Lesson #1 from my first job, Bath & Body Works . . .
Do not climb the stockroom shelves like catwoman. Ever.
Lesson #2: Those luscious looking photos are meant to distract you from cancer causing dioxane and formaldehyde in shower gels and lotions with unpronounceable ingredients.
But is the solution homemade lotion??? That’s waaaay too complicated, right? Nope, this recipe is simple and it works! Even better, it absorbs much more quickly than straight coconut oil, which is great if you’re dressing in a hurry.
UPDATE: Though I say in the video that this lotion can be stored at room temp for 3 months (based on the tutorial I linked to), that is not the case. Based on research I’ve done since then you can store at room temp for at the very most two weeks or keep in the fridge for up to 3 months. For info on how to keep at room temp for a longer period of time check out my new ebook, DIY Organic Beauty Recipes.
You will need:
- 3/4 cup oil (The video says one cup, but I’ve found that’s too much and can sometimes cause separation. Olive oil, avocado oil or coconut oil are great choices*)
- 3 tablespoons beeswax
- 3/4 cup water, rose water, or herbal tea – room temp or slightly warmer
- essential oil for fragrance (optional)
* If you use coconut oil keep the lotion you want to use at room temperature because it will become solid in the fridge.
Method:
Note: Use 3/4 cup water instead of the 1 cup water mentioned in the video. Though it may work, it is much more prone to separation.
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I just love your blog. I was moved to tears with your post about Katie & her teeth! She’s such a little doll!
Thank you, Amanda! I cried a lot the day I wrote that post. I had more pent-up feelings of guilt than I realized. The joy of knowing her body had healed is more than I can describe. <3
I saw my littlest monkey looking at Katie’s cute expressions. I just read that today is NO Judgement day for MOMs, so I wanted to pass that along & tell you that I know how we judge ourselves far too harshly and the guilt that comes with it is at times unbearable! But you are a wonderful mom and I’m trying each day to do a little better! Keep up the amazing work!!!!
Much love to you and your family!
Love you girl!
Hi, I would love to get you newsletter, I love your tutorials. Thank you so much for sharing.
Respectfully,
Jeannine
My daughter LOVES these videos! And Katie is the cutest! 🙂 Thanks, I can’t wait to try this!
Awww, thanks! A few days ago I was videotaping her and she started explaining what she was doing tutorial-stye. That was when I knew it was time for another video post, LOL!
That was a well done video presentation.
Ciao, Pavil
Thanks, Pavil!
Very charming video with this posting.
Yup, this is my plan!
Could you take a beeswax candle and melt it down to get the beeswax?
I’m not sure, Kasi. If it’s 100% beeswax I don’t see why not . . .
yes, you can, I have done it many times.
Hi there! Loved the video. Is it possible to substitute beeswax with soy lecithin?
I’m not sure, but if you try it please let us know how it works out!
we use nothing but Sequoia Beauty and QuakingCanopy SoapCo and Bariani Olive Oil, LLC lotions/soaps etc.
we use nothing but Sequoia Beauty and QuakingCanopy SoapCo and Bariani Olive Oil, LLC lotions/soaps etc.
How did you clean out the food processor? That’s my question I need answered before i try this at home!
I just washed it with soap. It’s the consistency of thin mayo and came out fine . . . didn’t notice that it left a filmy layer behind or anything.
I LOVE this lotion. It’s super easy to make. However, just using soap doesn’t clean it easily for me. The hardest part about making it, and that I dread, is cleaning it up after. What kind of soap are you using? Any other tips? Thanks for all you teach us!
From the comments I see I seem to be the only one that didn’t get it.
What is it that you are emsulifying as the last step? You say “add” bit I’m not sure what you”re adding- the beeswax/olive oil mixture or the water. I thought everything was already in the blender?
Can Katie come help me make some? She’s a good helper!
Sounds like a pretty good soap to make Heather. I know that Vitamin A is good for the skin. If I am not mistaken the ingredients that you use should be good sources of Vitamin A.
Do you add any essential oils? And if so, what would be a good manly scent? Don’t want the hubby smelling all flowery!
Hi Megan! I didn’t add any, but you could! Unfortunately, I don’t have any specific recs for a manly fragrance. Cedar comes to mind but I’m not sure if it’s good for skin ;/
Hi Heather,
I really don’t believe there is a ‘manly’ EO scent but you could leave out the EO from the basic lotion recipe or just use Lavendar EO as it is a light scent and his cologne/scented deoderant would definately trump the EO scent. 🙂 My husband likes the smell of my lavendar lotion and It works great for massaging him…but I don’t see him using it as his ‘scent’…lol
My lotion is almost the same (I will post below). Do you have any seperation problems with yours? I do, it seems to seperate each time I use it…lol. Towards the end of usage of my lotion and after I have poured out the seperated water, the lotion is very thick and is best applied right after shower before toweling off. I can’t help to love this lotion and simplicity of it and would love to know how to keep it from separating…?
I make a small batch and divide it up for me and my daughters to use within the month. I don’t put a perservative in it b/c it is a small batch and we use it quicly and I haven’t had any problems so far (been using this recipe since this past summer, 2012.
Basic Lotion Recipe;
3/4 cup olive oil
3/4 cup distilled water
2 Tbsp bees wax, shaved
30 drops Lavendar EO
1) Sterilize tools
2) Add distilled water in Blender, set aside.
3) Add oil in a glass measuring cup.
4) Add bees wax to oil
5) Heat glass measuring cup in a pot with water to create a dbl broiler.
6) When the bees wax is melted remove the glass measuring cup from dbl broiler and let sit for 2 mins.
7) Turn on the blender (with the water already in it) and slowly pour the oil in creating an emulsion. Once oil and water is combined add in the Lavendar EO and blend.
So what am I doing wrong?
Thanks, Lynn
Your lotion is separating because it lacks a stabilizer. I had a similar problem when I had finally created a great lotion only to discover that it separated after I had it emulsified perfectly when I first made it. I added Xanthan gum which is an edible food stabilizer. The name comes from the bacteria it is derived from. (Xanthan gum is used in dairy products and salad dressings as a thickening agent and stabilizer; it prevents ice crystals from forming in ice creams, and also provides a “fat feel” in low or no-fat dairy products.) This solved my stabilization problem. In terms of aromatherapy essential oils (EO’s) are like human voices, soprano, alto and baritone/bass and to me certain EO’s have a much more “bass” note type scent which is obviously more masculine. (Citrus oils would be soprano “top notes” for example.) I have found a few “bass note” scented EO’s. Rosewood (aniba rosaedora), amyris balsamifera (I don’t know a common name for this but I’ve discovered it’s nature’s knock-off for [VERY expensive] Sandalwood in terms of scent.) vanilla can be masculine but be sure it’s an oil and not merely food extract because the alcohol will mess with the recipe. Also, tea tree (melaleuca alternfolia) and clary sage (salvia sclarea) to me seem like alto notes and perhaps may seem somewhat gender nuetral. Tea tree is also VERY good for the skin in terms of therapeutic value. Be aware that certain essential oils are NOT ok for people with certain health conditions and I recommend consulting a reliable source for info on that. Don’t count on wikipedia to give you reliable info on that topic. Certain EO’s are sold that should not be used by anyone. Cinnamon bark oil is a skin irritant and should NOT be used on the skin for example. Also make VERY certain that you are purchasing therapeutic grade essential oil and NOT fragrance oil. Fragrance oil is NOT meant to be used on the skin or internally.
How much xanthan gum for the lotion and how much to add to ice cream? Thanks
I would also be curious to know how much Xantham Gum you used and during what step of the process you added it and how as I also noticed that the water seems to separate from the lotion. I have Guar Gum on hand which should work just as well I suppose.
Regarding more ‘manly’ smells, I could suggest Peppermint, Cedarwood, or Cypress.
I added in about a teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to help with the preservation. I was wondering if someone had any idea how much this might add to the shelf life if at all?
Correction. ….soap makers use skin safe fragrance oils all the time. Google a good soap / candle supply store and look for the oils approved for the skin. There are tons of awesome scents to be had!
