The Best DIY Face Serum Recipe

I have mentioned it often on both this blog and in my YouTube videos, I love making my own skincare. By making my own skincare I can precisely control what I put on my face/body and I can create products that suit my skin's needs.

It is not as difficult as you might initially think and to help you make a great start I want to share with you this very simple recipe for a face serum. The largest part of any face serum is water and this recipe is no different. I substitute some of the water for camomile hydrosol for its soothing abilities but this is optional.

I added lots of great humectants to make this face serum as hydrating as possible as I have very dry skin that needs all the moisture it can get. Camomile hydrosol and calendula extract have great soothing abilities which my eczema-prone skin loves.

This is the base version of the face serum I always fall back on. I alter this recipe depending on my mood, my hormones, and the weather. Usually, I substitute about 5% of the water content with different ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, caffeine, green tea extract, etc.

So give this face serum a try and add ingredients you think your skin will love.

Recipe

Ingredient	Percentage	50 gram batch
Distilled Water	34%	​17 gram
Camomile Hydrosol	10%	5 gram
Hyaluronic acid (1% stock solution)	20%	10 gram
1,3 Propanediol	3%	1,5 gram
Xanthan Gum	0.5%	0,25 gram
Glycerin	3%	1,5 gram
Sodium Lactate	5%	2,5 gram
Panthenol	5%	2,5 gram
Niacinamide	5%	2,5 gram
Allantoin	0,5%	0,25 gram
Calendula Extract	2%	1 gram
Preservative	1%	0,5 gram

Instructions

• Weigh the propanediol and the xanthan gum and mix well.

• Weigh the remaining ingredients in a beaker.

• Gently stir the ingredients so everything is dissolved in the water.

• Add the propanediol and xanthan mixture.

• Give it another stir and put everything in a dropper bottle.

To use, spread a few drops in your hands and gently apply to your face. Enjoy!

Storage & Shelf-life

This face serum contains a high amount of water so you must include a broad-spectrum preservative to prevent microbial growth. Even with the use of a preservative, this serum will eventually spoil as our tools are not sterile laboratories. So, if you notice any change in color, scent, or texture, stop using it and make a fresh batch.

Substitutions

Be aware that making substitutions will change the end product. While these changes won’t break the recipe, you will get a different product than I did.

• You can choose a different water soluble preservative if you like (check the manufactures description).

• You can choose a different hydrosol if you like. I heard great things about cucumber distillate. Aloe Vera juice is also an option.

• Please don’t substitute hyaluronic acid. It is an awesome humectant

• If you find this recipe might be too sticky for you, leave out the glycerin.

• You could use a different plant extract instead of the calendula extract.

• If you don’t have access to propanediol, sodium lactate, Panthenol, niacinamide, or allantoin you could choose propylene glycol as a substitute or use more water.

• Xanthan can be substituted with guar gum or hydroxyethylcellulose.