How to Make Herbal Nature-Based Lotions, Creams, and Shampoos

Making herbal, nature-based creams, lotions and shampoos is much easier than you may think. As long as you have the proper ingredients and a few easy-to-follow recipes, you can make organic beauty products that are actually good for your skin because they don't contain any preservatives or other harsh chemicals.

Things You'll Need

• First Recipe Ingredients:
• 2 tsp. shea butter
• 2 tsp. cocoa butter
• 3 tsp. virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp. stearic acid
• 1 tsp. emulsifying wax
• 3/4 tsp. vegetable glycerin
• four drops of peppermint essential oil
• 4 1/2 tbsp. cucumber hydrosol
• Second Recipe Ingredients:
• 30 grams of fractionated coconut oil
• 19 grams of shea butter
• 12 grams of sweet almond oil
• 8 grams of jojoba oil
• 21 grams of emulsifying wax
• 7 grams of stearic acid
• 326 grams of rose hydrosol
• 100 grams of aloe vera gel
• 15 grams of vegetable glycerin
• Third Recipe Ingredients:
• 2 oz. sweet almond oil
• 1 tsp. wheat germ oil
• 1/2 tsp lecithin
• 15 drops of lavender essential oil
• 15 drops of rosemary essential oil
• 1/2 oz. avocado oil
• Fourth Recipe Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup fresh rosemary herbs
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1/2 cup unscented liquid shampoo base
• four drops of rosemary essential oil
• For all recipes:
• Containers
• Electric mixer

Instructions

1. Purchase ingredients. In order to make your own herbal nature-based lotions, creams and shampoos, you will need certain ingredients like essential oils, fragrance oils, cream bases, earth-based materials, pigments, premade bases, waxes, cocoa butter, shea butter, acids, hydrosols, glycerin and natural products like cucumbers, lemons, avocados and strawberries. You will also need plastic containers, storage jars and mixing tools. You can purchase all of these ingredients from makeup wholesalers (see Resources).

2. Make a moisturizing whipped body cream using nature-based ingredients. You will need 2 tsp. shea butter, 2 tsp. cocoa butter, 3 tsp. virgin coconut oil, 1/2 tsp. stearic acid, 1 tsp. emulsifying wax, 3/4 tsp. vegetable glycerin, four drops of peppermint essential oil and 4 1/2 tbsp. cucumber hydrosol. Combine the cocoa butter, coconut oil, stearic acid, wax and shea butter in a glass cup or jar and place in hot water until they have all melted. Set aside. Combine the cucumber hydrosol and glycerin in another glass jar and place in hot water for about 10 minutes. Stir the hydrosol and glycerin until they've blended completely then remove from heat. Now combine the first batch with the second batch and use an electric mixer to blend all the ingredients together completely. Continue mixing for at least 10 minutes until the mixture is creamy and thick, then add the four drops of essential oil. Store the cream in a glass jar for future use.

3. Make a hydrating and soothing body lotion using organic ingredients that will leave your skin feeling soft, but not greasy. You will need 30 grams of fractionated coconut oil (a solid fat also used in making soaps), 19 grams of shea butter, 12 grams of sweet almond oil, 8 grams of jojoba oil, 21 grams of emulsifying wax, 7 grams of stearic acid, 326 grams of rose hydrosol, 100 grams of aloe vera gel and 15 grams of vegetable glycerin. Combine the coconut oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, emulsifying wax and jojoba oil in a glass jar and place in hot water until all of the ingredients have melted. Stir to blend the mixture and set aside. Separately, combine the rose hydrosol, glycerin and aloe vera, and place in hot water until the glycerin dissolves. Stir and set aside. Combine both mixtures and gently beat with an electric mixer for about 15 minutes. You should have a nice, frothy consistency when you're done. Store in a glass container for future use.

4. Make a natural, repairing hot oil treatment for your hair using lavender and rosemary. You will need 2 oz. sweet almond oil, 1 tsp. wheat germ oil, 1/2 tsp lecithin, 15 drops of lavender essential oil, 15 drops of rosemary essential oil and 1/2 oz. avocado oil. Combine all of the ingredients in a plastic bowl, and blend well until they have all mixed together thoroughly. Place the mixture in a glass jar, then put in hot water to warm it up. You can also warm it up in the microwave by placing it in a microwave-safe bowl. To use, apply all over damp hair from root to tips and let it soak in for about 20 minutes. Rinse out with warm water and shampoo.

5. Make herbal rosemary shampoo. You will need 1/4 cup fresh rosemary herbs, 1 cup distilled water, 1/2 cup unscented liquid shampoo base, and four drops of rosemary essential oil. Boil the distilled water then add the rosemary herbs. Allow the rosemary to simmer for about 15 minutes. Strain the rosemary herb out of the water, and discard the herb. Pour the rosemary infused water into the liquid shampoo base, and stir well. Finally, add the rosemary essential oil and stir again. Use as you would any store-bought shampoo.

Tips & Warnings

• Refrigerate your homemade beauty products to extend shelf life. Use a spatula, instead of your hands, to scoop out the nature-based lotions and creams. This will prevent bacteria from your hands to contaminate the products.

Resources

• Find More Beauty Recipes and Supplies Here
• Supplies for Do-It-Yourself Cosmetics