DIY Face Oil from Laurel Skin Founder

August 13, 2021 (updated May 10, 2023) — Written by

DIY face oil isn’t something we’d typically mix up in our own kitchen. But, when you’ve got the guidance of skincare phenom Laurel Shaffer, founder of Laurel Skin, we are ALL IN. Her recipe for a skin-soothing face oil is perfect for soothing sun and heat-exposed skin (plus, we have an exclusive gift with purchase for TNK readers only!).

Gold measuring spoons filled with different types of facial oil rest on a marble board.

By: Nicolle Mackinnon

We’ve upped our homemade skincare game by enlisting some of our favorite founder/formulators to create DIY skincare recipesjust for you! We’ve already partnered with Dr. Sarah Villafranco, founder of Osmia Organics, and with LILFOX Founder Alexis Rose, and today’s recipe is just as notable: A DIY face oil created by Laurel Skin founder Laurel Schaffer! I mean, what more could you ask for?

In its truest form, Laurel is the definition of slow beauty. I’m talking biodynamic, impeccably sourced, plant-powered skincare at it’s finest. Based out of Sausalito, California, founder Laurel works side by side with local artisan farmers to procure over 150 plants each season.

And when I say she works side by side, I mean she literally goes to the farms, cultivates relationships with her farmers, follows each ingredient from seed to harvest and ensures everything is grown (at the very minimum) organically. From there, the plants, flowers and herbs are brought to Laurel’s lab in raw form, steeped for months in handmade blends and turned into plant medicine for the skin.

Laurel even makes all of their own botanical extracts! This is just mind-blowing considering #1, VERY FEW people do this. And #2, commercial extracts aren’t even in the same league. They can be chemically refined and processed which, among many things, can compromise potency and nutrient density. So you are getting “it” but you are not really getting all of “it.”

She also releases seasonal goodies, like limited batches of her cult-favorite single farm hydrosols. In fact, this week she just released two new limited editions. Hawaiian-sourced Sandalwood single-farm hydrosol and a single-farm Rosemary hydrosol. I’m obsessed—and these refreshing, skin-boosting mists are the perfect primer for the DIY face oil she’s sharing today. 

All of this to say, you are in good hands with Laurel! We are so excited to offer you this exclusive DIY. But before we get into it…let’s get some tips on how to make this DIY face oil at home.


Tips from Laurel Shaffer: How to make a DIY face oil

Tip #1: Spend your money on carrier oils. Laurel says, “Especially with carrier oils, the quality of the ingredients is more important than the ingredients you choose.” That means all carrier oils should be unrefined. They will smell earthier, but this ensures they have more antioxidants remaining in the oil and it will keep them stable longer. Laurel recommends Mountain Rose Herbs for organic, unrefined options for all the ingredients in this DIY face oil.

Tip #2: This facial oil recipe contains no preservation, but if using quality oils and keeping it away from light and heat, it should last several months.

Tip #3: Make sure to apply the completed oil to damp skin (we recommend using her new single farm hydrosols…). This ensures you get the hydration you need and the oil absorbs more easily into skin.

RELATED: DIY moisturizing face mask from Osmia Organics Founder Dr. Sarah Villafranco.


Bottles of facial oils lay on a marble stone next to gold measuring spoons.

DIY face oil ingredient benefits 

All of the ingredients in Laurel’s line are thoughtfully, carefully chosen. That’s why this DIY face oil from her is so incredible—we get insight into how her brain works! Here’s what she loves about each ingredient in this recipe.

Jojoba

“Provides a strong base that can help keep formula stable and deliver nutrients down deeper into the skin. This desert plant loves the sun, and will help your skin thrive in sunny climates as well.”

Rosehip

“Rosehip has a wide variety of nutrients that make it unique to most other carrier oils. With its high presence of carotenoids, vitamin C and trace retinoid-acid—it is an ingredient I personally would never want to live without in my own skin rituals.”

RELATED: My full Laurel Skin review.

Cranberry

“Cranberry is an excellent fit for all skin types, including breakout-prone, sensitive and those with perioral dermatitis. It is lightweight, anti-inflammatory and has the presence of tannins and resveratrol.”

Pomegranate

“This soft and thick oil has an immediate plumping and firming effect on the skin. It is supportive and healing to a damaged lipid barrier, and provides soothing relief to irritated skin, rosacea symptoms and broken capillaries.”

