Making your own hyaluronic acid serum is one of the easiest and BEST things you can do for skin elasticity, hydration, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is suited for all skin types even sensitive skin. A DIY hyaluronic serum should be a part of everyone’s skincare routine and today, I’m going to show you how easy and affordable it is to make your own!
This DIY hyaluronic acid serum recipe has become one of my most popular recipes and I can understand why. A hyaluronic acid serum can be a powerful anti aging tool! It’s a water based serum which is extremely beneficial for acting as a vehicle to get a facial oil deeper into the skin but much more importantly, hyaluronic acid has incredible anti aging benefits!
I had been making diy skincare products for years before I decided to make hyaluronic acid serum. I figured it was going to be difficult and put it off. Boy was I wrong. Making a HA serum is one of the easiest beauty products you can make. Even if you are a first time DIYer, this serum is a breeze! It’s cost effective and takes very little time! Turns out, all you need is HA powder and water. If you’d like to add essential oils or enhance your water by using another water-based product you can but the bottom line is water and powder is all it takes!
Hyaluronic acid is a must have skin-care ingredient and today is the day we harness all it’s power!
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) is actually a natural substance that is already found in our bodies. As with collagen, the younger our skin is, the more hyaluronic acid our skin has. And to put it quite simply-the most radiant and young looking skin contains ample amounts of water. According to several studies, hyaluronic acid plumps fine lines and wrinkles and also improves the skin’s elasticity.
Increase your skin’s water content and you will be restoring the youthfulness of your skin.
Hyaluronic acid is an amazing humectant. This means it draws in water and holds on to it. HA can hold 1000x it’s own weight in water.
Basically, when hyaluronic acid is abundant in the skin, the skin looks smooth, plump and dewy. As we age, especially in the late 30’s to early 40’s, the amount of hyaluronic acid our skin has, greatly decreases. What’s new, huh? Well, luckily there is an easy way to replenish it and that’s what we’re going to talk about today!
Hyaluronic acid is responsible for managing the water content of our skin. It grabs and holds on to water. The water is what makes young skin look even, wrinkle free and healthy. Old skin is dehydrated, wrinkled and dull. Restore moisture in the skin and you can restore a healthy glow! It’s really that simple.
Related Post: DIY Vitamin C Serum
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid:
- Plumps fine lines and wrinkles
- Hydrates skin
- Repairs the skin barrier of our skin
- Eradicates free-radical damage
- Smooths and softens skin
- Increases elasticity
- Heals damaged tissue
- Protects from UV rays
- Improves skin tone
Hyaluronic acid is water soluble and can be added to a water based ingredient to make a gel. A homemade serum is simple to make-You pick your water base (distilled water, aloe vera or hydrosols), sprinkle hyaluronic acid over the top, close the lid and shake. Put it in the fridge overnight and the serum will have a gel-like texture and be ready for use!
High Molecular Weight vs. Low Molecular Weight
Originally I bought THIS hyaluronic acid. I had read in several different places that in order to make a serum I needed high molecular weight hyaluronic acid. This is because the smaller the molecule, the deeper it goes into the skin. Reaching the deeper layers of the skin can result in the higher possibility it will inflame and irritate the skin.
The problem with my high molecular weight HA serum is that the molecule is too big to really do much long-term good for my skin. However, what I notice when I use this serum are some really exciting results!
My skin looked immediately smoother and more even toned. It almost looked plastic-in a good way! I actually felt confident to not apply a tinted moisturizer or foundation!
It has been shown that high molecular weight helps with healing and reduces inflammation.
I have since read more about the molecular size of HA and found that there is a low molecular weight that is safe. It isn’t the smallest size but it is just small enough to go a little bit deeper for more long term results.
This study tested 76 females for 60 days with different HA weights. The conclusion was that significant improvement was found in the 130 and the 50k Da HA group. However, the study did state that there was significant improvement in all the different HA weights.
I personally have used high molecular weight HA powder for years now. The perks of using a high molecular weight powder is that you get an instant boost and still reap all the hydration that comes along with an HA serum. I love it and have seen great improvement when I use it on a regular basis.
What You’ll Need to Make DIY Hyaluronic Acid Serum Recipe:
- 1/4 cup Distilled water or rose hydrosol (find it HERE)
- 1/8 tsp. Hyaluronic Acid (find it HERE)
- 1/8 tsp. Leucidal Liquid (find it HERE)
- Glass container (find it HERE)
- Condiment Bottle (find it HERE)
- Funnel (find it HERE)
DIY Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Making your own hyaluronic acid serum is one of the easiest and BEST things you can do for skin elasticity, hydration, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is suited very all skin types even sensitive skin. A DIY hyaluronic serum should be a part of everyone's skincare routine and today, I'm going to show you how easy and affordable it is to make your own!
Materials
- 1/4 cup Distilled water or Rose Hydrosol
- 1/8 tsp. Hyaluronic Acid Powder
- 1/8 tsp. Leucidal Liquid (optional)
- Essential Oils
Tools
- Glass container (pump bottle or dropper bottle)
- Condiment Bottle
- Funnel
Instructions
- Add your COLD distilled water or rose water(the cold might help with dissolving the HA) to a condiment bottle like THIS. You will probably need a funnel.
- Add the hyaluronic acid powder on the top of the water.
- Replace the cap and shake your mixture. It might appear lumpy after it's been shaken but that's OK, just mix the best you can by shaking.
- Put your serum in the fridge. Over the next couple of hours, your serum will thicken and the clumps will dissolve.
- Transfer the serum to your container of choice and store the excess serum in the fridge.
Notes
- A broad-spectrum preservative is necessary for this water based serum. Even with the preservative, the shelf life is about 2 months. You can store your serum in the fridge. This is a great way to reduce even more puffiness and redness! An HA serum is the perfect product to live in a skincare fridge!
- This recipe makes 4 ounces. I prefer to add mine to a 1 ounce glass pump bottle and store the rest in the fridge until it's needed.
