Looking for an effective DIY bakuchiol serum recipe to target acne-prone or combination skin with an anti-aging boost? This easy to make serum combines two star ingredients: pumpkin seed oil and bakuchiol, delivering tons of benefits in just a few drops. With no heating required, it’s perfect for DIY cosmetics makers who are short on time but still want an effective formulation!

Why Choose Bakuchiol for Your Face Oil Serum?

Bakuchiol, often called the vegan alternative to retinol, is getting popular in natural skincare for good reasons. It offers the same impressive benefits as retinol, such as stimulating collagen, reducing fine lines, and promoting cell turnover, without the irritating side effects.

Bakuchiol Benefits:

• Anti-aging: Stimulates collagen production and smooths fine lines.
• Improves skin texture: Promotes cell renewal and evens the skin tone. 
• Fights acne: Regulates sebum production, is antibacterial and reduces inflammation.
• Anti-inflammatory: Calms redness and soothes irritated skin, making it ideal for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
• Gentle on skin: Unlike retinol, it doesn’t cause dryness or irritation.
• Safe for day use: It’s not photosensitive like retinol, so you can wear it under the sun without worries.

In the debate of bakuchiol vs retinol, bakuchiol is a clear winner for sensitive skin or those looking for a botanical solution. It’s a real gift from the nature!

Pumpkin Seed Oil Benefits for Skin

Let me tell you why pumpkin seed oil holds a special place in my heart and in my skincare routine. It’s one of my absolute favorites, especially for those of us over 30 with combination or acne-prone skin. Why? Because it gives you that deep, hydrating feeling that so many products for oily or acne-prone skin lack.

Pumpkin seed oil is a superstar for balancing oil production, thanks to its high linoleic acid content. At the same time, it’s rich in oleic acid, which makes it deeply nourishing. It strikes a perfect balance: light enough to absorb easily, yet it leaves your skin with a soft, velvety finish that feels like pure luxury.

Believe me, when you use pumpkin seed oil, you’ll feel the urge to spread it all over your face, just to enjoy its amazing texture. Unlike drier oils like grapeseed, pumpkin seed oil gives your skin the hydration and nourishment it needs without feeling greasy.

This oil is seboregulating, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant, helping to regenerate the skin, maintain hydration, and fight the signs of aging.

If you haven’t tried pumpkin seed oil yet, you’re seriously missing out! Trust me, once you experience its unique texture and benefits, you’ll be amazed! For more details, don’t forget to check out my full article and video on pumpkin seed oil benefits for skin! 

I also added Vitamin E for its antioxidant properties, helping to protect the oils from becoming rancid.

Essential Oils: The Perfect Pairing

To enhance the serum, I added two essential oils that complement the formula beautifully:

1. Geranium Essential Oil: Known for its anti-aging, astringent, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, it also regenerates the skin while adding a lovely floral scent.
   
   
2. Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil: This citrusy gem is one of my absolute favorites, not just for its astringent, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, but for how it makes me feel. Its bright scent is like a little bottle of happiness, instantly uplifting my mood every time I use it. Honestly, I sometimes find myself reaching for it just to enjoy the refreshing aroma, it’s that good!
    

DIY Bakuchiol Serum Recipe

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin Seed Oil: 97.5g - 97.5%
• Bakuchiol: 1g - 1%
• Geranium Essential Oil: 0.3g - 0,3%
• Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil: 0.2g - 0,2%
• Vitamin E (Tocopherol): 1 g - 1%

How to Make Your Bakuchiol Oil Serum

1. Measure all ingredients precisely using a digital scale.
2. Mix gently in a container and pour in a flask.

This recipe is for 100g, as usual, but you’ll only need a couple of drops for each use. If you prefer, you can easily scale down the recipe to make a smaller amount, perfect for testing or keeping your cosmetics fresh! For a 10 g/10 ml flask, just divide all the ingredients by 10 to create a 10g version.

How to Use the Face Oil Serum

1. Cleanse your skin and apply a toner.
2. Place a few drops of the serum on your fingertips.
3. Massage gently into your face and neck until fully absorbed.
4. Follow with your favorite hydrating lotion for added moisture. 

How to Customize Your Serum

This recipe keeps it simple, highlighting the unique textures and benefits of pumpkin seed oil and bakuchiol. Why? I wanted to create a serum that really lets pumpkin seed oil shine. Its velvety, nourishing texture is something I adore, and I didn’t want to dilute that experience with too many other ingredients. However, you can always tweak it to suit your preferences:

1. For a lighter texture: Replace 5-10% of pumpkin seed oil with squalane, which also enhances active penetration, repairs the skin barrier and adds a lighter feel.
2. Boost antioxidants: Add Coenzyme Q10 for enhanced anti-aging benefits.
3. Thicken the serum: Mix in 2-3% cetylic acid for a slightly thicker consistency, ideal if you prefer a creamier feel. To do this, gently heat the cetylic acid in a water bath along with a heat-resistant oil. Since it’s best to avoid heating pumpkin seed oil to preserve its properties, replace 10% of the pumpkin seed oil with a heat-resistant option like fractionated coconut oil, which offers a light, non-greasy feel and antimicrobial benefits.