It is easy and pleasant to make your own lotion, cream, lip gloss and body butter. You can choose from a wide variety of oils, butters, herbs and essential oils to make custom blends. Lip gloss and salve are blends of oils and wax with essential oil for fragrance. They don't contain water. Body butter, lotion and cream are emulsions, water and oil emulsified with wax or glycerin to make the mixture stable. Body butter has less water than cream, and cream has less water than lotion.
Body Butter
Melt 1 oz. shea butter, 1 oz. cocoa butter, 4 tbsp. coconut oil and 2 tbsp. grated beeswax in the double boiler. Stir to completely combine.
Warm 1 1/4 tsp. liquid glycerin and 2 oz. distilled water to about 100 degrees F, in a separate container or until it feels very warm but not hot when tested on your wrist.
Mix the oils rapidly with a stick blender while very slowly pouring in the water and glycerin mixture. Beat until the mixture is cool and completely blended.
Beat in 10 drops of your favorite essential oil until well combined. Use a spatula to scrape the mixture into small clean jars and store in a cool place.
Lotion
Melt 1 cup almond oil and 1/2 cup grated beeswax together in the double boiler and stir until thoroughly combined.
Combine 1/3 cup each rosewater and glycerin. Pour slowly into the melted oil and beeswax while beating rapidly with the stick blender.
Beat until the mixture is cool and thoroughly emulsified. Beat in 1 tsp. rose fragrance oil and then pour the mixture into clear glass jars.
Massage Bar
Melt 3 tbsp. each grated beeswax and coconut oil together in double boiler.
Allow the beeswax and coconut oil to cool. Add 3 tbsp. sunflower oil. Stir until thoroughly combined and then add 1 tsp. essential oil. Stir again and then pour into a mold and allow to harden.
Rub the massage bar between your hands to soften the oils and then massage into your skin.
Tip
Substitute olive oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil or sesame oil for the almond or sunflower oil.
Substitute palm oil for coconut oil.
Use your favorite essential oils or a blend of them. These products can be found at health food stores or online markets.
Warning
These recipes do not include preservatives, so store them in the refrigerator or in a cool dark place between uses.
Do a patch test if you haven't used any of these ingredients on your skin before.
Don't contaminate lotion by sticking your fingers in it. If needed, use a washable or disposable cosmetic spatula instead.
References
- "Good Gifts from the Home: Oils, Lotions, and Other Luxuries--Make Beautiful Gifts to Give (or Keep);" Kelly Reno; 2000
- "375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols"; Jeanne Rose; 1999
- "Jeanne Rose's Kitchen Cosmetics: Using Herbs, Fruit and Flowers for Natural Bodycare;" Jeanne Rose, 1993
Writer Bio
Ramona French owned a massage school and taught massage for 28 years. In that time she wrote textbooks on Swedish, acupressure, deep tissue and lymph drainage massage. She is the author of "Introduction to Lymph Drainage Massage" and "Milady's Guide to Lymph Drainage Massage." Her book, "The Complete Guide to Lymph Drainage Massage," published by Milady, was released in October 2011.