How to Use an HA Serum:
A hyaluronic acid face serum should be applied after cleansing and toning. I recommend applying it to slightly damp skin. This is especially needed for dry skin types. Since hyaluronic acid draws moisture to itself, we don’t want it to pull moisture out of the deeper layers of the skin. Once the serum dries, I like to seal in the moisture with a DIY face oil.
For best results, incorporate an HA serum into your skin care routine on a daily basis. You can (and should) use it morning and night.
Ingredient Notes:
My favorite hyaluronic acid serum recipe contains 2 of my favorite ingredients to use in DIYs. Helichyrsum hydrosol and lavender essential oil.
- 4 TBSP. of helichrysum hydrosol (find it HERE)
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil (find it HERE)
- 1/8 tsp. Hyaluronic Acid (find it HERE)
- 1/8 tsp. leucidal liquid (find it HERE)
You can use any hydrosol you like or you can simply just use distilled water. I do use a preservative and I also store it in the fridge. You’d be surprised how amazing a cold HA serum feels first thing in the morning but with the preservative, the fridge is not necessary. I just find that the cool cuts down on inflammation and redness!
I have also used THIS brand of hyaluronic acid and found it to be comparable to the one I have listed. It has a lower molecular weight than the one I have linked. I also use this brand’s vitamin C powder.
SIDE NOTE ON HELICHRYSUM HYDROSOL-I chose this hydrosol for it’s powerful anti inflammatory benefits as well as it’s toning abilities. It is also extremely helpful in healing damaged skin as well as reducing scaring. You could instead add helichrysum essential oil for an even more powerful serum if you’d like.
More DIY Hyaluronic Acid Possibilities!
I plan to eventually experiment with other water based ingredients such as vegetable glycerin, aloe vera gel and witch hazel. There is no reason why these ingredients wouldn’t work but I haven’t personally tried them. I also plan to add botanical extracts to enhance the anti aging action of this simple recipe.
I’m really quite excited about this DIY hyaluronic acid serum recipe. It’s so rewarding to make effective anti aging products for a fraction of the cost of a high-end product. This recipe couldn’t be easier to make!
UPDATE: Since this post I have created a hyaluronic acid cream recipe, a hyaluronic acid toner recipe, hyaluronic acid sheet mask recipe and a new hyaluronic acid serum recipe with an amazing product called wrinkle defense.
Plus, If you’d like to skip the DIY and buy my Wrinkle Defense Hyaluronic Acid Serum-find it HERE.
xx, Jenni
PIN IT!
And of course, if you’re going to make such a fancy serum, you’ll need a fancy label! I use THESE labels and upload the picture to THIS website for printing!
Have you tried using Rose Water instead of Distilled water?
Hi Shiony! Thanks so much for commenting on FB about the cold water trick-I just updated the post-I read that somewhere but forgot about it. I haven’t tried rose water but I for sure will-I bet that makes a great serum!
Hello Jenny ,
Ian presently using L.ascorbic acid and would like to know can I use hyaluronic acid at the same time or wat is the order to use both (L.ascorbic acid and hyaluronic acid)
Snehal-Hi! Do you mean in separate serums? You can add your L.Ascorbic acid to your hyaluronic acid and make one amazing serum if you’d like. Otherwise, i don’t believe the order matters.
Hi Jenny,
I want to add vitamin c/L.Ascorbic acid to this serum. What measurement would work with this recipe?
Laylah-I have not ventured into that realm yet. I couldn’t tell you!
Jenni,
So are you saying that you reduced the distilled water from 1/4 cup to 2 TBSP? Was this just to cut down on the size of the batch?
I know…makes no sense.
Deborah-I reduced it so that I could add hydrosol which is also a water. Bottom line-always use 1/4 cup of liquid whether that be distilled water, aloe or hydrosol with 1/8 tsp. of HA powder.You could do 1 tbsp. aloe, 1 tbsp. hydrosol and 2 tbsp. water or you could do all water or all hydrsol. Anything works, just keep the proportion of 1/4 cup to 1/8 tsp. Sorry that was confusing. Hope this helps!
I reduced it so that I could use hydrosol which is also a water. Bottom line-always use 1/4 cup of liquid whether that be distilled water, aloe or hydrosol with 1/8 tsp. of HA powder. Sorry that was confusing. And I might have already replied to this but I couldn’t find it if I did! Hope this helps!
When you say ‘aloe’ is that, aloe liquid or gel?
Amber-It’s gel-I’ve linked exactly what I use and recommend for this DIY.
Is there any reason I can’t mix this hyaluronic acid serum with rose hip seed oil?
The powder is not soluble in oil so that’s why we have to use a water based base.
Hello Marianella,
I’d like to discuss with you creating an injectable grade HA filler.
Hi Jenn, I am going to make this serum, I just ordered the Hyaluronic Acid and can’t wait to get to make the serum. also how can I download your label from Avery. thanks
Marianella-Great!! Just save the label to your computer and then you can upload it to Avery. If you go to templates and then beneath it it will say Design and Print Online-click on that and scroll down to enter the label number you have. Like if you have the labels I linked, their number is 22806. Then you select the blank template. Next, go to images and select “add image”. Then you can just stretch it to fit! Hope this helps!
thanks Jenn
I used rose water today and added jojaba oil with glycerin and the HA and put it in the fridge for a couple of hours and it came out super!! No clumps of HA powder at all in my bottle. It looks like a clear serum and I put it on my face and all I can say is wow!! Thank you for the help. I think I will always use rose water cause it jus works better for absorbing the HA better. I love this!!
Would you be so kind as to share the ratios ? I love your oil choice and bet it smells great too.
Shane-Do you mean how I incorporated the hydrosol and essential oil? I used 2 tbsp. of helchyrsum hydrosol and 2 tbsp. of distilled water with 5 drops of lavender oil. It smells so good to me-helchyrsum can have a weird smell but it didn’t take long for me to really like it!
Cheri, what measurements of the rose water, jojoba and glycerine did you use?
Cheri, I would love the measurement you used of the rose water, jojoba and glycerine. Would really appreciate it if you could share you mixture…..
Can you post your radios please?
Thank you!
Michelle-Not sure what you mean?
