Homemade Face Serum Recipe (For Anti-Aging + Glowing Skin)
I created this homemade face serum recipe after spending years paying premium prices for clean, non-toxic anti-aging serums. Then one day, I looked closer at the ingredient list on one of my favorite bottles and realized I already had nearly every ingredient sitting in my home apothecary. With a few simple, nourishing oils, I could make the same high-quality face serum at home for a fraction of the cost—without sacrificing quality or using unnecessary fillers.
This serum feels so luxurious and has done wonders for my skin! Made with just a handful of nutrient-rich carrier oils and a few drops of essential oil, this lightweight facial oil is designed to hydrate, support mature skin, and promote a healthy, radiant complexion.
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Unlike many conventional skin serums that rely on harsh chemicals, fillers, or artificial fragrance, this natural face serum is made entirely with organic ingredients that work together to support the health of your skin. Every ingredient has a purpose—from helping reduce the appearance of fine lines and dry skin to supporting the skin barrier and encouraging a beautiful skin glow.
The best part? It takes less than five minutes to make your own face serum at home. Simply combine the ingredients in a 1 oz glass dropper bottle, give it a gentle shake, and it’s ready to become part of your daily skincare routine.
Whether you’re looking for a homemade face serum for wrinkles, a homemade face serum for glowing skin, or simply a natural alternative to store-bought facial oil, this easy DIY serum is a wonderful place to start.
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Face Serum
There are countless face serums available today, but many contain unnecessary preservatives, synthetic fragrance, silicones, or other ingredients that don’t align with a natural skin care lifestyle. Making your own homemade facial serum allows you to choose high-quality raw DIY ingredients while keeping the formula simple and effective.
Here’s why this homemade serum has become one of my favorite DIY recipes:
- Made with only nourishing natural ingredients.
- Lightweight enough for homemade face serum for daily use.
- Rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
- Helps soften the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin tone.
- Suitable for mature skin, dry skin, combination skin, and many different skin types.
- Leaves skin feeling soft without an oily residue.
- Takes just minutes to make.
- Stores beautifully in a dark bottle for months.
- A wonderful addition to any natural skin care routine.
Why These Ingredients Work
One of my favorite things about making homemade skin care products is understanding exactly what goes into them. Rather than relying on a long ingredient list full of unfamiliar names, this homemade face serum recipe uses a few carefully selected carrier oils that each provide unique benefits for healthy skin.
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil closely resembles the skin’s natural sebum, making it one of the best carrier oils for nearly every skin type. It provides lightweight hydration without leaving an oily residue and helps balance both dry skin and oily skin while extending the shelf life of the serum.
Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip seed oil is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that help improve the appearance of fine lines, uneven skin tone, and age spots. It’s a favorite for mature skin because it nourishes and supports healthy-looking skin without feeling heavy.
Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose oil is packed with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which helps strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. It’s especially beneficial for dry skin and sensitive skin, leaving the skin feeling soft, smooth, and well-hydrated.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E oil is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the carrier oils from oxidation while also helping defend the skin against free radicals that contribute to the natural aging process. It also adds an extra boost of moisture for soft, healthy skin.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is one of the best essential oils for mature skin. It’s commonly used in natural skin care to help improve the appearance of fine lines while promoting a firmer, more radiant complexion.
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium helps promote a balanced, healthy-looking complexion and supports more even skin tone. If you have very sensitive skin, lavender essential oil is a wonderful alternative.
Homemade Face Serum Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons jojoba oil
- 2 teaspoons evening primrose oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons rosehip seed oil
- 10–15 drops vitamin E oil
- 4 drops frankincense essential oil
- 2 drops geranium essential oil
Equipment
- 1 oz glass dropper bottle (preferably amber)
- Small funnel (optional)
How to Make Homemade Serum at Home
Making your own face serum couldn’t be easier.
Step 1: Add the carrier oils
Pour the jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, and rosehip seed oil into your clean 1 oz glass dropper bottle. I like to use a small funnel to do this. The one pictured was shipped with my glass amber dropper bottles. You can buy them here.
Step 2: Add the Vitamin E & Essential Oils
Add 10–15 drops of vitamin E oil to help nourish the skin and protect the oils from oxidation. And then add in the essential oils of frankincense and geranium.
Step 3: Mix
Secure the dropper cap and gently roll the bottle between your hands for 20–30 seconds until all of the oils are fully incorporated. Avoid vigorous shaking, as rolling helps blend the oils without introducing unnecessary air into the serum.
That’s it! Your homemade face serum is ready to use.
How to Use This Homemade Face Serum
Apply 3–5 drops of the serum to clean, slightly damp skin after cleansing. Gently massage it over your face and neck using upward circular motions until absorbed.
This homemade face serum is gentle enough for daily use and can be applied morning or evening. With regular use, it helps keep skin hydrated while promoting a soft, healthy-looking, radiant complexion.
Storage Tips
Because this homemade serum is made without preservatives, proper storage is important for maintaining freshness.
