DIY Vitamin C Serum for Bright, Even Skin

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DIY Homemade Vitamind C Serum for health skin and wrinkle reduction
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Vitamin C serum is an anti-aging natural skincare ingredient often found in high-end beauty regimens. You can find this antioxidant in many moisturizers, lotions, and creams as well. Why all the fuss? And is it possible to make your own (much less expensive!) vitamin C serum at home?

I’ve researched, experimented, and tried it out and the answer is… yes you can!

Vitamin C Serum Benefits

Vitamin C is touted as an anti-aging and anti-wrinkle cream, and for good reason. Vitamin C is helpful for brightening and tightening skin. (This works if you take it internally too!).

Researchers found that regular use of vitamin C on the skin will:

While I love these benefits, many of these products also cost an arm and a leg. Thankfully, there is a natural, homemade and inexpensive alternative (noticing a trend here?) that seems to work just as well.

How to Make Your Own Vitamin C Serum

In just a few simple steps, you can make your own brightening facial serum.

First, you will need a few items:

Next, just mix in the ratios below and store! Use as you would a facial toner. Note: Since it contains no preservatives, this serum will last about two weeks and needs to be stored in the fridge.

This serum works on most skin types, especially dry or aging skin. Customize your results based on your skin type by:

Cautions & Tips

Here’s the best way to use vitamin C serum, from personal experience:

  • Measure carefully and do not add extra vitamin C as it is acidic and can/will burn the skin if the concentration is too high. If you are dealing with a lot of wrinkles or very dry skin, extra vitamin C can be added, but work up slowly and test on the inner arm before applying it to the face.
  • If you have extra sensitive skin, dilute with even more water.
  • Alternatively, to make the vitamin c less irritating, you can add baking soda to make the serum more alkaline.
  • This is best paired with a natural skincare routine like oil cleansing.
DIY Homemade Vitamind C Serum for health skin and wrinkle reduction
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Vitamin C Serum Recipe

Make a simple vitamin C skincare serum at home with just a few simple ingredients.
Prep Time2 minutes
Author: Wellness Mama

Materials

  • ½ tsp vitamin C powder
  • 1 TBSP distilled water (OR 1 tsp distilled water + 2 TBSP vegetable glycerine)

Instructions

  • In a small, dark-colored container, combine the vitamin C powder and the water.
  • If you are only using water and vitamin C, you are done. This will store for up to 2 weeks or longer in the fridge.
  • If you are using glycerin, dissolve the vitamin C in 1 teaspoon of water, then stir in 2 tablespoons of glycerin and store. This version will last a month or longer.

Notes

Personally, I like the pure vitamin C and water recipe as a toner after cleansing. However, glycerin is moisturizing and softening for the skin and will extend the recipe. DO NOT use glycerin on anything that is used in oral care or in the mouth as it is bad for teeth.

This article was medically reviewed by Cynthia Thurlow, NP, the CEO and founder of the Everyday Wellness Project, nurse practitioner, international speaker, and globally recognized expert in intermittent fasting and nutritional health. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

Ever used a vitamin C serum on your skin? How did it work for you? Share below?
Vitamin C serum helps support skin health by boosting collagen production and the natural acids in Vitamin C can help tighten skin and make it smoother.

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

384 responses to “DIY Vitamin C Serum for Bright, Even Skin”

  1. Mary Hall Avatar
    Mary Hall

    I wouldn’t use a spray bottle for Vit C serum. The spray will discolour anything it touches, clothes, walls, floor. The stain does wipe off but in the meantime it leaves a dirty yellow colour.

  2. bari Avatar

    If you only use water and vitamin c powder as a toner, do you put it in a spray bottle?

    thanks!

