How to Make Natural Face Oil for Any Type of Skin

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What is a Facial Oil?

You may be wondering what all the hype is about facial oils anyway. What exactly is a facial oil and how is it different from a facial serum or a facial moisturizer? Is it an extra step we don’t need, or is there a legitimate benefit? Let’s take a look into the benefits of a facial oil….

A natural facial oil is a blend of plant-based carrier oils and beneficial essential oils, intended to nourish, deeply hydrate and protect our skin.

• Facial oils have no added water and are not emulsified like a cream or moisturizer
• Unlike water-based serums, facial oils (sometimes called facial oil serums) are oily to the touch, but absorb into skin quickly
• Natural facial oils (unlike mineral oil) mimic the skin’s natural sebum production and don’t clog pores
• As we age, our skin produces less oil and facial oils help add oil back, helping us combat wrinkles and dry skin
• Contrary to popular belief, facial oils can be beneficial to people with oily skin because they help regulate oil production and fight bacteria that causes acne
• Facial oils protect skin from environmental damage from sun and chemicals in air (although they do NOT provide sunscreen protection)

I’ve written about my love of facial oils before and if you want to see some of my favorite facial oil brands, check this post: Favorite Facial Oil Serums.

If you are NOT inclined to DIY, there are plenty of great natural facial oils available – from luxurious Vintner’s Daughter (have not tried this one) to mid-priced Beautycounter (their Facial Oils are amazing!) to budget Acure (a great low-priced option). The more expensive facial oils tend to use unique combinations of carrier oils and have a complex essential oil scent. Lower priced facial oils tend to be pretty simple. 

Why you’ll love Natural Face Oil

But if you are inclined to make a DIY face oil, the benefits are huge:

1.) You control the ingredients (and can easily avoid artificial fragrances and harmful preservatives)

2.) You can customize it to your skin type. (see how to make a custom homemade facial oil blend at the end of this post)

3.) You’ll save money (yes there is some outlay for ingredients but you can use them for other DIY beauty recipes) 

4.) You can proudly say “I made this myself!!” 

5.) Homemade facial oil makes a great gift!

RELATED: Natural Anti-Aging Treatments (Peels, Serums & Scrubs)

Best Oil for Skin – Ingredients in the Best Facial Oils

As I mentioned before, natural facial oils are a combination of carrier oils and essential oils. Be aware that not all facial oils on the market are made with natural ingredients.

Petroleum-based mineral oil and artificial fragrances or parfums are NOT what you want in your facial oil. Look for these natural ingredients instead:

Plant-based Carrier Oils

The best carrier oils to use in facial oil come from vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. These plant-based oils are a natural source of antioxidants, polyphenols, and essential fatty acids, and are very nourishing and hydrating to your skin.

Certified organic carrier oils are preferred but not necessary if you can’t find or afford the organic version. Just make sure you buy from a reputable source. Some of my favorite carrier oil sources are Aura Cacia, Now Brands and Inesscents. 

I won’t attempt to list every carrier oil available, but here are some of my favorites:

• Jojoba oil – Very similar to the oil produced naturally by our skin, jojoba oil is lightweight and quick-absorbing, leaving no oily residue.
• Sweet almond oil – A great all-purpose carrier oil that is fairly inexpensive and works for most skin types.
• Avocado oil – This very rich oil contains Vitamin C, E, and omega 3 fatty acids and is great for dry skin.
• Apricot kernal oil – This fast-absorbing oil is rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E and is suitable for normal to dry skin.
• Rosehip seed oil – Very fast absorbing and loaded with Vitamin C and A, rosehip oil is popular for aging, mature, and dry skin because it helps with collagen production and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.
• Grapeseed oil – A lightweight oil that works well for oily and acne-prone skin because it absorbs quickly and is non-comedogenic (does not clog pores).
• Calendula oil – Calendula is an herb known for soothing and healing skin. The organic calendula oil I buy is infused in a base of olive oil and sunflower oil.
• Hemp seed oil – A medium weight oil that works well for oily, irritated and sensitive skin, and may help with eczema and psoriasis.
• Argan oil – A luxurious (and more expensive) oil that absorbs well and is great for dry and sensitive skin.
• Tamanu oil – High in essential fatty acids, this very rich oil is slow to absorb and great for scars, stress marks or irritated skin. It has a strong nutty scent.

