Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating General If you’re making a serum is there a heating phase?

  • If you’re making a serum is there a heating phase?

    Posted by esthetician922 on May 11, 2020 at 11:19 pm

    I am thinking of making an acid based serum but wasn’t sure if needed to invest in a heating bath etc. 

    esthetician922 replied 4 years ago 3 Members · 8 Replies
  • 8 Replies
  • letsalcido

    Member
    May 12, 2020 at 3:47 am

    It will all depend on your ingredients! Do you have a formula? 

    There’s a serum I love from a well known Australian luxury brand that uses PEG-150 Distearate to thicken the serum and that certainly needs heating up for what I’ve read.
  • esthetician922

    Member
    May 12, 2020 at 4:14 am

    @letsalcido for thickening I have Sodium Hyaluronate and xanthan gum. Thanks for your help! 

  • letsalcido

    Member
    May 12, 2020 at 5:39 am

    Short answer is, those don’t need heating :)

    But a full formula may be more helpful

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    May 13, 2020 at 11:18 am

    What you really need to invest in (unless you already have it) is a professional grade pH meter.

  • esthetician922

    Member
    May 13, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    That’s my next purchase! I haven’t done anything on my own yet. Still learning. 

  • esthetician922

    Member
    May 13, 2020 at 4:18 pm

    Whoa, I just looked online. There’s a huge price range! Does anyone recommend one that isn’t $$$? U.S.

  • ngarayeva001

    Member
    May 13, 2020 at 10:01 pm

    If you are dealing with acids, you need one. Otherwise, there is a huge risk to harm yourself. I only make acid peels for my own use, and my skin is very far from sensitive, I get away with using Hanna pocket pH meter with accuracy of one decimal point, but it can’t be considered a serious tool. Also, they need to be handled with care and should be calibrated after each use. 

  • esthetician922

    Member
    May 14, 2020 at 3:26 am

    thank you!

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