Hello Jenni! How ling will the serum stay good if a preservative is used and it is stored in the refrigerator?
Angela-I would say 3 mos. Both will help a lot.
Hi Jenni,
I’m wondering if there are any other places to buy Hyaluronic Acid besides Amazon. I live in Canada and the two sources you’ve recommended either don’t ship to me or they are $50 for shipping only. I’d love to make my own, and wonder if you have any other suppliers to recommend. Thanks for all the awesome recipes!! Monica
Monica-I’m afraid I can’t help-I’m not too excited about getting my hyaluronic acid on Amazon because I question the quality. The other place I used was Bulk Actives and they are in China! You might look into Lotion Crafter-I like them a lot but I’m not sure about their shipping policy. Good luck!
The HA you recommend (RESURRECTIONbeauty) is also made in China.
This is the one I always purchase as well. They also have a recipe with Vit C added as well.
Try lotioncrafter.com! Not sure what shipping would be in Canada, but actual product prices are comparable. Have used them a couple of times.
Lotion crafters use USPS who will ship to Canada for a reasonable price.
Hi Monica,
I live in Winnipeg which is about an hour drive north of the border with ND. If you’re not too far north you might want to consider having your packages sent to a border parcel service close to where you live so you can just nip down and pick it up. It helps a lot when companies either charge through the nose or won’t ship to Canada at all. I try to make it a worthwhile trip by planning ahead: I order multiple items at once (I keep a wish list with Amazon for items I don’t need right away), I go down with not much more gas than I need to get there and fill up in the US. Usually the savings in gas alone is enough to cover the cost of driving down. And my friend often comes along so we can have a visit at the same time and usually go out for lunch as well. Hope that helps.
I ordered my hyaluronic acid from Radha Beauty. It is Not powdered and already mixed with Vit C and E. Very reasonably priced.
Hi Jenni,
Enjoying your blog!
Does the HA recipe mix well with other oils and creams?
Cheers,
Valerie
Valerie-Thanks! No oils, you need to stick with water based products. However, you can add it to your creams but I would add it daily for maximum effectiveness!
Jenni,
The link to the helichrysum hydrosol doesn’t look like it’s an ordering website.
Receiving mine today from Amazon. Can’t wait to make it.
Hi!
I added the HA to Thayers Rose Witch hazel. It solved a long list of skin issues. I have been using this for two years now n I have dewy skin all day everyday. I use it morning n night! It’s my miracle elixir.
Holly-That’s awesome! I’m trying it tonight!! Thanks for sharing!
Hi I tried mixing HAL and HAH with organic rose water I also added a grapefruit preservative. it did thicken but a week later it has went really watery, what am I doing wrong, by the way it smells lovely.
Heather-Mine is very watery too. I’ve never been able to thicken it up. It’s slightly thicker then water but not much. In order to thicken it you could use something like Guar Gum but I don’t recommend it. It wouldn’t be as healthy of a product.
You’ve done it again! Can’t wait to try this…sounds amazing.
Elizabeth-You gotta try this-it’s so easy and my skin is loving it and I only have the High Molecular Weight kind-Can’t wait to get the other and add it in!
I just ordered! Went with the high molecular weight for now so I could get it on amazon. Also order the vitamin C powder that you recommended. Now I can’t wait:)
Jenni….what an interesting post! I think I might try to make some of this sometime 🙂 Thanks for keeping us up to date with interesting things.
Hi Bonnie!! HA is awesome! So excited to have finally figured it out! There will be lots more recipes incorporating it soon! Hope you are doing well!
Can I mix HA with L-Ascorbic Acid?
Araceli-Yes you can! Your L.Ascorbic Acid should dissolve into your HA serum. I’ve not tried it but I’ve read over and over that this works!
I have liquid Hyaluronic acid. The bottle does not have any measurement equivalents. It just states 100% Hyaluronic acid. Can you give me a measurement to equal the powder you have put in this formula?
Laura-A 1% serum is what I’ve made. It is the standard when making this type of serum. My Hyaluronic Acid is 100% too so whatever amount of liquid you use, use 1% of HA. It should work the same as the powder!
Thanks so much Jenni for this info! I’ve been looking all over for an equivalent to powder & you got it for me! Love your recipes & the background of all the ingredients you suggest!
Laura-You’re welcome!!
Hi Jenni!
I was wondering if you had a Hyaluronic Acid Serum! I have experimented with it and came up with my own serum.
Ingredients-
2 oz. distilled water
1/2- 1 tsp DMAE powder (it makes the serumless viscous and has it’s own benefits)
1/2- 1 tsp Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) (optional)
1/2 tsp Hyaluronic Acid
Directions
Put distilled water into a 2 oz. cobalt blue bottle ( I switched to a plastic bottle because the serum is viscous and you can squeeze the plastic bottle)
Mix in DMAE & Vit C (optional) and swirl to dissolve.
After the DMAE is dissolved, place the bottle in the freezer for 20-30 minutes so that the solution gets really cold. (I’ve never had it freeze)
Once it is cold, I add 1/2 tsp of Hyaluronic Acid, put the lid on it and place it back in refrigerator until it turns to gel. I then shake the container really well before using it.
I also store mine in the refrigerator…because of no preservative and it does feel wonderful on you face!
I was wondering what preservative I should use then you posted your serum. I was going to experiment with neodefend.
I love the idea of the hydrosol!
Thanks for sharing!
Carol
Carol-Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I’m not 100% sure but I think you have to keep your HA at 1%-I’m not sure if there are any adverse effects of going higher, do you know? I suggest the leucidal liquid because it’s what Lotion Crafter used and I like it because it’s derived from radishes!
I’ve mixed 1 TB Hyaluronic Acid with 7 Tb. Distilled water and stirred vigorously…let it sit and (as per other website) and it turned to a thick gell, like an aloe gell, which was great but you want to use it on a damp face or it will suck moisture out of your own face since it can hold up to 1000x it’s water and it WANTS to do that, BUT i also realized that putting it in a bottle with pump is crucial since a jar can bring contamination every time you open it and (God forbid) you use your fingers. I’m adding the Leucidal to it but have the concern as you’re saying it doesn’t mix well and then my pump may have an issue? I WONDER< as someone else stated, that getting the water really cold like in the freezer but not quite frozen, would help the HA dissolve?
