Using lotion is a great way to hydrate your skin while reducing itching and redness. Lotion is an emulsion made from oil, water, and emulsifier to mix the ingredients. If you're bothered by the chemicals in commercial lotions, you can make your own lotion at home. Whether it's a body, hand, or face lotion, you just need a few ingredients, some of which you probably already have at home. Meanwhile, other ingredients are easy to buy at health and natural ingredients stores or online stores.
Ingredients
Easy and Fast Lotion
- cup (100 g) raw shea butter
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
Non-Oily Body Lotion
- 1 cup (225 g) pure aloe vera juice
- cup (110 g) grated beeswax
- cup (110 g) sweet almond oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vitamin E oil
- 15 drops of essential oil
Hand and Body Lotion
- cup (50 g) coconut oil
- cup (70 g) shea butter
- cup (70 g) cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) aloe vera juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) almond oil
- 5-10 drops of essential oil
Super Moisturizing Face and Body Lotion
- cup (100 g) shea butter
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sweet almond oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops rosemary essential oil
- 3 drops carrot seed essential oil
- 3 drops tea tree essential oil
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making Lotion Quick and Easy
Step 1. Melt the shea butter in a team saucepan
Place cup (100 g) of raw shea butter in a bowl or glass jar. Fill a medium saucepan with 8-10 cm of water, then place a glass container of shea butter in the saucepan. Slowly bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat until the shea butter is completely melted (about 10-15 minutes).
- Stir the shea butter while it heats up to melt evenly.
- You can also buy raw shea butter at health and organic grocery stores, or at beauty stores. Some online sites also sell it.
Step 2. Add olive oil
Once the shea butter has melted, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil to a glass bowl. Stir this mixture so that all ingredients are evenly mixed.
If you prefer, you can substitute olive oil for almond oil or avocado oil
Step 3. Transfer the mixture to a bowl then refrigerate
Once combined, pour the shea butter and olive oil mixture into a bowl. Set the bowl aside in the refrigerator and allow the mixture to cool and begin to harden (about 30-40 minutes).
Step 4. Blend the lotion
Once the mixture has hardened, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Use a hand blender or immersion blender to blend the mixture until it's smooth and creamy (about 30 seconds to 1 minute).
If you don't have a hand blender or immersion blender, you can grind this lotion by hand. Use a stirrer to whisk the solution until thick
Step 5. Place the lotion in a storage container
Once the texture and consistency are right, use a spatula to transfer the lotion into a covered storage container. The lotion can usually be used for 3-6 months if stored at room temperature.
Mason jars are perfect for storing lotion
Method 2 of 4: Making Non-Oily Body Lotion
Step 1. Mix aloe vera juice, vitamin E oil, and essential oil
Place 1 cup (225 g) pure aloe vera juice, 1 tablespoon (5 ml) vitamin E oil, and 15 drops of your favorite essential oil in a medium bowl. Use a spoon to slowly mix all the ingredients together. Set aside for a moment.
- You can replace aloe vera juice with distilled water or herbal tea if you like.
- The main benefit of essential oils is to give the lotion its fragrance. So, you can use any combination of essential oils you like. Lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, grapefruit, patchouli, rose, and jasmine essential oils are some options you can consider.
- The aloe vera gel mixture should be allowed to come to room temperature. Place the bowl in a large saucepan of warm water to help increase the temperature of the mixture to near the temperature of the beeswax mixture to be added later. That way, you can easily mix the two together.
Step 2. Heat the beeswax and sweet almond oil in a team saucepan
Place cup (110 g) of grated beeswax and cup (110 g) of sweet almond oil in a cup or measuring cup, or bowl, then simmer the water over medium-high heat until all the beeswax has melted (10-15 minutes). Remove the beeswax mixture from the stove.
- Stir the beeswax periodically as it heats so that it melts evenly.
- Usually, beeswax can be purchased from local farmers' markets, health food stores, and organic grocery stores. In addition, beeswax is also widely sold in online stores.
Step 3. Transfer the beeswax mixture to a blender then puree
Pour the beeswax mixture into a blender funnel and let it cool for 5-7 minutes. Next, turn on the blender on low speed to slowly smooth the mixture.
