Updated date:

Mar 31, 2021

DIY Hyaluronic Acid Serum Recipe

Author:

Cat is a life-long skin care enthusiast with a special interest in DIY beauty. She has been creating beauty potions for over 15-years.

This hyaluronic acid serum will leave your skin hydrated and glowing.
Photo by Mathilde Langevin, via Unsplash

What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

In layman's terms, hyaluronic acid (HA) is the juicy substance responsible for plumping our skin and lubricating tissue and joints. It plays an essential role in skin elasticity, softness, and radiance.

Plentiful in our youth, this precious moisture molecule steadily diminishes with age, leaving us with half of what we started with by the time our 50's roll around. If you're already in your 50's like me, then you understand the frustration that comes with navigating an entirely new stage of skin health.

This skin serum is perfect for all skin types because hyaluronic acid is already a substance produced by our own bodies. This is an easy and affordable DIY beauty serum that can be made in large batches and stored in your fridge for refills!

Skin Changes as We Get Older

In my early 40's, I began noticing a profound change in my skin's texture, moisture, and resiliency. I swear that my daily basic skincare routine failed me on the morning of my 40th birthday—yes, it happened that fast! I went to bed as always the previous night (when I was still in my 30's), thinking everything was fine, only to wake up the next morning to a moody stranger peering at me in the mirror.

Who is this? I thought to myself.

Suddenly my predictably smooth, resilient skin was showing signs of, dare I say, frailty? Living in a cold, dry climate exacerbated these changes leaving me with flaky, rough, thirsty skin. I was doing all the wrong things for my skin, such as slathering on coconut oil, fragranced oils, and expensive but useless creams and serums.

I asked myself, Why are you paying for products that simply do not work?

My frustration led me to research more about my skin's changes and ways I could improve it or at least not make it worse. That was when I discovered the benefits of hyaluronic acid and knew it would become essential in my new skincare routine.

Hyaluronic acid serums, especially applied beneath and on top of my favorite CeraVe moisturizer, helps retain my skin's moisture without causing me to appear, shall we say, slimy.

How Can Hyaluronic Acid Benefit Your Skin?

I'm glad you asked!

Hyaluronic acid benefits all skin types. However, for those of us with, say, more experienced skin, hyaluronic acid can be a literal game-changer. This is because hyaluronic acid is as gentle as it is powerful. It can hold 1000 times its molecular weight in water while acting as a barrier against the outside world by locking in moisture.

In my 10-plus years of using HA serums, I've never experienced skin irritations. If you ask me, this superpower skin serum belongs in everyone's skincare arsenal. It is even perfect for minimalists such as myself, who prefer to keep daily skincare routines as simple as possible.

Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid Serums

Increases skin's moisture
Smooths the appearance of fine lines and dry skin
Imparts a subtle glow without appearing shiny
Less likely to cause skin irritation
Promotes healing through providing a protective skin barrier
Layers well with other skincare products
It can be used everywhere, including hair, face, elbows, lips, and other sensitive body parts

However, one downside to HA serums is that it's very easy to go through an entire bottle much quicker than you would expect—especially if, like me, you practically bathe in it.

Also, as with all store-bought beauty products, efficacy can be compromised with improper and lengthy storage. I like knowing how long my skincare products have been sitting on the shelf and under what conditions. I also like knowing exactly which ingredients and how much of them are in my skincare products.

Why I Started Making My Own Serum

Not all hyaluronic acid serums are created equally. I discovered this after studying ingredients and experiencing varying degrees of product consistency and pricing.

Because I was already making my own moisturizing skin mists and aromatic oils (and I had a lot of time on my hands when the pandemic started), it only made sense to explore DIY HA serums when it was time to purchase more.

How to Make Hyaluronic Acid Skin Serum

I'm a little OCD when it comes to organizing my materials and maintaining sterile working conditions while making skincare products.

I set everything on paper towels and wipe everything down with alcohol before using. After using, I wash, boil, and use alcohol to sterilize everything again before sealing it in plastic containers or zip lock bags. When making skincare products for others, I always wear gloves. I also wash and use alcohol to sterilize my hands; and sometimes the gloves.

Items Needed

Small funnel
Gloves
Measuring spoons
Glass measuring cup (with ounces)
Small glass or plastic stir stick
Rubbing alcohol
Cotton balls
Paper towels
One 4-ounce cobalt or amber glass bottle
One or two 2-ounce cobalt or amber glass bottles

Ingredients

3/4 teaspoon pharmaceutical/cosmetic grade sodium hyaluronate powder
3/4 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
100 drops leucidal liquid
3 ounces distilled water, hydrosol, or other food/cosmetic grade flower water
essential oils (optional)

Instructions

Add leucidal liquid, glycerin, and 1.5 oz. distilled water, flower water, or a combination of both equaling 1.5 oz. to a 4 oz. sterilized glass bottle.
Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (my favorite is neroli). This is optional.
Vigorously shake the bottle of liquid ingredients.
Using a small funnel, carefully add hyaluronate powder, gently tapping the outside of the funnel to ensure all powder gets in. This is where I sometimes use a small plastic or glass stirrer to aid in getting all the power down the funnel.
Cap the glass bottle and shake vigorously until most of the powder is blended. At this point, your formula will be thick and lumpy. This is normal.
Add remaining liquid, cap, and shake, shake, shake—and shake some more.
Once your formula smooths out, it will be somewhat thick and should feel silky, and it should easily be drawn into a dropper. Sometimes it turns out perfect the first time around, and other times I add a bit more liquid for a thinner consistency.
Allow your new serum to settle, shaking more if necessary, before pouring into smaller glass bottles for ease of use. I usually store the largest in my fridge to refill my smaller bottles.
Now, you are free to swim in your new, custom-made HA serum guilt-free. Because believe me, there is enough powder to last a very long time. I've been using mine for over a year, and I always have freshly made serum on hand. Enjoy!

Initial lumpy consistency. You have to keep shaking.

Hyaluronate powder in a funnel.

Sodium Hyaluronic Acid Powder

Why I Love This Serum

I assume that others appreciate transparency as much as I do when evaluating skincare products (or anything else), which is why I am inspired to share my experience and thoughts with this, and all other hyaluronic acid serums.

Anyone can research products and come to their own educated conclusions regarding their potential. However, I have found some information not to be entirely truthful, which is why I only list benefits that have proven true based on personal experience.

Also, I will never purchase hyaluronic acid serum ever again. Why? Because this homemade formula is hands down the best HA serum I've used for a fraction of the cost. I know exactly what's in it, how it's stored, and for how long because I made it myself.

Hyaluronic acid serums possess many amazing qualities, including locking in moisture when used alone or layered with other moisturizers. As previously mentioned, I have never experienced irritation, oiliness, or negative reactions. I have nothing but great experiences, but I honestly haven't seen any substantial diminishment in the appearance of wrinkles or sagging skin because, seriously, wrinkles are deep, and sagging skin requires lifting or volumizing for noticeable results.

HA Serums Aren't Magic

Topical HA serums do not lift, volumize, or reverse the effects of gravity. They do not turn back the hands of time, but they sure make time more tolerable, and they feel amazing on my skin. The benefits of HA serums are much simpler and more subtle but enough to make them entirely worth using—in my humble opinion.

Leucidal Liquid

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.