A while ago I posted how to make Aloe Vera gel.
I was planning to post a recipe of an hydrating gel (I have been using it in the morning for the last two months and I love it), but before I start, I thought it would be more important to show you how to make the basic ingredients for this gel.
Of course Hyaluronic Acid gel is one of these ingredients!
So tadaaa π
I love hyaluronic acid for the property of keeping the skin hydrated, also it is a substance that is naturally found in our skin.
It is used in many anti-aging creams (I don’t believe it is miraculous and it will make wrinkles disappear, but simply because it helps keeping the skin hydrated, the skin appears more plump and fresh).
Recipe:
[WARNING: this recipe, like ALL the recipes in my blog, is of COSMETIC GRADE, therefore this gel cannot be used any differently than by applying it ON your skin]
1 gr Β Β Β Β Sodium HyaluronateΒ
98,4 gr Β Distilled Water (or Rose water π read the end of the post)
0.6 gr Β Β Cosgard (or any other preservative of your choice: of course if you change preservative, use the amount of preservative which is needed for that specific kind of preservative)
1) Measure the Sodium Hyaluronate
2) Measure the water
3) Pour the Sodium Hyaluronate on top of the water
At this point some people like to mix it and some people like to let it be.
I have actually tried both ways and here is my experience: if you try to mix it at this stage, part of the SH will stick to the spoon. This means that a precious part of your gel will get lost (and SH is not exactly cheap, so you’d want to mind this).
IMO it is better to let the SH hydrate by itself on top of the water for a while, and stir later.
4) Cover the glass with plastic film and let it rest in the fridge for few hours.
5) After few hours the SH will be hydrated. Now you can stir it with a spoon so to make the gel more smooth (there will be harder parts and softer parts).
6) Add your preservative, stir again and put in a bottle π
You can use this Gel by itself, for its great hydrating properties!
If you have a very dry skin you could like to use it before applying your cream π
You could also make a more luxurious gel by substituting part of the water (or the entire water) with Rose water!
As you might have noticed in the market we can find creams or serums that say “40% Hyaluronic Acid”.
Well, as you can see I am using 1% of Sodium Hyaluronate and this is the highest concentration I can use.
It is technically impossible to use 40% of SH inside of a gel: it will never hydrate and you will waste a huge amount of money.
I tried once to make a 2% and it took ages to hydrate. In the end it was too thick. I could still use it but it was not a good gel at all.
I don’t know what they could mean by saying “40% Hyaluronic Acid” on a product where there cannot be more than 2% of SH, but it is long time I stopped believing what I read in the commercials for creams. The only thing I can believe now is the INCI and what I KNOW is that in one cream where it was said “40%”, the Sodium Hyaluronate in the INCI was at 6th place (this means that in NO WAY it could be at 40%, it could have been at maybe 1% or even less).
The only way to be sure of what’s inside a cream or serum or face-gel is MAKE IT YOURSELF!
Not only this is a great thing to learn, it also makes you feel like IT’S ALL IN YOUR HANDS! Β π
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
It's all in my hands 
Just a comment for anyone who is vegan, or concerned with animal testing etc….SODIUM HYALURONATE is derived from animal sources. The following excerpt is fro, EWG Cosmetic Data Base….
About SODIUM HYALURONATE: Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring polysaccharide found in connective tissues such as cartilage. This ingredient is listed in the PETA’s Caring Consumer guide as derived from animal sources.
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706071/SODIUM_HYALURONATE/#.WaL4WciGPIU
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3239841/
βTraditionally HA was extracted from rooster combs, and now it is mainly produced via streptococcal fermentation. Recently the production of HA via recombinant systems has received increasing interest due to the avoidance of potential toxins.β So most likely itβs coming from one strain of bacteria or another. You would have to do your research regarding sources. Personally bacterial processes arenβt against my own herbivorean values but I wanted to share for the sake of information.
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Hi, I was wondering if I could replace part of water with aloe Vera gel and if yes then do I need to heat the water and gel first of I can follow the procedure you have mentioned.
TIA
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Why would you add aloe vera gel? And would you add the one straight from the plant or a store bought aloe vera gel?
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I would like it to it much better for the skin as Aloe Vera has slot of benefits. Gel would be store bought. BTW today I made my first batch with just distilled water and applied very little on my face to try. No doubt my face felt very soft to touch but I got some kind of Allergy and my body started itching. I have just taken an anti allergic tab while am writing this. Don’t know the reason. Should I try making it with less than 1 % .
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I am sorry but it is not clear what you made: did you make water + hyaluronic acid?
