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Wednesday, January 26, 2011

12 New Things - Homemade Lotion

The new project for December was homemade lotion. But actually I was inspired to start this project back in the fall. I picked up a book at the thrift store that finally propelled me to make some  of my own bath products. I've made this recipe several times since then, adjusting it slightly and never want to go back to a bottled lotion again.

The ingredients couldn't be simpler. Water (I used rain water), baking soda, olive oil, coconut oil, and beeswax. All are easy to find. The beeswax may give you a little difficulty. I bought some from a friend who has bees.

The original recipe called for Borax. Borax is often in cleaning products, even in my laundry detergent. Though it called for only a tiny bit, I was nervous about using it. Borax is a great ant poison and I just didn't like the idea of rubbing it into my skin. I read that baking soda would work as well, and that is what I've used.

Want to try it with me? It really is simple.


Homemade Lotion


1/4 cup distilled water (I used rain water.)
1/8 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 T grated beeswax




Dissolve the baking soda in water in a glass container.



Mix the two oils and beeswax in another glass container. Place glass in a pan of water.



Heat the oil and beeswax over medium heat until oils and beeswax is melted. Stir occasionally.



When wax is melted, bring the water/baking soda mixture to almost boiling. You may do this in the microwave or in your pan of water. Slowly add the water to your oil mixture, stirring briskly.



The mixture will thicken as it cools.



I like to pour into small jelly jars while still warm and pour-able.

The best part of the lotion? It works. I always have dry skin in the winter and even with slathering myself with lotion, I sometimes have a dry skin patch that will hang around for weeks. But this winter, I've been using this lotion faithfully and have had the best skin ever.

This lotion doesn't have the strong scent that you may be accustomed too. It only has a faint scent of beeswax. My skin is more on the sensitive side and I've had terrible rashes with strongly scented lotions - so no scent doesn't bother me. If you wished for a scent, you could probably add some scented oils.

So far, I've had no problem with the lotion separating or going bad. I had one jar around for a couple months and it was still good. I did go to the precaution of making sure my jars were very clean. (The hot water was right there in the pan for a quick sterilization.) I make sure my hands are clean before dipping into the jar but I won't say that everyone in my household is as vigilant. My little boys are very much little boys with no concept of germs!

I love having a lotion with a short pronounceable ingredient list. I just walked through my house, digging for old lotion tubes in the back of drawers and cupboards to read the labels. I read labels on my food, I wonder why I never read the labels on my lotion. Not only are the ingredients long enough to make your head spin but the warnings give caution. "Don't apply near eyes or mouth." "For external use only." Keep out of the reach of children." The last warning, found on a baby lotion bottle, made me pause. What is baby lotion for except for children?  Am I the only one who has applied lotion to a small child's hands only to have them lick it off?

At this point, I plan to take a few simple kitchen ingredients to mix up a lotion to enjoy using with my family. No more time spent hunting for coupons for CVS deals. I love when frugal, healthy and simple all line up!

Do you make your own lotion - or any other body products?

34 comments:

  1. That looks wonderful Gina and I agree on leaving out the borax! I will give it a try, all I usually make is bath scrubs. I did try some homemade deodorant recently but it didn't work well for me:( Have a great day!

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  2. I never have before but I will now! I have sensitive skin and everybody in my house has been complaining about dry skin this winter.

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  3. Gina, I am intrigued and really want to try this. I just wish I knew where to find beeswax.

    Just an idea. I would love if you did a recipe summary at the bottom of your recipe posts that way when I go to make things I can see all the ingredients and instructions at once and then can scroll up for more details/visuals if I need to.

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    1. You can find beeswax in sewing stores actually! They use pure bees wax to smooth thread!

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  4. I will definetely be tringthis lotion.My oldest daughter especially has really dry hands this time of year and I would love to see if it works for her.Thanks for the info.Nikki

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  5. Thank you, Gina! The contents of our beauty products around here has become a concern of mine recently...and this lotion is so do-able. I'm excited to try it!

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  6. Gina,
    Thank you for sharing this. I think I'll try making it soon. I like to carry a small tube in my purse so maybe I could find some small toiletry bottles at the dollar store and just fill and use as normal. :-)
    Blessings

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  7. I have wanted to try some homemade lotions. Thank you for posting this recipe. One of my daughters has very sensitive skin and I have dry skin so it sounds just right!

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  8. Love it! I'm doing it!! (where do I find beeswax?)

