Want to learn how to make niacinamide serum at home? This guide walks through a 100 g batch of 5% niacinamide serum made with powdered D-panthenol, glycerine and Liquid Germall Plus. It is designed as a thin, water-light serum without hyaluronic acid.
This is a prototype formulation for educational development. Its stability, preservative effectiveness and finished-product shelf life have not been established. The images illustrate the method; they do not show a tested batch.
Featured ingredient: XCLUSIV ORGANICS niacinamide powder
Use Pure Niacinamide Powder (Vitamin B3) as the subject ingredient for this formula. You need 5 g for one 100 g batch. Check the current product specifications and usage guidance before formulating.
Also available: niacinamide powder in a 25 g glass jar
Prefer a jar for your small-batch projects? Explore Pure Niacinamide Powder, 25 g in a Glass Jar. Each 100 g serum batch uses 5 g niacinamide, so a 25 g jar contains enough powder for five batches, before handling losses.
What is niacinamide, and why use it in a serum?
Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of vitamin B3 used in cosmetic formulations. For an introduction to the ingredient, read Why Niacinamide Powder Is One of the Most Powerful Ingredients in Modern Skincare. Our companion article on seven skin benefits of niacinamide powder explores the broader skincare context.
This tutorial focuses on the practical method: accurate weighing, full dissolution, preservation and final pH. For other product formats, see how to use niacinamide powder in DIY skincare formulations.
Niacinamide serum ingredients: 100 g formula
Final batch: 100 g. Niacinamide: 5%. Target pH: approximately 6. Texture: thin and watery.
| Ingredient | Proportion | Weight | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niacinamide powder | 5% | 5 g | Subject cosmetic active |
| D-panthenol powder | 1% | 1 g | Conditioning ingredient |
| Glycerine | 3% | 3 g | Humectant |
| Liquid Germall Plus | 0.5% | 0.5 g | Preservative |
| Distilled water | Approximately 90.5%* | Approximately 90.5 g* | Water base |
| Suitable dilute cosmetic pH adjuster | Only if needed* | As needed* | Final pH adjustment |
*Water and any pH adjuster together bring the complete batch to exactly 100 g. Any adjuster replaces part of the water. Do not use 100 g water plus the other ingredients. Use cosmetic-grade ingredients, and do not substitute a different preservative at the same dose.
Why use 5% niacinamide?
Five percent is a concentration studied in topical skincare. A 2005 randomized, double-blind, split-face clinical study compared a 5% niacinamide formulation with its vehicle in 50 women over 12 weeks. It provides primary research context for the ingredient and concentration. It did not test this homemade serum, its preservation or its shelf life. Matching an ingredient percentage does not establish equivalent performance.
Equipment to prepare
- Precision scale reading to 0.01 g
- Clean beaker, stirring rod and small weighing dishes
- Calibrated pH meter and its required calibration supplies
- Suitable supplier-prepared dilute cosmetic pH-up and pH-down adjusters, if needed
- Thermometer, gloves, suitable sanitizer and batch label
- Dry, sanitized pump container or containers with sufficient capacity
How to make niacinamide serum: all 10 steps
1. Clean and sanitize
Clean the work surface, beaker, stirring rod and pump container. Sanitize using a suitable product according to its directions and allow everything to dry. Wash your hands and put on clean gloves.
2. Weigh the starting water
Zero the scale with the empty beaker on it. Weigh 85.5 g distilled water into the beaker. Keep extra distilled water aside for the final top-up; do not add the full water allowance yet.
3. Dissolve the niacinamide
Add 5 g niacinamide powder to the water. Stir gently until fully dissolved.
4. Dissolve the D-panthenol
Add 1 g D-panthenol powder. Stir until fully dissolved and uniform. No heating is required.
5. Mix in glycerine
Add 3 g glycerine and stir thoroughly.
6. Add Liquid Germall Plus
Ensure the mixture is below 50°C. Add 0.5 g Liquid Germall Plus and mix thoroughly. This dose applies to this specific preservative, not any preservative with a similar name.
7. Check and adjust pH
Use a calibrated pH meter according to its instructions. Target approximately pH 6. If the reading needs adjustment, use a suitable supplier-prepared dilute cosmetic pH adjuster: a pH-down product if too high, or pH-up if too low. Add very small amounts, mix thoroughly and remeasure each time. Follow the supplier’s handling instructions. Never add concentrated acid or alkali directly. Record the amount added; it counts toward the final batch weight.
8. Add most of the reserved water
Add distilled water while keeping the serum just below 100 g. Exclude the empty beaker’s weight. Leave room for any final pH adjustment.
9. Confirm final weight and pH
Mix and recheck pH, aiming for approximately 6. Adjust if needed, then add distilled water to reach exactly 100 g of serum. Mix thoroughly and confirm the final pH. If it is still off target, reassess the batch rather than continuing to add ingredients beyond the formula’s final weight.
10. Bottle and label
Transfer into a dry, sanitized pump container or smaller pump containers. Close tightly and label with the product name and date made.
What pH should niacinamide serum be?
For this prototype, aim for approximately pH 6. This is a formulation target for compatibility and stability, not a claim that one pH maximizes every skincare benefit. Niacinamide supplier formulation guidance recommends a final pH around 6 and avoiding strongly acidic formulations.
Storage and shelf life
Keep the container tightly closed in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Avoid hot storage locations and introducing water or fingers into the product.
This prototype has no established shelf life. Adding a preservative does not by itself confirm a 6–12 month safe-use period. Stability and preservative-effectiveness testing are needed to establish one. The FDA’s cosmetic shelf-life guidance explains how storage and use affect product longevity.
Patch test before use and stop if irritation occurs. Discard a product that develops an unexpected change in smell, color or appearance; normal appearance alone does not prove microbiological safety.
Common questions about homemade niacinamide serum
Can I just mix niacinamide powder with distilled water?
The powder can dissolve in water, but dissolution alone does not produce a finished, preserved skincare formula. A stored water-based serum also needs an appropriate preservative system, accurate weighing and a final pH check. Follow the full formula rather than keeping an unpreserved powder-and-water mixture.
Which preservative is used in this niacinamide serum?
This prototype uses 0.5% Liquid Germall Plus: 0.5 g in a 100 g final batch. Follow the exact preservative supplier’s documentation for compatibility and handling. A different preservative requires a formulation review, not a direct gram-for-gram substitution.
Can I make niacinamide serum without hyaluronic acid?
Yes. This formula contains no HA and is intentionally water-thin. Adding HA would change the formula and mixing method, so do not add it on top of the 100 g recipe.
Can I use liquid D-panthenol instead of powder?
This recipe uses powdered D-panthenol. A liquid solution may contain a different active concentration and extra water; the amounts must be recalculated before substituting.
Can I leave out the preservative?
No. Do not omit the preservative from this water-based recipe. Refrigeration is not a substitute for an appropriate preservative system.
Why does my serum look watery?
There is no gel-forming thickener in this formula. A thin texture is expected; it does not mean you should add extra powder.
Can I use measuring spoons instead of a scale?
No. The formula is calculated by weight. Use the specified precision scale, especially for the 0.5 g preservative addition.
Continue learning about niacinamide
- Why Niacinamide Powder Is One of the Most Powerful Ingredients in Modern Skincare
- 7 Powerful Skin Benefits of Niacinamide Powder for Anti-Aging and Healthy Skin
- How to Use Niacinamide Powder in DIY Skincare Formulations
Ready to source the subject ingredient? Explore XCLUSIV ORGANICS Pure Niacinamide Powder and review its specifications before your trial batch.