Facial oils and serums have become hugely popular and the top brands charge a hefty price for them. The good news is they are super simple and affordable to make and really effective, too. Facial serums are the simplest kind of facial treatment to make. The oil-based serums we feature here are very concentrated as they contain purely oils. A little will go a long way!
These anhydrous (water-free) serums are 100% natural and can easily be made 100% organic too if you choose organic carrier and essential oils. They are used to moisturize, smooth and soften the skin.
You can design your own custom serum by choosing carrier oils and essential oils that suit your skin type and preferences. Carrier oils contain a variety of vitamins and fatty acids. Each oil feels different on the skin and they have different properties such as soothing, anti-inflammatory, regenerating, nourishing, balancing. See the ingredient glossary (at the end of this eBook) for more information.
Below you’ll find three facial serum formulas:
- A basic template formula you can customize.
- Lavender and Geranium Rejuvenating Facial Serum.
- Frankincense Anti-Aging Facial Serum with Coenzyme Q10.
When you develop your skincare formulation skills further you can use a greater variety of active ingredients like vitamins and botanical extracts to make more advanced high performance-serums.
Directions For Use
Massage a few drops into your skin; it will quickly absorb leaving you with a beautiful, healthy complexion. You can apply after a toner or facial mist to aid absorption. If you have dry skin you can follow with a moisturizer. Suitable for day or night time use.
Potential Substitute Ingredients
You can use just one or a blend of carrier oils (jojoba, macadamia, rosehip and olive squalane are good choices). Similarly you can use just one or a blend of essential oils (we love frankincense, lavender and geranium).
Keep it simple and use just a few ingredients to begin with or mix and blend to your heart’s content!
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Approximate shelf-life: 6-12 months.
Vitamin E, an antioxidant, will help to slow the rate of rancidity
Formula
| Phase | Ingredient | INCI | Function | w/w% |
| A | Carrier oils | Various | Emollient | 97.9% |
| A | Essential oils | Various | Fragrance, active ingredients | 2.0% |
| A | Vitamin E | Tocopherol | Antioxidant | 0.1% |
Recipe
| TEMPLATE RECIPE | Weight in grams (for a 100g batch) | Weight in ounces (oz) for a 4 oz batch |
| Carrier oils | 97.9 | 3.916 |
| Essential oils | 2 | 0.08 |
| Vitamin E | 0.1 | 0.004 |
Instructions
- Weigh all phase A ingredients and combine together.
- Pour into suitable containers such as bottles with pipette tops.
Lavender and Geranium – Rejuvenating Facial Serum
Suitable for all skin types, and a wonderful balancing, healing and rejuvenating blend. This contains two rejuvenating oils: rosehip seed oil and frankincense essential oil; and two balancing oils: jojoba oil and geranium essential oil.
Formula
| Phase | INCI | Ingredient Name | Function | w/w% |
| A | Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil | Jojoba oil | Emollient | 47.9% |
| A | Squalane | Olive squalane | Emollient | 30.0% |
| A | Rosa canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil | Rosehip oil | Emollient | 20.0% |
| A | Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil | Lavender essential oil | Fragrance, active ingredient | 1.0% |
| A | Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium) Leaf Oil | Geranium essential oil | Fragrance, active ingredient | 1.0% |
| A | Tocopherol | Vitamin E | Antioxidant | 0.1% |
Recipe
| Ingredient | Weight in grams (for a 100g batch) | Weight in ounces (oz) for a 4 oz batch |
| Jojoba oil | 47.9 | 1.916 |
| Olive squalane | 30 | 1.2 |
| Rosehip oil | 20 | 0.8 |
| Lavender essential oil | 1 | 0.04 |
| Geranium essential oil | 1 | 0.04 |
| Vitamin E | 0.1 | 0.004 (approx 3 drops) |
Instructions
- Weigh all phase A ingredients and combine together.
- Pour into suitable containers such as bottles with pipette tops.
Frankincense – Anti Aging Facial Serum with Coenzyme Q10
This is a more advanced formulation for an anhydrous face serum, featuring some more specialist ingredients: Coenzyme Q10 and sea buckthorn C02 extract. It is specifically formulated with ingredients to improve the appearance of aging skin by hydrating, enhancing elasticity, tightening and toning, boosting skin cell regeneration and providing a rich source of antioxidants.
Olive squalane feels very light and absorbs rapidly, yet penetrates deeply to hydrate, improve elasticity, boost cell regeneration, while offering humectant qualities by drawing water from the surrounding environment into the skin.
Frankincense essential oil is astringent and cytophylactic: it tightens and tones, while stimulating cell regeneration and smoothing wrinkles and fine lines.
Sea buckthorn CO2 extract regenerates, repairs and retains moisture, while reducing transepidermal water loss. It enhances skin elasticity and is a very rich source of a variety of antioxidants like carotenoids, tocopherols and flavonoids.
Coenzyme Q10 is a powerful anti-aging active ingredient, with antioxidant and skin-soothing properties. It reduces photo-aging effects, which can be seen as reduced wrinkle depth. It is oil soluble and non-irritating, so it’s a great addition to oil serums.
Formula
| Phase | Ingredient | INCI | Function | w/w% |
| A | Camellia oil | Camellia Japonica (Camellia) Seed Oil | Emollient | 45.9% |
| A | Rosehip seed oil | Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed Oil | Emollient | 20.0% |
| A | Meadowfoam seed oil | Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil | Emollient | 14.0% |
| A | Olive squalane | Squalane | Emollient | 15.0% |
| A | Coenzyme Q10 | Ubiquinone | Active ingredient, anti-aging | 2.0% |
| B | Sea buckthorn CO2 extract | Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract | Active ingredient, anti-aging | 1.0% |
| B | Lavender essential oil | Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil | Fragrance, active ingredient | 1.0% |
| B | Vitamin E | Tocopherol | Antioxidant | 0.1% |
Recipe
| Ingredient | Weight in grams (for a 100g batch) | Weight in ounces (oz) for a 4 oz batch |
| Camellia oil | 45.9 | 1.836 |
| Rosehip seed oil | 20 | 0.8 |
| Meadowfoam seed oil | 14 | 0.56 |
| Olive squalane | 15 | 0.6 |
| Coenzyme Q10 | 2 | 0.08 |
| Sea buckthorn CO2 extract | 1 | 0.04 |
| Frankincense essential oil | 1 | 0.04 |
| Lavender essential oil | 1 | 0.04 |
| Vitamin E | 0.1 | 0.004 (approx 3 drops) |
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients of phase A in a container. Heat it in a water bath to 40°C (104°F); long enough for the coenzyme Q10 to completely dissolve in the oils.
- Cool the mixture to room temperature and add phase B ingredients, mix thoroughly.
- Pour into container of choice.
- 5 Different Types of Face Masks You Should Know
- What Exactly is Foundation Makeup? Read Here
- Types and Benefits of Bath Oils
- Different Types of Makeup Sponges
- 17 Best Hair Care Remedies For You
- Hair Accessories – Its Importance, Benefits and Types
- 12 Different Types of Eye Makeup Brushes You Need To Know
- Orange and Ylang Ylang – Facial Moisturizer For Dry Skin
- [Protective Winter Time] Hand Cream – Recipe and Instructions
- Step-By-Step Instructions For Making an Emulsion
