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Taking care of our skin is far better than covering it up. Flawless skin is what every girl aspires for. One of the first places where the age starts showing is the skin. As you age, the skin becomes less elastic, gets more fine lines and visible pores. While it is not entirely possible to prevent these signs of aging from occurring, there are ways to delay their onset.
Night creams with collagen, pore tightening masks, and serums that resist aging are popular and effective remedies. But one of the most promising ways to look several years younger than your age is by applying vitamin C-based products topically. We would love to spill the beans here for you, the secret recipe of a DIY homemade vitamin C serum that is bound to give you youthful skin.
What are Vitamin C Serums?
A Vitamin C serum is a topical product used to enhance the skincare regimen. It is full of Vitamin C, known for its skin whitening and brightening properties. Along with this, it has collagen-boosting properties as well. Collagen is a skin protein that helps to plump your skin. It comes in a liquid or gel-like consistency, which your skin can easily absorb. (1)
Why Vitamin C Serums?
Topical application is essential for getting the complete benefit of this miracle Vitamin. There may be chances that even after consuming enough Vitamin C, you might not be getting it straight into your skin. Thus, using serums becomes an essential aspect of your skincare routine (2). Vitamin C can protect the skin from many issues, like hyperpigmentation, tanning, sunburn, photoaging, sagging, dryness, and uneven skin tone.
How Does It Work on Your Skin?
- One of the foremost causes of aging is the action of free radicals on the cells. They cause oxidative damage to healthy cells and cause them to age.
- To counter the damage that free radicals can cause, you need antioxidants. Vitamin C is one such potent antioxidant that can help give you healthy skin.
- It also triggers the activation of another antioxidant – Vitamin E. It makes Vitamin C a sought-after ingredient in creams and serums.
- Vitamin C Serums improve collagen production in the skin. They fight antioxidants and keep the skin plump and wrinkle-free.
- It is also known to improve the elastin level in your skin, which results in reduced wrinkles and fine lines.
A small bottle of Vitamin C serum, though efficient, can be little expensive. Rather than paying an arm and a leg for the serum, you can make one for yourself.
How to Make DIY Vitamin C Serum?
Vitamin C is available in the form of compounds like L-Ascorbic acid (LAA), Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, all of which can be ingested. So what is better than putting on your skin something that you eat? The serum can be made in a concentration of 5%, to start with. To check your skin’s reaction to Vitamin C, practice caution because Vitamin C can irritate the skin. You can up the concentration to 10-20% once your skin gets used to it.
DIY Vitamin C Serum Recipes
1. Vitamin C- Glycerin Serum
To make this serum, you would need:
- Vitamin C – LAA (L-ascorbic acid) powder
- Glycerine
- Distilled water
- Tinted bottle, since Vitamin C is unstable when exposed to light.
How to mix?
All you need to do is dilute Vitamin C powder in a base of distilled water and glycerine. The quantities vary depending on the concentration you are looking for.
- For 5% concentration – ½ tsp powder in 8½ tsp of water. Finally, add in 1 tsp of glycerine and mix well.
- For 10% concentration – 1 tsp powder in 8 tsp of water and 1 tsp of glycerine.
- For 20% concentration – 2 tsp powder in 7 tsp water and 1 tsp glycerine.
- Once done, store the serum in a tinted bottle with a dropper, and you are all set to use it! But, first, store it in a cool and dark place.
Also Read – DIY – Homemade Vitamin C Serum For A Healthy, Young And Glowing Skin
2. Vitamin C- Rose Water Serum
Alternatively, there are other recipes you can try.
For this, you need
- ¼ tsp L-ascorbic acid powder.
- 2 tsp rose water.
- 1 tsp glycerine.
- 1 Vitamin E capsule.
- A glass bottle with a dropper.
Add a given amount of Vitamin C powder and rose water in a clean glass bottle, then mix them well. When the powder gets completely dissolved, add 1 tsp glycerine to it. Squeeze out a whole Vitamin E capsule in it. Additionally, you may add some drops of essential oil of your choice, like Frankincense oil (3). Shake the bottle well and place it in a cool and dry place.
3. Vitamin C- Aloe Vera Serum
Yet another DIY Vitamin C serum you can enjoy at a very affordable price.
For this, you need:
- 150 ml fresh Aloe Vera gel (freshly prepared Aloe vera gel is highly recommended).
- 50 ml rose water.
- 03 tablespoons of Apple cider vinegar.
- Blend the given amount of aloe vera gel and rose water together. Now, add 3 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to this mixture. It will give you an instant result. (4)
Caution: people with dry skin or who have cuts should not use it.
Tip: If you have acne, it will do wonders.
4. Camu-Camu Vitamin C Serum
This serum is wonderful, as the Amazonian plant Camu Camu contains the highest level of naturally occurring Vitamin C, 30 times more potent than Oranges (5).
