How to Make Lotion

Co-authored by Lorena Barcal

Lotions are a great way to condition dry skin and calm itching or redness. A lotion is an emulsion, made with oil, water, and an emulsifier to combine the ingredients. But if you're bothered by all the chemicals in store-bought formulas, you can make your own at home. Whether you need a body, hand, or face lotion, it only takes a handful of ingredients, some of which you may already have at home. The rest are easy enough to find at health food and natural grocery stores or online stores.

Ingredients

Quick and Easy Lotion

½ cup (105 g) raw shea butter
2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil

Non-Greasy Body Lotion

1 cup (225 g) pure aloe vera gel
½ cup (115 g) grated beeswax
½ cup (110 g) sweet almond oil
1 teaspoon (5 ml) vitamin E oil
15 drops essential oils

Hand and Body Lotion

¼ cup (50 g) coconut oil
⅛ cup (70 g) shea butter
⅛ cup (70 g) cocoa butter
1 tablespoon (15 ml) aloe vera juice
1 tablespoon (15 ml) sweet almond oil
5 to 10 drops essential oils

Super Moisturizing Face and Body Lotion

½ cup (105 g) shea butter
2 tablespoons (30 ml) sweet almond oil
10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil
3 drops carrot seed essential oil
3 drops tea tree essential oil

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Creating Quick and Easy Lotion

1
Melt the shea butter in a double boiler. Place ½ cup (105 g) of raw shea butter in glass bowl or jar. Fill a medium saucepan with 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10 cm) of water, and set the glass container with the shea butter in the pan. Bring the water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat until the shea butter melts completely, which should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes.^{[1]
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- Stir the shea butter as it’s melting to help it heat evenly.
- You can usually purchase raw shea butter at health food and organic grocery stores, as well as beauty supply stores. A variety of online sites also sell it.
2
Mix in the olive oil. Once the shea butter has melted, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of olive oil to the glass container. Stir the mixture well to ensure that the ingredients are thoroughly combined.^{[2]
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- If you prefer, you can substitute almond or avocado oil for the olive oil.
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3
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cool it. When the shea butter and olive oil are fully mixed, pour the mixture into a bowl. Set the bowl in the refrigerator, and allow it cool completely so the mixture starts to harden, which should take approximately 30 to 40 minutes.^{[3]
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4
Blend the lotion. After the mixture has hardened, remove the bowl from the refrigerator. Use a hand or immersion blender to blend the mixture again until it has a soft, creamy texture, which should take approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute.^{[4]
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- If you don’t have a hand or immersion blender, you can blend the lotion by hand. Use a whisk to whip the mixture until it has a creamy consistency.
5
Place the lotion in a storage container. When the lotion has reached the right texture and consistency, use a spatula to transfer it to a storage container that has a lid. The lotion will usually stay fresh for 3 to 6 months at room temperature.^{[5]
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- Mason jars make an ideal storage container for the lotion.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Mixing Up Non-Greasy Body Lotion

1
Combine the aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, and essential oils. Add 1 cup (225 g) of pure aloe vera gel, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of vitamin E oil, and 15 drops of your favorite essential oils to a medium bowl. Use a spoon to carefully blend all of the ingredients together. Set aside for the moment.^{[6]
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- You can substitute distilled water or herbal tea for the aloe vera gel if you prefer.
- The essential oils are mainly to scent the lotion, so you can use any combination that you prefer. Lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, grapefruit, patchouli, rose, and jasmine are good options to consider.
- Some essential oils are effective for the skin. For example, rosemary and tea tree oil are anti-inflammatory.
- Cedarwood reduces irritation, ylang-ylang is an effective cleanser, and pomegranate seed oil has anti-aging qualities.
- The best herbs for lotions are chamomile and calendula. They are good for dry skin and promote anti-aging.
- The aloe vera gel mixture needs to come to room temperature. You may want to place the bowl in a larger pot with some warm water. That will help raise the temperature of the mixture so it will be closer to the temperature of the beeswax mixture that you’ll eventually add it to so it will blend easier.
2
Heat the beeswax and sweet almond oil in a double boiler. Place ½ cup (115 g) of grated beeswax and ½ cup (110 g) of sweet almond oil in a glass measuring cup, jar, or bowl. Set the glass container in a small pot with water, and bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat until the beeswax melts completely, which should take 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the beeswax mixture from the heat.^{[7]
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- Stir the beeswax occasionally as it’s melting to ensure that it heats evenly.
- You can usually purchase beeswax at local farmers' markets, health food stores, and organic grocery stores. It's also available at a wide range of online retailers.
3
Transfer the beeswax mixture to a blender and blend. Pour the beeswax mixture into the pitcher of a blender, and allow it to cool for 5 to 7 minutes. Next, turn the blender on low to gently blend the mixture.^{[8]
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4
Gradually add the aloe vera gel mixture. With the blender still on low, pour the aloe vera gel mixture into the beeswax mixture in a slow, steady stream. Continue blending the mixture until it has creamy, whipped consistency, which should take approximately 15 seconds.^{[9]
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- You may need to stop the blender periodically as you’re blending the lotion to scrape down the sides of the pitcher with a spatula so all of the ingredients are incorporated.
- If liquid pools at the top of the lotion mixture, stop the blender and push it into the cream with the spatula before blending again.
5
Place the lotion in a jar or storage container. Once the lotion has reached the proper consistency, stop the blender. Use a spatula to carefully transfer the lotion to storage jar or container with a lid. The lotion should stay fresh for 2 to 3 months.^{[10]
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- If you don’t plan to use the lotion within 2 to 3 months, store it in the refrigerator. That can help prolong its life for another 2 to 3 months.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Preparing Hand and Body Lotion

