Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Tranexamic Acid serum

  • Tranexamic Acid serum

    Posted by Ilke on December 2, 2023 at 3:08 am

    Good day, Hope I can find some good advice on how to formulate a serum containing 5% Tranexamic Acid, 4% Niacinamide and 2% Alpha Arbutin. Any help and advice would by greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.

    Tee17 replied 8 months, 2 weeks ago 3 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    December 2, 2023 at 9:12 pm

    @Ilke

    These are all water-soluble so you simple add them to water, add some preservatives and perhaps a buffer. This is a take off of Skinceutical’s Discoloration Defense. Is that what you are using as a development model?

  • Ilke

    Member
    December 3, 2023 at 1:12 am

    Thank you for your reply!

    I have a very long struggle myself with pigmentation/melasma, and found a study online which came to the conclusion that these 3 “ingredients” are the most effective in treating melasma. What would you suggest to add? Thank you for your advice!

  • MarkBroussard

    Member
    December 3, 2023 at 6:10 am

    @Ilke

    It’s really straighforward: In water, dissolve 5% Tranexamic Acid, 4% Niacinamide, 2% Alpha Arbutin + 0.6% Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin + 1% Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate. You will get a pH drift from the Gluconolactone over the first few days, but that should level off to a stable reading. If you want to add some “body” to it, you can thicken it up with 0.2% Xanthan Gum, otherwise it will be water-thin like a toner.

    I don’t know what the final pH of this concoction would be so you will have to measure it when you make your first batch and adjust if necessary. If the pH is too low (< pH 3.5) you can adjust it upward by adding in QS (Quantity Sufficient) L-Arginine to get it to pH 4.5 or so.

  • Ilke

    Member
    December 3, 2023 at 6:46 am

    Thank you so very much Mark!! I will start mixing my “concoction” ???? and see if I encounter any hurdles! Thanks ons again!

  • Tee17

    Member
    March 30, 2024 at 8:46 am

    Hi I am trying to make something similar. Do you have any updates on your formula to share?

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