Vitamin C Serum Formulation: Cloudiness Issue from Raw Materials

Question

Why is my homemade Vitamin C serum, mixed from raw ingredients listed in a stabilized base's INCI, cloudy white instead of clear like the commercial product, even after extensive stirring?

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Understanding Your Vitamin C Serum Formulation Issue

You are attempting to recreate the Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum by mixing its listed components: Butylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, and Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) Ultra-Fine. You observed that the mixture remains cloudy white after stirring, unlike the clear appearance of the ready-made serum.

Here's why this is likely happening:

Difficulty in Dissolving and Stabilizing L-Ascorbic Acid: L-Ascorbic Acid, especially at a high concentration like 15%, is inherently unstable and challenging to fully dissolve and keep dissolved in solvent systems like glycols to achieve a perfectly clear solution. It requires specific conditions and potentially complex processing techniques.
Ready-Made Base vs. Raw Ingredients: The product Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum is a pre-formulated, stabilized base. It is manufactured using a specific, likely proprietary, process designed to ensure the L-Ascorbic Acid is fully dissolved and remains stable and clear over time. Simply combining the raw ingredients listed in the INCI name does not replicate this specialized stabilization process.
Cloudiness Indicates Undissolved or Precipitating Vitamin C: The cloudy white appearance of your mixture suggests that the L-Ascorbic Acid is not completely dissolved in the Butylene Glycol and Ethoxydiglycol solvent system, or it is starting to precipitate out. This is a common issue when trying to formulate high concentrations of L-Ascorbic Acid without the proper techniques or stabilizing agents.

The description for the ready-made Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum explicitly states that it is a finished base not suitable for adding other ingredients (except fragrance/color) because it can affect its stability. This reinforces that the base itself is a carefully balanced and processed system.

Recommendation:

If you require the clear, stable serum product, it is recommended to use the ready-made Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum base as intended, rather than attempting to recreate it from individual raw materials. Achieving the same level of clarity and stability with raw L-Ascorbic Acid requires advanced formulation knowledge and specific manufacturing processes beyond simple stirring.