DIY Anti-Aging Serum For Beautiful Skin

See how to make an easy serum for aging skin at home! Chockful of nourishing ingredients, this DIY anti-aging serum will replenish your skin and promote youthful skin. The homemade serum recipe is made with natural ingredients and can be used as a day and night serum.

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DIY Anti-aging serum

This homemade anti-aging serum is designed to restore youthfulness in mature skin and improve signs of early skin aging. The serum boasts a generous mix of ceramides, fatty acids and antioxidants that can protect your skin from dryness and soothe the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

I’ve been testing this homemade anti-aging serum for 2 months now and absolutely love what it’s doing. My skin feels hydrated and soft, the fine lines on my forehead have faded a little, and I didn’t break out once. I hope you will enjoy the serum just as much!

Benefits of homemade anti-aging serum

Let’s look at the key benefits of this DIY anti-aging serum:

• Repair: The skin loses collagen and elastin as we age, making it appear thinner and laxer. The serum is enriched with additives that promote firmer skin and reduce fine lines. Furthermore, the liposomes, fatty acids, and squalane help to repair the skin barrier.
• Protect: The serum contains antioxidants that protect your skin from the elements and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is caused by free radicals and can contribute to the reduction of collagen and cell damage. Introducing antioxidants in your skincare regimen is essential to combat oxidative stress.
• Moisturize: The oils in this facial serum are powerful moisturizers and nourishers that give your skin a dewy glow. Skin dryness increases with age, and good moisturization becomes more relevant.

Ingredients for anti-aging face serum

You’ll find a few excellent anti-aging serum recipes online. But my anti-wrinkle serum is different because it doesn’t rely on nourishing oils alone. It also includes active ingredients that make it a high-effective skincare product for aging skin.

All ingredients are green-certified/ECOCERT-approved, meaning they are suitable for natural skin care.

Pomegranate seed oil

Pomegranate seed oil is the star of this face serum for mature skin. The oil is chockful of nutrients and antioxidants that are touted to provide anti-aging benefits to the skin.

A study showed that the high vitamin C levels found in pomegranates promote cell regeneration, which helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and age spots. (source) Vitamin C can also increase collagen and replenish the skin’s natural vitamin C content. (source)

The oil’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities are helpful to tame inflammation + acne breakouts and reduce oxidative stress. (source)

The antioxidants also balance the hydration level of your skin.

I also found studies that suggest pomegranate seed oil may provide natural UV protection to some extent (but not enough to skip your SPF!). (source)

Acai oil and moringa oil are excellent replacements for pomegranate oil.

Argan oil

Next on the ingredient list is argan oil, used as beauty oil by Moroccan women for centuries. And for good reason! Argan is a rich source of vitamins and essential nutrients that can improve skin health.

The oil is an excellent moisturizer that improves water retention in the skin thanks to vitamin E. Vitamin E also blocks free radicals on the skin, which play a major part in skin aging.

Argan oil’s reputation as an anti-aging oil is well documented by science. A study showed that the topical application of argan oil led to a significant increase in skin elasticity. (source)

According to another study, argan oil also offers some protection from sun damage and even improves the signs of photoaging. (source) Again, you don’t want to forgo your SPF, though.

And the list continues: argan oil also elevates several other skin conditions, like rosacea or acne, and reduces excess sebum production, which is helpful to treat acne.

Jojoba oil is a good substitute for argan oil.

Squalane oil

Squalane oil helps to boost hydration levels, seal moisture into the skin, and increase collagen. The oil also replenishes the skin’s lipid layer, making the skin appear smoother.

Furthermore, squalane is said that the oil’s anti-inflammatory properties may reduce swelling and redness. (source)

The oil is an excellent emollient and skin softener. It’s similar to the skin’s natural oils and clinically proven to be non-irritating. (source)

What I love most is that the oil is lightweight and doesn’t feel grease. The oil sinks quickly into the skin and improves the absorption of the other ingredients.

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Optional ingredients

I’ve listed the following materials as optional as they are costly and may not be available where you live. But if you can afford it, I highly recommend you purchase the ceramide liposome complex and Dermofeel sensolv. They turn this homemade face serum into an anti-aging powerhouse.

• Vitamin E (tocopherol) acts as a natural antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals while helping to moisturize and soften the skin. It also protects the oils from oxidation and prolongs shelf life.
• Ceramide liposome: Ceramides make up half of the lipids in the skin. Ceramides are lost as the skin ages, and the skin’s protective layer is diminished. The ceramide liposome complex can restore a disrupted skin barrier, promote collagen creation, and prevent transepidermal water loss.
• Dermafeel sensolv (isoamyl laurate) gives the serum a velvety-soft and non-greasy skin feel and quick absorption. The product also has occlusive and natural refatting properties. It forms a breathable barrier that helps to protect the skin from the outside environment.
• Myrrh essential oil offers great support for mature skin. The essential oil is said to reduce redness and improve the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars.
• Helichrysum essential oil has a rejuvenating and skin-supporting effect. The EO may reduce skin inflammation, stimulate cell regeneration, target aging spots and fine lines.