Tamanu

“This vibrant green oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory and microbiome balancer. It has a balancing effect on imbalanced topical flora colonies. It shows promise with all major skin woes from hyperpigmentation, acne—and even eczema.”

Essential Oil Blend

“Soothing and calming to the skin and nervous system, very gentle even for those who don’t like strong scents. Ideal for inflammation and sun damage. When steam-distilled, Bergamot is not photosensitizing.”
Sounds incredible, right? Yeah we think so too. But if you’re so not on the DIY train, we suggest our all-time favorite product from Laurel, her Sun Serum, as a swap.

RELATED: Girl Talk with Laurel Shaffer.


A listing of ingredients for DIY face oil by Laurel

DIY face oil cost

We purchased all our ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs, and we opted for the unrefined, organic versions, per Laurel’s suggestion. With a discount the site was running on essential oils, we got all the ingredients for around $100.

But don’t sweat that cost yet—with the quantities of each ingredient, we can make this face oil SIX TIMES, bringing the cost per ounce down to just over $16!!! It’s efficacious and cost-effective, making better beauty more accessible.

RELATED: DIY exfoliating body scrub from Alexis Rose, founder of LILFOX and this DIY deo recipe from the One Love Organics founder


DIY face oil review

We loved how this face oil was actually really easy to make. Once you have the ingredients, it’s a pour here and a measure there, and voila! An at-home skin serum to help support your best complexion.

A few key things to consider as you’re making your DIY face oil:

  • Scent: We just used the carrot seed essential oil in our face oil, and that meant the carrier oils were the scents that really tickled our noses. And tamanu oil has a STRONG scent. It’s earthy and rich, and kind of caramel-y, which I love. It has a bit of a blue tansy vibe. If you added the lavender and/or bergamot, you’ll have a more citrus-y, floral scent. (If you’ve tried Laurel’s Sun Serum, you’ll have a good idea of the scent profile.)
  • Texture/finish: For the fact that tamanu oil is very viscous, this oil is relatively lightweight, thanks to the jojoba and the rosehip oil. It applies easily, isn’t sticky and it melts into skin, especially when applied while skin is damp. My skin feels glowy and plumped after using it—it’s refreshing and silky.
  • DIY tips: I suggest using a dark-colored glass bottle with an eyedropper for the longest-lasting, easiest to apply final face oil. A metal food funnel (like this one) was also very handy, as were a great set of measuring spoons

DIY face oil recipe from Laurel Shaffer

Soothing Summer Facial Oil by Laurel Shaffer, Founder of Laurel Skin

This facial oil recipe is ideal for dealing with sun and heat exposure. It will be calming, soothing, healing and provide a wealth of antioxidants and nourishment to repair the skin.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Servings 1
Author Laurel Shaffer
Cost $16 per serving

Equipment

  • 1-ounce, dark glass bottle with eye dropper

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. Jojoba oil
  • 1 1/2 tsp. Rosehip seed oil
  • 1 tsp. Cranberry seed oil
  • 1/4 tsp. Pomegranete seed oil
  • 1/4 tsp. Tamanu oil

Optional

  • 1 drop Carrot seed essential oil
  • 2 drops Lavender essential oil
  • 2 drops Bergamot essential oil steam-distilled
  • 1 piece Small funnel

Instructions

  • Pour all measured ingredients into a sterilized dark glass bottle (preferably one with an eyedropper for easy application).
  • Shake to mix.
  • Use morning and/or evening as part of your skincare routine.
  • Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months.

TNK Team Note: This article contains affiliate links. TNK uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. TNK stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.

By Nicolle Mackinnon

Nicolle Mackinnon is TNK's content manager. She has a penchant for vegan lip color, cold-brew coffee and helping women feel empowered to make informed choices about their health by opening them up to new information and trends. Better, clean beauty is just one outlet to changing the way we shop and live.

1 Comment

  1. Reply

    Manojnatha Shekhar

    The skin makes oils and lipids naturally, which help to keep it hydrated and prevent water loss. Face oils help to complement our natural oils.

    The oils that are mentioned in the blog are easily available in the marketplace, so it is an easy recipe for a face oil to make at home. Additionally, the ingredients listed have their own benefits, which can be beneficial to the skin if added to the oil. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us. It seems helpful.

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