Lotion Making Supplies

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Lotion Making Supplies: Bases, Peptides and Natural Preservatives

This collection has everything Skin Perfection sells for making your own serums, lotions and creams: ready-to-mix bases, more than 30 peptide and active serum boosters, five natural preservatives and pure powders. Every booster page lists its INCI name and usage rate, and the table below puts the top rate and price side by side so you can plan a formula before you buy.

How to Choose What You Need

1. Start with a base

Pick a base that matches the texture you want. The Aloe Vera Gel Serum Base and the Hyaluronic Acid Plumping Serum make light, water-based serums. The Regenerating Facial Cream Lotion Bulk Base is a concentrated cream you can thin with up to 20% carrier oils and 40% water-phase ingredients. The Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Serum Base is a light, unscented serum made to take peptides as is.

2. Add actives at their top rate

Choose boosters by goal: Argireline, Snap-8, Inyline and Syn-Ake for the look of expression lines; Matrixyl 3000, Syn-Coll, Syn-Tacks and Relistase for the look of firmer skin; Haloxyl, EyeSeryl and Regu-Age for the eye area. Skin Perfection's house measure is 9 drops = 1% per fluid ounce, so a 10% rate is 90 drops in 1 oz. Most boosters are water-soluble; Teprenone is oil-soluble, so add it to the oil phase or an oil-containing base.

3. Preserve anything that contains water

The FDA lists an ineffective preservation system as a cause of microbial contamination in cosmetics, so any formula with water, aloe or hydrosols needs a preservative. Use Leucidal SF Complete or Leucidal Complete at 4%, or GSB at 2% when it is the only preservative. Pure oil blends with no water need none, as long as water stays out.

Compare Lotion Making Supplies

Product Key ingredient Best for Top usage rate (per 1 oz) Price from
Bases and ready-made serums
Aloe Vera Gel Serum Base Organic aloe, gotu kola, horsetail Light gel base for peptide serums Add up to 60% actives $19.95 (4 oz)
Hyaluronic Acid Plumping Serum Hyaluronic acid Ready-made HA serum or booster base Use as base $29.95 (1 oz)
Lash and Brow Bulk Base Biotin, panthenol, palmitoyl tripeptide-5 Base for lash and brow serums Add lash peptide at 10% $29.95 (4 oz)
Regenerating Facial Cream Lotion Bulk Base Shea butter, aloe, safflower oil Cream or lotion base Up to 20% oils and 40% water-phase ingredients $19.95 (8 oz)
Rejuvenate Anti-Aging Serum Base Jojoba, shea, hyaluronic acid, rosehip Unscented serum base for peptides Add peptides at their own rates $39.95
Ultra Hyaluronic Plumping Gel Sodium hyaluronate Thicker HA gel or base Use as base $31.95 (1 oz)
Natural preservatives
GSB Natural Preservative Powder Gluconolactone, sodium benzoate Powder preservative for water-based formulas 2% alone, 1% with another preservative $12.95
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 Amplified Acetyl hexapeptide-8, liposomal Look of expression lines 5% (45 drops) $48.95 (0.5 oz)
Argireline Peptide Serum Booster Acetyl hexapeptide-8 Look of expression lines 10% (90 drops) $34.95 (0.5 oz)
Inyline Solution Acetyl hexapeptide-30 Look of expression lines 5% (45 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)
DMAE Firming Powder DMAE bitartrate Look of firmer skin 5% $14.95 (10 g)
Firming Serum Booster with Progeline Trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2 Look of firmer jawline and neck 2% (18 drops) $40.95 (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)
Ten's Up Skin-Tight Booster Chicory root oligosaccharides, tara gum Instant tightening feel 10% (90 drops) $19.95 (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)
Bakuchiol Serum Booster Bakuchiol extract Plant-based retinol alternative 15% (135 drops) $19.95 (0.5 oz)
Edelweiss Serum Booster Leontopodium alpinum extract Antioxidant support 5% (45 drops) $34.95 (0.5 oz)
EGF Peptide Serum Booster rh-Oligopeptide-1 in liposomes Look of renewed, smoother skin 10% (90 drops) $99.95 (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)
Phospholipid Liposomes Phospholipids Delivery and hydration 10% (90 drops) $19.95 (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)
Sodium Hyaluronate Powder Sodium hyaluronate, high molecular weight Make your own HA gel See product page $24.95
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)

How to Use Them Together: A 1 oz Peptide Serum

This 30 g serum uses three boosters at their top rates. Sanitize your bowl, spatula and airless bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol and let them air dry.

Stir everything together at room temperature for 2 minutes, then fill an airless bottle. Store it in the refrigerator, since most boosters are labeled for refrigeration. 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. For more ideas, browse our DIY formulas and airless bottles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What supplies do I need to make lotion at home?

You need a base or the raw parts of an emulsion (water phase, oils and an emulsifier), a preservative for anything with water, your actives, a digital scale, clean tools and airless or pump packaging. Starting from a ready-made base skips the emulsifying step.

Does homemade lotion need a preservative?

Yes, if it contains water, aloe, hydrosols or any water-based booster. Without one, bacteria, yeast and mold can grow. Leucidal preservatives are used at 2 to 4%, and GSB at up to 2%.

Can I add peptides to a store-bought moisturizer?

Yes. Water-soluble boosters mix into most lotions and serums. Add them at the rate on the product page, stir well, and keep in mind that adding a lot of liquid can thin the product and dilute its preservative.

How do I measure a booster by drops?

Use 9 drops per 1% in 1 fluid ounce. For 5%, add 45 drops to 1 oz; for 10%, add 90 drops. For exact, repeatable batches, weigh in grams: 1% of a 30 g batch is 0.3 g.

How long does a homemade serum last?

It depends on the preservative, the packaging and storage. Make small batches, use airless bottles, keep them cool, and discard any batch that changes in smell, color or texture. Challenge testing is the only way to confirm a shelf life.

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. Serum boosters are formulating ingredients and are not applied directly to the skin.

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