Up to date: 26.08.25
Have you ever ever wished to make your individual skincare however weren’t certain about how or the place to start out? Then you definitely’ve come to the appropriate place.
At Formulation Botanica, we’ve taught tens of 1000’s of scholars find out how to formulate pure and natural skincare from the consolation of their residence by our award-winning on-line programs – no prior expertise or scientific data wanted.
To present you a glimpse of what’s potential, we wished to share with you right now find out how to make a hydrating facial serum with rose in simply 4 steps. This serum formulation is light-weight, delicately scented with rose floral water, and options hyaluronic acid as its hero ingredient to assist preserve your pores and skin hydrated all day lengthy.
Whether or not you’re model new to formulating or simply in search of a simple win, that is the proper place to start out.
What’s a hydrating serum?

A hydrating facial serum is a focused skincare product designed to ship deep and lasting moisture to the pores and skin. It sometimes accommodates highly effective components, akin to hyaluronic acid, that entice and retain water, serving to the pores and skin really feel plumper, smoother, and totally hydrated.
Curious to study the distinction between moisturising and hydrating? Then try this put up:
Serums are additionally one of many easiest skincare formulations to get began with – and a few of the most rewarding. You can also make your individual serum at residence, utilizing both an emulsion base (a cream base), a water base, an oil base, or a gel base. You may then customise it by including botanical extracts and lively components tailor-made to your pores and skin’s wants.
Need to study extra in regards to the various kinds of serums you can also make at residence? Then you definitely’ll like this put up:
The best way to use a facial serum


Serums are sometimes used after cleaning and earlier than making use of a moisturiser. Some oil-based serums are so nourishing that they can be utilized as an alternative of a moisturiser altogether.
As a result of serums are so concentrated, they normally are available smaller bottles because you solely want a small quantity. Apply one or two drops of the hydrating serum formulation featured on this put up into your palm and gently therapeutic massage it into cleansed pores and skin. You may then comply with together with your favorite moisturiser immediately.
It’s also possible to use serums as a therapy by including a few drops to your favorite facial masks earlier than making use of it to your pores and skin.
Our rose hydrating facial serum formulation
Our rose hydrating facial serum is a light-weight, water-based formulation designed for straightforward utility and enhanced pores and skin hydration. We’ve saved the formulation (the recipe) easy but efficient, excellent for rookies, and included suggestions later within the put up that will help you customise and improve the formulation as your formulating expertise develop.
The hero ingredient on this hydrating facial serum is hyaluronic acid, a robust humectant recognized for its means to carry as much as 1,000 occasions its weight in water. Naturally current within the pores and skin, hyaluronic acid performs a key position in maintaining it supple, clean, and plump. Nonetheless, its ranges decline with age, so incorporating it into your skincare, alongside a nutritious diet, might help keep long-term hydration and pores and skin well being.
Hyaluronic acid is often utilized in anti-ageing skincare and could be added to any product that accommodates water. Whereas oil-soluble variations at the moment are rising in the marketplace, we haven’t trialled them but. Need to study extra about this unimaginable ingredient? Then try our devoted information:
Hydration revolution: The formulator’s information to hyaluronic acid
Please notice that hyaluronic acid could be animal-derived, so at all times test your provider’s particulars. The one we use on this formulation is produced by a bio-fermentation course of, making it appropriate for vegan-friendly formulations. There are two most important sorts of hyaluronic acid you should use:
- Excessive molecular weight hyaluronic acid: Creates a hydrating movie on the pores and skin’s floor, forming a gel-like texture and offering speedy moisture. It may be as much as 10 occasions more practical than glycerine, one of the crucial generally used humectants.
- Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid: Penetrates additional into the pores and skin and is extra focused in the direction of anti-ageing advantages.
For this formulation, our focus is pure hydration, so we’ve used solely excessive molecular weight hyaluronic acid. Nonetheless, combining each molecular weights in future formulations can create a extra superior serum with each floor hydration and extra anti-ageing advantages.
Key components