1
Heat the coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter on the stove. Add ¼ cup (50 g) of coconut oil, ⅛ cup (70 g) of shea butter, and ⅛ cup (70 g) of cocoa butter to a small saucepan. Place it on the stove, and heat the ingredients on low until they melt completely, which should take 10 to 15 minutes.^{[11]
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- To keep the lotion from solidifying after you mix it, it’s best to use raw shea butter.
- Stir the mixture as it’s melting to ensure that it’s heating evenly.
2
Mix in the rest of the ingredients. When the coconut oil mixture has melted, remove the pan from the heat. Add in 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of aloe vera juice, 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of sweet almond oil, and 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oils. Stir until all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.^{[12]
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- You can substitute jojoba oil for the almond oil if you prefer.
- You can use any combination of essential oils that you prefer, but it’s a good idea to include oils that target the skin issues that you wish to treat.
- If you have dry or aging skin, geranium and rose essential oils are good options.
- For skin issues such as eczema or psoriasis, jasmine, rose, chamomile, lavender, and sandalwood essential oils work well.
- If you want to create an energizing lotion,use grapefruit or lemon essential oil.
- If you want to prevent stretch marks, mix in lavender, neroli, patchouli, rose, and/or geranium essential oils.
3
Transfer the lotion to a storage container. Once all of the ingredients are fully mixed, use a spoon to carefully transfer the lotion to a jar or other storage container. The lotion should stay fresh for 1 to 2 months.^{[13]
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- Small canning jars make excellent containers for the lotion.
- While the lotion will keep for up to 2 months at room temperature, refrigerating it can prolong its life for an additional couple of months.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Whipping Up Super Moisturizing Face and Body Lotion

1
Melt the shea butter and mix in the almond oil. Place ½ cup (105 g) of shea butter in a small saucepan, and heat on the stove on medium-low until it melts completely, which should take approximately 10 minutes. Next, stir in 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of sweet almond oil until it’s completely blended, and remove the pan from the heat.^{[14]
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- Stir the shea butter periodically as it’s melting to ensure that it heats evenly.
- You can substitute another nourishing oil for the almond oil. Jojoba, avocado, and apricot oils are all good options.
2
Transfer the mixture to a bowl and cool it in the freezer. Pour the shea butter mixture into a freezer-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set the bowl in the freezer to cool the mixture so it hardens slightly, which should take 15 to 20 minutes.^{[15]
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- While you want the mixture to solidify slightly, avoid freezing it. Don’t keep it in the freezer for more than 20 minutes.
3
Add the essential oils and whip the mixture. Once the shea butter mixture appears solid, remove it from the freezer. Mix in 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of rosemary essential oil, 3 drops of carrot seed essential oil, and 3 drops of tea tree essential oil. Use a whisk to whip the mixture until it has a light, creamy consistency like whipped cream.^{[16]
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- You may find it easier to whip the lotion mixture using the whisk attachment on a stand mixer.
4
Spoon the lotion into a glass jar. When the lotion has reached the proper consistency, transfer it to a glass storage container with a lid. Keep the lotion at room temperature, and it should stay fresh for up to a year.^{[17]
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- The lotion can be used on your body and face.
- It isn't necessary to store the lotion in the refrigerator, but doing so can help prolong its life for several months.

Community Q&A

Question

Is there an easier way to make lotion?

Ali Amirault

Community Answer

I've seen lots of recipes, the first one is probably the easiest inexpensive way to do it. You can also buy a lotion base and just add color and scents to it if you'd like, but that would probably cost more.
Question

How do add a certain scent to the lotion?

Community Answer

You could try putting a drop or two of essential oils in your lotion. There are essential oils out there that can provide just about any scent you could want.
Question

How much vitamin E should be used? When using the capsules, how many capsules per "quick and easy" recipe?

Community Answer

It depends on the amount of vitamin C you would like. Vitamin C is water soluble so using too much will not harm you. Just a few capsules should do the trick.

Warnings

While these lotions contain natural ingredients, you may still be allergic to them. Before using the lotions all over, do an allergy test. Apply a small amount to the inside of your wrist, and wait 24 to 48 hours. If you don’t have a reaction, you can probably use the lotion without irritation.

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