Ingredients you need:
- 04 teaspoons aloe vera gel
- 02 teaspoons glycerin
- 02 teaspoons Camu Camu powder(available on Amazon)
Put all the ingredients together and blend them. Pour it in a clean glass bottle. Use it with the help of a dropper.
How to Use Vitamin C Serum?
- Vitamin C is more effective when you apply it to the skin than when you consume it. To use it, shake the bottle well before use. Then, apply a few drops all over your face, avoiding the eye area after cleansing your face. Let it dry and follow it up with your cream or lotion.
- You may put some oil instead of creams or lotions. Such as coconut oil or almond oil.
- Keep the serum in the refrigerator and use it up within a week.
Tip: Always wear your sunscreen, as regular use of Vitamin C makes the skin sensitive.
The serum helps smooth out skin tone and in retaining the youthfulness of the skin. It also helps protect the skin against the harm done by the sun. It is best to make it in small batches.
How to Get the Best Results from Your DIY Vitamin C Serum?
- You need to take care of your dietary habits as well.
- Try to incorporate more Vitamin c rich fruits into your diet.
- Apply your sunscreen whenever you go out, to avoid any skin irritation.
- Use a toner before applying your DIY Vitamin C serum.
- Try to apply the serum at bedtime to get more visible results.
- Typically, Vitamin C serum should be applied daily, once or twice.
- Always apply it on a cleansed face.
Ingredients You Should Never Mix in Your DIY Serum
Retinol: You should avoid the combination of vitamin C serum and retinol. When mixed and applied on a face, it peels off the skin too much, causing lots of redness and irritation.
AHAs/BHAs: Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are chemical exfoliants and help transform your skin completely. They go deeper into your skin and take out the dead cells. Thus, all the ingredients are a kind of exfoliating agent. Hence, adding all the products together may irritate your skin.
Niacinamide: Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, helps in regenerating the skin protein. Additionally, it evens out the skin tone and reduces enlarged pores. However, combining niacinamide with Vitamin C will result in canceling each other’s effects. Therefore, it may turn your skin red and irritate too.
Benzoyl peroxide: This chemical is used to treat mild to moderate acne. It fights against acne-causing bacteria and prevents skin from becoming dry and flaky.
Mixing benzoyl peroxide with Vitamin C is not a good idea, as Benzoyl peroxide tends to oxidize Vitamin C and cancels each other’s effects.
How To Choose The Best Vitamin C Serum?
- The best Vitamin C serum would be the one made of highly absorbent agents like L-ascorbic acid.
- Choose the ideal concentration that should be between 5 to 20 %. Always remember to pick the one with a pH level of 3.5.
- Ensure it has content like Ferulic acid and vitamin E to protect collagen degradation and repair the cell.
- Choose water-based serum for oily skin and oil-based serum for dry skin.
Summary
Beauty is skin deep, and glowing skin is always in vogue. So, no one would like to avoid a simple yet effective skincare regimen. To establish an effective skin routine, add Vitamin C serum to your daily routine. Vitamin C serum is multipurpose which has a skin brightening to skin tightening effect. In addition, it helps to even out the skin and plump it up. Affordability is not the issue, as you can prepare your own DIY Vitamin C serums using aloe vera, rose water, Camu Camu. You can easily obtain the ingredients required, and it would take a few minutes to prepare. However, you need to always make a point that nothing can substitute a diet rich in Vitamin C. So, to get the benefits of Vitamin C for your skin, incorporate foods rich in Vitamin C and supplement it with your DIY serum.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
How do I know whether I need Vitamin C serum in my beauty regimen?
The best time to prevent aging is before it starts. After that, experts advise it to people of all ages. Eventually, everyone is at risk of sun damage.
Is there any substitute for L- Ascorbic acid powder?
You may use Vitamin C tablets instead of L- Ascorbic acid powder.
Can l use the serum under my eyes?
Yes, you may use the serum under your eyes. It helps in brightening the under-eye area. But make sure if it is DIY serum, then use the freshly made recipe.
What are the best Vitamin C serums available in the market?
If you are a busy person and running out of time, you may buy Vitamin C serums. Some readily available Vitamin C serums are Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Serum by L’Oreal Paris, Garnier Light Complete VITAMIN C Booster Face Serum, Mamaearth Skin Illuminate Vitamin C Serum, The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.
References:
- “The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health” – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- “11 Reasons to Add Vitamin C Serum to Your Skin Care Routine” – healthline.com
- “DIY Vitamin C Serum for the Face” – draxe.com
- “How to Make Vitamin C Serum at home for Fair Glowing Skin by Dr. Bilquis Shaikh” – youtube.com
- “Is Camu Camu the New Must-Try Skin-Brightening Ingredient?” – allure.com