Lisa-I think leucidal will be ok with the pump. I do think the colder the water the better. I typically don’t have an issue with the HA powder dissolving. I think if anything, the serum ends up a little watery then I’d like.
Hi Jenni,
I’ve been thinking about combining HA with the LAA serum I make every week. What trips me up is that I’ve read you should combine HA with VG first and then water for it to really work. That being said, I’ve wondered if I could make my LAA serum without VG and then refrigerate it and then combine with a HA and VG mix. Would that work or waste my product?
Thanks a lot. Love your recipes. 🙂
Amy-I’m assuming when you say VG you mean vegetable glycerin? LAA is water soluble so you don’t necessarily have to use VG-You could use aloe or hydrosol or just distilled water. It takes a bit to completely dissolve and in my experience it doesn’t ever completely dissolve. My thought is that maybe you could make your HA serum first then add LAA to it. I’m going to work on that for a future post so I’ll let you know.
Thank you!!! I hope this helps!
My ha dissolved completely. I don’t know what I did different but it did dissolve. I have to let you know. If you’re interested in knowing exactly what I did I’ll gladly tell you but it’s part of your directions except I changed a little bit. Ty again. Love all your stuff.
Jenni,
I made the serum Friday night. Just HA and lavender witch hazel since that’s what I had. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! I am 49 and was told today that I look like a teenager!
Elizabeth! That’s awesome!!
Jenni,
I am obsessed with this stuff! What are your thoughts on adding a few drops of cypress EO for extra firming? Also wondering if you would ever offer this in your etsy shop for those who don’t like DIY?
Elizabeth-I think it’s a good idea to add essential oils to your serum! I am planning to sell a hyaluronic acid but I’m playing around with low weight and high weight. I’ve ordered labels even!
So glad you posted this, Elizabeth! I was prepared to try the HA recipe without the water, so this is good news!
Jenni-
I made this serum the other day! I didn’t see a big change in my face, but, oh I did on my hands! It erased the dryness like nothing else. Can it be put into a lotion recipe? I can hardly wait to keep using it. Thanks for the amazing recommendation!
Nan! That’s awesome! Yes, it can be incorporated into a lotion recipe and I’m working on one! I’ll share soon-I just need to make sure I get proportions right so the waters and oils don’t negate it!
Would you use NeoDefend as a preservative or is that all wrong for this recipe? Wondering the difference. Thanks! Your recipes are AMAZING.
Amanda-I’ve sent an email to lotion crafter-they are so quick to respond so hopefully I’ll let you know soon! I just suggested what they suggest for this particular recipe but I plan to offer this serum in my shop so I’m super curious why they suggest leucidal liquid rather then neodefend as well! Thank you-you are too kind!!!
Amanda-Lotion Crafter just responded and they said that Neodefend did not work well in this type of serum because it caused precipitation. They suggested leucidal liquid because it mixes well with water based solutions. They also suggested another preservative but it was not at all natural!
Oh, thank you for checking that out! I’m learning a lot from your recipes and posts. So, it seems like a liquid preservative works with liquid and powder works with powder. Makes sense. Thank you! Still loving the serum! 🙂
I’m about to make this…so excited! But I have a question..when applying, do I just leave it on and then moisturize or do I need to wipe off before moisturizing? Thanks!
Stephanie-Just leave it on-let it soak in for at least a few minutes then apply moisturizer on top!
Hi Jenni, I have a question. I made this up a few weeks ago, although I did purchase a different HA, the one I got seemed to be a mix of high and low. I also didn’t have a bottle big enough to fit 4 tbsp, so I did 2 tbsp of cold distilled water and a little less than 1/8 tsp of HA. It dissolved within an hour or so when I went to use it and felt great the first night, super soft. But since then it just seems like water, it’s not serum like at all. Is this normal? I’ve still been using it, but I don’t notice a difference at all. Did I mess something up?
I was just wondering before I attempted to make this beautiful serum. Did you change any of your ingredients or amounts since you posted the recipe?
Sheri-I haven’t. I will say that my LMW hyaluronic acid from Bulk Actives took forever to get to me-I realized it is coming from Japan. Not ideal so I did switch the link to Lotion Crafter-a company that I love and find them very efficient. I haven’t however tried the LMW HA personally yet. The HMW from Amazon is what I’m still using and love it, but it just doesn’t penetrate the skin very deeply.
Thank you so much for getting back to me. My HA should be getting to me tomorrow, I’m going to use the High HA and go from there. I can’t wait to make it.☆
I made the serum last night and I’m sad to say that it didn’t set up at all 🙁 I used liquid HMW HA do you think that could be the reason? I used 4 TBLSP distilled water, 5 drops lavender, 1/8 tsp HA and 1/8 tsp leucidal liquid. The distilled water was cold and I shook it when I was done really well. Is there anyway I can fix what I have? do you know what I did wrong? Any advice is appreciated.
Sheri-I think it’s because your HA was liquid. I’m not sure though. I’ve not tried the liquid HA yet. What a bummer. I don’t know of a way to thicken the serum up-guar gum thickens but I think you would have to use too much to get the consistency that you need. What if you put what you have in a spray bottle and use it like a toner?!
I just tried it I’m a spray bottle. I will see how that goes. I made some face cream for myself with Coco butter, Shea Butter and frankincense. Would it hurt to put some in there?
Sheri-Don’t add your cream. You will have a bacteria nightmare plus you will be diluting the HA too much. Keep it as is and use it like a toner-there’s nothing wrong with your serum except the consistency and that won’t change the effectiveness of the serum!
Thanks for the warning! I don’t need a bacteria problem. I also figured out my problem with my serum. I bought completed serum not just HA, so when I added the distilled water I diluted it. Go figure, I’m a dummy but at least I figured out what was wrong. /Users/sharonburgess/Desktop/71viHg02oSL._SY450_.jpg this is the product I bought, I saw the 100% pure on it and thought that it was the right stuff. This product has alcohol in it which I don’t like at all.
