To learn how to make face serum with essential oils, you must first identify your skin type with our handy guide. All that remains then is to choose which luscious carrier and essential oils are most suited for your particular skin type. Then we will show you how to combine them, using our easy-to-follow guide to create your sublime face serum.
Join me and discover all of this and more:
- Learn to identify what skin type you have
- Define if you need both face serum and moisturizer
- Discover what the benefits are likely to be for your skin
- Find out how to use, store and prolong the life of your serum
- Find out how to apply face serum most effectively and delve into the art of facial massage
- Then, jump into the recipe, try it yourself, and discover the hype.
I know some of you will be thinking, ‘What’s all the fuss about with serums - what is so great about them? However, the benefits of serum are plain to see; they work fast with visible results on all skin types. Learning to make face serums with essential oils for your skin type and use them as effectively as possible can only improve your overall skincare regimen.
Let us jump right in.
What Skin Type Do I Have?
Oily
Are you constantly battling a shiny T-zone? The chances are that you have oily skin, which sometimes can also have blemishes. Your pores may be larger and more visible, but your skin is plumper than those with drier skin types.
Blemish Prone
If you have blemish-prone skin, it can be for various reasons, and in terms of skincare, it can be the hardest to get right. For example, your skin may need to balance patches of pigmentation and outbreaks of pimples and blackheads. In addition, your skin may have drier or more oily areas than others, and balancing this difference in sebum production is vital in managing this skin type.
Dry
Does your skin feel tight as a drum? This is a sure symptom of dry skin. Your complexion may appear dull or blotchy, and lines and wrinkles are often more pronounced.
Combination
Are you constantly trying to balance an oily t-zone and dry, flaky cheeks? It sounds like you have combination skin and may go from blocked pores and blackheads to dehydrated and flaking cheeks due to a difference in sebum production. I have combination skin and found my skin around my eyebrows, and my hairline might also flake, especially in the winter.
Dehydrated
Is your skin feeling continuously tight? This can be a sign of dehydrated skin, along with your skin feeling flaky, scaly, and losing its radiance. It can be a challenging skin type to live with all the time and needs careful balancing.
This can also be a stage your skin goes through, so oily skin could sometimes experience this dehydrated stage, for example.
Luckily, we will have a serum recipe to suit everyone’s skin type.
Also Read: Best Essential Oils For Face Treatments
Do I Need Both Face Serum and Moisturizer?
After applying your fabulous serum, you may find that your skin is still feeling tight and needs something extra. In that instance, by all means, follow it with your regular moisturizer. However, err on the lighter side rather than the heavy night cream.
Try not to do it every time, though, you could end up simply having too much product on your skin, and it ends up leading to unnecessary clogged pores or a breakout, which defeats the whole purpose here.
Less is more.
Let your skin tell you what it needs. Listen to what it is saying to you.
Also Read: What Are The Best Carrier Oils For Face?
What are the Benefits of Using a Facial Serum?
Face serum is often hailed as the ‘hero’ of your skin care regimen, and you may ask why.
The serum is super light on your skin, with no cloggy or cloying feeling you get with the heavier creams. Instead, they hydrate, nourish and soothe your skin because you get better product absorption. The serum works more intensively on your skin and is the powerhouse of your routine.
It also creates a protective layer to your skin and, with the right, carefully curated ingredients, can fight all those pesky free radicals and load your skin with fantastic antioxidants instead. Think of it like the finest, thinnest, most luxurious skin armor protecting your skin and deflecting all those beastly nasties.
I think what people like about serums the most is that they work quickly; the results are visible fast. You only have to wait around a month to see a little effect. You can SEE the benefit soon.
You can expect plumper skin where your lines and wrinkles appear less defined. You should see a more even brighter, more radiant complexion.
It will bring your skin alive right before your eyes.
Also Read: Best Non-Comedogenic Carrier Oils For Face
How Much & How Often Should I Apply My Serum?
You do not need a large amount of serum to have a significant effect; always think less is more in this case.
You will get better results the less you use.
It will be enough just to use one good pump to your face, one to your neck, and if your décolletage is very dry, add another pump.
That is all you need.
Always err on the side of caution when starting a new routine with a new skincare product.
Having done your patch test, you want to aim to start based on applying this just twice a week.
Always wait 48 hours between applications to allow any adverse reactions to show if they are going to. Then, just start gently and ease your way into it.
It is easy because of how lovely it smells, how wonderfully it glides onto your face, and how it makes it feel after application that you might just want to go a bit crazy with it… but please… resist.
When deciding what to put into your face serum, consider those more ‘costly but worth it’ options. Using them can be very cost-effective because you are using them sparingly.
Also Read: Best Carrier Oils For Aging Skin
How Long Does Face Serum Last?
Face serum will generally last 6-12 months once opened. However, most commercial serums will have preservatives to last longer. We will not be adding a preservative, so just make a small batch when you need it, rather than doubling up only to find it went off in the cupboard.
Carrier oils can go rancid quite quickly if not stored correctly. Therefore, when formulating your recipe, consider how you will keep this serum and what kind of container.
A dark, air-tight container that does not let light into the product is always the best choice when making a product with a high percentage of carrier oils. It will help it to last longer and maintain quality.
It also matters where you will keep this serum; is it hot and steamy or cold and damp? You need to store it somewhere with a consistent ambient temperature and humidity.
If in doubt, always follow storage instructions for the carrier oils you will include in your recipe.