I’ve recently started making lotions as opposed to body butters. I don’t use beeswax, I use emulsifying wax. You can get it from Amazon, I’ve also gotten stuff from TKB Trading and Lotion Crafters. Unlike beeswax, emulsifying wax molecules have one end that’s attracted to water and the other to oils. Hence it holds both to each other. I also use less oil to water-about 25% oils/butters to 75% watery stuff. I also use a preservative in mine-liquid Germall plus. It’s a tiny amount (0.5 gm per 100 gm of lotion) and the environmental working group gives it a 1 or 2 on their scale, I forget which, but pretty safe. I’ve never had a lotion split on me or go bad, except for the magnesium lotion I’ve been working on. It just breaks after a couple of days, haven’t figured that one out yet.
Oh, and a scent combo I’ve used for guys is Himalayan cedar, bay Laurel, sweet orange and clove. Sort of smells spicy.
Bergamot is a very manly scent, as is patchulli.
Old Spice products have a clove scent.M
Also, could you add a thieves oil combination to keep germs at bay?
Definitely! Great idea!
The only way to make sure bacteria and fungi are kept at bay in any recipe containing water (including tea, rosewater etc.) is to add a preservative. I find a lot of recipes on the internet do not suggest adding a preservative and this worries me as it could lead to serious health risks. Without preservatives the shelf life of a product containing water ranges is no more then a few days, yes – even when kept in the fridge.
I’m reading about the germs, question, I have been making bath and body supply’s for over 8 years. Any time you add water to your mixture for lotions or even a sugar scrub you keep in the shower that can get water in. You have to add a preservative to prevent the growth of mold and mildew and other horrible creepies and icky bugs that can cause you harm. Optiphen is a mild preservative and does not a cancer causing agent. If you do some research you will see that it is a very common preservative and very safe for dailey use. However it is very bad and unsafe to put any water in your product with out anything to prevent it from turning rancid.
I made this and LOVE it!!!
Me too!
Yay! Another Katie video! Bekah will be so excited!
Yay! Another Katie video! Bekah will be so excited!
I want to know if you could use Shae butter to it in stead of bee wax
Yay! I honestly think this is WAY better than commercial lotions . . . my skin feels drenched in moisture but there is no greasy feel. So perfect to prevent drying through the winter months!
Yay! I honestly think this is WAY better than commercial lotions . . . my skin feels drenched in moisture but there is no greasy feel. So perfect to prevent drying through the winter months!
how’s it for sensitive skin????
It should be lovely, since there is not much in there to irritate the skin. You might try sesame or avocado oil instead of olive – they are a little gentler. You could also add some vitamin e oil both for moisturizing and to extend the shelf life.
how’s it for sensitive skin????
I totally agree! I have tried all kinds of “natural” lotions looking for something without too many chemicals and I just don’t like them!
I totally agree! I have tried all kinds of “natural” lotions looking for something without too many chemicals and I just don’t like them!
OMG. O-M-G!!! This is awesome.
OMG. O-M-G!!! This is awesome.
Know of an essential oil or anything I could add for my daughter’s eczema?
HI Bianca! Here is a quick list of some you might try: http://www.aromatherapy-at-home.com/essentialoilsforeczema.html. Sea Buckthorn oil is also considered very therapeutic for eczema. You can find it at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com
FANTASTIC! We live in Chicago and our skin gets murdered from the cold dry air in winter…so I cannot wait to try this…also, my husband has a touch of psoriasis on his hands…so it will be interesting to see how his skin reacts to it. I have a feeling there will be positive results for him too! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
FANTASTIC! We live in Chicago and our skin gets murdered from the cold dry air in winter…so I cannot wait to try this…also, my husband has a touch of psoriasis on his hands…so it will be interesting to see how his skin reacts to it. I have a feeling there will be positive results for him too! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been using straight coconut oil on my skin for about a year, but this combination is even better. And I have sensitive skin – yet it responds beautifully. I think anything you can EAT is good for your skin!
I’ve been using straight coconut oil on my skin for about a year, but this combination is even better. And I have sensitive skin – yet it responds beautifully. I think anything you can EAT is good for your skin!
Just bookmarked this for my girls! They are going to have such fun making this for their aunties and grammas. 🙂 Now I’m off to the thrift stores in the hopes to find a food processor. My fingers are crossed and so are my toes. Thanks, mommypotamus!
I made mine in the blender – no problem!
Good to know. Thanks, Sarah!
Just bookmarked this for my girls! They are going to have such fun making this for their aunties and grammas. 🙂 Now I’m off to the thrift stores in the hopes to find a food processor. My fingers are crossed and so are my toes. Thanks, mommypotamus!
Made it this weekend and LOVED it! I’m giving it out as gifts this year. Even my hubby liked it and started using it.
On the second batch, I added extra beeswax and it came out more like body butter. So luxurious!
Made it this weekend and LOVED it! I’m giving it out as gifts this year. Even my hubby liked it and started using it.
On the second batch, I added extra beeswax and it came out more like body butter. So luxurious!
Just made this in the blender with coconut/jojoba oil, beeswax, clover “tea” and a couple drops of orange essential oil–it’s a little greasy, but nice. Thanks so much for the recipe and fun video!
Just made this in the blender with coconut/jojoba oil, beeswax, clover “tea” and a couple drops of orange essential oil–it’s a little greasy, but nice. Thanks so much for the recipe and fun video!
Once again Heather, thank you so much for the post! I’m addicted to lotions and would love to have an all natural alternative! I love that I got to see Katie too! see is getting so big and is absolutely precious!
Gina Avilla – All of the ingredients used are recommended for people with skin conditions such as eczema, so I’d say it’s very good
Mellanie Gray Sheppard – Katie broke into an impromptu tutorial explanation of our pinecone/birdseed project the other day while I was videotaping, lol! If I can get it edited I’ll post it for Bekah 🙂
Elizabeth Neblett Schneiderman – Oh! I’d love feedback on how it works with psoriasis. I know all the ingredients are recommended for eczema so I’m guessing it would be very therapeutic.
Let’s hope so! Keep you posted 🙂
Jennifer Clare – I totally agree!
Melyssa Williams – I hope you find one. It is the piece of kitchen equipment I consider most essential 🙂
Just watched video with Sora, she wants to watch it repeatedly!!! lol
Amazing! I can’t wait to try it! Maybe Amanda Woodruff Coleman would be interested in this for her son since you say everything is good for eczema 🙂
i’m gonna try it this week – what do you recommend for soap???
Haven’t attempted soap yet, but I will!
Elizabeth – I have psoriasis & eczema. I noticed skin improvement w/in 24 hours.
I can’t wait to try! this!
aw, katie is such a cutie pie and what a good helper! can’t wait to try this out, normally i just use coconut oil 🙂
Can this work with any oil, like jojoba, sweet almond oil, etc?
Dianthe White Hall – Haven’t attempted soap yet. Someday!
Mégan Miles Alba – Ah, good! I was going to ask you what you thought!
Lorrie Christman – Someone tried it with coconut and it worked well, so I think it would be fine to use jojoba or sweet almond
Melissa Holloway – That’s what we used to use too. It’s still great but this is less greasy 🙂
Hmmm, just made this and did something terribly wrong. I watched the video and repeated the steps as described. However, I got a waxy mess that did not emulsify with the water. I think it is impossible for me to pour the mixture any slower.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I was a little overgenerous with the beeswax, so it’s more like body butter, but it’s still very nice. Can anyone tell me a weight equivalent for the beeswax? I buy pastilles from Mountain Rose, and I usually measure ingredients by weight when I can. It’s so much easier and I have less to wash up!
A couple notes on my experience…
1. The first time I used coldish water, and it made an unbelievable, disgusting mess in my blender. The oils hardened and clumped around the blades.
2. The second time, I warmed the water, and it still made a nasty mess. As I was adding the oil, it did the same thing as the first time. I’ve made mayonaise, which is also an emulsion before, and I know once your emulsion breaks, you are out of luck. I figured it was hopeless, so I quickly added the rest of the oil, really frustrated by this point. Lo and behold, right at the end the emulsion formed and it came out beautifully!
