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Hyaluronic Acid
HA serums can cost anywhere from $7 – $90, and you have no control over the other ingredients. But – it is SUPER easy to make a DIY hyaluronic acid serum at home. No fillers, no irritants. Just good old-fashioned hydration for thirsty skin!
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that can soften the skin, trap water, and pull water from the deeper layers of the skin to plump out fine lines and wrinkles. The first step to creating your own serum is to choose which kind of hyaluronic acid you want to use. There are 3 basic molecular weights of hyaluronic acid; low, medium, and high.
Low molecular weight is usually below 100 Daltons which means it’s small enough to penetrate the epidermis. This allows it to plump the skin from the deeper layers and increase elasticity. The problem is that it can cause inflammation and irritation when used long-term, and many people have issues with it.
Medium molecular weight tends to be around 100 – 500 Daltons. It can also penetrate the skin barrier and conceivably cause irritation. However, this weight is a good middle-ground between the low and high versions, and many people do well with it.
High molecular weight is between 800 – 1500 Daltons and cannot penetrate the skin. It sits on top, creating a thin film to trap water until it’s washed off. Anyone can safely use this weight without the risk of irritation. It will not give any long-term results, unlike the lower weights that stay deep in the skin, but it will provide a noticeable plumping effect while wearing it.
Now, onto the recipe!!
DIY Hyaluronic Acid Serum Recipe
Supplies: scale, pipette, cosmetic spoon, beaker, glass bottle, aluminum foil
Makes 1oz serum
- .02 oz hyaluronic acid powder
- .005 oz benzylalcohol-DHA preservative
- .975 oz distilled water or aloe leaf juice
Place your clean, dry, empty beaker on the scale and use pipettes to add the water or aloe juice and the preservative. Then, only a tiny bit at a time, use the plastic spoon to add the hyaluronic acid, stirring with a pipette as you go. HA powder sucks in the water content and will begin to clump, but this is normal.
Once all your ingredients are in and you’ve stirred out as many clumps as possible, place some aluminum foil on the top of your beaker and set it aside overnight. In the morning, all the remaining lumps should have dissolved, and your serum should have a smooth, gel-like consistency. Pour it into the glass dropper bottle, and you’re done with your DIY hyaluronic acid serum! Easy as pie!
The preservative I’ve chosen is a popular one for DIYers, and it’s broad-spectrum, so there’s no need to refrigerate your serum. You should, however, put the remaining HA powder in the fridge until it’s time to make another batch. If you need a moisturizer to go over your DIY hyaluronic acid serum, here are some good options. Happy creating!