Natural Essential Oils

Essential oils are extracted or distilled from the petals, leaves, bark, stem, and roots of plants. They are powerful substances, with therapeutic qualities as well as lovely natural scents. In facial care, essential oils are beneficial for stimulating skin cell production, improving circulation, neutralizing bacteria, calming inflamed skin and more.

Because essential oils are so powerful, using the proper dilution ratio is important. Most sources recommend a dilution rate of 2 – 2.5% for skin care products, which would be between 18 to 23 drops of essential oil for 1-oz (30ml) of carrier oil. 

So many different essential oils are beneficial for skin care that I won’t attempt to list them all here. In my facial oil recipe below, you’ll see that I used rose geranium, frankincense and lavender essential oils. 

I am not loyal to a particular brand of essential oils, and I have not used any of the popular MLM brands. Here are some of the essential oil brands I can find easily, either at local stores or online:

• Rocky Mountain Oils (both USDA Certified Organic and non-organic)
• Pranarom (Certified organic by ECOCERT)
• Aura Cacia (both organic and non-organic)
• Now Brands (both organic and non-organic)
• 365 Brand from Whole Foods (non organic)

FYI – a great resource for using essential oils: The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood 

RELATED: Homemade Cleansing Balm

How to use Facial Oil

The most important thing to know about a facial oil is that a little goes a long way! Facial oils are most commonly used to moisturize skin but can also be used for cleansing.

As a moisturizer, you will only need a few drops of oil for your entire face. Best practice is to rub the oil between your fingers and then pat or smooth around face. Pro tip: Spritz face generously with toner before patting on the face oil to help seal in moisture.

Have you heard of the oil cleansing method? Your facial oil can also be used a face cleanser by rubbing the oil into DRY skin and following a similar routine to what I outline in my DIY cleansing balm post.   

How to Make the Best Facial Oil

Now that you know so much about facial oil ingredients, you can see you easy it is to customize your own facial oil. As long as you follow the basic proportions of carrier oil vs. essential oil as outlined above, you’ll be good to go! My basic recipe uses 2 tablespoons of carrier oil and 18 drops of essential oils. 

Mixing up your facial oil couldn’t be easier. Simply pour the carrier oils into a glass bottle (a mini stainless steel funnel comes in handy for this.)

Amber colored glass bottles are preferable to keep light from degrading the oils.  Then add your drops of essential oils. (Most essential oils come with a built-in dropper, making this very easy.)

Give it a little shake and your homemade facial oil is ready to use! In my opinion, this homemade facial oil can stand up to the best anti aging facial oils around!

Custom DIY Facial Oil Recipe Ideas

OK – are you ready? Let’s save some money and DIY the heck out of this face oil idea! 

I’ve got recipes for every skin type including mature skin, dry skin, acne-prone skin and sensitive skin. Feel free to adjust these recipes if you prefer a different combination of oils.

Best Facial Oil for Aging Skin

This anti-aging facial oil recipe is good for most skin types – but especially great for those with aging, mature or dry skin – a category I fall right in the middle of! It is an AMAZING oil blend for hydrated, glowing skin!

• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons rosehip seed oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons calendula oil
• 8 drops rose geranium essential oil
• 6 drops frankincense essential oil
• 4 drops lavender essential oil

Best Face Oil for Dry Skin

For those with generally dry skin (but not necessarily mature skin), I recommend this blend:

• 1 tablespoon sweet almond oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons of apricot kernel oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons of avocado oil
• 8 drops geranium essential oil
• 4 drops sandalwood essential oil
• 6 drops neroli essential oil

Best Oil for Acne Prone Skin

If you have acne-prone skin, this blend can help keep your skin clear and hydrated:

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 1 tablespoon hemp seed oil
• 8 drops clary sage essential oil
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops basil essential oil
• 3 drops tea tree essential oil

Facial Oil for Sensitive Skin

Anyone with sensitive skin will appreciate this blend that soothes and moisturizes at the same time.

• 1 ½ tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons hemp seed oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 8 drops chamomile essential oil

For even more help in choosing the best essential oil combinations for your skin type, I recommend this post or an essential oil book like the one previously recommended. Have fun with it!! 

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Have you tried this facial oil recipe? Share your thoughts in the comments!