LAB NOTES & SAFETY NOTICE
For educational purposes only. Content reflects personal, non-professional formulation experiments and is not instructional.
No formula or information on this site is intended for commercial use, consumer application, or third-party use.
Accessing this content means you accept all risks and full responsibility for safety, testing, legal compliance, and outcomes.
[Full Legal Disclaimer & Safety Requirements]
My Experience: Preparing Hyaluronic Acid Gel (1% Solution)
Hello Hello! 😀 One of the things I use most in my experiments is Hyaluronic Acid Gel. I’m obsessed with its ability to keep the skin hydrated—after all, it’s a substance naturally found in our own skin!
While I don’t believe in “miracle” anti-aging claims (commercials, right? 😉 ), I do notice that keeping the skin hydrated makes it look so much more plump and fresh. Here is how I’ve been preparing my 1% “stock” solution lately.
The “Experimental” Formula
In my lab, I usually aim for a clean 1% concentration. For a 100g batch, I use:
-
1g Sodium Hyaluronate
-
98.4g Distilled Water (Or sometimes Rose Water for that luxurious scent!)
-
0.6g Cosgard (or whatever preservative my experiment requires)
How I do it (The 2026 Safe Method! :D)
Over the years, I’ve refined how I handle this. Sodium Hyaluronate is precious (and not exactly cheap!), so I want to avoid wasting a single grain.
-
Safety First: In my experiments, I always add the preservative to the water FIRST. I’ve learned that protecting the water from the very start is much safer than waiting until the end.
-
The “No-Stir” Layer: I gently sprinkle the powder on top of the preserved water. PHEW! I make sure NOT to stir yet. If I stir now, the powder sticks to my spoon in a stubborn clump and it’s all lost!
-
The Wait: I cover the beaker and let it rest for a few hours (or overnight). The powder hydrates all by itself.
-
The Finish: Once it’s fully hydrated into a beautiful gel, I give it a final, slow stir to make it perfectly smooth.
This is exactly why I started making my own cosmetics: I wanted to stop believing the commercials and see the real INCI for myself. It makes me feel like IT’S ALL IN MY HANDS! 😉
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
LikeLike
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3239841/
“Traditionally 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.” So most likely it’s coming from one strain of bacteria or another. You would have to do your research regarding sources. Personally bacterial processes aren’t against my own herbivorean values but I wanted to share for the sake of information.
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
Why would you add aloe vera gel? And would you add the one straight from the plant or a store bought aloe vera gel?
LikeLike
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 % .
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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!
LikeLike
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 thought… 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%. It’s all about product differentiation in a market that believes “more is better”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
(which is between 0.4% and 1%)
LikeLike
Thanks. So iscagard peg should be 2.6% right.
I plan to make 10gms tomorrow to just try.
LikeLike
NO!!! PLEASE READ WELL!
2.6% is the SOLUBILITY IN WATER. The USAGE percentage is between 0.4% and 1%!
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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 it’s what I have on hand. Thanks again for your great blog!
LikeLike
I think so 🙂
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
It is very hydrating but I prefer using it in the night as a serum under the night cream 😉
LikeLike
Could liquid Centella Asiatica extract be added to this? Could you please inform of the amount if yes? Thank you
LikeLike
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 % 🙂
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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. 🙂
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 🙂
LikeLike
Hi,
I’m 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 – 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
LikeLike
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
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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?
LikeLike
No, two drops are not enough. You need to add at least 0.7 grams of phenoxyethanol. Bottle is ok.
LikeLike
what is the pH of the formulation, and is it required to adjust final pH?
LikeLike
It tends to be neutral with Sodium Hyaluronate.
LikeLike
Hi 🙂 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!
LikeLike
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 🙂
LikeLike
Hi.. wich preservative Will you prefer ?
Can I use Sodium benzoate ? If yes, how much should I use in 50ml hyaluronic acid?
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
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 ??
LikeLike
Im sorry but where Can I buy the preservatives you mentioned ? Im from denmark. Can you maybe send me a link ?
LikeLike
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 🙂
LikeLike
No I don’t. For 100 grams (NOT ml) I would use 1 gram sodium hyaluronate, 98 grams purified water and 1 gram preservative
LikeLike
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 ?
LikeLike
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 😉
https://www.glamourcosmetics.it/it/salvacosm-9010
LikeLike
Sorry but that link you sent me is in spanish I think 🙂
LikeLike
Hi.. I tried as you Said, 1 g preservative, 98 water 1 g hyaluronic acid. But after a while it gets watery
LikeLike
Hi, that depends on your HA. Just know that watery doesn’t necessarily mean uneffective.
LikeLike
This time it works better 😊 but dont I need anything other than that ? What about the pH For example
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Sorry for the late answer.. well it’s 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
LikeLike
Okay.. but do you have any recipes with kojic acid or azelaic acid ?? :))
LikeLike
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! 🙂
LikeLike
Do you know how to make your OWN cosmelan mask ? 🙂
LikeLike
I don’t know what a cosmelan mask is 😂
LikeLike
Sorry for the late answer.. well it’s 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.
LikeLike
It is tricky to solubilize salicylic acid, that’s why I buy the pre-splubilized. Sorry can’t help with this
LikeLike
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.
LikeLike
Buy your sodium hyaluronate powder, rose water and preserving system
LikeLike
what would be a good preservative? Is glycerine good for the skin or should I use something more natural?
LikeLike
Glycerine is not a preservative and it is good for the skin and “natural”. Ethylhexylglycerine is an ester of glycerine and part of preserving systems. I use it a lot!
LikeLike