Its ok Sheri, cause the form of HA you bought makes it liquid, not gel. Take a look at Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Its made from 2 form of HA, and its liquid ^^
I have ordered the “Simply Essential” hylauronic powder. I made this choice based on reading your comments about making a serum. The producer states that this is a combination of low, medium and high hylauronic powder. I hope this works!
Jane-Yes, keep me posted! I couldn’t seem to find an HA that contained both!! Good luck!
Hi Jane,
Did you get your “Simply Essential” hylauronic acid?
If you did. How did it work?
I have been using LMW .
Thanks
Hi. Yep, I have it but I need an airless pump. When I get one and start up the mixture I will let you know.
Hi! Did using the airless pump made it last longer than 2 weeks? Or is it just the same as using a dropper bottle? Thanks!
Rachael-I think an airless pump might prolong the shelf life another 2 weeks but it’s just impossible to know for sure.
Jane–Have you had a chance to try the “Simply Essential” hylauronic acid in your serum? I’m considering ordering the same and am wondering what your experience was, if it worked well. Thanks!
Yep, it works nicely.
Jenni, I’m very excited to try this recipe out, but an confused as to the different amounts. I have Leucidal liquid, distilled water, high and low HA, as well as lavender EO.
I also have aloe, witch hazel or vegetable glycerin to add in. Could one of the three be used as a preservative? If so, which one would be the best to use and how much of it?
Hello, I cannot wait to try this!! I do however have a question about a preservative as well…can vitamin E be used as one? I know in a lot of serums vitamin E is used as a preservative (i use it in my serum) but not sure if it will work here? Id love to add this to my home made facial serum that has vitamin E in it and it lasts a long time but I don’t want to add this to it and chance it going rancid in a few weeks. Thanks!
Dana-Hi! Vitamin E is not a legit preservative-it might help in some formulations but it’s not enough. Also since this serum is water based it will cause more problems with mold and bacteria.
Hi Jenny,
I’ve read through the article and all the comments, but I am still having trouble figuring out what the proportions are. I tried making it with distilled water, HWM-HA, LWM-HA, leucidal liquid, and lavender EO using the ingredients you recommended( I also purchased a small battery operated frothed which mixes the HA really well) but it came out watery. I made sure the water was really cold first. I am thinking maybe it was the water. I also purchased aloe witch hazel, and glycerin to try, but don’t know about the amount. Do I divide the ¼ cup distilled water with witch hazel or do I not need the distilled water at all if I have the witch hazel? Also would there be equal portions of HWM-HA and LWM-HA at 1/16 t each? Sorry for all the questions. I really want to see the results others are talking about. I just went through uterine cancer and am having all kinds of problems with my skin.
Hi, Jenny:). I have hyaluronic capsules for arthtitis that also contain lysene and vitamin c. Would I be able to use this to make the serum. I live in Canada and am having a difficult time finding a Canadian source for the powder. Ordering from the US is not an option for me right now with the exchange rate. Each capsule contains 98.5mg of HA. Is this doable? If so would I still use the same amount as the recipe? Thanks in advance if you can help.
Wendy-I hate to say this but I have absolutely no idea. This serum is pretty particular so my guess is that it wouldn’t be the same. Good luck!
Thanks, Jenni! I am going to try it anyway – nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? I did finally find a source for HA powder in the USA that has awesome shipping costs so it turned out less expensive for me than I thought. But will make a batch using the capsules while I wait for it . Will let you know if it works. I very much enjoy your site and the info you share with us all. Have a great day:)
Wendy
Wendy-Oh good! Yes, keep me posted!!
So how long does this recipe last you? You said you used it for two weeks and then threw the rest out.
Oops I didn’t word that correctly. I meant to ask, do you use all of the serum in two weeks? I don’t have any preservatives at the moment, but I do have HA and I’m eager to try this! But I don’t want to waste any either.
Cheryl-If I had the proper preservative in this serum it would last me months and months. A little HA powder goes a long way!
hello there. great recipe and info. does HA always have a gelling effect? I would really like to add HA to a toner that I would spray on. this wouldn’t work though if HA gels with the water based ingredient. your insight would be much appreciated. thanks!
Lauren, it does but I think this is worth a try. Depending on the sprayer-I think it would work. And would be an easy way to apply it. Keep me posted!
Hi there!
If I want to add vit c into my serum. Would the recipe call for .5g vit c & .5g ha? Or would it be 1g of Ha & .5g of vit c?
Shawny-Honestly, I have no clue. I haven’t used vitamin C with hyaluronic acid, plus I don’t have a stable form of Vitamin C. Most forms will only be good for a few days after you’ve added it to water.
Hi Jenni, this is some great information. I too am an esthetician and love your blog. I am in the process of growing my grey hair out and quit the chemical process. I love your natural DIY products. So excited to try some recipes. You have inspired me to continue down the natural road…..😊 thank you so much! I am going to pass your info on to my sweet friend who is battling breast cancer and switching to all organic products, with God’s help, and your blog, praying she will beat this! Thanks for all the wonderful information.
Amy-Thank you so much!! Good luck on your natural journey!
Hi Jenni,
Where do you get the measuring implement?
Thanks
Jing-I’m not sure what you mean-Do you mean the funnel? I found it on Amazon HERE.
Hi Jenni!
I just started using this 3 days ago… holy Benjamin Button! I noticed a difference the very next morning (and that was after getting only 3 hours sleep)! Will the skin around the eyes absorb the HMW or would you recommend the LMW?
Kristi
Kristi! That’s great-I know-it’s an immediate difference! I think a LMW would be good around the eyes-I have heard it’s best to mix both for the whole face. It’s kind of the best of both worlds. The HMW gives that immediate boost but it just doesn’t go deep to cause lasting results.
Hi Jenni
I have been using my homemade HA serum an I love it. I use it all over My Body!! I was wondering if you had tried or have come across any information on using or making an HA serum for your hair since the scalp skin is very similar to the rest of our skin.
Sonia-I have not but I don’t see why you couldn’t try it-I don’t think it would make your hair greasy. It’s worth a go!
