A powerful anti-aging serum is worth its weight in gold. And you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get it! Instead, make your own version at home and enjoy the benefits of this Vitamin C serum right away.
Vitamin C serum is everywhere right now! Lining the beauty shelves and marketed as an anti-aging wonder product (at the same time, being noticeably costly).
Which is exactly why I love making my own homemade vitamin C serum.
It contains pure, natural, skin-boosting ingredients that work far better than anything made in a factory – and it saves a lot on the money side of things.
If you want to go straight now to how to make vitamin C serum, click here for the recipe and instructions.
But if you fancy joining me for a touch longer – let me explain why this serum is one of my favorite products of all time.
If you do a quick search online for vitamin C serum, at the top of the screen, you’ll see an array of serums that cost over $20 minimum.
Some go as high as hundreds of dollars for one bottle!
I find this kind of pricing insane for something that perhaps lasts a few weeks at most.
Now, I’m not averse to spending money on beauty products, but the fact is that many products are elevated in price due to the brand on the bottle!
So, if you could make your own version of the same if not a better product, surely you would, wouldn’t you?
Vitamin C serum at home
You’ll be surprised to know how simple it is when I share how to make vitamin C serum at home.
There’s a bit of prep beforehand to buy the raw ingredients, but the good news is you can make several bottles of serum once you’ve got the items together.
It took a bit of experimenting on my part and a few attempts to get this recipe right, I admit, but the results are incredible.
I recommend using this DIY vitamin C serum twice a day, morning and evening, after cleansing for the best results.
Is vitamin C good for anti-aging
Aging is a natural part of life; and in some ways, I see it as a blessing.
With that, I also see the demand for anti-aging products everywhere on billboards, in magazines, and in shopping malls.
Hanging onto our youth is something we get drawn into simply because of the world we live in.
And this is exactly why I love anything with Vitamin C in it. This vitamin C serum recipe truly is fantastic for anti-aging.
By nature, Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it fights harmful free radicals that contribute to premature aging.
Aging skin also begins to lose its elasticity, which is a result of dwindling levels of collagen in the skin.
Some experts believe that Vitamin C acts directly on the production of collagen – boosting levels in the skin and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles from the inside out.
And let’s not forget about moisture! Aging skin of any kind needs moisturizing, and this homemade vitamin C serum contains wonderfully hydrating wheat germ oil as its base.
This means you get two in one! Anti-aging effects from the Vitamin C and hydration from the oil.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
Homemade vitamin C serum for face
You’ll need to stock up on certain items before making this serum. A dropper bottle is essential, so don’t skip this part!
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (0.50 oz) of distilled water
- 1/4 teaspoon of vitamin C powder
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.025 oz) of broad-spectrum preservative (or about 1% of the total recipe)
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.05 oz) of aloe vera gel
- 4 tablespoons (2 oz) of wheat germ oil
- 12 drops of sandalwood essential oil (for fragrance)
Instructions:
- Begin by dissolving the vitamin C powder in the distilled water.
- Once the vitamin C powder is completely dissolved, add your preservative and aloe vera gel and stir well.
- Finally, add the wheat germ oil along with the sandalwood essential oil and stir well until the ingredients are well combined. This can take up to a minute or two.
- Transfer the ingredients to a 4 oz glass dropper bottle and store in a cool, dark place.
Top Tip: Most preservatives are added to the formula at 1-2% of the total ingredients. Always follow the instructions that come with your preservative.
You can always leave out the preservative and store the serum in the fridge for 2-4 weeks.
How to use Vitamin C serum
There are various discussions about how best to use a facial serum.
Some die-hard fans swear by using a serum before applying moisturizer, but I personally use it the other way around.
After my moisturizer has sunk in, I apply a few drops of serum to my face and neck area to lock in the moisture and keep my skin hydrated all day long.
A serum is highly concentrated by design, so you only need to apply a little to get the right amount.
Simply draw up what you need and add two or three drops to the palm of your hand. Next, rub your hands gently together to warm the serum, then apply it to your skin in a dabbing motion.
Using it twice a day, morning and night, is best for optimal results.
Why not experiment and see how a serum best works for you?
Try it before or after your moisturizer on different days and see which feels best.
Note: Some settling may occur. Shake well before each use.
Faqs
How to store vitamin C serum?
It’s best to store this serum in a cool place that is away from direct sunlight.
Many women store their beauty products in the bathroom – which does get a lot of humidity building up after a hot shower or bath.
