Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is effective in promoting skin healing and fighting the signs of skin ageing. It also seems to help the skin cells to retain water, making it soft and supple. The direct application of ascorbic acid also allows reducing redness and inflammation, not to mention that it protects the skin from damage caused by UV rays. Preparing a Vitamin C Serum is easy – just a few ingredients and materials.
Method1: Prepare an Easy Vitamin C Serum
- Prepare everything you need. In a herbalist’s shop or at the supermarket you can find everything you need to prepare a very simple serum based on vitamin C. Just find the following ingredients and materials:
- Half a teaspoon of vitamin C powder
- A tablespoon of warm (not boiling) distilled water;
- Measuring cups;
- A small glass bowl;
- A plastic whisk;
- A small funnel;
- A brown or cobalt blue glass container.
- Mix vitamin C powder and hot water. Pour a tablespoon of hot water into the bowl. Then, measure half a teaspoon of vitamin C powder and pour it into the water. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined.
- Transfer the vitamin C serum to the brown or cobalt blue glass container. Insert the mouth of the funnel into the container and pour the serum into it to avoid spilling the solution. Close the bottle and keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks.
- The cold and dark environment of the refrigerator helps to keep it cool, preventing it from losing its properties.
- You can make fresh whey every two weeks or as needed.
Read also: Does Vitamin C Cause a Miscarriage?
Method2: Prepare a Vitamin C Moisturizing Serum
- Prepare everything you need. All the ingredients you need to make a Vitamin C Moisturizing Serum can be found at a herbalist’s shop or a stocked supermarket. To make a vitamin C moisturizing serum you will need:
- Half a teaspoon of vitamin C powder
- A tablespoon of hot (not boiling) distilled water;
- Two tablespoons of vegetable glycerin or a non-comedogenic oil (non-comedogenic oils do not clog pores – consider for example that of hemp seeds, argan, sunflower seeds, or calendula);
- Two millilitres of vitamin E oil;
- 5-6 drops of essential oil of your choice, such as rose, lavender, frankincense, or geranium;
- Measuring cups;
- Bowl for mixing the ingredients;
- Tool for mixing ingredients, such as a fork or small whisk
- Small funnel for pouring the whey into the glass container;
- Dark glass container to store the serum.
- Mix vitamin C and water. Make the vitamin C dissolve in powder thanks to the action of hot water. Pour a tablespoon of hot water into the bowl, and then add half a teaspoon of vitamin C powder. Stir with a fork or whisk.
- Incorporate two tablespoons of vegetable glycerin or oil. Pour this ingredient into the water and vitamin C solution. Both vegetable glycerin and non-comedogenic oil would work for the serum, but some people prefer to use the oils as they are more similar to the sebum produced by the skin (whose function is that of creating a protective barrier for the epidermis).
- Add two millilitres of vitamin E oil. Having an emollient action, vitamin E softens the skin. Although it is an optional ingredient, it is recommended to use it to ensure that the serum has moisturizing properties.
- Add five or six drops of essential oils. It is optional, but it can pleasantly scent the vitamin C serum and enhance its properties. If you don’t want to use it, read the next step.
- Mix the ingredients well. Combine the vitamin C powder and water using a whisk or fork. Try to get a homogeneous solution. As the oil separates from the water over time, shake the whey before each use.
- Transfer the Vitamin C Moisturizing Serum into the glass container using the funnel. Choose a dark container. You will also need a spatula to collect the excess serum from the bowl and pour it into the funnel. Close the bottle with the lid provided when the procedure is completed.
How to use vitamin C serum-the right way?
Masks, moisturizers, oils, water-we admit that keeping all different skincare products can get overwhelming, not to mention trending ingredients (look at you, watermelon). A proven product that seems to insist on using vitamin C serum in skin-approved skincare programs.
What effect does vitamin C have on the skin?
Research has revealed many health benefits of vitamin C (read all of them here), but as you might have guessed-this nutrient is a very important factor in the field of skincare, it can boost collagen and improve Brighten skin tone, and powerful antioxidant properties.
Our skin contains high levels of vitamin C, and it turns out that the lower levels of vitamins in the skin are related to two factors: signs of aging and sunburn. Decades of research on topical vitamin C have found that it can be a beneficial ally to protect our skin and reduce the appearance of these things: think about wrinkles, pigmentation, uneven skin tone, skin elasticity, and moisture loss.
Read also: Different Ways of Vitamin C
What effect does vitamin C serum have on the skin?
The serum is an effective concentrated dose of an active ingredient. They tend to have a thin gel-like consistency that can be quickly absorbed into the skin, making them one of the best ways to bring vitamin C into the skin.
Vitamin C serum is very acidic, shedding dead skin cells, and then by accelerating the regeneration of new cells and the production of collagen, the skin “self-healing” is triggered. With continuous use, Vitamin C serum can smooth the skin surface, brighten dull skin, reduce dark spots, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
What should you look for in vitamin C serum?
One of the most important things about vitamin C is that not all forms are stable. Many serums on the market contain vitamin C, a stable form of L-ascorbic acid, which has been shown to penetrate the skin effectively. However, some experts believe that the ester form is more effective in terms of stability and absorption.
Eco-ethical skincare brand DERMA E’s vitamin C concentrate serum uses no less than two forms of vitamin C in its formula to maximize its effectiveness: C-ester (ascorbyl palmitate), one that is higher than ascorbic acid Fat-soluble form of antioxidant activity; and Stay-C®50 (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), a patented form that is milder than ascorbic acid and does not quickly degrade or oxidize before being absorbed into the skin.
Even more surprising is the 5% vitamin C level in DERMA E’s best-selling formula, making it one of the most effective products on the market at a reasonable price.
Also, look for formulas that contain other antioxidant ingredients, such as vitamin E, to help keep it stable and prevent oxidation. (Once the vitamin C serum is oxidized-it will start to look a bit brown-it’s time to change one.) DERMA E’s Vitamin C Concentrate has an all-star ingredient list, including vitamin E and aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and rooibos, used for deep, soothing hydration and antibacterial properties.
When and when do you use it?
Although some experts recommend using vitamin C serum in the morning to increase antioxidant protection against daily attacks in the environment, stress, and sun exposure, because free radical damage accumulates during the day, regular use of your serum at night for overnight skin repair work is also. (There is no doubt that although vitamin C’s antioxidant capacity helps limit the damage caused by the sun’s rays, it does not provide sun protection!).
Either way, a once-daily application is usually required for vitamin C serum-but you can use mild formulas such as Derma E’s Vitamin C Serum in the morning and evening. When using skincare products, consider the thinnest to the thickest: after cleansing and conditioning or spraying, but before any spot care, moisturizer, facial oil, and of course sunscreen, it is best to use the serum.