How long will the serum last with the preservative in it? And if I put the preservative in, does it still need to be refrigerated?
Rosa-I believe it will last about 3 mos. No, I wouldn’t store it in the fridge unless you just like it cold. It will extend the 3 mos. though.
Can anyone tell me if this exfoliates the skin? I am actually hoping it doesn’t . I am getting an organic airbrush tan for vacation and I don’t want to stop using this serum because I love it! Thanks for the help!
Angela-It does not!
Awesome! Thank you ! Also, I keep this in my bathroom, not the refrigerator . Is that ok?
Hi there – I have 1% hyaluronic Acid already in gel form – does this need further dilution or can I use it as is?
Sarah-No dilution needed-1% is perfect!
Hi Jenni- Went to Lotioncrafter to order the Leucidal Liquid and they are out of stock. Any other suggestions where to purchase from.
Thanks You for great recipes!!
Kathy-I don’t but I’m hoping they will be back in stock soon. They are a great company and super efficient. Check back often, I bet they’ll have it in soon!
Hiya Jenni
Wow, I just came across your blog and so excited to try to make my own hyaluronic serum.
I’m completely starting from scratch in every sense of the word and just going to try and source the ingredients to Ireland / UK. Fingers crossed.
Did you happen to find a way to preserve the serum?
Many thanks in advance
D x
Doey-I’m glad!
Yes, I use leucidal liquid to preserve mine. I’m not sure if you can find a source in the UK/Ireland but it’s worth a try. It’s a natural preservative that works well in gels that don’t contain oil.
Can I use this face recipe all over my body? Can I apply it like lotion to arms, legs etc? I love it!
Jean-I don’t see why not!
Hi Jenn!
Love your site. Is there any HMW or LMW HA made in the USA or is it all from China? Be well
Hi Jenni!
Does all HA come from China or can I get some USA HA? Or another country other than China.
Thanks
Gail
Gail-I’m always looking for more local sources. So far, no luck.
Hi Jenni
I have preservative eco, HA in powder form and hydroslate chamomile, would this be a good combination, and if so what proportions? Jenny
Jenny-Unfortunately I have never worked with these products so I don’t know. I think the HA powder form would work well with the chamomile hydrosol but I don’t know if your preservative works well with the 2. You’ll have to do more research on your particular preservative.
Hyaluronic acid works for wrinkles because the molecule swells after it absorbs water, and that plumps lines on the spot. Look for products with hyaluronic acid listed near the top of the ingredient list, cause that means there is alot of it. I use Lady Soma’s Renewal Serum for my hyaluronic acid and will never stop using it. Its my favorite – and I am so happy everyone is into hyaluronic acid now because it does work!
Hi Jenny. I was wondering if you could clear something up for me? I read some articles suggesting that you should apply hyaluronic acid serum immediately after washing your face to remove as much surface oil as posible. This is because HA is water soluble and can not penetrate the surface oil on your skin but rather, it just sits there doing nothing. If this is true, will mixing your HA with lavender oil or hydrosols limit absorption? Also I can understand using distilled water to make HA serum because HA is water soluble, but hydrosols uses a different distilling process used to extract plant oils. Wouldn’t this make it poor choice for dissolving HA? I’m really confused, can you please help?
Hi David! There are different weights when it comes to HA. A high molecular weight won’t penetrate hardly at all but a low molecular weight will. Whatever you mix the HA in will also penetrate so you can stick to distilled water but I find that a hydrosol works so well. Distilled water is suggested due to issues with preserving. I specify distilled so that people won’t use tap water. Basically you can use any water based product to dissolve your HA, even aloe vera. Does this clear it up?
Is this serum injectable grade? From what I understood, injectable grade HA is made form non-animal (possibly non-natural, meaning no plants either) sources so there is less risk of an allergic reaction. Can you buy injectable grade HA powder? (I’m a doctor)
Thank you!
Drina-I have no idea! I have not seen anything in my HA browsing that would indicate it was injectable grade. I’m no help here! Sorry!
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has now superseded collagen as the go-to ingredient. I get my hyaluronic acid from the Made from Earth Plant Stem Cell Moisturizer – its uses botanical hyaluronic acid.
The main effect of this Made from Earth moisturizer is making my skin seem much fuller and plumped up. This doesn’t mean you will look fatter! The skin just looks much more healthy and glowing. It is a more youthful effect all round. It evens out the skin, so the tone is improved and the crow’s feet that were starting to take over are diminished gradually with use.
Just a little bit is needed for one application – I am impressed
Hi Jenni,
I was just wondering if this serum can be used on the eye lids?
Mia-I’m not too sure but I’m guessing you could.
Love your site! Thanks!
Clump problem advice:
If anyone is having trouble with clumps, just sprinkle the HA power over the COLD distilled water in a small glass jar, cover with Saran Wrap and it dissolves like magic over night, even in a few hours – no shaking necessary. Then pour through a sterilized funnel into a sterilized opaque glass jar with a dropper. I make tiny batches for myself, keep it in the fridge, and use a.m. and p.m.
(1/8 teaspoon of HA powder sprinkled over 3 tablespoons cold distilled water). It is THE most amazing serum ever.
Andrea-Thanks for sharing this!
I love making this. Here is what I do for my recipe.
I use both low and high weight. I take distilled water, however I boil it in a pan that has first been rinsed with a 50/50 alcohol solution. I also use this solution on each tool I use and container. I use a glass beaker. I measure the H2O and put in the freezer. Once it’s very cold I add the HA. Then I put a ziplock (zipper bag over and around it. I close it 3/4 the way then suck the air out of it. This makes it less likely to grow bacteria in it over night. Then in the morning it is absorbed. At that point I stir in 1 teaspoon of 45,000 IU pure vitamin E oil and 1/4 teaspoon of glycerin. Sometimes I dip a toothpick in lavender oil and just dip it in the batch. I also make this in a bigger batch and use this on my legs. I don’t add Vitamin C because it tends to rub off your skin when mixed together. I prefer to make my own vitamin C with just the water and ascorbic acid which I spray on my body once every 2-3 days. I use the Vit C at night as well or sometimes when I’m out of the shower. I wait and don’t use the two products at the same exact time. This has kept my skin looking amazing for a long time now. I used to spend SO much $$$ on this elsewhere. I think you could also DIY a ferulic acid with the Vit C and E. I make this on occasion as well. I keep in the fridge for two weeks and if I”m traveling for work I put a preservative in it. 🙂
Rebecca! Thanks for sharing this! I love it!
