One of my most popular skin care posts is myDIY Vitamin C Serum recipe. Vitamin C is one of the most amazing anti aging ingredients that we all should be incorporating into our beauty routine.
The problem with Vitamin C is that when it is not in a powdered form, it is very unstable. That means, it will go bad quickly and not be effective once it’s added to a liquid. My vitamin C serum, while lots of readers have raved about it’s benefits, is a pain because you have to make a new batch weekly-at least.
I’ve found a way to incorporate vitamin C into your daily regime that will make it extremely potent as well as EASY!
First, let’s review the AMAZING benefits of vitamin C for the skin. If you haven’t read the serum post, be prepared to get your socks blown off. Vitamin C is also known as L. Ascorbic Acid. It is super affordable and easy to find.
Topical Skin Benefits of Vitamin C:
- Powerful Antioxidant-Attacks free radicals that cause aging
- Stimulates Collagen Production
- Fades Brown Spots
- Decreases Fine Lines and Wrinkles
- Anti-Inflammatory
- Balances Oily Skin
- Restores Elasticity
- Brightens Skin Tone
- Prevents Premature Aging
- Fades Scaring
- Boosts Skin’s Defense Against UV Rays
The first time I heard about DIY Vitamin C products was from Gorgeously Green’s Sophie Uliano. I recently was catching up with her blog and saw she had an updated version due to issues with the original serum.
Like Sophie, I have had my fair share of readers writing in about the issues with this serum.
First off, a lot of readers feel that it’s sticky. That’s due to too glycerin.
Second, it just sucks to have to make up a new serum every 5 days or so. Plus, using a serum is an extra step that some of us prefer to not do.
Sophie came up with a genius solution!
Simply add a bit of your face lotion (or a water based serum) in the palm of your hand and use the other hand to pinch about 1/16-1/8th of vitamin C powder. Mix with your fingers until all the graininess is gone, then apply.
This ensures the upmost freshness and no more remaking serums every week!
Vitamin C Beauty Tip:
I add enough moisturizer and vitamin C to my hand so that I can easily apply to my neck and chest as well.
Also, don’t forget the age spots on the back of your hands!
I also like to do a weekly Vitamin C Mask. It’s a simple recipe using the same vitamin C powder and you’ll love how instantly your skin feels smoother and looks brighter!
DIY Vitamin C Lotion How To:
Trouble Shooting DIY Vitamin C Lotion:
I do this everyday. Well, actually every night. I have only done it for a little less then a week so if I get irritated, I’ll dial it back to every other day.
The first time I tried this new method, I pinched up way too much vitamin C powder and it burned and did not dissolve into my moisturizer. You will have to play with your proportions to find out what works for you.
If you’ve never used a Vitamin C product, be aware that it does itch or slightly sting after you’ve put it on. Only you can determine whether you’ve used too much L. Ascorbic Acid. If it’s really bothering you, put another layer of moisturizer on.
Water Soluble Vitamin C Powder:
The reason this works is because vitamin C powder is water soluble. This is why DIY serums can only contain liquids like aloe, glycerin or distilled water. The powder will not dissolve in an oil. Water is the most prominent ingredient in lotions so the powder will dissolve. Plus, it really doesn’t get any fresher or more stable then this method!
Adding Vitamin C to a Hyaluronic Acid Serum:
Adding vitamin C powder to my DIY hyaluronic acid serum is my preferred method of adding it to my nightly skin care routine. Because I prefer a DIY face oil as my moisturizer and vitamin C will not incorporate into oil based products, it has to be added to my water based serum. I add it exactly like I’ve described above. Once the serum has soaked into my skin, I apply my face oil.
I’m so DANG excited to have found this trick! It makes things so much easier. I never established a good habit of using and making my diy Vitamin C Serum. Because this is way easier and busy mom friendly, I will be able to commit to this method! There are just way too many skin benefits of Vitamin C to not be incorporating it into our beauty regime.
Plus, I have sun spots coming from nowhere lately. Once we hit 40, anti aging is an uphill battle!
Find the vitamin C powder that I recommend HERE.
xx, Jenni
Will this work with aloe vera. That is what I use every night.
Regina-It would work great!
I was doing something similar for awhile. I would actually mix the vitamin c powder in the palm of my hand with a few drops of spring water and immediately apply to my face and neck. I would give that a chance to settle, and later dab on some oil wherever I was dry. Definitely works! I got out of the habit (and need new c powder) so this is a great reminder!
Elizabeth-I’m really excited to have found this method-should have thought about it sooner! I’m glad you mention about dabbing on oil afterwards-I feel like in the winter it could be drying.
Wondered if I can just grind up a Vit C tablet instead?
Julia-I think it would but check out your tablets-Make sure they are pure vitamin C without any additives. Ascorbic acid could be effective but it’s not pure. Make sure you have the L. Ascorbic acid. Also, the kind I link is water soluble. A vitamin tablet most likely isn’t.
you rock.
Thanks Suzi!!!
What about using it on your body? Is it to costly
Susan-I think this would not be expensive at all to apply with your body lotion. That’s a great idea in fact! It doesn’t take much and would help with sun damage. The body is where must of our sun damage usually is anyway!
But what about the PH level? Once you add Vit C to the lotion, it alters the PH levels, and you’ll end up a chemical burn. Remember a pinch of baking powder.