Also Read: Best Anti-aging Essential Oils
DIY: How to Make Face Serum with Essential Oils
What Will You Need
- A selection of carrier oils to suit your skin type
- Essential oils to do your skin type
- Glycerin
Equipment
- Pump container for the final product (50ml), preferably dark colored
- Non-reactive mixing bowl or measuring jug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Stainless steel funnel
Instructions
- In a non-reactive container or measuring jug, mix your chosen carrier oils to a volume of 45ml/1.52fl Oz/3tbsp
- Add your essential oils - following the safety data percentages recommended.
- Gently stir to combine the two oils until they are thoroughly combined.
- Add 1/2 tsp of glycerin and stir gently again until thoroughly combined.
- You can decant the mixture using a stainless steel funnel in your container.
- Prime the pump and ensure that the dispenser is working correctly.
- Use that pump for your 24-hour patch test on your inner elbow/wrist.
- Wait for the result; if satisfactory, remember to wait 48 hours between each application as your skin gets used to it. Then use and enjoy all the tremendous benefits that will surely follow.
- You are ready to have a go yourself; especially now you see how wonderfully simple it is and the fantastic benefits to your skin. So what are you waiting for?
How to Make Face Serum with Essential Oils - [My Favorite Recipe]
This recipe makes a serum that will suit all skin types, but feel free to experiment with oils that work your skin tone.
If you make changes, check the safety data percentages of any essential oils you change and work within the guidelines to create something sumptuous and sublime for your skin.
You will Need
Carrier Oils
- 5ml of Rosehip Carrier Oil - Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants.
- 20ml Argan Carrier Oil - Rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants and helps to prolong the shelf life.
- 20ml of Jojoba Carrier Oil - Great for all skin types and lasts well.
Additional Ingredients
½ tsp of Glycerin - Glycerin is a humectant that is a moisturizing ingredient. It draws water from the atmosphere to hydrate and softens the skin.
Essential Oils
- 5 drops of Petitgrain - Great for issue-prone skins, balance oil, and moisture.
- 2 drops of Neroli - Rich in antioxidants, fights free radicals, soothes skin.
- 5 drops of Rose Geranium - Balances natural oil production, brightening effects.
You can swap out 10ml of the Jojoba Oil for 10ml of Tamanu oil but only do that if you have a blemish-prone skin type.
Simply follow the process of instructions outlined above to create your personalized serum. In no time, you will be able to see and experience all those excellent benefits that your fabulous serum can have on your skin.
Always remember your patch test, tough guys!
How to Use Homemade Facial Serum with Essential Oils
Now you have made it, how do you use it?
We have already discussed how often you need to use your serum, but if your skin feels like it needs more serum, then listen to it, add another day into that week and use it three times instead of twice a week.
You may find over time; you can use it less as your skin starts to get used to the serum and improves for its use. Make sure you evaluate that as you go through the first couple of months of using it.
Consistency and constancy are key here; if you stop using them, then all those lovely, positive effects will also likely stop.
Where In My Routine Do I Use It?
You need to apply serum to clean your skin, if you do not, you will trap all that grease and grime on your skin under that layer of beautiful, protective serum, and no one wants to do that.
Apply to clean skin only, please. Exfoliating beforehand is also a good idea if that suits your skin type.
Serum high in Vitamin C - ours will be - must be applied in the morning to do all its best work throughout the day. Its powerhouse of antioxidants can fight the pesky free radicals we mentioned earlier.
Serum-containing retinoids should only be used at night on the face, not on the neck or décolletage.
How To Apply Serum
Considering how to apply a serum, consider first - are you treating just one area or applying to the whole face and neck?
Targeting One Area
If you are targeting just one area, apply one small pump alone after your cleansing routine.
To Apply To The Whole Face
Step 1 - Once you have cleansed your skin - even better if you have exfoliated too, should this be part of your routine - take one pump of your serum in the palm of your hand. Let it warm for just a moment.
Step 2 - Using very light, upward finger motions, carefully distribute the serum in a thin layer across your skin, taking care, though, to avoid the delicate eye area. Repeat with one pump each for your neck and your décolletage, should you wish.
Step 3 - You simply need to wait a few moments to ensure that the serum fully absorbs into your skin. If you feel that your skin needs it, follow with a moisturizer of your choice. You would not want a heavy moisturizing cream here, just something light.
Using Serum For Facial Massage
Often people use serums for facial massage because of their high oil content and how easily they glide across your delicate skin.
To help you understand how to improve your entire skincare routine and apply this serum effectively as a facial massage, check out this article on how to do a facial massage.
While the serum is not mentioned, you can make this regimen your own. You would slide the serum process between the masque and the moisturizing stages. For example, you could skip the night cream stage. Otherwise, your skin might feel a bit heavy.
The article also contains tips for choosing the best carrier and essential oils for your skin type. Well worth a read.
Experiment and see what works for you.
Final Thought
Is serum the ‘hero’ of the skin care regimen?
That is a question that I feel you should answer for yourself. The ones I use and make for myself make a massive difference to my combination skin. My skin tells me when it needs ‘feeding’ or feels a bit ‘thirsty,’ and I reach for the serum. I use more in the winter than I do in the summer, as my skin is always more dry in the winter. As a result, my scaling and flaking are vastly reduced from previous years, and my complexion is brighter and more even. It is one of my heroes. Will it be one of yours?
If you follow the recipe above, all ingredients can be utilized to make other skin care products for your regimen. They are versatile and interchangeable. I would thank anyone for a beautiful handmade face serum.
This kind of experimentation is fun; not only that, but your skin will thank you for it in the end.
Why not have a go and learn how to make face serum from essential oils? It is effortless, and the effects are genuinely unique.
Also Read: Best Essential Oils for Skin Tightening
