TUTORIAL: How to Make Natural Lotion at Home

Although i do sell my soaps and luscious lotions* at market (and online!), I thought it would be nice to share a tutorial with my readers and other folks looking to live more sustainably and frugally. Making lotion isn't difficult, it IS messy. You can use 'emulsifying wax' but it is NOT all natural. My mission to fill our kitchen and bathroom cupboards with all homemade products is not just for frugality or self sustainability, but also to transition to as many all natural products as possible to further enhance our health and hygeine as well as the health of the environment. Less packaging purchased is less waste in the landfill, fewer chemicals used on our bodies leads to increased health and less toxic runoff into the environment, and the fewer things i have to buy at the store helps my bank account stay more robust. On top of all of that - knowing how to make your own lotion, soap, tooth powder, jam, bread, etc leads to a more satisfied living experience: i'm no longer limited to what scents or flavors are available in the store because i can create recipes suited to my palette and need. Slathering my hands with homemade lemongrass lotion isn't just delightful smelling, but fills me with pride. This recipe is adapted from Rosemary Gladstar's recipes, found adapted at BrightHub.com.

Don't feel like making it yourself? Support your friendly blogger and benefit from my years of experience in lotion and soap making: Shop GoNudeSoap.com to buy our Everywhere Cream!

How to make all natural body and hand cream at home:

Equipment and ingredients needed:

• Blender
• Spatula
• Thermometer (meat)
• Double boiler or pot with a measuring pyrex or bowl suspended in the water
• Clean jars
• Coconut oil (can also use jojoba or sweet almond)
• Olive oil
• Beeswax (100% pure)
• Distilled or purified water
• Borax
• Essential oils
• Optional aloe vera gel and vitamin E

I make my lotion with half olive and half coconut oil. This results in a thick and intensely moisturizing lotion. Coconut oil is only solid until 76 degrees, so it will become a softer lotion in warmer temps, and melts into skin really nicely. The beeswax acts as an emulsifier and also protects skin from the elements. The borax helps the water to emulsify with the oils. Oil and water do not like to become one, so the trick in making lotion is to get the oils and the water to similar temps, between 90 and 115 seems ideal, and to pour the water directly in the center of the blending oil in a thin and constant stream, similar to making mayonnaise.  Do some research and choose oils that you like.  Olive oil is heavy and smells olive oily, but i like that. Almond oil is an excellent choice and very good for massage because it doesn't absorb into the skin as rapidly. You can also mix in some hemp seed or shea butter to your mix. In my next batch i plan on steeping some Calendula petals and other soothing herbs into the water for an even more healing lotion. My recipe is as follows:

• 1 ounce beeswax, shredded or pastilles
• 4 ounces olive oil (or sunflower oil)- (sub some almond, hemp, shea, or jojoba into this portion)
• 4 ounces coconut oil
• 3/4 to 1 cup water with 1/4 tsp borax mixed in

1. Shred beeswax. Beeswax is also available in little crumbles or 'pastilles.'

2. Weigh oils with a kitchen scale using the tare to get 1 oz wax, 4 ounces each other oil. Each 4 oz does not need to be exact, but the total should add up to 1 oz wax and 8 ounces oils.

3. Heat oils with a double boiler. Microwave is not recommended due to the high melting temperature of the wax.

4. Beeswax has a higher melting temp than the other oils, so continue melting until all the wax as melted, then keep on heat for several more minutes.

5. While oils are melting, warm up 3/4 to 1 cup water with borax well dissolved. I heat mine in the microwave. If using aloe, use 3/4 cup water and 1/4 cup aloe.

6. Pour melted oils into your blender (I keep a separate, large capacity blender just for lotion making) and allow to cool, stirring congealed oils off the sides of the blender occasionally. You can place the blender in the fridge, but be careful not to overly cool the mixture or it will solidify. Have patience!

 

7. Once oils and water have cooled to the same (ish) temperature, begin blending oil and add your essential oils and optional vitamin E oil. The vitamin E will act as a natural preservative to some extent.

8. While oil is blending, pour a thin stream of water into the center of the 'tornado' of oil. The mix will turn whitish and get a lotion consistency. Pour the first half or so of the water in a thin stream, then pour the rest in quickly as the lotion will congeal rapidly.

9. Stir and pulse blender a few times to well integrate the mixture.
10. Pour into jars and enjoy! The lotion will continue to thicken as it cools.

 

Yes, it's messy - but rub the lotion all over yourself and enjoy the fruits of your labors!

Homemade lotion contains no preservatives and should be used up quickly, which won't be a problem because it's so darned nice! You can extend shelf life by keeping it in the fridge or out of the sun. 2-3 months should be an estimated shelf life, but i've used some for as long as 6 months without problems. Discard lotion if you find spots of fuzzy mold (or just pick the mold off and live dangerously.)

Choose your essential oils based on health needs or just your favorite scent. Lemongrass smells divine and is good for stimulating the mind and mood. Rosemary is excellent on sore muscles and eucalyptus is a good healing oil. Play around with your favorite combinations and enjoy soft, supple skin!

Now you know that you don't have to rely on the grocery or body lotion stores to moisturize your skin. Customize a recipe that suits your needs and enjoy all natural moisturizing cream made by you, for a fraction of the cost and with no wasted packaging. The batch above cost me about $3 to make in about half an hour and yielded 15 ounces. All the ingredients are available at the grocery store, so have at it! Be sure and let me know if you try your hands at making lotion, I'd love to hear about your results. Remember that the secret is getting the water and oils at the same temperature before combining.
Enjoy!

*Our lotion recipe, and all tutorials found on this site are presented for your personal use only. Plus - lotion without a preservatives is illegal to sell! Tutorials and/or objects made from my tutorials may not be sold commercially (that includes Etsy or Ravelry!). If you want to sell something based on one of my tutorials, please email me at gonudesoap at gmail dot com and we'll try to work out a fair deal. Please play nicely! 

this post is found at the Simple Lives Thursday blog hop.