Along with hyaluronic acid, we’ve additionally used the next pure components on this formulation:
Hydrosol (floral water)
As a substitute of utilizing important oils (which may irritate the pores and skin if not used appropriately), we’ve chosen to make use of a hydrosol to provide the serum a delicate, non-overpowering scent.
A hydrosol is basically a floral water derived from the steam distillation of vegetation. You may study extra about hydrosols beneath:
The formulator’s information to hydrosols
We chosen rose hydrosol to match the theme of this serum, however you should use every other hydrosol you want, akin to frankincense, lavender, chamomile, peppermint, or neroli – and even create a customized mix.
Simply make certain the overall quantity of hydrosol you utilize retains the general formulation weight the identical.
Thickener (gum)
To present the serum a clean, gel-like texture, we’ve used xanthan gum, a extensively accessible and beginner-friendly gum and thickener, which additionally retains your serum secure.
We opted for clear grade xanthan gum to keep up the serum’s clear look.
Water-soluble preservative
We all know this is usually a heated matter, however preservation is important in terms of beauty merchandise. As a result of it is a water-based formulation, correct preservation is required to forestall microbial progress and guarantee security.
For this serum, we used a broad-spectrum, water-soluble and naturally-derived preservative (Sodium Benzoate & Potassium Sorbate).
Be taught extra in regards to the significance of preservation beneath:
Don’t overlook to check and modify the pH of your ultimate product as wanted: this helps guarantee each the soundness of the preservative system and the general security of your serum. Learn extra right here:
What can go fallacious if you happen to don’t management your formulation’s pH?
The best way to make a rose hydrating serum
Right here’s find out how to make this rose hydrating serum in solely 4 steps:
- Makes: 100g
- Degree: Newbie-friendly
- Methodology: Chilly course of
| A | Rose hydrosol (preserved) | Rosa Damascena Flower Water & Aqua & Sodium Benzoate & Potassium Sorbate | 50.00 |
| A | Distilled water | Aqua | 45.30 |
| A | Glycerine | Glycerin | 3.00 |
| A | Xanthan gum | Xanthan Gum | 0.50 |
| B | Hyaluronic acid | Sodium Hyaluronate | 0.20 |
| C | Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate | Aqua, Sodium Benzoate & Potassium Sorbate | 1.00 |
| Whole: 100.00 |
Gear:
Right here’s what you’ll must make this serum:
- Jewelry scale
- Glass beakers
- Glass rods or mini whisk
- Pipettes
- Appropriate container – pipette/dropper bottle
You’ll find all of this gear on our Formulation Botanica Amazon storefront!
Formulation methodology:
Right here’s the step-by-step methodology to make this rose hydrating serum. It’s also possible to watch our corresponding YouTube video.
- Step 1: Weigh the rose hydrosol
Begin by cleansing and sanitising your workspace and gear. Wash your surfaces and instruments with sizzling, soapy water, allow them to air dry, after which sanitise them utilizing 70% isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. Make sure that to additionally put on an apron and tie your hair.
Then, weigh your rose hydrosol in a sanitised glass beaker. Add the distilled water, stir with a gloss rod, and set the mix apart.
- Step 2: Weigh the glycerine, the xanthan gum, and the hyaluronic acid
Subsequent, weigh the glycerine in a small beaker, and add the xanthan gum and the hyaluronic acid, taring after every addition (utilizing the ‘tare’ button of your scale)
Stir the mix totally.
Step 3: Add the gum mix to the water base
Slowly, in small increments, add the gum mix to the water base and stir nicely.
Set the beaker apart to permit the gum and hyaluronic acid to swell (or ‘hydrate).
Step 4: Add the preservative, package deal, and label!
When the mix is evident and has no particles from the gum, add the preservative.
Test the pH and modify it to round pH 5.0-5.5 if wanted. We train you ways to do that in our Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation.
And that’s it! Now you can pour the mix into a reasonably bottle and label it with the identify and date. Take pleasure in!
Take your hydrating facial serum to the following stage
You probably have already mastered this formulation and wish to take your serum to the following stage, listed below are some concepts for you:
- Improve the hyaluronic acid to 0.5% to make it much more efficient (however at all times conduct a patch check first).
- Add different humectants, akin to sodium lactate or sodium PCA.
- Change the glycerine with some glycerites (vegetation, flowers, herbs or fruit infused in glycerine) akin to pomegranate or cucumber.
- Strive different thickeners or mix gums for a synergistic impact. It’s possible you’ll want to change the quantity you utilize, although, so bear this in thoughts.
- Relying in your objective or audience, you may add different water-soluble actives, nutritional vitamins and botanicals. Keep in mind to cut back the hydrosol to maintain the formulation to 100%.
- When you wished to make use of important oils, you would wish to incorporate a solubiliser in your formulation, as important oils are oil-soluble.
Bonus: Free serum formulations
When you loved making this facial serum, why not strive making these different serum formulations accessible to you for free on our weblog:
The best way to make a skin-loving inexperienced tea serum
The best way to formulate a restoring vitamin C face serum
The best way to formulate a prebiotic glycerine serum
The best way to formulate an indulgent lip serum
The best way to make a brightening physique serum
The best way to make a caffeine & pea pure beneath eye serum
Last ideas
Making your individual skincare doesn’t should be intimidating. This straightforward rose hydrating serum is proof that even rookies can create stunning, efficient merchandise utilizing pure and natural components. And when you’ve made one product, the probabilities open up quick.
When you’re able to take the following step and go deeper into the world of formulation, why not take the following step and be a part of our free on-line coaching? It’s the proper method to dip your toes into the world of botanical skincare, with no price, no strain, simply sensible, step-by-step steering from our professional workforce.
Till then, have enjoyable experimenting together with your rose serum – and tell us the way it seems within the feedback beneath!
Advised suppliers
Listed here are the suppliers we’ve used to make this hydrating rose serum:
Rose hydrosol
Glycerine
Xanthan gum
Hyaluronic acid
Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate
When you enrol in considered one of our programs, we additionally offer you a complete provider listing of pure and natural beauty components – and extra – that includes suppliers from all around the world.
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Timi was a key member of the Formulation Botanica workforce from 2015 to 2020; first as our Schooling Supervisor after which as Head of Formulation & Analysis. You’ll find out extra in regards to the Formulation Botanica workforce right here.


