I’ve been making my own lotion for more than a year and I love it. It’s very inexpensive and easy to make and the best quality lotion I’ve ever used. It occurs to me that I’ve never talked about how I make it on my blog. Well then. That changes right now.

I found the recipe that I use on A Sonoma  Garden‘s blog. I’ve used her basic recipe a number of times and it always turns out well. The only thing I do differently is I put my lotion in bottles so that I can squeeze it out through the cap (a means to prevent bacteria from invading your lotion).  You can buy the bottles at Mountain Rose Herbs. In fact, most of the ingredients I use for this I bought from Mountain Rose Herbs.

The basic recipe only requires 4 ingredients and literally takes minutes to make. The ingredients are:
1. water
2. emulsifying wax
3. oil
4. essential oil

So if I were going to make a basic olive oil lotion this would be my recipe:

1. 1 1/4 cup water
2. 1/4 cup emulsyfying wax
3. 1/4 cup olive oil (extra virgin)
4. 30 drops of essential oil (like lemongrass or lavender).

Combine the wax and oil in a 2 cup pyrex measuring cup and melt in the microwave for 1 minute.

Take it out and then heat the water up for 1 minute (I like to use a pyrex measuring cup to heat the water up because it is easier and safer to pour). While water is heating up stir the essential oil into the wax and olive oil. When the water is done very carefully and slowly pour it into the oil and wax mixture, stirring it in. The mixture will turn into the consistency of milk. Pour the mixture into plastic bottles and let them cool overnight with the lids off. My recipe will fill one and a half 16 oz. bottles.

That’s it! In the morning you will have lovely lotion that you made yourself. Store it in the refrigerator because it contains no preservatives.

I tried something a little bit differently yesterday. Instead of using olive oil I thought I would try coconut oil and cocoa butter.

Ingredients:
1. 1 1/4 cup water
2. 1/8 cup coconut oil
3. 1/8 cup cocoa butter
4. 1/4 cup emulsifying wax
5. 30 (or so) drops of essential oil of your choice. I like to use lemongrass or lavender.

Same instructions, essentially. Combine the emulsifying wax, coconut oil, and cocoa butter together and melt for one minute in the microwave.

Heat up the water for 1 minute. While the water is heating up add 30 drops of lemongrass oil to the wax and oil mixture. When the water is heated, very carefully pour it into the oil and wax mixture. Watch it turn milky (I love that part).

Put in plastic bottles and let cool.

This is the first time I’ve tried cocoa butter and I suspect it will be a lot creamier than the olive oil lotion I’m used to.

Enjoy!

Related articles

• How to Make Hand Lotion with Preservative (asonomagarden.wordpress.com)
• Easy homemade soap (mnn.com)
• DIY Lotions and Lotion Bars if Allergic to Coconut on Whatever Wednesday (survivingthefoodallergyapocalypse.wordpress.com)
• Homemade Moisturizing Lotion Recipe (mindbodysoulessentials.wordpress.com)
• Sweet Orange Homemade Body Butter (healthandwellnesswarrior.com)