Hydra-B3 Hydrating Toner

A refreshing, lightweight hydration treatment created to bring comfort, softness and a healthy, replenished feel to the skin. Its elegant, water-light texture sinks effortlessly into the skin without leaving a heavy or sticky residue, making it a beautiful addition to any daily skincare ritual.

Designed to refresh and prepare the skin for the layers that follow, this gentle toner leaves the complexion feeling smooth, supple and comfortably hydrated. Simple in appearance yet thoughtfully formulated, it is an understated step that can make a noticeable difference to the overall feel of your skincare routine.

Formulation

Batch Size: 100 g

Key Ingredient Functions

·         Niacinamide –

A multifunctional form of Vitamin B3 that helps support the skin barrier, improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and refine the overall look and texture of the skin.

·         Pentylene Glycol –

A lightweight multifunctional ingredient that provides humectant hydration while also acting as a solvent and supporting the overall sensory profile of the formulation. It helps deliver hydration without the tacky feel.

·         Panthenol –

Also known as Pro-Vitamin B5, Panthenol is a humectant and skin-conditioning ingredient that helps maintain skin hydration while providing a soft, comfortable after-feel.

·         Rose Water –

Forms part of the aqueous phase and gives the toner a refreshing, naturally delicate aromatic character. It also contributes to the overall sensory experience of the formulation.

·         Aloe Vera Extract –

A soothing botanical ingredient that helps condition the skin and complements the hydrating and comforting properties of the toner.

·         Cucumber Extract –

Provides a refreshing and soothing skin feel and complements the formulation's focus on hydration and skin comfort.

·         Geogard ECT –

A broad-spectrum cosmetic preservative that helps protect this water-based formulation from microbial contamination. Its use level and effective pH range should always be confirmed against the supplier's specifications.

·         Demineralised Water –

Acts as the primary solvent and aqueous medium, providing the base in which the water-soluble ingredients are incorporated.

Benefits

• Provides lightweight hydration

• Helps maintain a soft and supple skin feel

• Supports the skin's moisture barrier

• Helps improve the appearance of uneven skin tone

• Helps improve the appearance of skin texture

• Provides a soothing and refreshing skin feel

• Suitable for daily skincare

• Lightweight and non-greasy

• Layers easily under serums and moisturisers

Tools & Equipment Required

• Digital weighing scale with suitable accuracy

• 100–250 ml glass beaker

• Small glass beaker for pre-mixing

• Glass stirring rod or cosmetic spatula

• Thermometer

• pH meter

• pH calibration buffers

• Pipette or syringe for pH adjustment

• Disposable gloves

• Face mask, where appropriate

• 70% alcohol or suitable equipment sanitiser

• Clean, sanitised toner/pump bottle

• Clean working surface

Optional: Magnetic stirrer for more uniform mixing.

Manufacturing Procedure

Phase A – Aqueous Phase

Step 1: Sanitise Equipment -

Clean and sanitise the beakers, stirring tools, weighing equipment, working surface and final packaging. Allow all equipment to dry completely before starting.

Step 2: Prepare the Base -

Weigh 59.5 g demineralised water into the main beaker.

Add 4 g Pentylene Glycol and mix until uniform.

Step 3: Add Niacinamide -

Add 3 g Niacinamide gradually while stirring. Continue mixing until completely dissolved and the solution is clear and uniform.

No heating should normally be necessary at this concentration. If gentle warming is required, keep the temperature within the supplier-recommended range and allow the solution to cool before proceeding.

Step 4: Add Panthenol -

Add 1 g Panthenol and mix until completely dissolved.

Phase B – Botanical & Sensory Phase

Step 5: Add Rose Water -

Add 30 g Rose Water gradually while stirring gently until completely incorporated.

Step 6: Add Botanical Extracts -

Add:

• 0.5 g Aloe Vera Extract

• 1 g Cucumber Extract

Mix gently until the extracts are uniformly dispersed.

Avoid vigorous mixing to minimise air incorporation and foaming.

Phase C – Preservation

Step 7: Add Geogard ECT -

Add 1 g Geogard ECT and mix thoroughly until uniformly incorporated.

The preservative should be added at the temperature recommended by the supplier. Avoid unnecessary heating after its addition.

Final pH Adjustment

Step 8: Check pH -

Measure the pH using a calibrated pH meter.

Target pH: 5.0–5.5

If adjustment is required:

• To lower pH: use a suitably diluted citric acid or lactic acid solution.

• To increase pH: use a suitably diluted sodium hydroxide or arginine solution.

Add the adjuster in very small increments, mixing thoroughly between additions.

Follow:

Add → Mix → Allow to Equilibrate → Measure → Repeat

Do not add concentrated acid or alkali directly to the formulation.

