As the days shorten and the air turns crisp across Australia, your skin starts sending signals. That subtle tightness after cleansing, the dry patches appearing around the nose and cheeks, the foundation that suddenly clings to dry skin rather than sitting smoothly — these are all signs that your skin's needs are shifting with the season.
Autumn is the ideal time to introduce a face oil into your routine, or to update the one you already use. A well-formulated face oil does not replace your moisturiser; rather, it works alongside it to reinforce the skin's lipid barrier, slow transepidermal water loss, and deliver fat-soluble nutrients that water-based products cannot provide. And the good news for
DIY formulators is that a basic face oil is one of the simplest formulations you can make — no emulsification, no preservatives, no specialist equipment required.
This guide walks you through the entire process: understanding why skin changes in autumn, how to choose the right oils for the season, and a step-by-step recipe you can make at home using cosmetic-grade ingredients from The Skin Science Company.
Why Skin Changes in Autumn
The seasonal shift from summer to autumn brings lower humidity, cooler temperatures, and — in many parts of Australia — drier air, particularly in Melbourne, Canberra, and the southern states. These environmental changes affect the skin in several interconnected ways.
The skin's natural moisturising factor (NMF) — a collection of water-soluble compounds in the outer layer of the skin that help retain moisture — is sensitive to humidity. As ambient humidity drops, the skin's ability to hold water in the stratum corneum decreases, leading to increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This is experienced as dryness, tightness, and sometimes flakiness.
At the same time, sebaceous gland activity often decreases slightly in cooler weather, meaning the skin produces less of its own natural oil. For those with naturally oily skin, this can actually be a welcome change — but for those with normal, combination, or dry skin, it can tip the balance toward dryness.
A face oil addresses both of these issues. The lipid content of the oil helps seal the skin's surface, reducing TEWL, while the fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins in the oil nourish the skin at a cellular level. The key is choosing oils that are appropriate for your skin type and the season.
Choosing Your Autumn Oils
Not all carrier oils are equally suited to an autumn face oil. The ideal seasonal blend combines a lightweight base oil (to ensure the formula absorbs well and does not feel heavy), a nourishing secondary oil (to deliver richer fatty acids and nutrients), and optionally a potent specialty oil (used at a low percentage for targeted benefit).
Here is a breakdown of the best options from the SSC range, organised by their role in the formula:
| Role in Blend | Oil | Key Property | Suggested % | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base / Carrier | Jojoba Oil | Wax ester, mimics sebum, non-comedogenic | 30–50% | All skin types |
| Base / Carrier | Argan Oil | Oleic + linoleic balance, vitamin E rich | 20–40% | Normal, dry, mature |
| Nourishing Secondary | Rosehip Oil | High linoleic, fast-absorbing, antioxidant-rich | 15–25% | All types, especially mature |
| Nourishing Secondary | Macadamia Oil | High palmitoleic acid (omega-7 ), skin-identical | 10–20% | Dry, mature, sensitive |
| Nourishing Secondary | Avocado Oil | Rich oleic acid, deeply penetrating | 10–20% | Dry, very dry skin |
| Specialty / Booster | Evening Primrose Oil | High GLA (gamma-linolenic acid ), barrier support | 5–10% | Sensitive, hormonal, dry |
| Specialty / Booster | Tamanu Oil | Calophyllolide, supports skin appearance | 2–5% | Uneven texture, blemish-prone |
| Antioxidant Stabiliser | Vitamin E Oil | Tocopherol, prevents oxidation, extends shelf life | 0.5–1% | All formulations |
The Autumn Face Oil Recipe
The following recipe is designed for normal to dry skin transitioning into the cooler months. It produces approximately 30 ml — enough for 4–6 weeks of daily use. All percentages are by weight; a digital scale accurate to 0.1 g is recommended for precision.
| Ingredient | Percentage | Weight (for 30 ml batch) | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jojoba Oil | 40% | 12 g | Lightweight base, sebum-balancing |
| Argan Oil | 25% | 7.5 g | Nourishing base, antioxidant-rich |
| Rosehip Oil | 20% | 6 g | Linoleic-rich, fast-absorbing |
| Macadamia Oil | 10% | 3 g | Palmitoleic acid, skin-identical |
| Evening Primrose Oil | 4% | 1.2 g | GLA booster, barrier support |
| Vitamin E Oil | 1% | 0.3 g | Antioxidant, shelf-life extension |
| Total | 100% | 30 g |
Step-by-Step Method
Making a face oil is genuinely simple. Because this is an anhydrous (water-free) formulation, you do not need to worry about emulsification or preservation — the oils themselves are self-preserving when stored correctly.
What you will need: A digital scale accurate to 0.1 g, a clean glass beaker or measuring cup, a glass stirring rod or small spatula, a 30 ml amber glass dropper bottle, and isopropyl alcohol (70%) for sanitising your equipment.
Step 1 — Sanitise your equipment. Wipe down all surfaces, tools, and your bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol and allow to air dry completely before beginning. This prevents microbial contamination.
Step 2 — Weigh each oil separately. Using your digital scale, weigh each oil directly into your glass beaker, starting with the largest quantity (jojoba) and working down to the smallest (vitamin E). Tare the scale between each addition.
Step 3 — Stir gently. Use your glass rod to stir the blend for 30–60 seconds until fully combined. Face oils do not require heat — all oils in this formula are liquid at room temperature.
Step 4 — Transfer to your bottle. Using a small funnel if needed, pour the blend into your amber glass dropper bottle. Seal immediately.
Step 5 — Label your bottle. At minimum, record the batch date and the ingredient list (INCI names). If you are making this for sale, you will need to comply with Australian cosmetic labelling requirements.
Shelf life: Approximately 6–9 months, stored in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. The rosehip and evening primrose oils are the most susceptible to oxidation — the vitamin E addition helps extend their stability.
How to Use Your Autumn Face Oil
A face oil is most effective when applied to slightly damp skin, as the oil helps lock in the residual moisture. Apply 3–5 drops to your fingertips, warm briefly between your palms, and press gently into the skin using upward strokes. It can be used morning or evening, either alone or layered over a water-based serum and under a moisturiser.
For daytime use, allow the oil to absorb for 1–2 minutes before applying SPF. If you find the blend too rich for morning use, reserve it for your evening routine and use a lighter oil (such as pure jojoba) in the morning.
Variations for Different Skin Types
The recipe above is a starting point, not a fixed formula. Here are some simple adjustments based on skin type:
For oily or combination skin: Reduce argan oil to 15% and increase jojoba to 50%. Replace evening primrose with rosehip oil at the same percentage. Omit avocado oil entirely.
For very dry or mature skin: Swap 10% of the jojoba for avocado oil and increase evening primrose to 8%. Add tamanu oil at 3% (reducing jojoba accordingly) for additional skin-support properties.
For sensitive skin: Keep the formula as written but reduce evening primrose to 2% and replace with additional jojoba. Avoid tamanu oil until you have patch-tested it separately.
Ready to Formulate?
All of the oils in this recipe are available in cosmetic-grade quality from The Skin Science Company, with fast 2–3 day dispatch across Australia. Whether you are making a single 30 ml batch for personal use or scaling up to small batch production, you will find everything you need in our Carrier Oils collection.
All products from The Skin Science Company are intended for cosmetic use only. Nothing in this article constitutes medical advice or makes therapeutic claims. Always patch-test new ingredients before incorporating them into a full formulation.
