How to make a brightening cacay under-eye oil

If you’re looking to nourish and rejuvenate your under-eye area with a luxurious, natural product, I’ve got just the thing for you.

In this post, I’ll show you how to make a brightening under-eye oil using botanical ingredients like oat oil, cacay oil, tomato seed oil, prickly pear oil, coffee oil, and coenzyme Q10. This lightweight oil is designed to refresh, revitalise, and deeply nourish your skin.

It’s incredibly easy to make, feels amazing on the skin, and only takes a few minutes to make. Ready to give it a try? Let me show you how!

What is an eye oil?

An eye oil is a product designed to be applied under the eyes as part of your daily skincare routine. It typically contains nourishing oils and active ingredients that target concerns like dark circles, puffiness, and dryness.

For this oil (or eye serum), I’ve selected a luxurious blend of botanical oils along with coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E to help brighten and nourish your under-eye area.

Why make this under-eye oil?

If you’ve been struggling with puffiness or dark circles*, you need to make this cacay under-eye oil. Here are just a few of its amazing benefits:

• Brightens and revitalises: Helps improve the appearance of tired under-eyes for a more refreshed look.
• Nourishing yet lightweight: Absorbs effortlessly without feeling greasy, making it perfect for daily use.
• Packed with botanicals: Features a blend of high-performance botanicals that deliver deep nourishment and antioxidant protection.
• Natural and eco-friendly: Made with natural, skin-loving ingredients and packaged in eco-conscious packaging.

In sum, this under-eye oil is ideal if you’re looking for an indulgent yet effective step in your skincare routine, to restore brightness and nourishment to tired under-eyes.

Oh, and did I mention it’s super easy to make?

* Important note: Dark circles and puffiness around the eyes can have multiple causes, including genetics, lifestyle, and overall health. While this under-eye oil is formulated with nourishing botanicals to help improve the appearance of the under-eye area, it’s important to set realistic expectations. A serum like this cannot provide drastic or instant changes. Instead, this formulation focuses on deeply moisturising and nourishing the delicate skin around the eyes. Well-moisturised skin can often lead to a better complexion.

Key ingredients

This brightening cacay under-eye oil is a luxurious blend of powerful botanical oils, designed to nourish, brighten and rejuvenate the delicate under-eye area. Here’s a quick breakdown of its key ingredients and their benefits:

1. Oat oil

INCI: Avena Sativa Kernel Oil

Rich in ceramides and essential fatty acids, oat oil soothes and nourishes, helping to restore the skin barrier and reduce irritation around the sensitive under-eye area. You can find out more about the skin barrier in the post below:

Skin barrier 101: Essential guide for natural cosmetic formulators

2. Cacay oil

INCI: Caryodendron Orinocense Seed Oil

Cacay oil is the hero ingredient of this formulation. This cold-pressed oil is rich in vitamin E but also omegas 6, 9, and 3, making it nourishing yet fast-absorbing, so it sinks into the skin without any heaviness.

I sourced this oil from Primegreen, a wholesaler of premium-quality, speciality natural ingredients for cosmetic formulations. Primegreen’s cacay oil is sustainably sourced from South America, where the nuts, primarily from Colombia, fall naturally during the rainy season—making it a regenerative and eco-conscious choice.

3. Tomato seed oil

INCI: Solanum Lycopersicum Seed Oil

Loaded with lycopene and antioxidants, tomato seed oil helps protect against environmental damage, brightens dull skin, and supports an even skin tone.

You can find out more about antioxidants in our dedicated Antioxidants Mini Lab, available exclusively to members of Formula Botanica’s Lab.

4. Green coffee oil

INCI: Coffea Arabica Seed Oil 

Known for its energising properties, green coffee oil helps reduce puffiness and improve circulation, leaving tired eyes looking refreshed and awake.

5. Prickly pear oil

INCI: Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil

Rich in vitamin K, prickly pear oil helps reduce dark circles while providing a boost of nourishment and antioxidants.

6.  Vitamin E

INCI: Tocopherol

A powerful natural antioxidant, vitamin E supports skin repair, locks in moisture, and protects against free radicals, promoting healthy, glowing skin. It also prevents your eye oil from going rancid. Find out more about the incredible benefits of antioxidants below:

The formulator’s guide to antioxidants in cosmetics

7.  Coenzyme Q10

INCI: Ubiquinone

Last but not certainly not least, we have coenzyme Q10. This powerful coenzyme helps revitalise skin cells, support collagen production, and combat signs of ageing by reducing oxidative stress, leaving your under-eye area vibrant and refreshed.

Together, these ingredients create a synergistic blend that deeply nourishes, brightens, and revitalises your under-eye area, for refreshed under-eyes.

You can find out more about these ingredients in our dedicated Ingredient Library, available exclusively to members of the Lab at Formula Botanica.

Make a brightening cacay under-eye oil

Now for the exciting part—let’s make a brightening eye oil! This cacay under-eye oil is lightweight and fast-absorbing and sinks effortlessly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. It also has a subtle coffee scent and a vibrant orange colour that won’t tint your skin.