All this to say, if yours looks disgusting at first, or doesn’t seem to be emulsifying, you might just have to hang in there. It may resolve itself in the end. Next time, I’m going to try calendula tea for it’s soothing properties and vitamin e oil for moisturizing and to extend the shelf life.
Thanks for this, Sarah! I’m updating the instructions so that people know not to use cold water 🙂
YEY!!! So fun to watch this video! 🙂 I can’t wait to try it….I need lotion like crazy here in freezing Iowa. And, I’m totally looking forward to your soap making video! 😀 (P.S. love that Katie started doing her OWN tutorial per your comments! Ha! You know you’re a blogger when…..) THANKS!
Let me know how you like it, Emily!
What kind of oil did you put in? You said it was orange-ish in color and good for your skin but I didn’t quite catch the name. Thanks! Love the tutorial!
It was Sea Buckthorn oil from Mountain Rose Herbs
Lorrie Christman – Someone responded to you in the comments on the actual post. Here’s their take: “A couple notes on my experience…
1. The first time I used coldish water, and it made an unbelievable, disgusting mess in my blender. The oils hardened and clumped around the blades.
2. The second time, I warmed the water, and it still made a nasty mess. As I was adding the oil, it did the same thing as the first time. I’ve made mayonaise, which is also an emulsion before, and I know once your emulsion breaks, you are out of luck. I figured it was hopeless, so I quickly added the rest of the oil, really frustrated by this point. Lo and behold, right at the end the emulsion formed and it came out beautifully!
All this to say, if yours looks disgusting at first, or doesn’t seem to be emulsifying, you might just have to hang in there. It may resolve itself in the end. Next time, I’m going to try calendula tea for it’s soothing properties and vitamin e oil for moisturizing and to extend the shelf life.” Hope that helps!
I am sure it was my error. I used 3 oz. apricot seed oil and 3 oz. sweet almond oil, then I used 4 oz. orange water and 4 oz. gardenia water. I am new to homemade gifts so I used what I had on hand. The water I used was probably too cold, as it was room temp. and it seems the bees wax was making my bowl waxy while I was still pouring it into the food processor. Could it be if the water and oil is not 100% pure? I stuck with it, scraped the bowl, and no luck,
Chet asked me if I had seen this post (I hadn’t had a chance to read it yet). He said, “looks great”. Which means he would like me to try it. So, this will be on my “to make” list. I love that my hubby reads your blog!
Have a great, blessed Christmas!
Ha, that’s so funny! Make me want to start a post with “Hi Chet!”
Love your blog and this post, but I am desperate!!! It seems like nothing moisturizes my face, I even made this lotion with High quality coconut oil and it still feels dry. I have used straight coconut oil and the skin on my face is still flaky and itchy. What is your opinion of soy derived glycerin? I want to stay away from soy but don’t know about this. I was thinking of making a lotion out of glycerin b/c I read it pulls moisture from the air. What do you think?
I can’t see the video on this device so I wung it. Winged it? Whatever, I gave it a go and have to say, I love it!! Looks like mayo, smells like peppermint heaven, feels silky and smooth and soft. Thank you, thank you!
Yay, love to hear that Susan! So sorry about the video, though 🙁
Just made this with my 3 yr old son! We shredded the beeswax with the food processor and used grapeseed oil because I had a lot of that. We used nettles tea because it’s a good anti-inflammatory (son has eczema). Then we added a couple drops of lavender. It’s a great light lotion. And since he helped me make it, my son will be more likely to let me put it on him! 🙂 Thanks for the post!
Yay! So glad you like it, Tracy! And I totally agree – my daughter is much more willing to try things she helped make 🙂
Hi, i have a project and we have to make something that people can use. so i choose homemade lotion. can u plz tell me where 2 get the buckthorn oil? OHH UR DAUGHTER IS SOOO CUTE! 😀
Thank you! I bought my sea buckthorn at http://www.mountainroseherb.com but it is not necessary for the lotion recipe. Hope that helps!
Thank you! Can’t wait to start making it 😛
I want to try this!!! LOL…I’m getting crunchier by the day!
I want to try this!!! LOL…I’m getting crunchier by the day!
I have shared this lotion so many times I’ve lost count! Gave it for Christmas and my friends raved. Plus, I’ve shared it with anyone and everyone who suffers from eczema. It really helps! My favorite is to mix it with either lavender oil or a theives oil blend. My skin clears up in about a week.
I have shared this lotion so many times I’ve lost count! Gave it for Christmas and my friends raved. Plus, I’ve shared it with anyone and everyone who suffers from eczema. It really helps! My favorite is to mix it with either lavender oil or a theives oil blend. My skin clears up in about a week.
what is ‘theives oil’?
This lotion is FABULOUS. I wasn’t sure if we would use it all up, but it’s gone and we’re ready for another batch.
This lotion is FABULOUS. I wasn’t sure if we would use it all up, but it’s gone and we’re ready for another batch.
Love it! I made it for my mom for Christmas and she is already requesting a second batch. 🙂
I just made your lotions on Sunday and it is phenomenal!! Any tips for getting residue out of the food processor? The beeswax is so sticky!
Alison Westermann – I have to scrub it a few times with hot soapy water to get it squeaky clean again 🙂
you mean i can’t just keep running it through the dishwasher?! 😉
I used boiling water to get rid of the leftover beeswax. Take it outside and pour the boiling water on everything. You probably don’t want it going down your drain.
Bwahahahaha! I just saw this, Alison Westermann! Let me know how many cycles it takes!
I broke down after three or four and took a scrubbie to it. Wasn’t too bad! Might be my new plan of action for other things!
My friend and I made this today – we had fun and it was so easy! (well, grating the bees wax wasn’t so easy). I love the lotion!
Yay, I’m so glad you liked it Teresa!
I have solved my “grating Beeswax” problem. I melt my big chunk of wax, then pour it onto sheets of parchment paper that are on baking sheets. Beeswax dries and I simply break up the wax into pieces. Voila! No grating, no mess. Hope this helps
You added olive oil twice, so how much did you add when melting the was and how much did you add when you emulsified it? TIA
The oil that I added to the food processor was the same that I’d just melted with beeswax over the stove. So, 3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons beeswax 🙂
sorry for the extra words in there 🙂
I made this today and it was awesome… discovered that my food processor can only do one recipe at a time (making a bunch so I wanted to double up) – but that’s ok, it turned out GREAT!! my hands still feel soft after washing them several times today – and I’m thrilled…
I was wondering if you use coconut oil will it only last 2 weeks at room temp or was that just for the olive oil? And does it go bad or just start separating or something? Oh one more thing lol…We use Tate’s all over, and I love it for my kids hair….would this be too greasy to use in your hair?
Hi Alison! I have had a batch go bad after two weeks (which is why I put that in there) but usually it stays good on my counter for a couple months at least (we always use it up by then!). I’m not sure if it would work for hair. Seems like it would be too greasy to me, but if you try it and like it please let me know!
Instead of Olive oil, Coconut oil or avocado, could you use Glycerin?
I want to try this, but the tutorial is gone 🙁
Hi Gloria! I’m not sure why you’re not seeing it, but it’s still there. If you have ad blocking software that might be it 🙂
I just made my first batch and it is wonderful! I gave one jar to my sister and she cannot wait for more. Next I will attempt the shampoo bars. Thanks! so happy I found your site 🙂
Hi! I just made a batch of lotion today similar to this recipe except I added CoQ10 and vitamin E. However, it did not have the beeswax and it was creamy but also a bit runny. Could I add the beeswax now or will that not work since it is already whipped up? Sorry, I’m new to making homemade things…….but love all of the ideas!
Hi Marjorie! I have never tried adding beeswax after the emulsion process before, but I’m thinking it probably wouldn’t work. However, what you could do is make a second batch with double the beeswax in the second recipe and then blend them together!
