Adding Ingredients to Ready-Made Creams and Thickening Serum

Yes, you can add Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), N-Acetyl Glucosamine (Acetyl Glucosamine), and Alpha Arbutin to ready-made body creams like Vaseline Vitamin B3 or other finished creams, as well as to products like Skinfood watery berry cream.

These ingredients are water-soluble powders. The recommended method, as also suggested by the staff, is to dissolve the required amount of each powder in a small amount of water first. Ensure the powders are fully dissolved before gently incorporating this solution into your ready-made cream or lotion. It is crucial to measure the amounts accurately to maintain the stability and effectiveness of the final product. Be mindful of the total percentage of added ingredients so as not to destabilize the original formulation.

For Alpha Arbutin specifically, it is important that the final mixture has a pH between 3.5 and 6.5. Mixing it into a product with a pH higher than 8 can cause it to break down.

Regarding your serum that turned out too liquid, the staff's suggestion to use a thickener like Xanthan Gum is correct. Xanthan Gum is a common and effective gelling agent for water-based formulations. To use it, you would typically disperse the Xanthan Gum powder in a small amount of liquid (often glycerin or a glycol first, or directly into water while stirring vigorously) to prevent clumping, and then add this mixture to your serum base while mixing until the desired thickness is achieved. Start with a low percentage (e.g., 0.2-0.5%) and gradually add more if needed, as a little goes a long way.