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    1. You can find beeswax at thesage.com (Majestic Mountain Sage) or Peak Candle Supply. Or do a web search. It is easy to find online,

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  9. Wow Gina, this looks great. I think i will give it a try.

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  10. Thanks for making it seem like I'm not the only odd one who likes making anything and everything! You all are so encouraging!

    Shannon - Check your health food store for beeswax. If anyone else has found beeswax - where did you get it?
    Gina

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  11. You can order beeswax from Rose Mountain Herbs.

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  12. I can't wait to try this. We all have sensitive, dry skin. Now to track down some beeswax!

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  13. Oh this is wonderful...
    Mu husband goes threw so much hand cream...being a carpenter his poor hands are always cracked and dried...
    I will for sure try this

    Thanks for sharing

    Nadine

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  14. I bought my beeswax from the honey vendor at the farmer's market last summer.

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  15. Thanks for sharing. I've been using plain coconut oil for our family, since I've never accomplished my goal of making lotion. After reading how easy it is, I may just try it...soon! It's funny how your nose gets used to unscented natural products and after a while all the comercial scented stuff can smell repulsive! :)

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  16. I'm pretty sure we would like this at our house. And I'm wondering about Christmas gifts too... hmmm... Better put a note on my calendar and beeswax on my shopping list!
    (I would also prefer the baking soda to borax!)

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  17. Hi
    That lotion sounds great and as I also have issues with dry skin, I would love to give it a go. The only coconut oil I've found has been in solid form. Was yours? Or did you find it as a liquid like the olive oil? I'm in the UK and am bemused as to how to measure 1/4 cup of a solid. If you had the coconut oil in a solid form - how did you measure it please? How many ounces in weight was it please? Thanks!

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  18. Thanks once again Gina for another great idea. I will try this. Other readers have asked where to find the bees wax. You can find it at most craft stores, if not just ask them. I was going to try another recipe for homemade lotion however this one is much more apealling to me. It used vasiline and a few other things. This one sounds more like the pricy Burts Bee lotion. Thanks I know my skin will love you for it. Anita

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  19. Jo-
    My coconut oil was solid also. I just spooned it into a cup and squashed it until it pushed into the cracks. Then I melted it with the beeswax. Weighing is a good idea though, next time I might have to try that! If I do, I'll add the weights to this recipe. I recently purchased a digital scales and I'm finding it a much easier way to measure ingredients for some recipes.
    Gina

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  20. Gina, great timing to post homemade lotion. Here in Maine, winters are hard on our skin. My husband and I were just talking about how aweful the ingredients are on lotions, so looks like we take a trip to our neigbhors (who have bees) and our local health food store for coconut oil and give this a try. I'll share this also with a friend who lives off the grid and doesn't have a computer. Have also enjoyed all the posts about chickens. God is amazing to make such a thing as this (your blog site) available to us all.

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  21. Thank you!

    ps I found beeswax on ebay

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  22. So I made something very similar and I found it to be too hard. Is your's hard? I didn't use baking soda or olive oil in my recipe but I used the rest of the ingredients on your list.

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  23. Extraordinary Life-
    I wouldn't consider this "hard". I would describe it as a thick lotion. The olive oil may help keep it soft. I tried using all olive oil and no coconut oil and I thought it was too soft. Hope you try it!
    Gina

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  24. I'm looking forward to trying this. I just found your blog today and I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts! :)

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  25. How much beeswax is 2 T?

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  26. and what is the yeild on they recipe? (Roughly?)

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  27. Christina -
    Maybe 1/2 oz, I'm not sure exactly.

    And it makes about a cup or so.

    Hope you have fun with the recipe!
    Gina

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  28. thesage.com has a measurement converter and lots of beeswax! it's got good prices and a bunch of recipes and containers. also mountainroseherbs.com

    and thanks for the tip on baking soda. the thought of using borax on my skin makes me woozy...although, i suppose any creepy crawlies wouldn't be crawling on me...

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  29. This lotion is really nice. I have made several patches and it has not separated. I like the consistency too.

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  30. I am wondering what the purpose of the baking soda??

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  31. Hobby Lobby sells beeswax. It's usually found near the candle making and soap making items :-) and thanks for sharing your recipe!! Gonna try this! !

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  32. I'm also wondering, why baking soda? I've done this with beeswax, almond and coconut oils (with lavender essential oils added for scent) and I loved it, so am I missing out with this baking soda addition? I've never seen that (or borax) for lotions on blogs before..?

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