What a great post. I will be making this with my daughter this weekend – even at 20 this will be fun.
Alicia
Hi Heather!
Could I freeze this lotion? I made way to much and I’m afraid the left overs will go bad at room temp. Also, I used jojoba oil instead of coconut!
I’m not sure, Sara. Maybe you could try freezing/thawing a small sample to see if it changes the texture? I know it does really well in the fridge if you have room in there!
I made this and it is lovely! Thank you! But, I am wondering. I was reading that without some type of preservative, the lotion is good for really only a few days at room temperature. How do I know if my lotion has gone bad? And how long should have you found this lotion to last? I imagine it might depend on what oil you use, but just wondering what your experience has been. Thank you!
You really can’t tell if you have a bacteria party in your lotion unless you have it tested, at least not until it’s pretty far along. Anytime you have water present, you can have bacteria. I use a preservative called liquid germall plus. EWG gives it a 1 or a2, I forget which, so it’s pretty safe. Also it’s very low volume, 0.5 gm/100 gm of lotion. No parabens or PEGs. If you totally want to avoid preservatives, stick to all oil/butter concoctions. No water, no problem. ?
Heather, I made this recipe about 5-6 days ago, and all the tea has separated from the coconut oil! The water was almost suspended in the oil, so when I went to scoop some lotion out, the water would separate from the oil, and the oil would be in little clumps. I tried stirring the oil and water back together, but now ALL the tea separated from the water! I just dumped the liquid in the sink…Did it go rancid already? Is that a normal occurrence?
I’m so sorry that happened, Taylor! From what I understand the reason for the separation is probably one of two things. First, it could be that the original batch did not reach emulsion stage when blended. From what you say about the water being “almost” suspended I’m guessing this was probably the issue. It could be that the oil was too cool when emulsified. Or, it could be that the batch got overly hot at some point after emulsified and separated. So sorry again – I hope this helps you figure out what happened!
Hi Taylor. When I make lotion, I usually heat both the water and the oils in a water bath for 20-30 minutes. Just put them in separate Pyrex cups, set the cups in a pan of water over Med-low heat and make sure your water bath doesn’t boil off. You can cover the water Pyrex with plastic wrap if you’re worried about losing part of your recipe ingredients to evaporation. They should both be about the same temperature to blend well. I put the oil in the larger cup and use an immersion blender, though I bet you could preheat your blender/food processor with some boiling water, dump it out when you’re ready to blend and replace it with your measured recipe water, then proceed to drizzle your warm oil/wax blend as above.
I also use emulsifying wax instead of beeswax. You can find it on Amazon or at LotionCrafter or TKB Trading. Not only will this keep your lotion from breaking but because emulsifying wax is meant to interact with water, you don’t have the cleanup problem you have with beeswax. Nor will it clog your drain, same reason.
Lastly, I use less oily stuff. My lotions are 20-30% oils/waxes and 70-80% watery stuff. That makes it easier for the wax to hold the oils in suspension.
Oh, and I use preservative also. My preference is liquid germall plus because 1) EWG rates it a 1 or 2, pretty safe;
2) no parabens/PEGs
3) very low concentration (0.5% by weight of total lotion).
You add it at the end when the lotion is barely warm, same as the essential oils if you use them.
Hope these ideas help.
Joan – do you happen to have a written recipe for how you make your lotion?
Hi Heather!
I made this lotion with coconut oil almost a week ago, and the other day I noticed the oil and the tea (I used green tea) were separating. I’d try to scoop some out of the jar I put it in, and it would make a squelchy sound and the oil would come out in clumps and the water would stay in the jar. I tried stirring it all back together, but it just separated it even more. Did I not mix it well enough, or does that just happen? Or maybe it’s all ready gone rancid?
Oops… posted again, I didn’t think it posted the other day. Sorry!
No worries 🙂 The first comment goes through an approval process to prevent spam but after that they go through immediately. Hope my response helps!
Sorry to bombard you wtih questions today! I’m trying to live a greener, healthier life for my kids and keep chemicals out of their body! I made your lotion today with the kids and I must have needed your little Katie because mine didn’t turn out like yours!! I used chamomile tea for the water part of the recipe, I only had 1/4 cup of olive oil so I used that and 1/2 cup of coconut oil. I melted the beeswax and oil together and then let it cool for 2-3 minutes. I then poured the tea into my ninja blender and VERY slowly (exactly like you did in the video) poured in the oil/beeswax mixture. I don’t know what happened but it didn’t exolsify (sp) the way yours did in the video. Towards the end the oil/beeswax mixture started to harden again and solidify in the cup I was pouring it out of and the mixture in the ninja blender after I eventually poured all of the oil/beeswax mixture in it was VERY liquidy. I poured the finished mixture and into a mason jar and it separated. Creamy party that actually worked went to the top and the liquid part that never got creamy stayed at the bottom. The creamy part at the top was AMAZING!!!!! But there isn’t very much of the creamy part that worked and I’m not sure what to do with all the rest of the pure liquid part of the lotion that didn’t work! Do you think it was because I used coconut oil instead of just olive oil like you did or maybe I poured in the mixture too slowly (is that possible with this recipe) was it the tea I used or the tap water? What do you think I should do differently? I really want to figure this out because I am in HEAVEN with the little bit of the lotion that DID work! I immediately slathered it all over myself, my husband, and my babies!! It smells so good and feels so soft on my skin! Any advice would be greatly appreciated for my next trial batch! P.S. Your blog has drastically changed my life! I switched my family to “real” food and non-toxic everything!! I threw out all of the household items that had any sort of chemical in it last night! My husband and my parents think I went completely crazy but if it prevents us from getting cancer and helps us to feel better with out all the chemicals in our bodies then hopefully time living this way will show them that it works!!
Just made this – it came out great! I used olive oil and green tea. I added some Rosemary Essential Oil to my husband’s, and some Rosemary, Peppermint and Tea Tree to mine. Looking forward to seeing if it helps my husband’s eczema. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! So glad to hear that, Mali!
Hi,can I use the lotion on my toddler skin?
I’ve used it on my toddler with no problem 🙂
Made this over the weekend…used coconut oil. After it cooled, it firmed up a bit, so not as creamy as regular lotion, but melts easily into skin. It’s better than any lotion I’ve purchased!
So glad you like it, Robin!
This is totally off the topic of the lotion but I just watched the video Daniel made for Katie’s 4th birthday and I’m literally bawling right now (and started bawling about 15 seconds into the video– I’m such a mush!) I have a 20 month old and it just reminded me how quick they grow up and how important it is to cherish every single day with them.
Beautiful video!
This looks great! I’m hoping to make home made lotion for my co-workers for Christmas this year. How much does your recipe make?
I have been looking forward to making this for days. I have all my ingredients. I am wondering, do I grate a 3T block of beeswax, or try to end up w/ 3T of shavings? I am delighted to discover that beeswax smells so much like honey.
Thanks!!!
Hi I just make the lotion.I fallow you recipe but I have white liquid left.Is it normal because in your video lotion looks very smooth.
To those who are having seperation issues:
This lotion will always separate without the use of emulsifying wax. It’s only a temporary emulsification. Also any recipe using water needs to have a bath and body safe preservative, other wise it will start to mold.
Thank you for stating this. That was my first thought when I read the recipe. I wouldn’t consider this a lotion without an emulsifier.
Love this video! I had found a similar recipe elsewhere online and tried it (loved it!) with a stick blender, which also works great, as does a regular blender. For those who are wanting a little more precise measurement on the beeswax, the other recipe I used called for 2 tablespoons or 1/2 oz. of beeswax. Using a small digital kitchen scale, I find it makes more uniform results to weigh the beeswax. For this recipe I would use 3/4 oz. of beeswax. Also, I have purchased beeswax pastilles from Bulk Apothecary.com, which means I don’t have to grate the wax, and it is easy to measure and it melts uniformly. I noticed that in the comments here where people have used coconut oil, the mixture did not emulsify. I think that might be due to the fact that the coconut oil becomes solid at around 75 degrees, so maybe it solidifies too quickly. This recipe seems best suited for use with oils that are liquid at room temperature.