So, store it in a closet in your bedroom or beauty container. This will maximize the efficiency of the Vitamin C powder and make the serum last that much longer.
What about shelf life?
If stored correctly, this Vitamin C serum should last up to 6 months.
Saying that, I don’t expect it’ll last long as you’ll enjoy using it so much! But you can always make more.
That’s the beauty of homemade products!
Substitutions for this serum
This recipe can be tweaked to your liking, as can many of my other natural beauty recipes, like my homemade green tea face scrub.
Some great substitutions include switching wheat germ oil for Jojoba, Marula, Argan oil or even Fractioned Coconut Oil.
You could also add different essential oils to the mix to vary the scent of the serum.
Why not try frankincense, helichrysum, or ylang-ylang essential oil instead of the oils in the recipe? I love how you can vary a product simply by changing just one ingredient!
If you enjoyed reading this recipe post, I’m sure you’d love to read these next.
- DIY anti-aging face mask
- Homemade matcha face mask
- DIY body oil for glowing skin
- My favorite serums for youthful skin!
How to Make Vitamin C Serum
Equipment
- 4 ounce dropper bottle
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon 0.50 oz of distilled water
- ¼ teaspoon of vitamin C powder
- ⅛ teaspoon 0.025 oz of broad-spectrum preservative (or about 1% of the total recipe)
- ¼ teaspoon 0.05 oz of aloe vera gel
- 4 tablespoons 2 oz of wheat germ oil
- 12 drops of sandalwood essential oil for fragrance
Instructions
- Begin by dissolving the vitamin C powder in the distilled water.
- Once the vitamin C powder is completely dissolved, add your preservative and aloe vera gel and stir well.
- Finally, add the wheat germ oil along with the sandalwood essential oil and stir well until the ingredients are well combined. This can take up to a minute or two.
- Transfer the ingredients to a 4 oz glass dropper bottle and store in a cool dark place.
Brenda says
How much vitamin E oil would you use in this recipe if I wanted to use that for the preservative?
Jimmy says
I do not see where I can purchase your products. I don’t have time to make any beauty products myself. Please let me know ? I’m interested in your deodorant products , and skin care products for men. Thanks
Stacey Garbelotti says
I followed the directions for the vitamin C serum, but for some reason my Aloe Vera gel clumped and keeps settling to the bottom along with the vitamin C powder.. Any ideas? Love the anti aging and night time face creams!
Viviana Moretti says
Holi! El aceite de germen de trigo tiene un nivel 4 comedogenico, recomendaria cambiarlo por otro aceite como jojoba o coco fraccionado.
Tanessa says
Hello! Can I add hyaluronic acid to this 4oz recipe? If so please advise the amount that can be added (and does it mess up the “preservative free” benefit)?
Cassa Haney says
Hi, Can I download your label that you have on your bottle?
Jennifer Mann says
I can not get the Vit C oil to dissolve in the wheat germ so the oil feels really gritty. Is there to get it to dissolve?
Jill says
I made this and I have noticed that the vitamin c powder does not dissolve in the oil. If I shake it vigorously it all gets mixed together and then I can draw it up. But when I warm it in my hands you can feel the little grains of the powder.
Does it still work well like this?
I had to leave out the aloe vera gel for allergy reasons, so I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.
Thanks!
Diane says
I have been using…and loving…your anti-aging recipes.
I am wondering if I could add the vitamin c powder to these, instead of adding
another cream/serum.
Judy says
A couple of questions is there a purpose to the sandalwood? It’s a scent I don’t prefer. Also vitamin c powder is this the same as the vitamin c powder you take internally? Or can you suggest a brand that helps us understand. Thanks
Laura says
Sandalwood does have wonderful benefits for the skin but can be omitted from the recipe. Yes, the vitamin C is the same that you would take internally. I have everything I used linked in the post.
Irina says
Hi Laura. I am allergic to aloe. Is there any substitute?
Laura says
I have not tried it without aloe, but I don’t see why leaving it out would be a problem. Part of the reason for it was the texture it provided, so it may be a little more runny than normal.
Pauline says
I really love reading this article. I’ve learned so much from this. And I love to try this recipe at home
Pam Ward says
1. What is your ingredient source of choice?
2. I love your labels!! Tips? 💖
Margaret Wong says
Where to purchase vitamin C powder & wheat germ oil? Can I purchase fr iHerb?
Helen Raptis says
Hello, my name is Helen. I would like to know where to get vitamin C powder.
Linda says
If you click on the underlined item in the recipe, it will take you to the site where you can purchase it.