Store your serum in a dark bottle, such as an amber glass dropper bottle, and keep it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight and excessive heat. These simple steps help protect the delicate oils from oxidation.
Thanks to the antioxidant properties of vitamin E oil and the stability of jojoba oil, this homemade face serum recipe will typically stay fresh for 6–9 months when stored properly.
If you notice an unpleasant smell or any significant change in color, it’s time to make a fresh batch.
Easy Substitutions
One of the wonderful things about making your own face serum is that you can customize it based on your skin concerns and the ingredients you already have on hand.
Here are a few of my favorite substitutions:
- For sensitive skin: Replace geranium with lavender essential oil for a gentler facial oil.
- For oily or acne-prone skin: Add 1–2 drops of tea tree oil and reduce the geranium slightly.
- If you’re out of jojoba oil: Meadowfoam seed oil or argan oil are two of the best options because they’re lightweight and absorb beautifully.
- For very dry skin: A small amount of avocado oil or sweet almond oil can make the serum even richer.
Although you’ll sometimes see recipes made with coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, or grapeseed oil, I don’t recommend them as the primary oils in a facial serum. Coconut oil may feel too heavy for many different skin types, while olive oil can leave more of an oily residue. Grapeseed oil is lightweight but has a shorter shelf life than jojoba.
This blend was intentionally formulated to provide a balance of moisture, stability, and a lightweight finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best homemade face serum?
The best homemade face serum is made with simple, nourishing ingredients that support healthy skin. This blend of jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, rosehip seed oil, vitamin E, and essential oils deeply hydrates while helping improve the appearance of fine lines and promoting a healthy, radiant complexion.
Can I use this homemade face serum every day?
Yes! This serum is gentle enough for daily use. Apply 3–5 drops to clean, slightly damp skin morning or evening as the final step in your skincare routine.
Can homemade face serum help reduce the appearance of wrinkles?
While no serum can erase wrinkles, nourishing oils like rosehip seed oil, vitamin E, and frankincense can help improve the appearance of fine lines by supporting healthy, well-moisturized skin.
Is this homemade face serum good for mature skin?
Absolutely. Jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, and rosehip seed oil help nourish mature skin, support the skin barrier, and improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and fine lines.
The Cost Savings of Making Your Own Homemade Face Serum
One of the best parts about making your own homemade face serum is the long-term savings. While the ingredients for this recipe cost about $86 upfront, they’re versatile staples that can be used to make dozens of other natural skincare DIY recipes, from facial oils and face creams to lip balms and body butters.
When you break down the cost of the ingredients used in this recipe, one 1 oz bottle costs just $9.15 to make, including the amber glass dropper bottle. A similar anti-aging serum from a non-toxic skincare brand costs around $90, meaning you’ll save $80.85 per bottle—about 90%.
Beyond the savings, making your own skincare gives you complete control over the ingredients you use. You can skip unnecessary fillers, synthetic fragrances, and harsh chemicals while nourishing your skin with simple, high-quality ingredients you can feel good about.
My Final Thoughts
If you’ve been looking for the best DIY face serum that’s simple, nourishing, and made with wholesome ingredients, I’m confidant that you have found it. 😉
I love that this homemade face serum recipe skips the unnecessary fillers and focuses on functional ingredients that truly benefit the skin. Every ingredient has a purpose, from supporting the skin’s natural barrier to helping soften the appearance of fine lines and encouraging a healthy, natural glow.
More Reader Favorite DIY Skincare Recipes
If you love this recipe then check out some of my other tallow skincare recipes:
If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @wholisticmandy on Instagram. Your reviews help support this blog and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.
Homemade Face Serum Recipe (For Anti-aging & Glowing Skin)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tsp jojoba oil
- 2 tsp evening primrose oil
- 1 1/2 tsp rosehip seed oil
- 10-15 drops vitamin E oil
- 6 drops frankincense essential oil
- 4 drops geranium essential oil
Instructions
- Pour the jojoba oil, evening primrose oil, and rosehip seed oil into your clean 1 oz glass dropper bottle. I like to use a small funnel to do this. The one pictured was shipped with my glass amber dropper bottles. You can buy them here.
- Add 10–15 drops of vitamin E oil to help nourish the skin and protect the oils from oxidation. And then add in the essential oils of frankincense and geranium.
- Secure the dropper cap and gently roll the bottle between your hands for 20–30 seconds until all of the oils are fully incorporated. Avoid vigorous shaking, as rolling helps blend the oils without introducing unnecessary air into the serum.
Notes
- Store the serum in a 1 oz amber glass dropper bottle away from direct sunlight and heat.
- Apply 3–5 drops to clean, slightly damp skin morning or evening.
- Gently roll the bottle between your hands before each use to redistribute the oils.
- Always perform a patch test before using any new skincare product, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Lavender essential oil can be substituted for geranium if you prefer a gentler option for sensitive skin.
- When stored properly, the serum will stay fresh for approximately 6–9 months.
