Brightening Arbutin Serum
Arbutin is effective and safe skin brightening ingredient which is used in majority of skin lightening creams and serums. It helps in reducing dark spots and even skin tone.Note that sunscreen is must...
Arbutin is effective and safe skin brightening ingredient which is used in majority
of skin lightening creams and serums. It helps in reducing dark spots and even skin tone.
Note that sunscreen is must whenever skin lightening products are used because it increases the exposure to UV light rays.
Note on ingredients used:
- Arbutin is non-irritating ingredient which can be easily dissolved in water phase.
- Propanediol 1,3 is a non-sticky humectant which also acts as a penetration enhancer.
- Hyaluronic acid is also a humectant which has a good skin feel and gel texture.
- Cucumber extract is soothing and calming to the skin.
- Fragrance oil added is Vanilla fragrance oil. It has a mild chocolaty scent.
- To solubilise fragrance oil, Polysorbate 80 is added.
- Sodium Gluconate- chelating agent improves the stability of formulation.
- Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate are natural preservatives which work as broad spectrum under pH 5.5. Both are soluble in water
Ingredients required:
Phase A:
Arbutin 2%
Sodium Gluconate- 0.1%
Propanediol 1,3- 3%
Cucumber extract- 1%
Lactic acid- 0.2%
Distilled water- 91%
Sodium Benzoate- 1%
Potassium Sorbate- 0.2%
Phase B:
Polysorbate 80- 1%
Phase C:
Hyaluronic Acid- 0.3%
Equipment required:
100ml glass beakers
Stirring rods and Spatulas
Heating mantle or Double boiler
Glass bottle or serum container
Weighing scale (that measures up to 0.01g)
Cups to measure ingredients
Procedure:
- Measure Phase A ingredients in a beaker.
- Add one ingredient at a time and stir to dissolve. Arbutin takes some time to dissolve. You could add it to warm water too (temperature should not greater than 40 degree Celsius)
- Add Phase B ingredients in another beaker and stir so that fragrance oil is mixed in polysorbate. This way fragrance oil will be solubilised in water easily and no floating oil droplets.
- Once powders are dissolved, add Phase B to phase and mix gently.
- Sprinkle HA powder in the last. Leave it for 3-4 hours or overnight to hydrate.
- HA forms lumps initially but it will be dissolved in sometime.
- If it is not dissolved even after 4 hours, you can break the lumps with stirring rod or use blender.
- Test the pH, it should be around 4.5. If it is higher, add few drops of lactic acid, if it is lower add few drops of TEA (Triethanolamine).
Stable pH for Arbutin: 3.5 - 6.6
- Once HA is hydrated and it has a nice gel texture, pour into a dropper or serum bottle.
Substitutions:
- Rose water or hydrosol can be used instead of fragrance oil and polysorbate 80 for fragrance.
- Extracts can be of your choice.
- EDTA Disodium can be used in place of sodium gluconate.
If you make and like this serum, do tag us on instagram @ekora_bazaar
Disclaimer: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only.
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Formulation Technical Q&As & Scale-Up Guide
What is the recommended pH target for Brightening Arbutin Serum?
For stable cosmetic performance, the ideal pH is between 5.0 and 5.5 for barrier and brightening serums, or 5.5 to 6.5 for hair vitality and rinse-off washes. Always test and adjust using a calibrated digital pH meter or high-accuracy test strips.
Which broad-spectrum preservative is recommended for this water-containing recipe?
Any aqueous cosmetic formulation requires broad-spectrum preservation against bacteria, yeast, and mold. We recommend 0.5%–1.0% Phenoxyethanol + Ethylhexylglycerin (Ases Preserve PHEHG) or Liquid Germall Plus, incorporated during the cool-down phase below 45°C.
What is the expected shelf life of this finished formulation?
When prepared under sanitized studio conditions with distilled water and an approved broad-spectrum preservative at proper pH, the typical shelf life is 12 to 18 months stored in airtight pump bottles below 25°C.
Can this formulation recipe be scaled up for commercial batch manufacturing?
Yes. All formulation percentages are calibrated to 100% batch weight. To scale from a 100g test sample to a 10kg or 50kg production run, multiply each ingredient weight proportionally while maintaining temperature controls and high-shear blending.
Source Professional Ingredients for This Formulation
Ekora Bazaar supplies batch-tested raw ingredients, cosmetic bases, essential oils, and packaging containers with tiered wholesale pricing and ₹90 pan-India delivery.