  3. Mariana Avatar
    Mariana

    Hello, I have tried the vit C serum with ascorbic acid in the past but I decided to quit because I was getting wrinkles under eyes. From what I read this is what you go through at first and then it improves. I didn’t wait but quit because got scared. I feel like my mistake was that I had it too concentrated. Need to start with mild concentration and increase slightly every 2-3 weeks so that the skin gets used to it. Well, after I quit with the vit C and glycerin serum, I went on different products that didn’t do any good to my skin but actually made it worse. Don’t try too many products!!!! Even though is very tempting when you see something new on the shelf in the store that looks very promising, don’t do it!!! Now I ended up with spots, acne and dehydrated skin. I pushed all those products away and started all over the process of repairing my skin. I found out that parfums, alchools and dyes are the skin enemies because they dry out and irritate the skin, so I bought the avenoo foam cleanser that doesn’t contain fragrance and any kind of alcohol and use it on a washcloth morning and evening. After I cleaned the skin, I need to give it some vit. C. I smash a strawberry really well and apply all over the face for 15-20 min. The mask I do every other day. Strawberries contain also salicylic acid which helps with acne and other good things which help tighten, cleanse the skin and brighten it. I wash the mask off with lukewarm water. Pat dry and then apply moisturizer. My moisturizer is now made of a drop of vegetable glycerin in the palm of my hand and add water as it can hold so it doesn’t spill. I found that if I make the mixture of glycerin and water for a week or two it goes bad and I waste a lot. So I just make it right before I apply it. It is so quick and easy. I apply all over the face and that’s it. Hydration provided!!! Now I struggle with myself to apply sunscreen when I go outside just don’t like the consistency of it! But I see that the results of this natural products routine has improved the color and my skin is more hydrated than before. Rarely now I have blackheads. My acne scars are fading slowly! I will stick to this routine and just wanted to share with you my experience maybe someone that didn’t go through this will benefit. This is cheap and not harmful to the skin. I spent a lot on creams and cleansers that made my face feel tight. If anyone tries this routing please write and let me know how it works for you! Wish you all good skin!!

  4. Kimberly Avatar
    Kimberly

    Does anyone have a good, natural, whole skincare regime for antiaging? It would really be nice to tie the oil cleansing and the vitamin c in with the rest of your regime such as for the eyes, a moisturizer and an exfoliator using all natural products.
    Thank you!
    Kimberly

  5. Bianca Avatar
    Bianca

    My spin on the above recipe: 1/8 tsp Vitamin C powder, 1/4 tsp orange blossom water (or rose water), 1/4 tsp squalane (purchased for $15 at local vitamin store) stored in amber bottle. I made very small quantities to try to ensure the stability of the Vitamin C. I make sure I give the bottle a good shake before application. My skin feels amazing soft after use and the water used imparts a terrific fragrance without having to use essential oils.

    I’m surprised by how many comments are being posted questioning the forms of Vitamin C, etc. I would think that women who were interested in DIY makeup would be a little more adventurous. Ladies, just experiment. Do patch tests on the inside of your arm if you’re worried but stay in the spirit of DIY and figure it out. Wellness Mama – your blog is amazing. I’ve tried several recipes and continue to enjoy your blog. Thank you.

    1. Mary Avatar

      My local health food shop sells brown bottles with dropper tops. Alternatively ask your friends to save their used small containers. As a last resort, we have shops that sell plastic containers of all sizes.

  6. Dee Avatar

    I bought the ingredients, brought it all home and made a serum…I found as well, that is is a bit sticky, but I’ll use it at night. However, I went to my local organic food store, and not reading the label properly, most likely in haste or sheer excitement, bought the wrong stuff…

    What is the different in the L-ascorbic acid verses the calcium ascorbate I bought? (my serum oxidized before I got it into the bottle by yellowing too!) I used it a few times before it yellowed and it feels good on my face and once I get the proper flipping Vit C I will do this again! Thanks for the great recipes … Dee

  7. jill Rossler Avatar
    jill Rossler

    Hi, Thanks for this blog! iam using calcuim ascorbate crystals as a food supplement from Solgar, can I use this for vit c spray for my face and body ? 1/4 tsp provides,1300mg calcuim ascorbate, 1055mg buffered vit c? fortunately it seems to dissolve very easily in warm water, Many thanks- south africa

  8. Mary Avatar

    I can’t say I’ve noticed a smell from ascorbic acid but I do use rosewater instead of distilled water. My opinion is that the serum should have as few ingredients as possible (ascorbic acid, water/rosewater and a small amount of glycerine so that it is easier to apply to the skin. This is because the ascorbic acid can react with other ingredients, thus diluting its efficacy when applied to the skin.