If you got an allergic reaction from water+hyaluronic acid… There are two options:
1) what you bought is NOT hyaluronic acid
2) you are allergic to hyaluronic acid: which is very difficult since it is something we already have inside our skin.
So I am thinking that what you bought is not hyaluronic acid. Where did you purchase it?
I don’t suggest you to use it less than 1%, if you got a bad reaction to whatever substance you used, you shouldn’t use it again!
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Thanks for the help. I just used distilled water and HA and added iscagard peg .5% . I think I will make a smaller batch first without the preservative . And also talk to my supplier from. Where I got my HA.
Thanks for your help.
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Iscaguard peg, the company suggests to use it in the range between 0.4%-1%, why did you add it at 5%?
It is not fresh water. Its solubility in water is 2.6%!
Of course it was IRRITATING.
Do a batch of water + HA + preservative at the correct percentage!
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The OP wrote 0.5% (my leading zero) not 5% as you read it. Post clearly shows the decimal in front of the 5. And just a thoughtβ¦ could those spruikers (crooks?) who boast of 40% hyaluronic acid content be meaning it is 40% of the maximum solubility in water, which would make it 40%x2.6% = 1.4%. Itβs all about product differentiation in a market that believes βmore is betterβ.
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(which is between 0.4% and 1%)
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Thanks. So iscagard peg should be 2.6% right.
I plan to make 10gms tomorrow to just try.
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NO!!! PLEASE READ WELL!
2.6% is the SOLUBILITY IN WATER. The USAGE percentage is between 0.4% and 1%!
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OK, I made it again today with any preservative as I made just 10gms . So far no reactions … Am gonna try with preservatives over the weekend to see the results. Thanks for all the help.
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Hi! Thank you for these instructions, I have just placed an order for hyaluronic acid to try this myself. Do you think I can use rose hydrosol instead of rose water? I know they are not same but itβs what I have on hand. Thanks again for your great blog!
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I think so π
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HAAAAA ~ i just got the name of your blog. XD So what is this gel used for? is it for the face? hands? I’ve never used a gel in my life for hydration. :O
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It is very hydrating but I prefer using it in the night as a serum under the night cream π
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Could liquid Centella Asiatica extract be added to this? Could you please inform of the amount if yes? Thank you
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Hi Lorraine, yes it can be added but I wouldn’t exceed the suggested % of use of the extract. Depending on what sort of extract it is (and which solvent was used to make it, essentially), there might be different suggested % π
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HI, im from Asian. i want to make serum with HA and adding of Vit C and B3. can i use PEG as preservative? and what is the function of preservative actually. sorry a bit noob here.
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PEG-what? Preserving systems are used to not make the formula spoil. Bacterias and molds and fungi can really thrive in lotions unless we add a preserving system.
PEGs are usually not preservatives, you need to use a proper broad spectrum preserving system. π
I don’t suggest adding vitamin C to HA serum, I explain why in the comments above, as many ask about this. I suggest making HA serum with B3 if you want, and separately making the other vitamin C serum on my blog π
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Hi,
Iβm trying to formulate my own serum, can you help me to screen through the formula and see if these are good enough for me to try or should I take out any of these active ingredients or lower it..
1) Distilled water 85%
2) Niacinamide 4%
3) Multive NAG Acetyl Glucosamine 2%
4) Multive PAD Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate 2%
5) Aloe Vera Extract (liquid form) 2%
6) D Pathenol 1%
7) Glycerin 1%
8) Sodium Hyaluronate Powder (molecular weight 1000 β 1800 kDa) 1%
9) Sodium Hyaluronate Oligo HA Powder (Low Molecular Weight <10 kDa) 1%
10) Germal Plus 0.5% (last I check with my supplier, can up to 0.8% but since I am using it for personal use and will finish it within 3 months and I am thinking of to stop at 0.5%)
11) Fragance Oil 0.5%
Please help⦠Thank you in advance
Regards,
Peng Yaw
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Hello peng yaw, i wanted to make something similar to your fornular, and i came across yours, did you eventually make it? How did it go? @itsallinyourhands, can you please give us a reply to this question, i am in the same quagmire. thank you in advance
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I haven’t made this formula, haven’t used these ingredients, I don’t even know the Multive ingredients what they actually contain nor what their requirements un terms of pH or concentrations are…
So I cannot really comment on how it is or how it could be improved.
All I can say is that I would use germal plus at 0.8% cause 3 months is NOT a short time to use an handmade cosmetic (3 days might be) and my last note is that Niacinamide needs pH around 7 so I hope that’s the final pH of this formula.
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Hi,
I wanted to know if I add 1g Hya. Acid in 100ml water and 2 drops of phenoxythanol as preservative will this formulation be stable enough? Also, I do not have any glass bottle to store this, if I store it in a plastic pump bottle, will it be okay?