I love this! Going to give it a try for sure (I’m making all DIY Christmas gifts and this would be the perfect addition)! I just have a few questions… I see some folks are saying they used witch hazel or rose water in lieu of distilled. If that is the case, would you still need a preservative? And would it extend the shelf life of this product? Additionally, would a small amount of carrot seed oil be an appropriate addition to the HA serum?
I’ve made this serum using this recipe a handful of times now, it’s great! One thing I do differently instead of trying to mix the powder in is just to sprinkle it evenly on top of the water/preservative/essential oils in a glass, then cover it and put it in the fridge for a few hours. No mixing necessary! It ends up dissolving very evenly throughout the liquid with no lumps.
Also I tried using half aloe vera juice, half water today, and it didn’t work. It didn’t “gel up,” it just stayed liquid. Just in case you ever wondered if that works.
Thanks for all your awesome recipes!
Hi Charlotte! Thank you so much! I’ve been experimenting with the best way of getting the best consistency and am having a horrible time! Can I ask what brand hyaluronic acid you use?
So you don’t shake it or anything? It just dissolves? What type of container do you use? I made a serum a couple nights ago in a dropper bottle and the serum was so thick, it wouldn’t go into the dropper! Sorry for all the questions-I’m on a mission to making this post “fool-proof”!!
Jenni,
I also do not shake mine when I add the HA. I just sprinkle on top of the cold water, cover, and put in fridge for a few hours. It desolves on its own with absolutely no clumping. After it’s set, I add the lavender oil drops and stir with a glass rod. I make mine in a wide mouth jar, then transfer over to an airless pump dispenser once it’s all set and mixed.
How do you know this will only last 2 weeks? What happens when it expires and how can you tell? I don’t want to toss out so much of this! It’s like I hardly used any of it and I used it for my whole face and neck every night for 2 weeks.
I have some Vitamin E, could that be added at this point, when it’s 2 weeks old?
And by the way, I LOVE THIS!
My face feels so soft! I can’t remember having skin that felt like this…EVER!
Jaimie-I’m so glad!
Jaimie-There’s really no way to know. You just have to stay on the safe side. I would highly suggest using the preservative so you can keep it much longer.
Jenni
I’ve had my low and high hydrolanic acid for a little over a year and I made a second batch today, I followed your direction to a tee and it didn’t firm up. Do you think it’s no longer good? Or is it still effective, I called up Lotion Crafter before I made it and they said it should still be good. What do you think is wrong?
Thank you
Lucille-I do the same thing from batch to batch-one batch is too thick to get through a dropper, other batches are like water. I don’t have an answer as to why this happens. I do find that my HA powder has a very hard time dissolving. I end up having to mix it in a bullet or mini food processor after I’ve kept it in the fridge for 24 hours. This seems to help. I also stick to smaller batches (I was quadrupling my recipe) because the bigger batches are really watery. One more thought-Are you storing your water/hydrosol in the fridge so it’s really cold when you add the powder to it?
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Hello I followed your instructions but put the serum in three small pots and put them in the fridge for several days but it isn’t thickening at all, I even used a nutri bullet to mix it. Any ideas? should I add more of the HA?
Thank you
Hi Piper-this is a problem with this HA powder. I have the same issues but it’s random. Sometimes they thicken, sometimes they don’t. Just because it doesn’t thicken doesn’t mean it isn’t good though. You could think about putting it in a spray bottle. I wish I had a better answer. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to it.
Hi I was trying to purchase the Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum Powder (High Molecular Weight Sodium Hyaluronate) you have used and they do not ship that item to Canada. I tried amazon and resurrection beauty website same thing.
I was wondering which HMW HA I should get instead?
I found one that is 1.0 – 1.5 Million Daltons. Is that the same size as the one you used?
Lamya-Yes-1.0-1.5 is a high molecular weight. I only use the HMW now due to not being able to find the LMW as easily. It’s an immediate boost for your skin!
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I love your Rosehip Cypress Firming Cream! How would you adding the hyaluronic acid to that?
Tangela-I haven’t attempted adding hyaluronic acid to a cream yet. Stay tuned!
If I use both HMW and LMW would I put 1/8th tsp of both HMW and LMW or total of 1/8 tsp so 1/16th of HMW and 1/16th of LMW? Thanks
Rita-Use 1/8 tsp. total. So 1/16 of each.
Hi I jyst ordered some cassia angustifolia seed polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid) i used a serum by consonant skincare called hydrextreme and it is AMAZING! But the price is not! At $150 canadian for 30ml of serum i thought i would see if i can make it myself. They use just 2 ingredients. Botanical hyaluronic acid and vegetable glycerin. Any suggestions on formulas and would I need a preservative? They don’t seem to use any. Thanks for any advice you can give!
Hi Katelyn! Well, first a mixture of only glycerin and HA would be incredibly gross because glycerin is super sticky. There has got to be more ingredients that they don’t mention. But then again-I’m not a chemist so there could be info. I’m missing! My guess is that it’s mostly water and there is a preservative. I looked it up and I can’t find hardly any info. on it. This serum recipe is worth a try. It gets great reviews and is easy to make. I mention the appropriate preservative as well. Good luck!
Now if we can just get a recipe for dissolving an overage of hyaluronic acid injections!
Stupid question, but can you use metal utensils when working with the HA? So excited to get the ingredients in the mail! Thanks!
Jes, I haven’t heard that you can’t. All I know of is not using them with clay. Good luck!
Hi jenny
Great stuff! May i know if this recipe is good for asian skin?
Also, if we stop using it after some time, will the skin gets saggy?
