BUTTER-C
Signature ingredients
Adenosine serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
Adenosine Serum · OEM/ODM
Adenosine is a nucleoside — the base adenine linked to the sugar ribose — that occurs naturally in the body. In cosmetics, adenosine functions as a skin-conditioning agent, and the CIR Expert Panel (Cherian et al., 2024) concluded that adenosine is safe in the present practices of use and concentration described. The trial usually cited is a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled study in 126 women aged 45–65: after 2 months of twice-daily use, an adenosine cream and an adenosine dissolvable film improved skin surface smoothness around the eyes (optical measurement), and the cream also improved frown lines between the eyebrows. This study was carried out by the research center of a cosmetics company and its abstract does not state the concentration, so the level of evidence is limited. For a manufacturer, adenosine's challenge is solubility: about 5.1 g/L in water at 25 °C according to the CRC Handbook (roughly 0.5%), insoluble in ethanol; crystallization in cold storage has to be monitored when the level is near the solubility limit. The Butter-C adenosine serum is an alcohol-free, water-based skin-conditioning serum at a cosmetic level, with its level set by measured solubility, claiming “helps skin look smoother” only after testing on the finished product. Adenosine is not currently stocked at the plant, so it is sourced per order with a COA. Butter-C offers turnkey OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development and testing to labeled finished goods and the notification dossier.
Formula base
An alcohol-free water–glycol base for a water-loving active with limited solubility
Adenosine is the named ingredient; the humectant base around it creates the skin-conditioning feel. Because it contains water, the formula needs a preservative system confirmed by a challenge test.
Adenosine — a water-loving nucleoside
C10H13N5O4, molecular weight 267.24, CAS 58-61-7, XLogP −1.1 (PubChem). Soluble in water at about 5.1 g/L at 25 °C, with solubility rising on heating and at lower pH, insoluble in ethanol (CRC Handbook; the solubility increase per the Physicians’ Desk Reference — via PubChem); another database lists 37 mg/mL — a large discrepancy, so solubility is measured in the formula base itself. Not named in ASEAN Annexes II, III or VI (06/2026 edition).
Humectants and co-solvents
Glycerin, Propanediol or Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol — the basis for a skin-conditioning claim. Alcohol is not used as a solvent because adenosine is insoluble in ethanol.
Body
Hydroxyethylcellulose or Xanthan Gum for a clear fluid gel; neutralized Carbomer for a thicker gel — chosen after testing with adenosine and the buffer system (formulation experience).
Preservation and buffer
Phenoxyethanol at up to 1% (ASEAN Annex VI, Ref 29) with Ethylhexylglycerin; Disodium EDTA binds metal ions; Citric Acid and Sodium Citrate as the buffer — the sources we checked have no data on adenosine stability in formulas, so the pH range is set by stability testing with assays.
Key technical points
Four points specific to a serum named after adenosine
The moisturizing serum base is covered on the general pages; the four items below center on the adenosine raw material itself.
Solubility sets the level
According to CRC, about 0.5% is the solubility at 25 °C. The wrinkle trial abstract does not state the concentration; the often-quoted 0.75% is a scalp lotion from hair trials (a medical setting), not a level tested in a facial serum. The serum level is set from the supplier's technical data and the measured solubility; near the solubility limit, heating or pH adjustment is needed during dissolution.
Crystallization in the cold
Solubility falls as temperature drops, so samples go through freeze–thaw cycling and cold storage, with visual and microscopic checks — crystals that appear after shipping or in an air-conditioned room are a defect customers notice immediately.
Skin penetration: a water-loving molecule
XLogP −1.1. In a comparison of the two crow's-feet areas in 22 women, dissolving adenosine microneedle patches performed the same as or better than an adenosine cream despite a weekly dose 140 times lower (Kang et al., 2018) — how the active crosses the stratum corneum matters a great deal. A serum is not a microneedle patch; patch data are not used for the serum.
Human data: read the design correctly
Abella (2006): 126 women, each receiving two of three products (adenosine cream, adenosine dissolvable film, placebo) for the two eye areas, 84 women per product; the author worked at a cosmetics company's research center, and no concentration is given. Kang (2018): no vehicle-only group, with co-authors from the microneedle patch manufacturer. The A2A receptor and collagen mechanism comes from a review of mechanistic data (Marucci et al., 2022). None of these results is a claim for the serum.
Three formulation directions
Three types of adenosine serum
Minimal clear serum
Adenosine with Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate and Panthenol in a water–glycol base; a colorless fluid gel for morning and evening use. A short ingredient list that is easy to explain.
Adenosine–niacinamide serum
Adding Niacinamide (in stock), following the pairing suggested in the adenosine article on our site. Each ingredient has its own data and claim limits — they are not added up into one promise; adenosine solubility is retested on the complete formula.
Light milky serum for dry skin
A light oil-in-water emulsion with Squalane; adenosine sits in the continuous water phase and is added once the base has cooled, according to the solubility already tested. A softer feel for dry skin.
Packaging is designed together with the formula
Airless pump or dropper bottle; the sources we checked have no data on adenosine's light sensitivity, so packaging is chosen from stability results in the actual bottle.
