Jun 9 • General discussion
The Plant Chemistry Behind This Face Oil!
I thought it would be fun to share the formulation behind the botanical face oil I’ve been working on and explain why I chose each ingredient!
I also wanted to share the face oil recipe exclusively with my Skool community if you want to make your own! I only have 2 bottles currently made, but if you don't want to make your own, feel free to grab one of the 2 bottles before they sell out! I will have pre-order set up if they do! 🤞 Lets dive in!!
One of the things I love most about herbalism and botanical skincare is that every oil has its own texture, chemistry, history, and purpose within a formula. A good facial oil is not just random oils mixed together, it’s about balance, absorption, stability, skin feel, aroma, fatty acid profiles, and how the ingredients work together as a whole.
Here’s the recipe I formulated for a 1 oz bottle:
2 tablespoons jojoba oil
2 teaspoons red raspberry seed oil
1 teaspoon carrot seed carrier oil
2/3 teaspoon castor oil
5-6 drops Vitamin E
10 drops frankincense essential oil
8 drops geranium essential oil
Optional: 2 drops vetiver essential oil
Why these oils?
+ Jojoba oil forms the base because it’s technically not a true oil, but a liquid wax ester that closely resembles human sebum. Because of this, it tends to feel balanced on the skin rather than overly greasy. It also has an excellent shelf life compared to many delicate botanical oils.
+ Red raspberry seed oil is incredibly rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants. It helps support the skin barrier and gives the blend a silky, nourishing feel. There’s a lot of internet discussion around its potential UV properties, but it should never replace sunscreen.
+ Carrot seed carrier oil contributes antioxidants and carotenoids while adding warmth and richness to the formula. Historically, carrot preparations have been used in skincare for generations because of their nourishing properties.
+ Castor oil is fascinating because it contains a very high amount of ricinoleic acid, a unique fatty acid that gives castor oil its thick, almost glossy texture. In smaller amounts, it helps lock moisture into the skin without making the entire blend feel overly heavy.
+ Vitamin E is added not only for the skin, but also for the oils themselves. It acts as an antioxidant that helps slow oxidation and extend the freshness of more delicate oils within the formula.
Frankincense essential oil has been prized for centuries in perfumery, ritual, and skincare traditions. Its deep resinous aroma gives the formula an earthy grounding quality that makes the experience feel intentional and calming.
+ Geranium essential oil adds a soft floral balance to the blend and pairs beautifully with frankincense. It’s one of those oils that helps make a formula feel rounded and harmonious.
+ Vetiver is optional, but I love what even one drop can do to the aroma profile. Vetiver oil comes from the roots of the plant rather than the leaves or flowers, giving it a deep smoky-earthy scent often used in grounding perfumes and botanical blends.
One thing I’ve been learning more deeply through formulation is that texture matters just as much as ingredients. A facial oil can contain wonderful oils and still feel unpleasant if the balance is off. The goal was to create something that feels rich and nourishing while still absorbing beautifully into the skin.
Also, one very important note in herbal skincare formulation: Vitamin E is not a preservative. It helps slow rancidity in oils, but once water is introduced into a product, true preservation becomes much more important because microbes require water to grow!
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The Plant Chemistry Behind This Face Oil!
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