What I love most about this oil is how easy it is to apply. I’ve chosen a roller ball applicator for a cooling, soothing sensation that feels like a mini spa treatment. Plus, the oil is light enough for my sensitive eye area, offering nourishing properties without any heaviness. The star ingredient here is cacay oil, which I sourced from Primegreen, known for its incredible nourishing properties.

While some of the oils are a bit more unique, they add a luxurious touch to the blend. If you’re looking to reduce costs, you can substitute prickly pear oil with more oat oil without compromising on quality. Feel free to experiment and swap oils based on your preferences or skin’s needs. Here are a few ideas to inspire you:

Top 10 botanical oils every formulator needs

10 best zero-waste oils for skincare and haircare

10 best Winter carrier oils for skin & hair

You can also check out our Botanical Oils Mini Lab on our exclusive membership site, the Lab at Formula Botanica.

Our free 4-step formulation: Brightening cacay oil

Makes: 50g

Level: Beginner-friendly

This eye oil serum is specially formulated for the delicate under-eye area and comes in a convenient 10ml roll-on bottle, though it can also be packaged in a dropper bottle if preferred. For best results, I recommend making a 50g batch, as smaller batches can be tricky to measure accurately, especially with the CoQ10. This batch size will give you approximately five roller bottles.

Equipment:

• Glass beakers
• Glass rod
• Mini whisk
• Scales
• Pipettes
• Packaging: dropper or roller bottle

Formulation method:

Here’s how to make a brightening under-eye oil with cacay oil, in just 4 easy steps:

Step 1: Prepare your workspace

Start by setting up your workspace and laying out your ingredients. Make sure your space and equipment are sanitised. We teach you all about setting up a professional lab space from home in our foundation and award-winning Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation.

Step 2: Weigh all your oils in a beaker

Next, weigh all your oils in a beaker, taring your scales after each addition (simply press the “tare” button on your scale). Just to recap, that’s 18 grams of oat oil, 7.5 grams of cacay oil, 17.5 grams of tomato seed oil, 5 grams of green coffee oil, and 1.5 grams of prickly pear oil. Congratulations: you’re already halfway there!

Step 3: Add the CoQ10 and vitamin E to your beaker

Once you’ve weighed each oil, add your CoQ10 and stir the mixture thoroughly using a mini whisk until the blend is completely uniform with no visible swirls. If the CoQ10 doesn’t fully dissolve, it’s often because the oils are too cold. To fix this, gently warm the mixture (no more than 40°C) to help the CoQ10 dissolve fully into the oils. Then, add your vitamin E and mix everything together until well combined.

Step 4: Package and label

And finally, pour your finished eye oil into your chosen packaging and label. And that’s it! Your eye oil is now ready to use. I hope you enjoy it!

Formulation notes & tips:

If you’re using powdered CoQ10, it can be difficult to fully dissolve in cold oils. I encountered this challenge when my oils were too cold, so I gently warmed the oils (under 40°C) to help the CoQ10 dissolve completely. This step ensures a smooth, even blend, giving you the perfect consistency and efficacy.

Learn how to make your own skincare

See how easy that was? In just a few minutes and four simple steps, you’ve created your very own brightening eye oil using powerful, nourishing botanicals.  I hope you love using your new eye oil as much as you enjoyed making it. If so, comment below and let me know what you’d like to see next!

If you’d like to learn how to create more of your own skincare products (as I’m sure you do), make sure to check out our free mini formulation course.

FAQ

What is an eye oil?

An eye oil is typically a lightweight, nourishing product specifically designed for the delicate skin around the eyes. It usually contains a blend of botanical oils, antioxidants, and active ingredients that target common concerns like dark circles, puffiness, and fine lines.

How do use this brightening eye oil?

To use this eye oil, apply a small amount under your eyes using the rollerball applicator. Gently massage the oil into the skin using the applicator or your fingertips. You can use it as part of your daily skincare routine, either in the morning or evening, or both. The rollerball applicator helps cool and soothe the skin while promoting lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness and dark circles.

Suggested suppliers

I live in the UK so I sourced my ingredients from INKY Ingredients, except for the cacay oil, which I sourced from Primegreen, and the CoQ10 from Alexmo. But don’t worry if you’re in a different location! I’ve listed some other great suppliers below, many of which offer international shipping.

Aroma-Zone (EU)
Aromantic (UK)
Alexmo Cosmetics (EU)
Manske (EU)
The Soap Kitchen (UK)
Ellemental  (EU)
Lotioncrafter (USA)
Essential Labs (USA)
Go Native NZ (New Zealand)
Naturally Balmy (UK)
O&3 – The Oil Family (UK/EU)
Soap & More (Canada)
Handymade (EU)

Leave us a comment

comments

Brooke Medhurst

Brooke Medhurst is a Tutor at Formula Botanica. Find out more about the Formula Botanica Team.