Beginner’s Homemade Lotion
Almost two years ago, I posted a super easy 3-ingredient moisturizer. Today, it still remains my most popular post. It is so simple that I’m reposting here with smaller quantities for those wanting to make a smaller batch. Lotion is nothing more than an emulsion of oil and water; you can make a base lotion with just one type of oil, water, and an emulsifier. To make approximately 6 fl. oz., you need:
- 2 tbsp olive oil (or almond oil or coconut oil)
- 2 tbsp emulsifying wax
- 2/3 cups water, boiling hot
In a 1-cup glass measurer, combine oil and wax. Heat until melted, either in a microwave or water bath. In another heatproof measuring cup, measure out 2/3 cups of hot, boiling water. Combine the water with the oil/wax mixture. Blend with a spoon, stick, or handheld stick blender. Let cool, occasionally blending as needed. Pour the lotion into a lotion tube while it is still warm and is the consistency of skim milk. Otherwise, it is difficult to get the lotion in the tube once it has completely cooled.
You can add 1 to 3 drops of essential oil per fl. oz.
Note that these are volume measurements and therefore make a great starting point. But if you want to get a little more serious with lotion-making, it is worthwhile to invest in a scale; kitchen cosmetics are more accurate and repeatable with weight measurements. Here’s my all-time favorite lotion recipe that is very similar to this one but uses weight measurements.
Kitchen cosmetics share many of the same ingredients as food and like food, they are perishables. Without preservatives, which I do not advocate using as it defeats the whole purpose of homemade, this lotion has a much shorter shelf life than what you’d find in the stores. So many factors affect shelf life – temperature, packaging, etc… that all I can say is make just enough to be used up within weeks or longer if refrigerated. Use the same judgement as you would with any perishables to determine when it’s past its prime. I can make this lotion in less than 15 minutes so for me, the short shelf life is worth the trade-off of no preservatives. Plus, homemade lotion is better for your skin and much cheaper. Read more on shelf life here.
Entering this post in the Mountain Rose Herbs recipe contest.
Comments
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time May 18, 2010 at 8:59 pm
ZnO is insoluble in oil and water. It does not dissolve in your lotion; as the mixture blends and cools, the particles are suspended in the medium. If you pour ZnO in water and leave it alone, you will notice it sinks to the bottom. Likewise in oil. The particles may clump up into larger white dots (a problem even with commercial ZnO sunscreens) but they will not break down from their original size.
Comment from louise
Time June 12, 2010 at 4:12 pm
i have been making a similar lotion for almost a year, adding vitamin e oil as an antioxidant and some essential oil for scent and therapeutic benefit. recently, i’ve added a preservative to get a better shelf life (i had problems with mould): a combination of Benzoic Acid and Sorbic Acid in Benzyl Alcohol. no parabens, formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing substances and is classed natural under the German BDIH recommendation for Natural Cosmetic Products and is compliant with EU Cosmetics Directives.
this is the best compromise i’ve found on the preservative front- any thoughts?
see here http://www.aussiesoapsupplies.com.au/Preservative-NB-pr-856.html
i love your blog!
Comment from Wabi Sabi Baby
Time June 22, 2010 at 8:59 am
@Louise
Preservative systems are not one-size-fits-all and very dependent on the formulation. The one you mentioned requires adjusting the pH to be more on the acidic side. I do not use preservatives since it is for personal use and I do not sell and therefore, do not need to follow the industry guidelines of having a shelf life of 18-24 mths. It is not natural for perishables that are not canned processed and stored at room temperature to last that long without growing mold. I use the same logic with kitchen cosmetics as I do with homecooked foods; I do not add food grade preservatives just so my food’s shelf life would be closer to commercially prepared foods. Likewise with lotion. No preservatives for me, synthetic or organic certified. The trade-off is less convenience and a much shorter shelf life and using your senses to know when a perishable is past its prime. It is a trade-off I’m willing to live with and my point here is to show that you can make lotion in such a short time (I do it in less than 15 minutes from start to cleanup) that it is not an inconvenience at all. And I have fun doing it just as I enjoy homecooking. I have much more to say and probably need to devote an entire blog post. For now, I hope this helps clarify my position and why. Note that just because I don’t add preservatives to my homemade goods does not mean that I do not buy products with preservatives in them – totally different standards.
Comment from Tami Barrett
Time May 18, 2010 at 12:46 pm
I have a question about the ZnO2 in sunscreen. Last year I made my sunscreen using non-micronized ZnO2 and without warming any ingredients. This year I made my own lotion, adding the non-micronized ZnO2 to the warm oil in which it dissolved. It occurred to me that once the powder dissolved, it’s the same as micronized, and could therefore be absorbed by the skin. What are your thoughts on this?
Thank you