This sounds fantastic! Hubby and I decided to go a new direction with our food consumption at the new year and it has made me an absolute diehard for natural products made at home. I’m a three time cancer survivor and I’m so sick of detoxing…gave up so much food and garbage to start eating right and the difference has been UNBELIEVABLE in how I feel…not to mention how many pounds are coming off.
Now that I’m delving into making my own products at home as I’m running out of the old…looking for some great base recipes that I can tweak.
ARE YOU USING STRAIGHT OLIVE OIL? OR CAN EXTRA VIRGIN BE USED?
I think I’m going to also try this recipe with avocado oil.
Thanks for the video and your little one is precious! So wonderful to see her so anxious to help!
Hi Denise. You can use olive oil, extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. 🙂
The texture of the lotion was great at first but as it solidified at room temperature, the rose water seemed to separate. Troubleshooting suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Brittany, I’m so sorry that happened! It’s been a long time since I posted this recipe and I honestly forgot it was here. In adapting this recipe for my book I adjusted my liquid amount down to 3/4 cup rather than a cup. I’m updating this post to reflect that now. If it were me, I’d pour as much liquid off as I could and then re-whip. Good luck!
Great video!! But what is the oil you’re adding slowly to emulsify? Is that olive oil again, in addition to the 3/4 cup of oil you already added with the beeswax in the double boiler? I’m sorry, I just want to make sure before I try. Thanks!
It is the olive oil/beeswax blend I melted in the double boiler 🙂
can you put shea butter in it
Shea butter is better suited for a whipped body butter, though depending on the quality it can yield a “grainy” product. Here’s a tutorial if you want to check it out: https://mommypotamus.com/mint-chocolate-whipped-body-butter/
Is it possible to substitute something for the beeswax? I am allergic.
Try using emulsifying wax.
Can you put shea butter in the lotion
Hello Heather!
There’s is a community in the United States that is being unreached (I believe)…. Hispanics non-english speakers living in the United States. And because I know that culture, I have been trying to inform them about the risks in the food that we eat and how they should make changes. I share recipes to them from people that I follow like you. Now, I will like to start a vlog in youtube and I love this recipe, I do two batches from me and my husband every two months =) My husband loves it!!! I was sharing it with some family from Mexico, and they would love a tutorial.
Would you allow me to record this recipe tutorial in Spanish? I will link to your site, and all credit to you in case some people would like to follow you =)? Thanks!!
Reading through the comments, I don’t see anyone asking this question, unless I missed it. Your recipe called for 3/4 cup of oil and water. Yet, in your video you can ONE CUP. Which is the correct measurement? Can’t wait to try this! Will be my first attempt at making my own lotion.
3/4 cup. After using this recipe several times I found that 1 cup was too much to emulsify and there was often a little water left over. 🙂
Oops! “Yet, in your video you say* ONE CUP.”
I made this lotion yesterday with coconut oil. It turned out great but after a while sitting at room temperature it solidified and all the water separated out. Any suggestions?
I can’t view the video 🙁
Just got the ingredients to make this and now I can’t see how to do it 🙁
Hi Courtney! It’s working for me – maybe you need to update your browser or video player?
My mistake! I was on an ipad… Worked from my computer! Love the lotion and sunscreen! Made such a difference in my twins dry skin!
Hi, I was wondering if there is a substitute for the beeswax? Thanks!
I have not worked with any that I can recommend, sorry!
Hello, just found this recipe and want to try it. Am wondering what the difference is between a body butter and a lotion? I would prefer something that is easier to apply and doesn’t leave an oily residue that ends upon my clothes and sheets. Many years ago, before you could buy premade natural lotions I made my own with oils and could never get the smell of rancid oil out of my sheets.
Am also wondering if when you blend the ingredients if it is creating a hydrogenated solution, which I have heard is bad for you. You use the word emulsify and I guess I’m wondering what the difference is between emulsify and hydrogenate. Sorry, this may not be the place to ask this technical question.
Wanted to tell you that my phone won’t let me watch the video. It says that the “plug in is not supported by Chromes for Android”. Thought you might like to know since I see other people have said they couldn’t view it.
A body butter does not contain water, whereas lotion does. For that reason body butters tend to stay fresh without the use of preservatives longer.
Emulsification is the process of blending oil and water so that they do not separate – water droplets surround the oil and suspend them. It is totally unlike the hydrogenation process.
Thanks for letting me know about the video!
Hi there. I currently use Palmer’s cocoa butter lotion and i love it but it does have chemicals that i would love to steer clear of.
Do you think I could substitute cocoa butter with bees wax? to get the chocolatey sent and nourishing properties?
I’ve had some bad luck making my own lotions in the past. I tried making a cocoa butter body butter which was too oily for me but would love to have the sent of that but emulsify it to make it less oily. Can it be that easy? and another time I used bees wax and found it left a filmy residue on my sick that I didn’t like (but maybe i just didn’t emulsify correctly).
Anyways, I’d love to try again but fear that I will miss my cocoa butter lotion sent too much. Any ideas/tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Hi Kylie, I’ve never come across a recipe that uses cocoa butter as an emulsifier, so I’m thinking the answer is probably not. I do have a recipe for whipped body butter that uses cocoa butter though: https://mommypotamus.com/mint-chocolate-whipped-body-butter/
Is this ok for the face? under the eyes?
Was there ever any suggestion for the separating problem?
I have used it on my face with no problem. As for the separating, I decreased the amount of water after some experimentation. The current recipe reflects that change. 🙂
thanks!! loving your blog!
Great post. Looking forward to trying it. To the person who suggestion Xanthan gum, can you give us an idea how much to put in and where we could purchase this? Has anyone else tried the Xanthan gum?
Hey! This is a great DIY recipe! I am about to make mine!
I just wanted to let you know that your link to the original recipe no longer takes you to the readymade.com/blog website, but instead takes you to a home decorating page that is entirely unrelated to homemade lotions.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Heather, your recipe is awesome. I’ve been looking for years on how to make lotion. None of the Internet recipes from others worked, either too runny, too hard, and always separated. Couldn’t get the emusilfier percentage right. I also read the beeswax could not work on its own as an emusilifer. But yours does. In only a few minutes we had homemade lotion. Absolutely no fuss. Couldn’t be simplier. I am totally amazed. Thanks for sharing. P.S. Your daughter is so cute.
Other Advice To your Readers,
FYI, any product that contains water must have a preservative added to it. Bacteria will grow between 1-3 weeks; mold/fungi will be grow with 48-72 hours. So it’s best to use a preservative, always at .5 – 1% of the total volume. Natural ones are many essential oils such as lavendar, tea tree, rosemary, lemon oils. It is also wise to use antioxidants to extend the shelf life of the oils used. To name just two, Vitamin E or vegetable glycerin, also at .5-1%, ought to be added. Conversely, if you are using olive, canola or coconut oils, these oils have a long shelf life of 9-12 months as they have antioxidants in their molecular structure. Incidentally, if using coconut oil, the end result will be a thicker texture as coconut oil is a solid at room temperature. I would speculate the shelf life if adding natural preservatives and antioxidants to be safe at the very least one month at room temperature, as that is how long my mom’s barrier cream I make lasts at room temperature on the counter in the summer. She is bedridden from a stroke for the past 13 years and for the past 4 years since I’ve been making home made skincare and housecare products, she hasn’t had any skin breakdown, e.g., rash, in that region. In comparison, she had skin breakdown almost every 1-2 weeks using vaseline as a maintenance barrier cream and zinc oxide cream when an eruption occurred, fyi.
HI, again, I just want to correct and add a few more points. If one is using coconut, olive and canola in their emulsion (lotion), you don’t need to add an antioxidant (although it offers benefits). Also, while canola doesn’t have many antioxidants within it, it has the same shelf life of coconut and olive.