Parameters we monitor
What our R&D lab measures on every sample
Below are the parameters Butter-C monitors during formula development and scale-up to production. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- Appearance & clarity
- Color, odor, clarity; haze is an early sign of crystallization.
- pH
- Measured directly at 25°C; pH drift tracked across stability time points.
- Viscosity
- Rotational viscometer, with spindle and speed recorded; must suit the dropper or pump.
- Crystallization
- Visual and microscopic checks after freeze–thaw cycling, after cold storage and at each stability time point — an item specific to an active with limited solubility.
- Adenosine content
- HPLC assay when the label states a percentage, at the start and after accelerated aging — the basis for label content and shelf life.
- Stability
- Accelerated aging at 40°C, freeze–thaw cycling; separation, haze and color change tracked.
- Incoming raw materials
- Each lot's COA checked: INCI Adenosine, CAS 58-61-7, purity, manufacturer.
- Microbiology & challenge test
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test per ISO 11930.
- Irritation & sensitization
- Volunteer testing before the formula is finalized; reactions may come from other ingredients in the formula.
Claims
A “helps skin look smoother” claim, within cosmetic scope
Adenosine's placebo-controlled wrinkle trial was run by a company and gives no concentration; the receptor mechanism is mechanistic data. Butter-C reviews the wording on labels and marketing materials as soon as the notification dossier is prepared.
Helps skin look smoother
Stated only after testing on the finished product against a plain base, with the design described (number of people, duration). Instead of: “anti-wrinkle”, “erases wrinkles”, “anti-aging”, “skin rejuvenation”.
Conditions and hydrates the skin
Based on adenosine's skin-conditioning function and the humectants; hydration figures only when measured on the finished product. Instead of: “boosts collagen”, “activates skin receptors”.
Contains adenosine
A description of the ingredient with the correct INCI name; a percentage only if it can be measured at the end of shelf life. Instead of: an undefined “high concentration”.
Study figures
Results from the 126-woman trial or the microneedle patch are not borrowed as figures for the serum. Instead of: “wrinkles improve after 3 weeks” taken from a study of another formula.
Not positioned for hair or scalp
This page is a facial serum; hair data come from a medical setting, and a meta-analysis of three 0.75% lotion trials did not reach statistical significance. Instead of: “hair regrowth”, “thickens hair shafts”.
Label reminders
Use sunscreen during the day; patch test on a small area first and stop if skin becomes red or burns; pregnant or breastfeeding women should ask a doctor (no specific data). Do not state “non-irritating”.
Manufacturing specifications
Our capabilities
- Texture
- Water serum, fluid gel or light milky serum; colorless.
- Pack formats
- Airless pump, dropper bottle. Volume agreed when selecting packaging.
- Adenosine sourcing
- Not stocked at the plant — sourced per order with a COA.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order — depends on the formula direction and pack format chosen.
- Testing
- Performed at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, with an adenosine assay when the label states a percentage; a certificate of analysis is delivered with each batch.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) and notification dossier prepared by Butter-C, with the adenosine COA.
- Packaging
- Label design, printing and packing run in parallel with formula development.
Suggested product concept
Clear, fragrance-free adenosine serum
A product direction to help you picture the concept, not a ready-made product for sale. The actual formula is developed to fit your brand's positioning and price range.
Adenosine
The named ingredient; its level is set below the solubility measured on the formula, after cold testing.
Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol
The humectant group — the basis for a skin-conditioning claim.
Hydroxyethylcellulose, alcohol-free, fragrance-free
A clear fluid gel, gentle for morning and evening use.
30 ml pump bottle
Limits hand contact with the product; the label carries the correct INCI name, a daytime sunscreen reminder and a patch-test reminder.
Customization options
What you can specify
The same product type can be aimed at very different customers. Tell us your requirements in the areas below and our pharmacists will develop a matching formula.
Adenosine level
Set from technical data and measured solubility; printing a percentage on the label requires an assay.
Texture
Water serum, fluid gel or light milky serum.
Supporting ingredients
Niacinamide, peptides, humectants — each checked against its own data before combining, without adding up claims.
Fragrance and color
We recommend fragrance-free and colorless; if fragranced, fragrance allergens are declared according to the target market.
Ingredient preferences
Alcohol-free, fragrance-free, vegan — please state these up front so suitable raw materials can be selected.
Packaging
Airless pump or dropper bottle; volume agreed when selecting packaging.
Further reading
Related knowledge
Adenosine in cosmetics
Mechanisms, human studies including non-significant results, solubility and how to word claims appropriately (in Vietnamese).
Peptide serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
Another active serum in the same range, which also makes appearance claims only after finished-product testing.
Retinol serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
An active with very different human data, plus evening-use and gradual-introduction requirements.
Anti-aging serum OEM/ODM manufacturing
The general page on serums combining several active groups.
PDRN essence OEM/ODM manufacturing
A separate active, easily confused with adenosine because of its adenosine A2A receptor mechanism.
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details (in Vietnamese) →
Get started
Tell us about the product you plan to launch
Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
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