How to Make Homemade Lotion

Instead of spending lots of money on lotions chock full of mysterious chemical components, why not make homemade lotion to nourish your skin? With a few simple ingredients, homemade lotions can be made quickly and easily in any fragrance or look you desire.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 cup apricot kernel oil
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup beeswax
• 1/4 cup water
• Essential oil
• Vegetable base color (optional)
• Saucepan
• Stove
• Bottle

1. Turn your stove burner on to a low heat and place a small saucepan over it. Combine the apricot kernel oil and coconut oil in the saucepan and heat gently. If desired, the apricot kernel oil can be replaced by a different lightweight, non-scented oil. You can use sweet almond oil, safflower or even canola oil. Coconut oil can be replaced by cocoa butter.

2. Chop the beeswax chunk into small pieces with a knife, or use a vegetable grater to grate it into fine pieces. Put the beeswax into the saucepan with the oil ingredients. Stir gently over low heat until the beeswax is melted in completely. The wax will help your homemade body lotion hold together and provide more soothing for your skin.

3. Remove the oils and melted wax from the heat and pour them into a smooth-sided bowl. Add the water while you stir continuously to combine them together. You can also use an electric mixer on a low speed to whip the lotion together if you desire. The amount of water you use will depend on how thick and creamy you want the lotion. A lightweight, every-day lotion will have more water. Use less for a more intensive treatment.

4. Add 3 or 4 drops of your favorite essential oil to scent the lotion. You can also create your own by steeping various flowers, herbs or fruit peels in clear, non-scented oil for a period of at least a month. Use any scent you like for your lotion, or match the scents with aromatherapy ideas: citrus for energy, lavender for calming and eucalyptus for clarifying. Stir the essential oil in until totally combined.

5. Add a couple of drops of vegetable-based food coloring if desired. This does not effect the way you use the lotion, it just makes it look more like store-bought ones. If you make multiple types of homemade lotion, coloring them can help keep track of each type or scent.

6. Use a funnel if necessary and pour the finished lotion into a clean glass bottle. It is now ready for use. Homemade lotion without preservatives can last several months in a cool place.

Tips & Warnings

• Add water a little at a time to avoid lumpiness.