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No, two drops are not enough. You need to add at least 0.7 grams of phenoxyethanol. Bottle is ok.
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what is the pH of the formulation, and is it required to adjust final pH?
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It tends to be neutral with Sodium Hyaluronate.
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Hi π I’m eager to try this lovely gel, just received my HA and rose water so I’m really excited! I do have one question though: if the rose water I bought already has a preservative, is it still necessary to add Cosgard in the final formulation? I assume the preservative is added because of the water but if the water already has it then there’s no need to add it once again, am I right? Thank you so much in advance for any guidance on this!
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Hello, I would still add it as you are modifying the formula. Cosgard is anyway not so effective and I added it at low % so that’s alright π
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Hi.. wich preservative Will you prefer ?
Can I use Sodium benzoate ? If yes, how much should I use in 50ml hyaluronic acid?
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If you mean, as I think you do, 50 grams of hyaluronic acid solution, Cosgard goes at 1% (so you would add to the beaker 49.5 grams of your solution and 0.5 grams of preservative). I’d rather use Euxyl 9010 which is phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerine (still 1%) honestly.
Sodium benzoate isn’t as complete of a preserving system.
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Thank you for your answer but no I mean 0,5 grams of hyaluronic acid in 50 ml distilled Water. You use 1 gram of hyaluronic acid in 100 ml distilled water, right ? Or am I wrong ?
Does that mean you use 2 different kinds of preservatives ??
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Im sorry but where Can I buy the preservatives you mentioned ? Im from denmark. Can you maybe send me a link ?
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Glamour cosmetics . It sells the 9010 preservative and I believe they ship in europe. They also have quite a good variety of ingredients. I think it is not the only place that sells it but that’s the one I use, so that’s why I know. The name is different from Euxyl cause usually resellers change name (euxyl 3010 is the commercial name). You will find it, however, looking for the inci. Maybe you can even find it from other shops π
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No I don’t. For 100 grams (NOT ml) I would use 1 gram sodium hyaluronate, 98 grams purified water and 1 gram preservative
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Thank you for your answer.. I tried to find euxyl 3010 on the website you mentioned but I couldnt find it. Could you maybe send me a link ?
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It is cause as I explained Euxyl 9010 is the name of the product but NOT for retail, it is like the general name used by the producer of the ingredient.
Retailes rename products all the time, so on this website you find it called “salvacosm 9010” but if you check the inci it is the euxyl 9010.
Here is the link π
https://www.glamourcosmetics.it/it/salvacosm-9010
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Sorry but that link you sent me is in spanish I think π
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Hi.. I tried as you Said, 1 g preservative, 98 water 1 g hyaluronic acid. But after a while it gets watery
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Hi, that depends on your HA. Just know that watery doesn’t necessarily mean uneffective.
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This time it works better π but dont I need anything other than that ? What about the pH For example
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You should always check the pH of course and adjust if needed but I have never needed to adjust the pH using sodium hyaluronate powder.
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Sorry for the late answer.. well itβs a mask for pigmentation.
I have a new question, how do I dissolve salicylic acid ? I want to make a serum or a cream with salisylic acid
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Okay.. but do you have any recipes with kojic acid or azelaic acid ?? :))
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Kojic no, azelaic I am not sure I posted one but azelaic acid is very difficult to solubilize so if you want to formulate with it, you are better off buying the solubilized form of it! π
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Do you know how to make your OWN cosmelan mask ? π
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I don’t know what a cosmelan mask is π
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Sorry for the late answer.. well itβs a mask for pigmentation.
I have a new question, how do I dissolve salicylic acid ? I want to make a serum or a cream with salisylic acid.
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It is tricky to solubilize salicylic acid, that’s why I buy the pre-splubilized. Sorry can’t help with this
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Hi itsallinmyhands first i want to say wow thanks for being dedicated to myour subscribers on your page and newcomers seeking advice and knowledge this thread went a long way! also im a newbie small business owner. i made the mistake of making a hyaluronic acid serum(spelled incorrectly i knw) with oil and vitamin e and flowers with no preservatives added.. cringes* i had no idea it was needed and left for vacay for 3 months came back and saw bottles were moldly and just ekkkk looking! so i finally did some research instead of going gung ho on wat i think i could make, and read diy mixes of HA serums needed preservatives. So heres my question: can i make a facial serum using a premade store brought HA serum and add rosewater or rose hydrosol to it and add a preservative as well? or would i need to purchase the HA powder then mix with rose water/ rose hydrosol and preservative? thank you for your insight i much appreciate it.
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Buy your sodium hyaluronate powder, rose water and preserving system
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