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DIY Serum Guides
Everything you need to formulate your own active-packed serum at home — from the basics of mixing, to which ingredients pair beautifully together.
The Basics of DIY Serum Making
Every one of our actives is formulated to be dropped straight into a serum base, moisturiser or oil. As a general rule, start with 3–5 drops per 10–15ml of base and adjust to taste — you can always add more, but you can't take it back out.
Water-soluble actives (like Niacinamide 10%, Hyaluronic Acid 1% and Vitamin C Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 15%) mix best into water-based serum bases or gel moisturisers. Oil-soluble actives (like Retinol 0.5% in Squalane and Squalane 100%) blend into facial oils or the oil phase of a cream.
Always patch test a new active on your inner arm for 24–48 hours before applying it to your face, and introduce one new ingredient at a time so you know exactly what's working (or not).
Which Actives Play Well Together
Great pairings
- Vitamin C Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 15% (AM) + Niacinamide 10% — brightening and barrier support
- Hyaluronic Acid 1% + Squalane 100% — hydration, sealed in
- Copper Peptides 1% + Squalane 100% — firming and barrier repair
- Alpha Arbutin 2% + Tranexamic Acid 3% — layered pigmentation targeting
Better on alternate nights
- Retinol 0.5% in Squalane + Salicylic Acid 2% — both increase sensitivity
- Retinol 0.5% in Squalane + Azelaic Acid 10% — alternate to avoid over-exfoliating
- Vitamin C Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 15% + Retinol 0.5% in Squalane — use Vitamin C by day, retinol by night
Try These Ritual Combinations
HYDRATION & BARRIER REPAIR
Mix Hyaluronic Acid 1% into your damp skin first to draw in moisture, follow with a few drops of Copper Peptides 1%, then seal everything in with Squalane 100%. Ideal for dry, compromised or over-exfoliated skin.
EVEN-TONE BRIGHTENING
In the morning, mix Vitamin C Ethyl Ascorbic Acid 15% into your serum base for antioxidant protection. In the evening, alternate Alpha Arbutin 2% and Tranexamic Acid 3% to target stubborn pigmentation and dark spots.
CLARIFYING & BLEMISH CONTROL
Use Salicylic Acid 2% two to three nights a week to keep pores clear, and Azelaic Acid 10% on alternate nights to calm redness and fade marks. Follow with Niacinamide 10% to support your barrier while you treat.
FIRST-TIME ANTI-AGING RITUAL
New to retinoids? Mix one drop of Retinol 0.5% in Squalane with a few drops of Squalane 100% to buffer it, and start with two nights a week — building up as your skin adjusts.
OVERNIGHT RENEWAL RITUAL
Buffer Retinol 0.5% in Squalane with a few drops of Squalane 100%, then follow with Copper Peptides 1% to support firmness while you sleep — a powerful combination for visible renewal.
OILY & CONGESTED SKIN RESET
Use Salicylic Acid 2% two to three nights a week to keep pores clear, layered under Niacinamide 10% to refine texture and calm redness. Finish with a light layer of Squalane 100% to balance skin — without clogging pores.
SENSITIVE SKIN SOOTHE
For reactive or easily irritated skin, mix Azelaic Acid 10% with Hyaluronic Acid 1% to calm and hydrate at once, then seal with Squalane 100% to reinforce a fragile barrier.
Have a specific skin concern? See our FAQs for more guidance.