Elsie-It’s great for all skin types! No, the skin won’t get saggy after discontinuing use. No worries!
Is it OK to use the HA serum with the CQ10 serum ? I also use rosehip with a couple EOs for moisturizer. I want to do all I can for my skin. But I also don’t want to do the wrong thing. Is this all too much together? Or is it good to use it all? Thanks !!!
Sorry I am confused, do you use 1/8 of high and an 1/8 of low hyaluronic powder when mixing with water 1/4 cup distilled water or when using both 1/2 cu distilled water. Have you noticed you like it better with both high n low?
I have been looking for a blog like this for a long time. Great job!
Lauren-Sorry for the confusion! Use 1/8th of HA to 1/4 of water so it would be 1/16 of each.
Thanks for the reply. I made a batch w 1/4 distilled h20 n one with the other recipe that was just 2 TBS water plus helichrysum, etc. I wasn’t sure if both recipes had 1/4 cu water or not. They r in the fridge so time will tell.
Hi Jenni, When making the hyaluronic acid serum, if you do add in the preservative, how long is the shelf life?
Hi Debbie-It’s about 2 mos. Longer if you keep it in the fridge!
Dear Jen
Can we keep acid hyaluronic for a month after opened if we add leucidal liquid
Thank for yr sharing
Hope to hear from u soon
Len
Len-You sure can!
hey.. can we use in addition authenthic aloe vera gel fot his serum ?thanks in advance
Lesyaaa-Sure! The more natural, the better!
Jenn,
Have been reading articles about LMW HA. The scientific article I read states although it penetrates better and plums the skin it’s due to an inflammatory process which in the long run accelerates aging??? Have you heard this?
Barbara-Yes, I believe I mention it above which is why I pretty much stick with HMW HA. I have heard you can use a mixture of both but I’m not too sure if that cancels out it penetrating too deeply.
I found both high and low HAat LotionCrafter and the Leucidal is also available.
I wasn’t sure if the Dalton size was the same as you’re using.
LMW 0.8 – 1.0 Million Daltons and HMW – 1.0 – 1.5 Million Daltons
They also mention that if you;re having trouble with the LMW powder clumping you can pre-mix it with glycerin prior to adding to water.
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Can I use this serum on my lips?
Patricia-Sure-not sure it will plump lips but it can’t hurt to try!
Could I add a different preservative that I already have?
Nancy-Probably-However, I’ve found that different preservatives are used in water solutions and oil solutions. You might do some research first on your particular preservative.
Hi Jenni! I just discovered your blog and subscribed. Everything I’ve seen so far looks amazing! I can’t wait to make some of these products!
Does this hyaluronic acid serum HAVE to be kept in the fridge? I thought that the preservative was added so that it would be more shelf stable.
Thanks for so many great ideas and posts!!!
Renee-Hi! Thank you! No-you don’t have to keep it in the fridge. With the preservative, it should be fine for 2-3 months on your counter.
Can you add this to a goat milk lotion base?
Joan-I’m not sure it would mix properly. It would be better to keep them separate. When you put a water based serum before a product that contains oil, the water based product can help the oil penetrate faster and deeper. If you try adding it to the lotion, I’m afraid it would be risky in terms of ruining both products.
Hi
If i use any kind of hydrosol (which is previously preserved with a preservative), instead of water in the hyaluronic acid serum do i still need to add a preservative?
Duaa-It is safest to add the preservative but if you make a small batch (1 ounce or less) and use it up within a month, I believe you will be fine. There’s no way to know for sure.
Hi Jenni.. can I mix rose hydrosol with glycerin, so that the serum becomes thicker?
Aye-You can but glycerin can be incredibly sticky. A little bit goes a long way so it will probably not thicken your serum up too much.
Oh oke thanks Jenni, anw do you have a prescription for sunscreen?
Ayu-I don’t! I prefer to buy that-there’s just no way to know how effective a DIY sunscreen is so it can be quite risky.
Can I use Hyaluronic acid powder – Rose water – glycerin – Aloe vera gel – Vitamin E oil for hyaluronic serum
Oma-You can use all of those except the vitamin E will not mix with everything else. It can still be added but you’ll have to shake your serum each time you use it.
Thank you for sharing. I cannot wait to try this serum. I am not able to easily find the preservative you’ve recommended in the UK. Would colloidal silver be a reasonable substitute?
Alina-I don’t know if colloidal silver would work as a preservative. Essential oils can help and you can store in the fridge. You might get about a month if essential oils are added and you keep it cold. There are tons of preservatives though that I’m sure you could find in the U.K. I would just google natural preservatives and pick one that is good in water based products. Hope that helps!
Hi! I’m so glad I found your blog page! At the age of 53 I have started a health coaching course and my eyes have been opened up to the huge amount of toxins we are subjected to – it is truly shocking. I love your ethos and commitment to making natural, non-toxic products and can’t wait to get started – although it does feel a little overwhelming! So much information to take in and shopping to be done! Anyway, I am waffling! My question is I have a 13 year old daughter with beautiful skin (the odd pimples that appear with her hormone shifts). I am concerned that she wants to use all of these different products on her skin that are full of toxins. Luckily, she is open to trying some of my homemade creations Yeh!! So, I want to get this right so she loves what I make, her skin feels great afterwards and she wants to ditch all the toxic rubbish she is using. She has an oily t-zone and complains about getting a shiny face, so wondered what you think might best suit her skin so I can make something that is, not only safe for her young skin but also makes her want me to make more!! Sorry for my long message – hoping you can help 🙂 Thank you so much for all the amazing information you have shared xx
Joanne-Hi! Welcome! I too have a teenage daughter dealing with hormonal breakouts. I don’t have her on all my recipes but one thing that really seems to help that I make is anything with Willow Bark. Go HERE for that recipe. You can make it into a serum, toner or roll on. Plus, it’s gentle. It’s an easy ingredient to incorporate. I also add lavender and tea tree oil for added antibacterial action.
My daughter has been using THIS face oil and it has done wonders balancing out her T-zone and clearing things up.
I buy THIS cleanser for her on Amazon.
I hope this has been helpful!!