
LS Team
Mam can we store this vit C serum for some week or we have to make it each day
It can be stored for a week
LS Team
Vitamin C plays an important role in skin health due to its antioxidant properties- you are true. That’s why many night crème brands boost vitamin c in their crème. I love this way to make the vitamin c serum at home, will try.
Let us know how you like it, when you do!
LS Team.
Also wanted to know if a preservative like Germall Plus could be used so it wouldn’t need refrigeration and last more than 2 or 3 weeks?
Hi Vivian,
You can do that, vitamin c doesn’t have a long shelf life so I wouldn’t be able to tell you how much longer it could last with it added. I recommend making smaller batches than a large one.
LS Team.
Is there a way to incorporate hyaluronic acid, collagen peptides and vitamin A into your recipe to make a complete skin care serum or would they interact with each other?
Hi Vivian,
I don’t see an issue in that, although I have not tried it.
LS Team.
How long is this mixture good for?
Does it need to be place in the fridge for w weeks prior to use?
Can it be left in room temperature?
Thank you
Hi Tracy, it needs to be kept in the fridge and only made in small batches frequently.
LS Team.
Hi Kristin. I want to know what do you mean by ‘TB’ in your recipe? And secondly can I use vit c capsules that are in liquid or oil form I think.
Hi Mahek,
TB stands for tablespoon.
I wouldn’t because vitamin c from my research is very fragile and powder is the best for shelf life potency.
Hi Kristin,
i would like to double check your recipe, when you say Aloe 1 tbs + 2tbs… what do you mean in total?
i just would like to make a batch with roughly a 20% vit C and 80% base (water + aloe juice or gel)
could you please help me to clarify that?
thanks
Hi Ale!
Its 1TB + 2tsp, not quite 3TB.
Hope this help!
LS Team.
Very nice. I just love vit c. really important to the body
Thank you, Mais!
LS Team.
Hi Kristin,
a part from Vit C serum, do you suggest to use something else to alternate, like retinol serum, hyaluronic acid or other?
thanks
Which pH strips do you use? I’m seeing some on amazon but the range is from 4.5-9
Hi Dana!
Kristin found them on amazon, not sure exactly which ones.
LS Team.
Thanks for the reply.
Do you know “Naissance” brand for essential oil? If you think is it good Or not.
I ordered some basic plant therapy Oils to start from US But I can’t find a good and trustable vitamin E oil on Amazon Uk (the one that you use doesn’t ship to uk). I found interesting Naissance High Strength Pure Vitamin E oil 29,500 IU on Amazon.co.uk if you maybe can have a look when you have few minutes. Any tips help to avoid rubbish products. Thanks ?
Hi Kristin,
looking at your honey cleanser recipe, i think somewhere in the comments i saw you saying that Vitamin E oil won’t preserve Aloe Vera. Could you please clarify that? as instead in this vitamin C serum you put as optional also the Vit.E oil together with Aloe Vera.
Also, if i would like to use the gel from aloe vera leaf instead of a natural gel bought online, what is the difference in term of duration?
thanks in advance
Hi Ale, vitamin E is not a preservative. Its to keep from the product from going rancid but not keep from bacteria growing. I use it for the skin benefits. If you’re using fresh aloe then there are no preservatives added, so you will need to keep in the fridge and make a batch every week to keep from going bad. Hope this is helpful!