After much research on making homemade lotion I came up with a recipe I wanted to try. So much to consider though: what kind of oils to use?...there are so many choices...use borax to prevent separation, or is it unsafe?...beeswax or emulsifying wax?
Once I made my choices, I gathered all the materials. The process is simple: some measuring, some heating of the oils and wax, and some blending--I used a hand blender-- and ended up with a thick, rich cream that made my skin feel really soft.
Unfortunately, within several hours my moisturizing cream began to separate...so, I did some more research on what is apparently a not uncommon problem for some lotion-makers. The next day I transferred my cream back to a pan and heated it again. This time I whipped it with the hand blender for about 10 minutes--a lot longer than I had done the first time. It came out an even thicker consistency, more like a body butter. I put a small amount in a recycled glass cold cream jar for daily use and stored the rest in the fridge. The small amount I used daily lasted about a week before it again started to separate. The jar in the fridge is not separating so I will continue to take out just what I need for a week. I love the cream--it leaves my skin silky, it's all natural, and works better than any commercial product I've tried, so for now I'm content to use it as is. The combination of essential oils I used are a bit too sweet smelling for me, so I would probably change it up a little next time. I do like the geranium scent.
My recipe is very loosely based on one found in the book, Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World
My Ingredients:
3 oz olive oil
2 oz avocado oil
2 oz shea butter
1 oz cocoa butter
1 oz beeswax, grated
8 oz rosewater
1/4 tsp borax
60 drops grapefruit seed extract
7 drops geranium essential oil
7 drops rose essential oil
7 drops lavender essential oil
I measured out the oils, butters and beeswax into a Pyrex measuring cup and heated in a pan of simmering water. Once melted completely, I added the essential oils and grapefruit seed extract, then blended in the rosewater and borax using the hand blender til it was thick and creamy.
The original recipe in the book is a very simple combination of olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, essential oils and water--my mistake may have been in veering from that recipe too much. If anyone has advice on solving the separation problem, please let us know...I'm not ready to give up yet :)
Thanks for sharing! I've been wanting to make a homemade version of my favourite cream for some time now. Love your blog - you are so talented and inspiring :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words! ...Deb
DeleteThank you for the recipe! I have been dying to try to make my own bath stuff...some day I will get around to it!
ReplyDeleteGlad you stopped by! ...Deb
DeleteHomemade lotions are so much nicer than store bought. You've inspired me to try this, too. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear how your lotion-making goes...Deb
DeleteIt looks like a very nice, creamy lotion. I fiddled with doing this but gave up. I wanted my cream to smell like the rosewater, but the coconut oil made it smell like coconut. I ended up freezing my rosewater into ice cube trays so I could use a little at a time as a refreshing toner on my face and neck. I like that.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea; the leftover rose water I had went to waste in the fridge as I didn't use it up in time. Next time I will try the ice cube trays! ...Deb
DeleteWe are already having 100 degree days, so moisturizer right out of the fridge sounds fabulous to me! :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, I used some from the fridge this morning and it was wonderfully cooling--a great idea for summer, though I'm sure I won't consider it come winter :) Deb
DeleteDeb,
ReplyDeleteYou might try a different recipe. I found one on this blog Savvyhomemade.com/homemade-body-lotion.html. I've made several batches and they've all come out good--but someone different consistencies. I think it may have something to do with the fragrances, really. Last time I made some, I used the exact recipe to make about 8 different scents, and a few of the batches came out smooth like a souffle, and a few came out a little thicker/waxy, but warm on the skin and blend in nicely. I enjoy soap making, but REALLY enjoy making lotions. Keep trying!!! Good luck!
Larissa
Thanks Larissa! I'm going to go check out that recipe now...Deb
DeleteLarissa, was it the Overnight Body Lotion recipe that you used? ...Deb
DeleteYes, that's the one.
DeleteAfter reading this I made the Overnight Cream suggested and it was a wonderful consistency the day I made it (after a LOT of stirring) and I kept it in the fridge overnight and the next day it's hard as a rock- was this your experience? Deb, was the recipe you made really hard when stored in the fridge? I was expexting it to stay lotion consistency, and maybe separate, not go the other way....
DeleteElizabeth
Elizabeth,
DeleteAfter being refrigerated my cream was solid--not rock hard, more like shortening I would say. I am still able to use it right from the fridge {nice in the summer heat}, or I just keep out a small amount in a glass container--about a week's worth...Deb
Where did you buy all the ingredients that you used in making your lotion?
ReplyDeleteJudy, here are my various sources for the lotion ingredients: the cocoa & shea butter, essential oils, and grapefruit seed extract are from Feel-Rite; the oils I usually find in the organic section at the grocery store, and the beeswax is from our local Amish store. Another good source I've used is Mountain Rose Herbs [mountainroseherbs.com] ...Deb
DeleteWow! It looks wonderful, Deb! Can't wait to try.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina!
DeleteDeb
You are amazing. I am stuck on aisle 13 of my local store trying to decide on the perfect cleanser/moisturizer for my delicate post-menopausal skin. I'll keep searching and trying (especially yours) recipes for healthy skin.
ReplyDeleteIf you go to the website for Great Cakes Soapworks (no affiliation), they have a trouble shooting section. Scroll down to #6 for lotion separating. I hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteI make lotion and body butter using emulsifying wax. I've never had any of it seperate. Maybe increasing the amount of beeswax in your next batch would stop your seperation problems.
ReplyDeleteHello Deb, I have been making my own moisturizer for awhile now, different recipe. Try gently heating the rose water in a seperate pot. Let your warm oils/wax cool a bit, then slowly pour in your rose water while mixing with your handmixer. Hope this helps. I enjoy your lovely blog. Cathy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie! I've read one of Paula's books several years ago--I think next time I may try going unscented...Deb
ReplyDelete