Important addition: I checked the pH on this emulsion and it was pH 7.5, which is alkaline. Not ideal to use as a moisterizer left on the skin and not washed off as with a soap. This high pH is a result of the beeswax, which is between pH 9.0. That being the case, it would be wise to add a pH buffering agent, such as citric acid to lower it to pH 5.50 – 6.0. Alternatively, you can use a citrus essential oil like lemon or orange, approx. 45 drops or 3/4 teaspoon.
To All who had questions,
The following is what I’ve learned from extensive research and practice—
Because all lotions, aka. Emulsions, are a mix of oil and water, any base oils will work for a lotion, aka. Emulsion, it depends on what you want the end result to do for you, e.g., more moisturizing or more hydrating, thin or thicker consistency, or have healing/therapeutic benefits, be fragrant or don’t want to add an antioxidant, etc.
Use Extra virgin olive oil, better than regular olive oil for skincare. In addition to Extra virgin having skin softening properties, “Extra virgin olive oil is produced naturally, meaning that the oil is not made from any sort of chemical treatments. Virgin oil is also an indication that the oil is not refined, that they are of a higher quality and retain their natural flavor.” http://mideastfood.about.com/od/middleeasternfood101/a/olive_oil.htm. Likewise, use pure virgin coconut oil when making skincare products.
Glycerin is a soap byproduct. It can be used as a moisturizer, an emulsifier or preservative in creams/lotions. It is not a substitute for the oil in making an emulsion, aka. Lotion. An emulsion is the merger of oil and water.
Use distilled water (rose water, aloe vera juice, green tea). Alternatively, sterilize tap water by boiling it for at least 6 minutes and longer depending on your city’s relation to sea level. Let the boiled water sit for a few minutes as your oil/wax mixture is cooling. Ensure the temperature of both the oil/wax mixture and the water are relatively the same warm temperature before merging to create an emulsion.
I used 3 tablespoons of beeswax shavings, not 3 tablespoons of melted beeswax, for the recipe and it emulsified wonderfully. However, I poured the oil/wax mixture into blender first (called the “continuous phase”), then added the water (called the water phase). Most lotions are oil-in-water, not water-in-oil. Making it this way not only helps to form the emulsion easily but also it is touted to be more stable and preserving. Note: Another natural way to preserve the lotion is to bring the pH down to an acid pH level, i.e., do not let it remain around pH 7.0, which is neutral.
Melting a beeswax candle for a skincare product is not wise unless it is 100% beeswax. Be aware that “…for a candle to be legally labeled pure beeswax, it only has to be 51% beeswax. The remaining 49% can be paraffin or any other type of material or wax.” Source: http://preferredorganics.com/products/purebeeswaxcandles.html.
If you are allergic to beeswax, you can use an emulsifying vegetable wax, shea butter, vegetable glycerin (food grade), soy lecithin, etc.
Xanthan gum is not an emulsifier. It is a thickener and a stabilizer for emulsions. Because this recipe has already beeswax in it, I would start with ¼ – ½ teaspoon, rather than using 0.5% of the total volume. Xanthan gum is concentrated. It used to be only available at health food stores, now I find it at my local grocery, eg., PriceSmart, Safeway, Save-on-Foods, Price, Superstore. It is fermented corn sugar, a soluble fiber and soluble in water (not oil). So you’d add it to the water before merging it with the oil/wax.
This lotion can be used anywhere on the body. However, for the face, choose an oil for your skin type. Olive oil is best for dry skin. Lighter oils such as grapeseed or coconut oil for oily skin. For combination skin, use jojoba, sunflower or sweet almond oils; alternatively, use 1 part Olive and 1 part another oil to make up the ¾ cup of oil in this recipe.
To give your lotion more moisturizing ability, add a humectant. A humectant reduces the loss of moisture on your skin. Some example are glycerin, vitamin E, aloe vera, olive oil, honey.
Lavender and Tea tree both work for eczema and psoriasis. Sandalwood, Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Lemon, Bergamot, calendula apparently also are good for psoriasis.
For male scents, one can use sage, clary sage, nutmeg, patchouli, thieves, clove, frankincense, pepper black (not black pepper), ginger, grapefruit, lime, coriander. For both genders, one can use Patchouli, sandalwood, lemon, mandarin, tangerine, bergamot. Use only 1-3 drops for fragrance in this recipe.
The consistency of this recipe will be thin at first but white in color. After it cools it will set/stiffen, of course, that is, if one has followed the process correctly, e.g., merged oil/wax and water while both at same warm temperature, slowly added the water to the oil/wax in blender and blended first at low setting while adding the water until emulsification, then on high setting to stabilize.
If the lotion separates, it doesn’t mean it has gone bad; it just means it has not emulsified.
However, it will go bad if it is not wholly emulsified (i.e., it has separated). If you see water beads, just strain it to remove the excess water and gently reheat the lotion in a double boiler for a minimum of six minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes but still be warm. Blend again. I found a hand mixer to work better than a blender. Keep blending/mixing until it looks like whipped butter.
To tell if a lotion has gone bad, it will smell rancid (oil) or musty (water) and obviously if you can see mold, do not use and throw away.
I agree with Heather that any extra lotion you have is best kept in the fridge, rather than the freezer. While the freezer dries out the formulation, I found condensation to be a problem in the fridge. So if you are using a container or jar with a wide opening, double a paper towel and place it over the mouth of container/jar, then screw on lid tightly. The condensation will be absorbed by the paper towel and the paper towel will prevent the water beads to get into the lotion, which in turn prevents mold growth.
To wash off oils off containers and utensils, as Heather said, hot water will work. I usually remove as much oil residue with paper towels, then hot water, or hot water and vinegar, or hot water and lemon essential oil. Vinegar and citrus oils are grease cutting.
Wishing everyone success and bliss in living life organically!
Sincerely,
Diane
Primary Caregiver for Family Member
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada
Wow. I can’t believe no one thanked you for this, especially the author of this blog. Maybe she didn’t see what a fantastic blurb you wrote? I even took notes. Thanks for all this wealth of info, from me. The PH tip was great, and the advice on which oils offer what properties. I’m keeping mine in the fridge though for sure.
Thank you so much, Fina. It is always lovely to be acknowledged, appreciated and to have helped someone. BTW, mine had separated after 2 months. On the other hand, I noticed it hadn’t gone moldly on me (though I had put orange and lavender essential oils for preservative and scent). So the recipe could use more beeswax. FYI, I kept it in an opaque pump reused moisturizer bottle on my kitchen counter at room temperature. I wish you success with yours.
I neglected to say if using Glycerin as a preservative, use at 15 – 20% of volume when using as a preservative.
Also, though most lotions are oil-in-water, not water-in-oil, making it the other way around helped to form the emulsion easily for me; however, an oil-in-water emulsion, as the one in this recipe, is touted to be more stable and preserving.
One last note (I hope): In order to create/make an emulsion, if I can recall correctly, these three factors are necessary: the temperatures of the oil and water before merging should be between 45-85°C (110-185 °F), mechanical action (i.e., blending sufficiently until uniform) and the percentage, type/s and strength of the emulsifier used. Note: Room temperature is between is usually in the range of 20 -25 °C (68 – 77 °F). Source: Wikipedia.
Am I missing the preservative step? How do you keep mold and mildew etc out when using water
Hi Heather,
About how much does this make?
about 1.75 – 2 cups 🙂
Thanks!
A trick I learned recently from making mayonnaise – if you leave the plunger in the food processor, there is a tiny hole at the bottom so it’s perfect for timed emulsions! Just poor the oil into the food plunger and it will slowly drip in. 🙂
Great tip, Melody! I do have a question, though – how do you clean it afterwards? I’ve never been able to get all the oil out 🙂
Hi Heather, I’m a dedicated user of my automatic dishwasher!! 🙂 Looking forward to trying this fantastic recipe. Thanks for the great site and information.
Does anyone know of a lotion for the face that is not greasy or make your face shiny
I’m not sure what’s going on, but not only can I not see the video, there are no instructions? I’ve been looking for a great hand lotion recipe that I can put in a pump bottle for in the bathrooms & by the kitchen sink…..for use after the homemade hand soap!
