Vitamin C Powder for Skin Care: Uses, DIY Serum Recipe and More

• Vitamin C offers a range of skin care benefits, from firmer skin to fewer wrinkles and dark spots caused by sun damage and aging.
• The L-ascorbic acid found in many vItamin C serums is prone to breaking down when exposed to air, light and heat, and can also cause skin irritation at high concentrations.
• Vitamin C in its powder form does not break down as easily, and can therefore be stored with more flexibility.
• Vitamin C powder is also a popular choice as concentrations can be customized in DIY vitamin C serum recipes.

While vitamin C serum has known skin care benefits, this powerful antioxidant is prone to oxidation; it breaks down when exposed to air, light or heat. 

Although there are vitamin C derivatives available that are less prone to degrading, they’re not as powerful as pure vitamin C, or L-ascorbic acid (LAA). Vitamin C powder however, has been presented as a viable solution. 

Does Vitamin C Powder Improve the Skin?

Vitamin C offers multiple benefits when used regularly as part of a good skin care regimen:

• When applied to the skin, vitamin C brightens by inhibiting the production of melanin, and is capable of fading brown spots without affecting your regular skin tone.
• Topical vitamin C has been shown to neutralize free radicals caused by UV exposure which might otherwise cause wrinkles and premature aging.
• Vitamin C accelerates the production of collagen and elastin to keep your skin plump, supple and youthful-looking, in addition to preventing sagging.
• The facilitation of wound healing is also a possible benefit of using vitamin C.

Why is Vitamin C Used in its Powdered Form? 

Powdered versions of vitamin C solve the problem of heat or light exposure, which cause many vitamin C serums to quickly break down and become ineffective. 

However, vitamin C powder is stable and does not break down or lose its potency if exposed to heat or light. It can be mixed easily into your usual amount of serum or moisturizer before application, using the quantity you choose as determined by your personal skin care needs. This allows for considerable flexibility.

For those with sensitive skin, you can opt for a lower potency level, as LAA in serum form often comes in higher concentrations that are known to cause irritation in some, in spite of its high effectiveness in others. 

This customizable approach to concentration also ensures you have a fresh and effective dose each use. It’s always best to begin with a very small amount of vitamin C powder and increase the amount as you grow accustomed to its effects. Before applying to the face, as with any new product, perform a patch test to determine if it is suitable for your skin.

DIY Vitamin C Serum Product Combinations 

It’s important that powdered vitamin C be mixed into the right product in order to be properly absorbed. 

When adding vitamin C powder to your skin care products:

• Look for a powder formulated specifically for skin, rather than one meant for ingestion; the powder has to be processed suitably in order to penetrate skin.
• Vitamin C is water-soluble, so it works best when mixed with light, watery textures: dissolve it into water-based products such as serums and moisturizers.
• Aim for a 20% concentration or less, or 1 part powder to 4 parts product. 
• Additionally, products containing vitamin E and ferulic acid can increase vitamin C’s effectiveness eight-fold.

DIY Vitamin C Serum Recipe 

If you would like to try making your own serum rather than mixing your vitamin C powder into a pre-existing product, here is an easy DIY vitamin C serum recipe:

• 1 teaspoon vitamin C powder
• 1  teaspoon filtered water
• 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
• 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil (optional)

Dissolve the vitamin C powder in the water, then mix in the other ingredients. Pour the serum into a dark container and store in the fridge. Discard after 1 month or if you notice a change in color or smell. 

Takeaway

Vitamin C powder solves the conundrum of proper vitamin C storage, making for a much longer product shelf life. Additionally, the ease with which it can be included in DIY vitamin C serum allows for a more potent and customized approach to dosage, and potentially more effective results.