Final Processing

Step 9: Final Inspection -

Check the toner for:

• Uniform appearance

• Complete dissolution

• Absence of visible particles or undissolved material

• Excessive foam

• Final pH

Allow the formulation to stand until any entrapped air or foam has dissipated.

Step 10: Fill & Pack -

Transfer the finished toner into clean, sanitised bottles using appropriate filling equipment.

Close immediately and label with:

• Product name

• Batch number

• Manufacturing date

• Net quantity

• Recommended storage conditions

 Appearance & Texture

• Appearance: Clear to slightly hazy liquid

• Texture: Lightweight, water-like

• Skin Feel: Hydrating, refreshing and non-greasy

• Fragrance: No added fragrance oil or essential oil; rose water may provide a naturally delicate aromatic note

Packaging

Recommended packaging:

• Pump bottle

• Treatment/lotion bottle

• Suitable fine-mist bottle

Use clean and sanitised packaging and minimise unnecessary exposure of the product to air and contamination.

How to Use

Apply after cleansing and before serum or moisturiser.

Option 1: Dispense onto clean palms and gently pat into the skin.

Option 2: Apply with a clean cotton pad.

Can be used once or twice daily, depending on individual skin needs and tolerance.

Storage & Shelf Life

Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Keep the container tightly closed when not in use.

As this is a water-based formulation containing botanical extracts, shelf life should not be assumed solely from the use of a preservative. Appropriate stability and microbiological/preservative efficacy testing should be conducted to establish the final shelf life.

Important Formulation Notes

• Use good manufacturing hygiene throughout the process.

• Use demineralised or distilled water.

• Confirm the specifications and recommended usage rate of the exact Geogard ECT material being used.

• Maintain the finished product within the required pH range of the preservative system.

• If a different type or concentration of Aloe or Cucumber Extract is used, the formulation may require adjustment.

• Rose water may be substituted for demineralised water, provided it is suitable for cosmetic formulation and the final formulation remains appropriately preserved.

• Do not heat the botanical extracts or preservative unnecessarily.

• Always check the supplier's technical documentation before scaling the formulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q 1. What is the purpose of Niacinamide in this toner?

a. Niacinamide helps support the skin barrier and improves the appearance of uneven skin tone, redness and skin texture. At 2%, it provides a useful level of active without making the toner excessively heavy.

Q 2. Why is Pentylene Glycol included?

A. Pentylene Glycol is a lightweight multifunctional ingredient that provides humectant hydration while also acting as a solvent and skin-conditioning agent. It helps maintain a soft, smooth and hydrated skin feel without the heavier or tackier after-fee

Q 3. Why are Aloe and Cucumber Extract used together?

A. Both extracts complement the hydrating base by providing a soothing and refreshing skin feel, making the formulation particularly suitable for dry or dehydrated skin.

Q 4. Can I make this toner without Rose Water?

A. Yes. Rose water can be replaced with demineralised water while maintaining the total batch weight at 100 g. The resulting toner will have a more neutral sensory profile.

Q 5. Can Rose Water completely replace the Demineralised Water?

A. Yes, provided the rose water is a suitable cosmetic-grade raw material. However, its pH, composition and microbiological quality should be considered when formulating and preserving the final product.

Q 6. Why is the pH adjusted to 5.0–5.5?

A. This mildly acidic range is suitable for a toner containing Niacinamide and is also compatible with the intended preservative system, subject to the exact specifications of the preservative used.

Q 7. Can the toner be heated during preparation?

A. Only the aqueous phase may be gently warmed if required to aid Niacinamide dissolution. Botanical extracts and the preservative should be added at the temperature recommended by their respective suppliers.

Q 8. Can I use another preservative instead of Geogard ECT?

Yes, but the preservative cannot simply be substituted at the same percentage. Its recommended dosage, pH range, compatibility and addition temperature must be checked and the formulation adjusted accordingly.

Q 9. How long can the finished toner be stored?

A. A fixed shelf life should not be assigned without appropriate stability and microbiological/preservative efficacy testing. The actual shelf life depends on the formulation, packaging, manufacturing hygiene and preservation system.

Q 10. Is this toner suitable for daily use?

A. Yes. It is designed as a lightweight daily-use toner and can generally be used once or twice a day according to individual skin needs and tolerance.

Disclaimer

This formulation is provided for educational purposes only. Ingredient specifications, usage rates and processing conditions may vary by supplier and raw-material grade.

Proper sanitation and good manufacturing practices should be followed. Stability, compatibility and microbiological/preservative efficacy testing are recommended before commercial use or assigning a shelf life.

The final product's safety, stability and performance depend on the ingredients, manufacturing process, packaging and storage conditions.

Final Note

Good formulations are not about adding more ingredients—they are about choosing the right ingredients in the right proportions. Always evaluate the complete formulation for skin feel, stability, compatibility and performance before finalising your product.