Mixing B3 & NAG into HA Gel and Inquiring about Vitamin C Serum Formulation

Question

I plan to purchase 100g of HA base and add the following:

B3 5g
NAG 2.5g

Can I simply stir these powders into the base until they dissolve?

Regarding Vitamin C serum, I'm still unsure about mixing it and don't have a thermometer to measure temperature during heating. Will this be an issue? I wish there was a ready-to-mix Vitamin C serum kit with pre-measured ingredients.

MySkinRecipes Expert · Accepted Answer

Mixing B3 and NAG into Hyaluronic Acid Gel Base

Mixing Safe-B3™ (Vitamin B3, Niacinamide) and GlucoBright™ (Acetyl Glucosamine) into a Hyaluronic Acid Gel Base by simply stirring should be sufficient for dissolving the powders, as both ingredients are water-soluble. Your proposed concentrations of 5g B3 and 2.5g NAG in 100g base (which is 5% B3 and 2.5% NAG) are within the recommended usage ranges for these ingredients.

Combining Niacinamide and Acetyl Glucosamine is a good approach as they work together synergistically to help with skin brightening, reducing dark spots, and improving skin texture by stimulating hyaluronic acid production.

For optimal efficacy and stability, it's generally recommended to ensure the final pH of the mixture is within the optimal range for these actives (Niacinamide is best at pH 4.0-7.0, and Acetyl Glucosamine at pH 3-7). While stirring should dissolve the powders, checking the pH of your final serum is a good practice.

Making Vitamin C Serum

It's understandable to be concerned about mixing Vitamin C, as some forms like L-Ascorbic Acid require precise conditions, including temperature and pH control, for stability and effectiveness.

If you prefer not to deal with complex mixing steps or temperature monitoring, there are easier options:

Ready-Made Serum Bases: Products like Stabilized Vitamin C (Natural-C Glycol™) Serum or 16% Vitamin C Brightening Serum are formulated to be stable and can be used directly or with minimal additions (like fragrance or color, as specified). These are great options if you want a potent Vitamin C serum without the hassle of mixing raw ingredients.
Stable Vitamin C Derivatives: Other stable forms like Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) or Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP) are water-soluble powders that are easier to mix than L-Ascorbic Acid and don't require heating. However, they are generally considered less potent than L-Ascorbic Acid or Ascorbyl Glucoside and still work best within a specific pH range (pH 7-9).

For ease of use and to avoid concerns about temperature and complex mixing, opting for a ready-made Vitamin C serum base is likely the best solution for you.