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Hi, happy new yr to all, I have a micro fiber cleansing towel which I warm and then put onto my face for a few seconds,opens one pores, then I put one squirt of hyolonic acid serum onto the palm of my hands with a good pinch of L -ascorbic acid with a touch of warm water, a drop or 2,pat gently all over face and neck, putting excess on to chest, follow up with a drop or 2 of vit e oil, follow with moisturizer or night cream, the vit e oil stops the stickyness,— works for me!!
Hi Jenni,I have ascorbic acid vit c, would this work as well?
Thanks
Bridget-The difference is that ascorbic acid is a non natural version of vitamin C. That doesn’t mean it is harmful or comes from a bad source. It just depends on the brand. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C though.
Is it okay to powder vitamin c tablets and store it in an amber coloured plastic bottle? So that i can use a pinch of it?
Maria-I’m not sure that vitamin C tablets are the right molecular size to actually penetrate the skin. I have not been able to find this out-I get asked this question a lot so I would love to figure it out!
i cant believe i forgot this technique after looking up how to do serums and everyone seems to have a different recipe….i used to use this daisy extract cream for brightening, lumitone it was called by aloette (so sad they dont sell it anymore). it was similar to vitamin c cuz my skin was gorgeous….they would give u a tiny little jar of l-asorbic acid to add to the cream and it worked perfectly…..this is a reminder lol, it all came back to me, thanks. now i dont have to kill myself tryna find the best serum recipe
Clulu-Oh good! I’m glad you found it helpful!
Hi Jenni,
Thanks for your wonderful recipes, I am really enjoying them. I just read online that using vitamin c without Ferulic acid, vitamin E and a chemist formulation so that it has the correct PH can be dangerous and irritating to the ski. What are your thoughts? I just started using the lotion method with the hylauronic acid serum and my skin seems to be so much more glowy 🙂
Melissa-Thank you so much! I hadn’t heard that but I’ll check into it! I’m so glad your skin is glowy! That’s for sure the goal!!
HI Jenni,
I need your help I tried to dissolve vitamin c powder in water( boiled water then used when it was room temperature) few times but it didn’t so when I put serum I still feel powder on face don’t know what to do ?
Thanks
Sonia-Unfortunately the nature of a homemade vitamin C serum is grainy. It’s just not going to be perfect. That’s why I created this post because it was so much easier to add it to a water based lotion and not deal with trying to make a complete product. Plus, it ensures that the Vitamin C hasn’t oxidized.
Hi,
I can not find anything on the vitamin c powder (the effervescent one) the one dissolves (fizzes up) in water and one drinks..being good or wrong to make serum with? Please can you advise?
Lee-I linked the one I used-it’s HERE. I don’t advise the Vitamin C that you drink-not because I think it would be terrible-I just don’t know for sure. Hope this helps!
Hi Jenny,
I wonder how do you ensure a ph of 3.5 for this method of adding Vitamin C to your daily moisturizer.. we all know that Viotamin C needs a ph of 3.5 to work effectively..
How do we ensure this ph in this method.?
Kavita-Good question! Honestly, you can’t ensure it-however there are benefits-my skin responds well to it and with no way of oxidation-I find this the best way to work with a DIY vitamin C.
Ph test strips.
Using a lotion with a bit higher pH would be one solution. For example, I use CeraVe lotion for my K.P. skin condition. This lotion sits at 5.68 pH levels. Vitamin C is much lower, sitting closer to 2.5. The vitamin C won’t change the lotion pH drastically, but it will lower it slightly. It isn’t a huge deal for it to not be at that perfect 3.5 level, though. This just makes it more effective. If you’re applying it in the morning, as recommended by dermatologists, it should not be an issue. Your skin can only absorb so much vitamin C daily. The goal of added vitamin C is to give a quick boost in the morning and allowing your skin to naturally absorb the remaining limit from other sources throughout the day. (These are *entirely* made up numbers) So if your skin has a daily limit of 100 units of vitamin C, using a product to give it 15 units immediately in the morning and topping off the remaining 85 units through other sources would be how it works. It’s fine to not be pH balanced optimally and only receive 10 units in the morning. You could also work your way up to using undiluted vitamin C in the morning to get your total 15 units, then use the lotion version for overnight during the skin’s healing process to top off any missing units to hit your cap if you’re concerned about not getting enough from other sources. But realistically, vitamin C is just a booster to an already ongoing process. Being exactly at 3.5 pH is not necessary, it’s just helpful. Grab some pH test strips to check the end pH, but there isn’t much that can be done without changing lotions or adding too much vitamin C.
I could not find L absorbic acid where I live. I can only find absorbic acid. Is there any natural substitute for this powder?
Samana-I’ve heard camu camu powder is super high in vitamin C and natural. You might look for it. I haven’t worked with it though so I’m not sure.
I use Douglas Labs brand of Vitamin C powder. I add it to Coconut oil. I just mix enough for one time use and apply at bedtime. Quite inexpensive and great for whole body.
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Can I add vitamin c serum to my body wash?
Britt-You could but I doubt you would get much benefit since you’d be washing it away.
I make whipped Shea/cocoa butter. Not to sell or anything but for myself. Can I incorporate vitamin c powder to the butter?
Andrea-I wish I knew the answer to this-I don’t think you can though. Vitamin C will activate once it is with a liquid. Plus, it is water soluble so I have no idea what would happen if you added it to an oil based ingredient. I think it wouldn’t incorporate enough to penetrate the skin. I am always looking for a vitamin C that is oil soluble though and you can rest assured I’ll share it as soon as I find one!