An oil facial serum with Q10 is a simple way to make your home skincare entirely your own. Nowadays, when skincare is a common part of our daily routine, natural and homemade solutions are becoming increasingly popular. Discover with us the steps to prepare your own oil-based facial serum with coenzyme Q10 right in the comfort of your home, and give your skin the care it deserves.
About this recipe
This is an oil-based facial serum for everyday care that you can make at home from just a few ingredients. One of the sought-after and effective ingredients for the skin is coenzyme Q10 — this effective antioxidant not only protects the skin from harmful free radicals, but also stimulates cell regeneration and increases their hydration. That is why we chose it as the main active ingredient in the facial serum. Coenzyme Q10 is further complemented with a CO2 extract of pomegranate, which helps to regenerate the skin even more intensively.
Main benefits
- Antioxidant protection
Coenzyme Q10 protects the skin from harmful free radicals and cells from oxidative stress.
- Regeneration and hydration
Q10 stimulates cell regeneration and increases their hydration; the CO2 extract of pomegranate helps to regenerate the skin even more intensively.
- Anti-ageing support
Q10 increases the production of collagen and elastin, helps to reduce the manifestations of photoageing and improves the overall structure of the skin.
- No preservative
The oil-based serum does not contain water, and therefore the use of a preservative is not necessary.
- Longer freshness
Vitamin E slows down the oxidation of oils, so your serum stays fresh longer.
Product properties
Key ingredients in the recipe
If you have not yet worked with some of the ingredients used to make the oil-based facial serum, or if you simply want to learn more about them, you are in the right place. Below we will introduce the individual ingredients used in the production of the oil-based facial serum with Q10, along with their possible substitutes.
Safflower oil
Safflower oil, also called carthamus or thistle oil, is rich in essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid. These components are essential for skin health and have anti-inflammatory effects. In the cosmetic industry, safflower oil is often used in products intended for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Its ability to reduce inflammation and maintain the skin’s balance makes it popular also among people suffering from eczema or psoriasis.
An alternative is represented by other liquid vegetable oils.
Sesame oil
Sesame oil is known for its high concentration of antioxidants and vitamins, which makes it ideal for skincare. Its light texture allows rapid absorption and thus helps to hydrate the skin without a greasy feeling. However, if you have another favourite vegetable oil, do not hesitate to use it instead of sesame oil, or feel free to combine the oils.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, is involved in the energy production of cells and protects them against oxidative stress. In cosmetic products, it plays an important role in combating skin ageing by increasing the production of collagen and elastin. It also helps to reduce the manifestations of photoageing and improves the overall structure of the skin.
If you omit coenzyme Q10 from the serum, you will lose many of the mentioned benefits it provides to the skin.
Pomegranate, CO2 extract
Pomegranate extract is rich in powerful antioxidants, such as flavonoids and ellagic acid, which protect the skin from harmful free radicals. This extract is valued for its abilities in combating skin ageing; it improves the skin’s texture and tones it. Its regular use can help minimise the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
An alternative is represented by other CO2 extracts or active substances suitable for application to the face and at the same time soluble in oils, but you must expect different effects on the skin.
Vitamin E, Tocopherol
Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, is one of the most important antioxidants for the skin. Its main role is to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and sunlight. In addition to its protective role, vitamin E also helps to maintain the elasticity and hydration of the skin, thereby preventing its premature ageing and improving its overall appearance.
An alternative is another version of vitamin E — tocopheryl acetate.
Vitamin E also slows down the oxidation of oils, so your serum will stay fresh longer. However, it is not a preservative. The oil-based facial serum does not contain water, and therefore the use of a preservative is not necessary, but when handling the serum, be careful not to let water enter the product — that could lead to microbial spoilage.
Other ingredients
Fragrance oil, Forest Kiss is a fresh and refined composition that combines juicy blackcurrant with green leafy notes and a gentle floral background. The fragrance feels clean, natural and luxurious — like a summer garden scented after the rain. The fruity freshness blends beautifully with the greenery, creating a harmonious and elegant scent with a touch of French charm. You can replace the Forest Kiss fragrance oil with another fragrance oil of your choice.
Recipe (100 g)
The ingredient content is given in percentages, so the recipe corresponds to a batch of 100 g of finished serum. The recipe is divided into two phases: phase A is the oils and coenzyme Q10, which are gently warmed if needed, and phase B is added only once the mixture has cooled down.
| Phase / ingredient | Content |
|---|---|
| Phase A | |
| Safflower oil | 48,00 % |
| Sesame oil | 50,00 % |
| Coenzyme Q10 | 0,50 % |
| Phase B | |
| Pomegranate, CO2 extract | 0,50 % |
| Vitamin E, Tocopherol | 0,50 % |
| Fragrance oil, Forest Kiss | 0,50 % |
How to make it
- Preparation and disinfection
Prepare all the tools, containers and packaging, and make sure they are clean and disinfected.
- Mixing phase A Phase Amax 49 °C
Mix together the ingredients of phase A (oils and Q10). If the Q10 does not dissolve, carefully heat the mixture up to max 49 °C; with continuous stirring, the Q10 will dissolve.
- Cooling down and phase B Phase B
Let the mixture cool down and then add the remaining ingredients.
- Stirring and filling
Stir well and fill the serum into a glass bottle, ideally made of coloured glass.
Experiment wisely — warning
Before using any ingredients to make a cosmetic product, familiarise yourself thoroughly with their properties, recommended dosage, storage conditions and safe handling. Each ingredient can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, therefore we recommend that before using the product, you check whether you are allergic to any component of the ingredients or to the overall product, for example by means of a patch test.
In the case of very sensitive or acne-prone skin, or if you have other skin and health problems, we recommend that you consult a medical professional before applying a new product to the skin, whether it is a homemade cosmetic product, a pure ingredient or a commercially available product.
As mentioned, when experimenting with homemade recipes, it must be kept in mind that the final result can be influenced by many factors, such as humidity, temperature, the quality of the ingredients and their storage.
Frequently asked questions about the recipe
Practical questions about the oil-based serum with Q10 — preservation, dissolving the Q10, ingredient substitutes and choosing the packaging.
Why does the serum not contain a preservative?
The oil-based facial serum does not contain water, and therefore the use of a preservative is not necessary. When handling the serum, however, be careful not to let water enter the product — that could lead to microbial spoilage.
What should I do if the coenzyme Q10 does not dissolve?
Carefully heat the phase A mixture up to max 49 °C. With continuous stirring, the Q10 will dissolve. Add the remaining phase B ingredients only once the mixture has cooled down.
Can I leave the coenzyme Q10 out?
If you omit coenzyme Q10 from the serum, you will lose many of the benefits it provides to the skin — protection from free radicals, stimulation of cell regeneration and support for the production of collagen and elastin.
What can I replace the safflower and sesame oil with?
You can replace both oils with other liquid vegetable oils, or feel free to combine them. In the same way, you can replace the Forest Kiss fragrance oil with another fragrance oil of your choice.
Can the CO2 extract of pomegranate be replaced?
An alternative is represented by other CO2 extracts or active substances suitable for application to the face and at the same time soluble in oils. You must, however, expect different effects on the skin.
What packaging should I fill the serum into?
Fill the finished serum into a glass bottle, ideally made of coloured glass. All the packaging and tools must be clean and disinfected before filling.
You will find the coenzyme Q10, CO2 extracts, vitamin E and vegetable oils from this recipe in the Handymade ingredient range.
