How to Perfect Making Lotion

With the ability to customize lotion by adding various essential oils, softening agents and skin conditioners, it's no wonder more people are choosing to make their own product. Making lotion can be simple or complicated, depending upon your goals. When you're ready to tweak your final product, keep some tips in mind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Lotion base
• Essential oils or other fragrances
• Notebook to record formula results
• Small plastic dishes for testing
• Glass or plastic bottles

1. Develop your base. Whether you want your lotion to be thick and creamy or thin and non-greasy, your lotion base will determine the viscosity and feel of your final product. In addition to various oils, most lotions contain an emulsifier to thicken the base until it reaches the desired consistency.
2. Choose essential oils to fragrance your lotion. When perfecting your remedy, separate small batches of your base into small plastic dishes and add different amounts of fragrance until you find a blend that you like. Make sure to write down the recipe for each test lotion.
3. Consider purchasing a pre-made base and adding your own fragrances to personalize your lotion.
4. Add exfoliating ingredients to make a lotion scrub that removes dead skin cells and leaves your skin soft and smooth. These lotions and oils require rinsing, but with a base of lanolin or beeswax, a protective film remains on the skin.
5. Include ingredients with a long shelf life unless you plan to use your lotion immediately. Dairy products and produce such as cucumbers or sour cream must be refrigerated or used within a few hours.
6. Store your lotion in small glass or plastic jars labeled with the date. Check your product occasionally to make sure the ingredients aren't separating.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to sell your lotion, prepare labels that list your ingredients. You don't have to give the exact recipe, just the basics. Instead of listing every essential oil you use, you can say "fragrance."
• Research your ingredients. If you intend to distribute you product, make sure you notify your customers if your ingredients contain anything that could create an allergic reaction, such as peanut oil.