Hi Jenn, you might try updating your browser or viewing it in a different browser. Hope that helps!
Can you add magnesium oil as part of the water to this recipe to make a magnesium lotion?
Thank you so much for this recipe! I added a bit of cocoa butter and clove oil to my batch, and it’s just what I needed. It’s perfect!
Hi Heather! I am currently caretaking for my grandmother who is on hospice in Chicago Illinois. My mother and I are drying out by the day between the winter weather (which we are not used to, being from CA), the ‘soft’ rusty well water (which quite frankly, feels like anything BUT soft!) and the thermostat which is kept at a crazy high of 76°! Our eczema is flaring and I can’t help thinking there’s got to be something more natural for my grandmother to be using on her ever thinning, delicate skin. Your lotion sounds so good I can almost feel it! However between my smart phone and tablet I am unable to view your video 🙁 . Could you tell me about your process? Any of you other mommypotamus followers who have already tried this recipe out feel free to chime in! My skin is shriveling up before my eyes! Thank you so so much! ~ Shriveled in Chicago Town
Hello,
I want to place an order from you to our store in The Netherlands. I want to know if you can ship here and accept credit card as a form of payment. Reply back asap.
Thanks
Johnette Majlov.
Wow! What great stuff!! I have to say that it started out as a disaster. I had doubled the recipe and tried making it in my blender but realized it was going to make too much so i transfered it to my Kitchen Aid mixer (with the whip thingy) and in order to blend it fast as you were doing it was flying all over the walls. 🙁 i laid a long towel around the mixer, taking care not to let the mixer pull it into the bowl, and it caught all the splash. I thought it would never emulsify, but with patience, it did and its just wonderful. I added some lemon and White Ginger essential oil for scent and its lovely. The batch filled 8 baby food jars. Just in time for Christmas gifts 🙂 thanks so much for sharing!!
I love this recipe! And I love your blog! I am excited to try more of your recipes. Thanks so much for sharing. I made creams as Christmas gifts for family this year. It is really easy!! Last year I made similar lotions but from other blogs but they weren’t as easy or as absorbent as this recipe. A lot of the DIY creams tend to be very oily and don’t absorb well into the skin
I have kept it out at room temperature because I find that it gets too hard in the fridge. Do you recommend refrigeration to prevent bacteria from growing?
I keep a small amount at room temp and the rest in the fridge for extended shelf life 🙂
Hi! I find your blog really helpful. I’d like to ask though, as i’m currently looking for a lotion recipe for commercial use. In your recipe, what do i need to add to prolong its shelf life? What kind of preservative and how many ml? If i would like to make 1 liter to start how many ml or grams are the oils and water mixtures as well as the preservative? Appreciate your thoughts on this.
I’ve been meaning to try this recipe for months and am finally excited to get on it with the motivation of so many dry hands in our house. Then I remembered that I’d commented on your FB post about this that I have Candelilla wax instead of beeswax. Someone wrote me back saying I’d use 1/2 or double the amount of candelilla wax but I can’t remember which it was and can’t find the post. Would you know? Thanks so much!
You can try 80% candililla wax to beeswax by weight. That’s what I’ve used for lip balm replacements, not sure if this will carry over to lotions. Good luck!
I made this lotion this weekend and I love it. However, I do have a question. When I made it the consistency was perfect but after 24 hours it hardened. I did not put it in the refrigerator. I used coconut oil instead of olive oil. Is that the difference? I can still use it, I just loved the perfect lotion consistency.
Yes, coconut oil becomes solid around 76F, and is a semi-solid in slightly warmer temps 🙂
I’d love to try this… just wondering, could I use tallow in place of the olive or coconut oil?? I would like to make this lotion to use in your sunscreen recipe.
Sooo…I thought it was all working well and then the lotion split. It is now this part lotion and watery consistency. Anyone Know how this be fixed? Much appreciated:)
WANTING TO DO A SPA LIKE BDAY PARTY FOR MY 10 YEAR OLD AND WE WANT TO MAKE HOMEMADE LOTION FOR PARTY FAVOR GIFTS HOW BIG OF A BATCH DOES THIS MAKE?
About a cup 🙂
i know this post is old but it came up and i am anxious to try it!! My only question is i have shea butter and i have almond oil is there a way to sub these products into this current recipe?? maybe sub sha butter for beeswax and almond oil for coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil???? i only ask because i made a lotion previously with these things and where it felt great it was overly complicated i need something that will be done with in a few minutes instead of hours. these are the ingredients i had from it…. thoughts?? (sorry for duplication i pressed enter too soon)
Hi Dominique, I haven’t tried making lotions with those particular ingredients so I can’t say how it would work out using the proportions from this recipe, unfortunately.
Hi, i knownthis post is super old but i was wondering could i use lanolin instead of beeswax?
Lanolin is sheep´s water-free wool fat, not to be confused with the lanolin that you can get in chemists which according to the German pharmacopoeia (DAB) is made up of 65% woolwax, 15% paraffin oil and 20% water!
Lanolin is added to our cremes with a water-in-oil emulsion as a natural emulsifier and serves as a bond between water and oil. At the same time it is an outstanding skin care product: It binds the skin´s moisture and contains valuable organic ingredients such as cholesterol and provitamin D.
So, Nisha, why not try it? Of course, you may have to figure out how much because all emulsifiers are not equal in power.
Good luck.
Your tips are too good, i will follow them. Thank you, Diane.
Hello,
I tried this recipe last night and must’ve done something wrong because my finished product is very greasy. When you say “3 Tbl beeswax” is that 3 Tbl of grated beeswax, or the brick? I think I put in too much. Also, does your beeswax have a strong aroma? Mine does and it has overpowered the essential oils I added. Also I used an unfiltered virgin olive oil (cloudy) and this also had a strong smell. haha
Is there anything I could have done to make it less oily? I love the simplicity of this recipe and want to try again.
Thank you so much. 🙂
Hi Misty, I meant grated beeswax. I hope that helps!
Hey, I like your recipe, I do most of my cosmetics and household products too (see my blog http://kimgoesscrimping.weebly.com/ ) I make sometime lotion with beeswax as well and other time with natural cosmetic emulsifying wax. Beeswax tends to “hold” the emulsification less long but it’s more natural in my view 🙂 I just wanted to add that to keep your lotion longer you could add natural conservative such as EPP (made from citrus) or cosgard (less natural but allowed in organic certified product).
anyway, nice video and your daughter is super cute !
Kisses to you two from a fellow French diy-in-the-natural-way addict, Kim
This is simple, no hassle hydrating lotion!
Just a small correction, if I may, on the Sea Buckthorn oil, it is mostly loaded with Vitamins A and C. Its orange/yellow color is from the beta-carotene. It is a fabulous oil for regenerating skins cells-great for mature and sun-damaged skin also.
What I usually do to make my lotions is similar to your recipe with the exception I add pure organic Aloe Vera juice-gel will do as well, or a strong camomile or lavender tea infusion with the dosage being more than the oil to provide more hydration to the skin.
Dry skin needs both oil and water – Dehydrated skin is thirsty skin and needs mostly water and there’s nothing better for it than Aloe Vera! Another amazing ingredient to add is seaweed gel combined with aloe vera-I make my own and add it to my lotions.
did you mean to use aloe vera juice instead of water if so how much and what amounts do u use when you mix aloe and seaweed gel and is that used in place of water and if so how much
I just need a quick clarification; in the video you say to add 1 cup of water, or rose water, or herbal tea to the oil, but in the written instructions above, it says 3/4 cup. I have wasted a lot of ingredients in the past trying to make a lotion so thought I’d better get some clarification before attempting this one. Thanks much~!!!
I reduced the amount to 3/4 cup because at 1 cup I sometimes had separation issues. Hope that helps!
THIS IS AWESOME~!!……It worked! My first successful attempt at DIY lotion…..happy dance. I used Rose water and added 3 or 4 capsules of Vit. E. Thank you so much! What a great recipe.