Plant Therapy offers an anti-aging essential oil blend that is more affordable than buying the oils individually. Their blend contains palmarosa, Rosalina, copaiba, frankincense, sandalwood, neroli, and rose – all of which are thought to be beneficial for aging skin.

You can find more info about making an anti-aging face serum with essential oils in the DIY card below.

How to make anti-aging serum at home

Let me show you how to make anti-aging serum at home. It couldn’t be easier!

Step 1: Mix ingredients

• Add the argan oil, squalane, pomegranate seed oil, vitamin E, ceramide liposome, Dermafeel, and essential oils into a small glass beaker.
• Stir until everything is well combined. The ceramide liposome and vitamin E have a dense consistency and may take a few moments to dissolve. The serum is ready when you can no longer see streaks of individual ingredients.

Step 2: Store

• Transfer the face serum into a glass dropper bottle.
• Store airtight, away from direct sunlight and heat.

I like to prepare my serums in small glass beakers to see if everything is incorporating well. You can also directly mix the serum in the bottle. To do this, simply add the ingredients, close tightly, and give the bottle a good shake.

How to use serum for aging skin

Time to apply our DIY face serum for aging skin! You can apply the serum to the face, neck, and chest area. Here’s what you do:

1. Cleanse your skin with a mild cleanser.
2. Tone, exfoliate or apply any other active treatment you might be using.
3. For the best effect, spray your face with a hydrating face mist before applying the serum.
4. Layer on the serum. Apply a few drops on your fingertips and gently dab the serum over your skin. Use your whole hand to press the serum onto your neck and chest.
5. Smooth out the serum from the nose to your ears, the eyebrows to the hairline, and from the neck to the jawline.
6. Continue with the rest of your skincare routine, e.g. moisturizer and SPF.

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Anti-aging serum FAQ

Who can use this homemade serum?

While I formulated the serum with mature skin in mind, everyone can benefit from this homemade anti-aging product.  The skin begins to age in our 20s as part of the natural aging process. Factors such as lifestyle habits and environmental influences can speed up skin aging.

The serum is oil-based and should work fine for dry, sensitive, normal, and mature skin. Your skin will profit from the extra nourishment and moisture boost. If you have very sensitive skin, prepare the serum without essential oils and vitamin E.

The formula can be too heavy for combination, acne-prone and oily skin. Of course, you can always try it out and see how your skin reacts.

Can I use the anti-aging serum daily?

Yes, you can use the serum daily as long as you don’t notice any irritations.

Should I apply the anti-aging serum in the morning or at night?

You can use the facial serum morning and night. It’s a wonderful option for the morning to keep your skin moisturized and protected throughout the day. Just be sure to finish off with SPF. The product also works well as a bedtime serum and can help replenish your skin while you sleep.

Can I use face serum before makeup?

Yes, probably. Everyone uses different brands and applies their makeup differently, so you’ll have to do a test. Just be sure to wait until the serum is fully absorbed into the skin.

I have dry skin and find that the serum is excellent to layer foundation on top. If it doesn’t work for you, simply use it as a night serum.

Can I add retinol to the serum?

Yes! Adding retinol or a retinoid to serum will boost the serum’s anti-aging properties even further. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, offers many skincare benefits. It’s said to improve texture, smooth wrinkles, stimulate collagen production, and tackle age spots.

But it also comes with side effects, such as redness or irritation, so proceed with caution, especially if you have sensitive skin. Use the serum only twice for the first week and every other day in the second week.

Feel free to enrich the face serum with:

• 10 drops vitamin A palmitate (that’s a milder form of retinol)
• 8 drops vitamin A liposomes (this is high-dose encapsulated retinol)

When can I expect results?

How long it takes to see results will vary from person to person. You’ll probably notice the deep moisturizing effect immediately, but other benefits may take longer to manifest.

It’s good practice to be patient and have realistic expectations. Natural skincare is a long-term game, and improvements won’t happen overnight. Even the best anti-aging serum can’t erase deep wrinkles, and homemade remedies will never be as effective as dermatological procedures.

Storage + shelf life

To avoid light and heat, keep the DIY anti-aging serum in a cool, dry place, for example, a cupboard. A cobalt or amber dropper bottle provides extra protection for the light-sensitive ingredients.

If made with fresh materials, the homemade serum will last for 9 months to a year.

More face serum recipes

If you enjoy this DIY facial serum, you might enjoy our other serum recipes, too:

• serum for sensitive skin with rosehip seed oil
• plum oil serum
• hyaluronic acid serum with aloe vera