    1. Mary Avatar

      I buy brown bottles with droppers from health food shops. Alternatively ask your friends to save their small containers for you. As a last resort we have shops that sell plastic containers of all sizes.

  9. Brooke Avatar
    Brooke

    Is it better to use this as a toner or the sea salt spray that is mentioned on your website as a toner?

  10. Odysseia Avatar
    Odysseia

    The glycerine in this recipe is too much as glycerine tends to be sticky in larger quantities.
    I used 1/2 tsp. only and worked fine. Also, Aloe Vera gel is great to mix the Vitamin C with. BUT, Vitamin C tends to have a noticeable smell and when I applied it once on my body my husband asked me what smelled so strange on me…Blending in some essential oils helps to mask the smell.

  11. Cristina Gaston Avatar
    Cristina Gaston

    Hi, this is a great recipe, thanks for sharing this. Can I make this recipe without water and just liquid vitamin c? That is, if I use liquid vitamin c, then I assume I won’t need water to dilute the powder? Please advice, thanks!

  12. Mary Avatar

    Asorbic acid is usually derived from corn, and anything from today’s corn always scares me. Do you know of any non-GMO brands?

    Thank you!! 🙂

  13. Jill Avatar

    Why do you have to use so much more glycerine than if you just used water? Wouldn’t the concentration be much less?

    1. Julie Avatar

      I agree with Jill. If you are using 1 T water, shouldn’t the glycerine option be “1 teaspoon water and 2 teaspoons glycerine?” That would make it a total of 1 tablespoon either way. I think 2 tablespoons glycerine and 1 teaspoon water would produce a much more diluted recipe.

      1. Alisa Avatar

        I was wondering myself if 2 tablespoons of glycerin was a typo and should be 2 teaspoons. Makes more sense.

  14. Rayanne Avatar
    Rayanne

    Would you recommend using this around the eye area to help with wrinkles ?

  15. Haley Avatar

    Hey Wellness Mama! Cute name for a blog 🙂

    From what I have learnt in my travels vitamin c powder in its wholesome form could be irritating to some skins. Would it not be better to use L-Ascorbic Acid (the component of vitamin C that is beneficial to skin) ?

    The product you use sounds very interesting in itself though. Amazing amounts of vitamin C in it!

    Anyway, much like your blog. Thanks for the recipe. I shall attempt this once I get my L-Ascorbic in the post.

    Haley

  16. Ellie Avatar

    I meant I take better care of my face than my body, speaking about sun exposure.

  17. Ellie Avatar

    Katie,
    I absolutely adore your blog, thank you for existing! I have a question. My face has two tones due to excessive sun exposure (23 years living in Puerto Rico will do that to you) but overall it’s still a few shades lighter in color than the rest of my body, maybe because I take more of it. What can I use to even out my whole skin tone? Thank you very much for any help.

      1. Emma Avatar

        Katie how well does the vitamin c dissolve because I’ve tried a different brand and it didn’t work.

  18. Vickie Avatar

    The link for the one that you use “Vit. c” in the recipe takes me to Royal Camu. is this correct? or is it suppose to take me to an ascorbic acid? Thank you for responding~!!!

      1. Chaser1 Avatar

        I’m sorry Katie, I’m still confused. Even though I made a batch using Royal Camu, I’m still wondering if I should have used an l-ascorbic acid instead? I’m not sure the Royal Camu would be effective. Please let me know.

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