How to Prepare a Daily Face Cream That is Soft and Has Brightening Effects

Are you interested in creating a creamy, moisturising, and brightening face cream, for your own use or for a skincare brand?

This blog post details a straightforward face cream formulation to moisturise, soften, and give a natural glow to the skin. We will describe the function of each ingredient, the steps to create a smooth, stable, and moisturising cream, and at the end of this blog, you'll get a basic face cream making formula and process to play with.

Whether you're a beginner or a small-batch formulator, this is the perfect base to know how to make face cream at home!

Formulation Details

The Roles of Individual Ingredients for making face cream

Water (Aqua): This component is the foundation of a cream. Everything becomes cohesive through water.

Glycerin: This is a humectant that brings moisture to the surface to keep skin soft and hydrate skin tissue.

Xanthan Gum: This provides a consistent feel and stabilises cream.

Cetearyl Alcohol: This adds body to the cream, catearyl alcohol gives a rich, smooth feeling.

Coconut Oil & Argan Oil: Both of these coconut & argan oils work together to provide nourishment to the hair while hydrating and leaving it soft and shiny, without the feeling of weighing it down.

Glyceryl Stearate SE: A plant-based emulsifier that blends oils and water.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: A light oil that comes from coconuts; it allows for some softening, without heaviness.

Sweet Almond Oil: Sweet almond oil is composed of fatty acids and vitamins to hydrate and maintain elasticity in skin.

Shea Butter: Helps protect skin, hold moisture, and nourish dry skin.

Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): Reported to help even out skin tone and texture, and support a healthy skin barrier.

Allantoin: Helps with irritated skin and promotes repair.

Vitamin E: Contributes antioxidant protection while helping to stabilize the formula and keep skin protected.

Preservative (i.e., Phenoxyethanol + Ethylhexylglycerin): Keeps the product safe to use by preventing microbial growth.

Fragrance: Optional, but elevates the user experience with a pleasant scent.

Citric Acid Solution: Adjusts the pH to be skin-friendly and stable.

Procedure for Making Face Cream

Phase A – Water Phase

1. Begin by blending the xanthan gum into the glycerin to prevent lumping.

2. Add the blend to the purified water and mix well.

3. Heat the blend to 75-80°C.

Phase B – Oil Phase

1. In a separate beaker, add all the oil phase ingredients.

2. Heat the mixture to 75°C and mix until everything is completely melted.

Emulsification

1. While stirring continuously, slowly pour in the oil phase (Phase B) into the water phase (Phase A).

2. Continue stirring until a smooth, uniform emulsion occurs.

Cool Down Phase (Phase C)

1. Cool the cream down until it reaches approximately 40°C.

2. Add the niacinamide, allantoin, vitamin E, preservative, and fragrance one at a time.

3. Check the pH and adjust (if required) to pH 5.0-5.5 using the citric acid solution.

Final steps

1. If you want a smoother texture, you can homogenise.

2. Transfer the cream into sterilised jars or airless pump bottles.

Tips for Beginners

• Use a digital scale for precise measuring.

• Ensure that all equipment is clean and sanitised.

• Do a patch test on your finished product before using it fully.

This face cream making formulation produces a soft, luxurious face cream that is perfect for dry, lacklustre, uneven skin. You can further customise it by exchanging oils or adding extracts based on your preferences.

Explore Hiya India Ingredients

At Hiya India, we supply premium-grade niacinamide, natural oils, emulsifiers, and botanical extracts that elevate your skincare formulations. All our raw materials are tested for purity and sourced responsibly to support small brands and hobbyists alike.

Browse our collection of cosmetic-grade actives and essentials to start your own brightening cream journey.