Step 4. Add the aloe vera gel mixture gradually
With the blender still running on low speed, slowly pour the aloe vera gel mixture into the beeswax mixture. Continue to smooth the mixture until it is thick and creamy (about 15 seconds).
- You may have to turn off the blender every now and then while smoothing the lotion and scrape the sides with a spatula to mix everything well.
- If any liquid builds up on the surface of the lotion mixture, turn off the blender and then push the liquid into the cream mixture with a spatula before starting to smooth it again.
Step 5. Put the lotion in a jar or storage container
Once the lotion has reached the right consistency, turn off the blender. Use a spatula to carefully transfer the lotion into a jar or storage container with a lid. The lotion should be used for 2-3 months.
Store the lotion in the fridge if you don't plan on using it for the next 2-3 months to help extend its shelf life for another 2-3 months
Method 3 of 4: Making Hand and Body Lotion
Step 1. Heat the coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter on the stove
Place cup (50 g) coconut oil, cup (70 g) shea butter, and cup (70 g) cocoa butter in a small saucepan. Place the pan on the stove and heat it over low heat until it is completely melted (10-15 minutes).
- To prevent the lotion from solidifying after mixing, it's best to use raw shea butter.
- Stir the mixture as it heats up to melt evenly.
Step 2. Add other ingredients
Once the coconut oil mixture has melted, remove the pan from the heat. Add 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of aloe vera juice, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sweet almond oil and 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Stir until all ingredients are completely mixed.
- You can replace almond oil with jojoba oil if you like.
- You can use any combination of essential oils you like. However, it's a good idea to include oils that are efficacious for the skin problem you want to treat.
- For example, if your skin is dry or aging, rose and geranium essential oils are a great choice.
- For skin problems such as eczema or psoriasis, jasmine, rose, chamomile, lavender, and sandalwood essential oils are suitable.
- If you want to make a refreshing lotion, use grapefruit or lemon essential oil.
- If you want to prevent stretch marks, add lavender, neroli, patchouli, rose, and/or geranium essential oils.
Step 3. Transfer the lotion to a storage container
Once all the ingredients are well mixed, use a spoon to transfer them into a jar or other storage container. The lotion should be used for 1-2 months.
- Small tin jars are suitable as lotion containers.
- While the lotion shouldn't spoil for up to 2 months if stored at room temperature, storing the lotion in the refrigerator can extend its shelf life by several months.
Method 4 of 4: Making a Super Moisturizing Face and Body Lotion
Step 1. Melt the shea butter and mix it with the almond oil
Place cup (100 g) of shea butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until completely melted (about 10 minutes). Next, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of sweet almond oil, stir to combine, and remove the pan from the heat.
- Stir the shea butter periodically as it heats so that it melts evenly.
- You can replace almond oil with other oils that are also nutritious. Jojoba, avocado, and apricot oils are some great choices.
Step 2. Transfer the shea butter mixture to a bowl and chill in the freezer
Pour the shea butter mixture into a freezer-proof bowl then cover with plastic wrap. Set the bowl in the freezer to cool the mixture until it hardens slightly (about 15-20 minutes).
Don't let this mixture freeze, just put it in the freezer until it hardens a little. Do not leave the mixture in the freezer for more than 20 minutes
Step 3. Add essential oil and mix well
Once it looks solid, remove the shea butter mixture from the freezer. Add 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of rosemary essential oil, 3 drops of carrot seed essential oil, and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Use a mixer to mix all the ingredients until they are light and thick like whipped cream.
You may find it easier to mix the lotion with a mixer
Step 4. Scoop the lotion into a glass jar
Once the consistency is right, transfer the lotion to a glass container with a lid. Store the lotion at room temperature. The lotion should not spoil for up to 1 year.
- This lotion can be used on the face and body.
- You don't need to store lotion in the fridge. However, storing the lotion in the refrigerator can extend its shelf life by several months.
Tips
- Because this lotion doesn't contain chemical preservatives like commercially available products, it doesn't last very long. It's a good idea to make the lotion little by little so that it is used up within 1 or 2 months. That way, you don't have to waste too much lotion.
- To get the best moisture, rub this homemade lotion onto slightly damp skin to help trap moisture and leave skin smooth and soft.
- Homemade lotion can make a wonderful gift. Place the lotion in a decorative jar then tie a ribbon around the jar with a gift tag.
