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DIY Skincare: Peptide Boosters, Preservatives and Packaging to Make Your Own

DIY skincare lets you choose every ingredient and its percentage. This collection is the short list for a first peptide serum or eye cream: the Rejuvenate serum base, peptide and active serum boosters, Leucidal natural preservatives and airless bottles. For every base, powder and booster Skin Perfection sells, see the full lotion making supplies collection.

Before You Start: Equipment and Sanitation

The FDA lists an ineffective preservation system and contaminated water or raw materials among the causes of microbial contamination in cosmetics, and advises keeping containers clean, so set up clean before you mix.

  • A digital scale that reads to 0.01 g, glass beakers, a spatula and droppers
  • 70% isopropyl alcohol to spray tools and bottles; let them air dry
  • Gloves and a clean, dry work surface
  • Airless bottles, which keep fingers and air out of the finished product
  • Distilled water only, never tap water, if a recipe calls for water

Five Steps to Your First Serum

  1. Pick one goal. Lines from expressions, firmness, or the eye area. Two or three boosters for one goal keep the formula simple and easy to judge.
  2. Pick a base. The Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Serum Base is an unscented serum made to take peptides as is.
  3. Add boosters at their top rate. Use the house measure of 9 drops = 1% per fluid ounce, and check the rate in the table below.
  4. Preserve it. If you add water-based ingredients beyond peptides, add Leucidal SF Complete at 4%, 36 drops per ounce.
  5. Bottle, label and chill. Fill an airless bottle, write the date and the recipe on it, and store it in the refrigerator.

Starter Recipe: Expression Line Serum, 1 oz

This is the sample recipe from the Rejuvenate base page, at top rates: 1 oz Rejuvenate base, 45 drops Antarcticine (5%), 45 drops Pepha Tight (5%), 72 drops Matrixyl 3000 (8%) and 45 drops Syn-Ake (5%). Add the base to a clean glass beaker, add the boosters, mix for 2 minutes, and pour into a 1 oz silver airless pump bottle. The base page notes that adding only peptides needs no extra preservative; if you also add hydrosols or extracts, add 4% Leucidal SF Complete.

