Mixing oils for face involves combining different types of oils in specific ratios to create a custom facial oil blend. A simple rule to follow when making your own facial oil is to use 2 thirds carrier oil, 1 third lovely bonus oil and a few drops of an essential oil.
Creating your own facial oil allows you to tailor the ingredients to your skin's specific needs. By understanding the role of each type of oil, you can craft a beneficial blend.
Understanding the Components of a Facial Oil Blend
A typical facial oil blend, as suggested by the reference, consists of three main types of oils:
- Carrier Oil: This forms the base of your mixture. Carrier oils are usually cold-pressed vegetable oils derived from the fatty portion of a plant. They are used to dilute essential oils before topical application and also provide their own therapeutic properties.
- Bonus Oil: This oil adds extra beneficial properties or a different texture to your blend. It can be another carrier oil chosen for specific benefits or a more potent, often pricier, oil.
- Essential Oil: These are highly concentrated aromatic compounds extracted from plants. They are potent and must be diluted in carrier oils before being applied to the skin. Essential oils are chosen for their specific skincare benefits (e.g., calming, clarifying, rejuvenating).
Recommended Mixing Ratio
Based on the provided reference, a straightforward ratio to follow is:
- 2/3 Carrier Oil
- 1/3 Bonus Oil
- A few drops of Essential Oil
For example, if you wanted to make a 30ml bottle of facial oil:
| Oil Type | Recommended Amount |
|---|---|
| Carrier Oil | 20ml |
| Bonus Oil | 10ml |
| Essential Oil | A few drops |
Note: "A few drops" is typically a small percentage of the total volume (e.g., 0.5% to 2% dilution for essential oils on the face). For 30ml, this might mean 3-12 drops, depending on the essential oil and desired strength.
Choosing Your Oils
Selecting the right oils depends on your skin type and concerns.
Popular Carrier Oils
- Jojoba Oil: Closely resembles skin's natural sebum, good for most skin types, including oily and acne-prone.
- Sweet Almond Oil: Lightweight, moisturizing, good for dry and sensitive skin.
- Grapeseed Oil: Very light, non-greasy, good for oily skin.
- Sunflower Seed Oil: Contains linoleic acid, good barrier support.
Lovely Bonus Oils
- Rosehip Seed Oil: Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, known for skin regeneration and reducing scars/fine lines.
- Argan Oil: Moisturizing, contains Vitamin E, good for dry and mature skin.
- Squalane (derived from olives or sugarcane): Lightweight, excellent moisturizer, compatible with most skin types.
- Sea Buckthorn Oil: Rich in antioxidants and omegas, promotes healing.
Beneficial Essential Oils (Use with Caution & Dilute Properly)
- Lavender Essential Oil: Calming, soothing (good for sensitive or irritated skin).
- Tea Tree Essential Oil: Clarifying, good for acne-prone skin (use very diluted).
- Frankincense Essential Oil: Rejuvenating, known for anti-aging properties.
- Chamomile (German or Roman) Essential Oil: Soothing, anti-inflammatory.
Always perform a patch test on a small area of skin before applying a new blend to your face, especially when using essential oils.
Simple Mixing Steps
- Choose your carrier oil and bonus oil based on your skin needs.
- Select one or two essential oils (do not exceed a safe dilution percentage).
- Measure out the carrier oil into a clean bottle.
- Add the bonus oil according to the 2:1 carrier to bonus ratio.
- Carefully add a few drops of the essential oil(s). Start with a lower number of drops; you can always add more.
- Close the bottle and gently shake to combine the oils.
- Store the blend in a cool, dark place.
Mixing your own facial oil using this simple 2/3 carrier, 1/3 bonus, plus essential oil ratio can be a favourite addition to your skincare routine.
