How to Make Massage Lotions and Creams
Massage therapists often use oils to enable their hands to glide easily over clients' skin, while scented oils can enhance the therapeutic effects of a massage treatment. However, massaging with creams and lotions, instead of traditional massage oils, can add extra skin nourishing and moisturizing benefits without the messiness or greasiness associated with oils. Tailor-make your own massage creams and lotions at home, using a combination of essential oils and natural thickening agents.
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Things You'll Need
- 3/4 cup (4.5oz) cocoa butter
- 3/4 cup (4.5oz) shea butter
- 3 tablespoons sweet almond oil
- 2 tablespoons jojoba oil
- 1/4 teaspoon vitamin E
- 1 tablespoon honey powder
- Medium saucepan
- Small glass mixing bowl
- Glass stirring rod
- Hand-held electric mixer
Instructions
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Unscented Massage Cream or Lotion
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1
Bring an inch of water in a medium saucepan to a boil.
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2
Add the cocoa and shea butter to a small glass mixing bowl or container. Place the bowl in the bottom of the saucepan.
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3
Cook on a low heat for approximately 20 minutes to melt the cocoa and shea butter. Do not let the cocoa and shea butter mixture boil.
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4
Remove the cocoa and shea butter from the heat and add the sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil and honey powder. Stir well using a glass stirring rod.
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5
Whip the mixture using a hand-held electric mixer for several minutes, or until it starts to look like whipped cream.
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6
Leave the mixture to cool and set, whipping every two hours as per step 5.
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7
Transfer the cream to an airtight dark glass jar for storage.
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1
Tips & Warnings
To make a lotion rather than a cream, add more carrier oil until you reach the desired consistency. Alternatively, reduce the amount of cocoa and shea butter.
For a more moisturizing massage cream or lotion, replace the jojoba oil with apricot kernel or olive oil.
Experiment with different combinations of essential oils to your massage cream or lotion, depending on your desired therapeutic effect. For example, add ten to 20 drops of lavender oil for a soothing massage cream, or eight drops each of grapefruit, orange and bergamot for an invigorating massage cream.
Consult the labels of your individual ingredients for shelf life and storage instructions.
Perform a patch test to check for possible allergic reactions to your ingredients. Apply to a small patch of skin on your inner arm (dilute any essential oils first.) If redness, burning, itching or irritation occurs over a 48-hour period, do not use.
Never consume or apply undiluted essential oils to the skin.
References
- Photo Credit IT Stock/Polka Dot/Getty Images