Compare DIY Ingredients and Supplies

Product Key ingredient Best for Top usage rate (per 1 oz) Price from
Bases and ready-made serums
Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Serum Base Jojoba, shea, hyaluronic acid, rosehip Unscented serum base for peptides Add peptides at their own rates $39.95
Natural preservatives
Leucidal Complete Radish root ferment, lactobacillus, coconut Broad-spectrum preservation 4% (36 drops) $17.95 (0.5 oz)
Leucidal Liquid Radish Root Radish root ferment filtrate Mild preservation 4% (36 drops) $15.95 (0.5 oz)
Leucidal SF Complete Lactobacillus and coconut ferment Broad-spectrum, easy to use 4% (36 drops) $15.95 (1 oz)
Leucidal SF Max Lactobacillus ferment Broad-spectrum, salicylic-free 4% $34.95 (4 oz)
Peptides for the look of expression lines
Argireline Peptide Serum Booster Acetyl hexapeptide-8 Look of expression lines 10% (90 drops) $34.95 (0.5 oz)
Snap 8 Peptide Serum Booster Acetyl octapeptide-3 Look of expression lines 10% (90 drops) $44.95 (0.5 oz)
Syn-Ake Peptide Serum Booster Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate Look of vertical lines 5% (45 drops) $49.99 (0.5 oz)
Peptides and actives for the look of firmness
Dermafill Wrinkle Filler Ornithine, phospholipids, glycolipids Look of fuller, plumper skin 3% (27 drops) $39.95 (0.5 oz)
Juveleven Serum Booster Acetyl tetrapeptide-51 amide Look of smoother skin 2% (18 drops) $36.95 (0.5 oz)
Liquid Collagen Serum Booster Soluble collagen Hydration and a smoother feel 2% (18 drops) $31.95 (0.5 oz)
Matrixyl 3000 Serum Booster Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 Look of firmer, smoother skin 8% (72 drops) $29.95 (0.5 oz)
Matrixyl Synthe-6 Serum Booster Palmitoyl tripeptide-38 Look of deeper lines 2% (18 drops) $44.95 (0.5 oz)
Pepha Tight Serum Booster Nannochloropsis oculata extract, pullulan Instant tightening feel 5% (45 drops) $38.95 (0.5 oz)
Relistase Firming Serum Booster Acetylarginyltryptophyl diphenylglycine Look of firmer jawline and neck 4% (36 drops) $31.95 (0.5 oz)
Syn-Coll Peptide Serum Booster Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 Look of firmer skin 3% (27 drops) $36.95 (0.5 oz)
Syn-Tacks Peptide Serum Booster Palmitoyl dipeptide-5 diaminobutyloyl hydroxythreonine Look of firmer skin 3% (27 drops) $42.95 (0.5 oz)
Uplevity Acetyl tetrapeptide-2 Look of lifted, firmer skin 2% (18 drops) $38.95 (0.5 oz)
Renewal, hydration and antioxidant boosters
Antarcticine Pseudoalteromonas ferment extract Look of plumper, hydrated skin 5% (45 drops) $32.95 (0.5 oz)
Edelweiss Serum Booster Leontopodium alpinum extract Antioxidant support 5% (45 drops) $34.95 (0.5 oz)
GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Powder Copper tripeptide-1, 99% pure Look of firmer, more even skin 1% (1 g per 100 ml) $59.95 (1 g)
GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Serum Copper tripeptide-1 1% Ready to use, face and scalp Use as is, 2 to 3 drops $26.95 (0.5 oz)
PhytoCellTec Apple Stem Cells Malus domestica fruit cell culture extract Look of youthful skin 5% (45 drops) $38.95 (0.5 oz)
Teprenone Serum Booster Teprenone (oil soluble) Look of smoother, more even skin 5% (45 drops) $38.95 (0.5 oz)
Eye, lash and brow boosters
Eyelash Peptide for Lashes and Brows Myristoyl hexapeptide-16, biotinoyl tripeptide-1 Look of fuller lashes and brows 10% (90 drops) $59.95
EyeSeryl Peptide Booster Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 Look of under-eye puffiness 10% (90 drops) $38.95 (0.5 oz)
Haloxyl Eye Peptide Booster Chrysin, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 Look of dark circles 3% (27 drops) $34.95 (0.5 oz)
Regu-Age Eye Serum Booster Rice bran and soy proteins, oxidoreductases Look of puffiness and dark circles 5% (45 drops) $33.95 (0.5 oz)
Packaging
Silver Airless Eye Serum Pump Bottles Empty 0.5 oz airless bottles, set of 5 Eye creams and small batches Packaging $55.95
Silver Airless Pump Bottle, 1 fl oz Empty 1 oz airless bottles, set of 5 Serums and lotions Packaging $39.95

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DIY skincare safe?

It can be, when you use cosmetic-grade ingredients at their stated rates, work with sanitized tools, preserve anything that contains water and patch test before use. Work in small batches so you can adjust a formula before making more.

Can I mix several peptides in one serum?

Yes. Most serum boosters are water-soluble and can be combined, each at its own rate. Keep the total of added liquids in mind, because a lot of thin liquid makes a thinner serum. Pepha Tight can feel sticky at high levels, so test small batches.

Which DIY ingredients should not be mixed?

Skin Perfection's copper peptide pages advise against combining GHK-Cu with vitamin C, including magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, in the same formula, and against layering copper peptide with vitamin C or retinol in the same routine. Use them at opposite ends of the day.

Do DIY serums need to be refrigerated?

Most serum boosters are labeled to be refrigerated on arrival, and a chilled finished serum stays fresher. Keep it in an airless bottle and discard it if the smell, color or texture changes.

Can I apply serum boosters directly to my skin?

No. Serum boosters are formulating ingredients and are meant to be mixed into a base or an existing product at the rate on the product page. The one exception here is the GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Serum, which is a finished 1% serum.

Sensitive skin: patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours and start each booster at the lowest rate on its product page, then work up.

Sources

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.