How to Make an Oil-Based Lotion

Treat your skin to homemade natural oil-based lotion.

Lotions are made of oil and water, with an emulsifier to blend and hold them together. Add essential oils for their fragrance and their beneficial ingredients, and butters such as cocoa butter, shea butter or avocado butter, for additional richness. Aloe vera is added to lotion for its healing properties. Honey and glycerin are humectants: They pull moisture from the air into the skin. Beeswax is a commonly used natural emulsifier. A basic formula, from "Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions," is 30 percent fats to 60 percent water or herbal tea and 10 percent emulsifier.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Saucepan
• Stainless steel spoon
• Immersion blender
• 1 cup almond or grapeseed oil
• 1/4 cup cocoa butter
• 2 tbsp. beeswax
• 1 to 2.5 cups water or herbal tea
• 30 drops essential oil
• 4 8-oz. containers with screw-on lids

Instructions

1. Wash all utensils, measuring cups and spoons, and the containers you will use to store your lotion, using hot soapy water. Rinse with very hot water and allow them to dry.

2. Melt the oil, butter and beeswax in the saucepan over low heat. Stir frequently until the beeswax is melted, and all the fats are completely combined. Remove the pan from the heat.

3. Beat the oil mixture with the immersion blender, while you slowly add the water or tea. If you use less water, you make a thicker cream. With more water, you make a thinner lotion. Keep beating until the mixture is completely emulsified, and is light and creamy.

4. Use a blend of oils rather than just one oil, if you prefer. Combine all the oils, butters and other fats such as lanolin with the beeswax and melt them together.

5. Add any additional watery ingredients like aloe vera or glycerin when you add the water to the oil. Use 1 or 2 tbsp. of aloe vera and/or glycerin in this recipe.

6. Beat in the essential oils. Keep beating until the mixture is cool. Pour the lotion into your prepared containers and screw on the lids.

Tips & Warnings

• Because there are no preservatives in this recipe, keep unused containers of lotion in the refrigerator. Pour the lotion on your hands, rather than dipping it out with your fingers, to avoid contaminating the lotion that remains in the container.

References

• "Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions"; Donna Maria; 2000
• "The Herbal Home Spa"; Greta Breedlove; 1998

Resources

• "How to Make Your Own Organic Cosmetics"; Gill Farrer-Halls, 2004