How to Make Lotion

Lotion Making 101: How to Make Organic Skincare

Lotion Making is an excellent way to make custom organic skincare products. We offer natural lotion-making recipes that you can make in your kitchen. You can use simple-to-find organic ingredients. In addition, you can experiment with more advanced ingredients and formulas as you learn about the lotion-making process.

Be creative and try store-bought hydrosols, rose water, aloe, or tea tinctures instead of water. You can also add anti-aging peptides, powders, extracts, and natural botanicals.

It is easy to find most ingredients you will need to make a face or body lotion. First, try the health food section of your local grocery store. You can usually find organic oils, organic aloe, vegetable glycerin, and many other items. Your local health food store may also carry the ingredients you need.

If you order stearic acid and emulsifying wax online, make sure you purchase ingredients made from vegetable sources. Airless bottles, anti-aging Ingredients, and essential oils are in the DIY section of our shop at Skin Perfection.

Learn How to Make Lotion at Home

Lotion Making Supplies:

  • Double Boiler – 2
  • Stainless steel or glass measuring cups and spoons
  • Spatula
  • Pyrex or any glass bowl
  • Handheld Mixer
  • Candy Thermometer – 2
  • Plastic Gloves
  • Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka to sanitize utensils
  • Funnel
  • Airless Bottles

Lotion Making Ingredients:

  • Organic Oils for this recipe, we prefer Jojoba and Coconut Oil. (For more information on which oils to choose, check out our blog on how to make Anti-Aging Oil Serums)
  • Organic Aloe Juice
  • Vegetable Glycerin
  • Emulsifying Wax
  • Stearic Acid
  • Organic Essential Oils
  • Vitamin E or Peptides (optional)

This formula for making lotion is super simple! As you become familiar with the lotion-making process, you can use more advanced methods.

  • 1 oz. Organic Jojoba Oil
  • 1 oz. Organic Coconut Oil
  • 3 oz. Organic Aloe Juice
  • 1 oz. Vegetable Glycerin
  • 1 oz. Emulsifying wax (of vegetable origin)
  • 1 oz. Stearic Acid
  • 15 drops of Organic Essential Oils

Now the fun part is making the lotion! First, prep your workstation by wiping down the area with a disinfectant. Next, place all supplies that you will be using at the workstation. Remember always to wash your hands and put on your gloves. Finally, you will need to sterilize all utensils by wiping them down with Rubbing Alcohol or Vodka.

Heat all oils and emulsifying wax in a double boiler. Place a candy thermometer on the side and bring the temperature to 150 degrees. While the emulsifying wax is melting, you will heat the aloe in another double boiler. When both the oil and aloe reach 150 degrees F, remove both oil and aloe from heat.

Begin incorporating the water into the oil. Next, place a stick blender into the oil and start blending. Slowly dispense the liquid aloe into the oil. Soon an emulsion will form. After about 2 minutes or when the mixture is thoroughly blended, add the essential oils, and blend until incorporated.

If your lotion is too thick at the end formulation, you can thin it with a small amount of rose water. After becoming familiar with the lotion-making process, you can add peptides or other ingredients in the cool-down phase for future batches.

Place a funnel inside an airless bottle and fill it with small amounts until complete. Repeat until all of the product is bottled. Set them aside to cool to room temperature. Once cool, put the lid on your lotion and place it in the fridge. To extend the lotions' shelf life, you must add a preservative during the appropriate phase.

Sources:

https://www.aad.org/skin-care-basics/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
https://wellnessmama.com/3765/homemade-lotion-recipe/
https://www.makingskincare.com

About the Author
Kari Thomas wrote this article.