I used a little less than one cup of rose water and noticed that it separates a bit especially after refrigeration. Someone had suggested to add a stabilizer such as Xantham Gum to help with that and I was wondering how much to add and where in the process. I have Guar Gum on hand which should work as well I assume. Other than that it seems great, absorbs well and doesn’t leave my skin too greasy. I took the liberty to add a teaspoon of vegetable glycerin to help preserve it and I was wondering how much this may add to the shelf life if at all. For essential oils I added some lavender, cypress and rosehip as I read that cypress and rosehip are supposed to be firming for skin. Someone also suggested to add a thieves oil blend to help prevent bacterial growth. I have clove, rosemary and eucalyptus on hand and suppose these might be good to add for that purpose?
Do you have any thoughts on Bulk Apothecary? Have you used their products before? I noticed there is a significant price difference in some cases, but wanted to learn more before making a purchase. Thanks!
Hmmm, I wonder if I could do this with tallow (liquified)? I think I need something more than olive oil since it’s winter now 🙂
I know this is old, but the video is not available anymore??? I love your site and trust it so much, I don’t want to find another video because it might not be trustworthy! I only made the lotion once and can’t remember the steps!!
Hi Whitney! I just checked and I am able to watch the video. Maybe try viewing it from another device or browser?
Thanks so much for the reply! I’ve tried from three differnt devices, but will try Internet Explorer instead of Mozilla and see if that helps! Thank you again!
If that doesn’t work, you may try updating your browser 🙂
Is the recipe/how to mix it all or video still available? I can’t find either in the post. :/ I’m coming here through Pinterest, wasn’t sure if that had anything to do with it.
Thank you for any help. 🙂
Hi Heather, yes it’s still there in the post. Sometimes it doesn’t show up if your browser is outdated, though 🙂
Can you add a calendula tincture to this. I have about 2 ounces left and dont know what to do with it.
I’m so excited to try this lotion! I was wondering if anyone has tried using tallow instead of olive oil or coconut oil? ???
I love it, will definitely try it. On a different note, I was wondering if I could use shea butter instead of the oil, I have about 2Kg of shea butter that I would like to use up. Second, is there any reason a lotion would solidify once it has set? I have tried making lotion once before and my whole batch solidified. Why would that be? Thanks
Same thing happened to me. Why would my lotion harden? Should I melt it whip it?
My lotion turned out to be too watery. When I rub it on my skin I can see water drops. Is it because I used too much water? I followed your video where you said 1 cup of water.
Anyway, how will I know while making a lotion when there is enough of water?
Hi Reene! I’m so sorry you had a problem with excess water. Though I did use one cup in the video and it worked fine, over time I found that some batches would separate due to excess water. After awhile I updated the written instructions to suggest 3/4 cup water instead and explained why, but I haven’t found a way to edit the video because the original files were lost in a computer crash.
I have added another note below the video in case anyone misses that update in the post. So sorry about your lotion! If the water collects on the top you may be able to pour it off.
I am so excited to make this lotion! Thanks for your great tutorial! 🙂 I was wondering though…. is this still the lotion you still use on a daily basis or have you moved on to something different? I was just curious because it is an older video… is it a tried and true recipe or if it was a short lived thing? 🙂 Love all your help on being an healthy Momma! 🙂
Hi Cherie, when I make lotion this is the recipe I use. However, I most often stick with tallow balm 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Could you tell if I could add glycerin and citric acid to your recipe? If so, how much and at what point would I add them? Thank you very much for your help!
Hi,
I’m trying the lotion recipe and the beeswax isn’t melting… I’ve had it in a double boiler for a long time now…any suggestions?
Thank you!
Should you really be using olive oil in this? it’s definitely one of the slower absorbing carrier oils. a lighter oil like sweet almond might be better, at least for your hands if you need to be able to touch things afterwards.
Have you used Kokum butter? It’s very very hard and I wonder if I could use it as a substitute for the beeswax…..
Hi,
I would like to know if I can add make it as sunscreen lotion, how much of zinc oxide I need to add for SPF 30 ? Thanks.
Hi Debby, unfortunately the SPF value of a lotion can only be tested by a lab. I do use this lotion in this homemade sunscreen recipe (https://mommypotamus.com/how-to-make-non-toxic-homemade-sunscreen/), but it’s not rated in terms of SPF. I just know that when I use it on days I’m going to be in the sun for extended periods of time I don’t burn. Just like with store bought sunscreen I reapply often.
Thanks a lot.
By the way, Olive oil or Avocado is better ?
Will the creme sticky ?
Hi
I could not c ur video
Could u please give written instructions of this home madeklotio
Thanks a lot
Sorry still cant c the video
Pls provide written instructions
Could you please provide written instructions…your video isn’t working!
Thanks so much!
Hi! I would love to make this. Unfortunately the “Method” section is completely blank when I view this site. Is there a way that I can view how to make it? Thanks!
Hi Debby
great tutorial… just want to chek if I can add Vitamine E to this mix, and how much should I use.
thanks!!
=)
Which essential oils are ok to put into a lotion? Are there a few that you could suggest?
Hello, I just had to say thank you! I`ve never made lotion before, but I`m starting to make my own make up products and stumbled on this when I discovered that most DIY (natural) foundation recipes require lotion. Amazing! I haven`t moved on to phase 2 yet (combining the powder foundation and liquid components) but now just sitting and marveling at how soft my arms feel…
Just wanted to thank you mommypotamus for this wonderful recipe! It has been a staple at my house ever since I found out how to make it.
I’m not sure for others, but i find that i get the best result when i just dump the oil with the melted beewax and water together in a big container, and blend with a stick blender. It’s kind of like magic how well it blends together. And no separation afterwards too.
To help cool it down, I blend while the container is placed in a double boiler filled with ice cold water.
Just to note: I usually use coconut oil, natural bee wax, and rose water
I’m so glad you’ve found the recipe helpful! Thanks for taking the time to let me know, Kai!
Hi – I am a little confused – and I’m sure you can clarify this for me. the list of ingredients is oil, beeswax and water. I believe I heard on the video that you add the beeswax and oil to the double boiler to melt the beeswax. then you place that combination in the food processor and add the water. then I believe I heard you say to add something very slowly but I did not hear what was added very slowly? please clarify.
Also – can an emersion blender be used as well – will it be as effective?
Thank you – loved the video and your little girl is precious!
Hi Mary, the last section mentions adding essential oils if desired. Yes, you can use an immersion blender. I have a video planned to demonstrate the technique 🙂
July FYI Vitamin E inhibits collagen production
Note to Joyelena, I’ve never read any studies saying Vitamin E inhibits collagen production. If you google “Vitamin E collagen production” you will get many websites with medical authorities touting the opposite, i.e., Vitamin E produces collagen.
Would this lotion recipe work to use in a pump dispenser?
To, Kristi D.,
Yes, this cream/lotion can be put into a pump dispenser and works wonderfully. Interestingly, with the less water, 3/4 cup, my lotion lasted without mold/fungus from the water or rancidity from the oil for over one and a half years! It still even smelled good.
I have spent a lot of time reasearching lotion making. But I have a question, I have read about emusifiers,some use it some don’t. Is it necessary or not and I’m sure
It’s full of chemicals. Is it a yes or no.
Thank you
Arlene
Arlene, emulsifiers are a must if your blend contains water! Oil and water don’t mix. You need an emulsifier to marry them. Most natural emulsifier is beeswax. Lecithin and glycerin can also be used as natural emulsifiers. Egg yolk of course is an emulsifier used primarily in cooking.
Just google “natural emulsifiers” to find one that suits your needs and/or preferences.
If you’re making a body butter, which contains only oils, an emulsifier isn’t needed.
Hi Heather,
Thank you so much for taking the time to do all this wonderful things in your website! I really like it.
My question is, I need a super extra moisturizer lotion for my face and body, do you have one specifically for somebody with dry and mature skin?
Thank you Heather.
That’s great! I will try this receipt. Anyway, can you also show more about how to mix the whitening body lotion and its ingredients? Thanks you.
Thank you for sharing this info. Will try this! Btw, have to say that your lil girl is too cute! what an awesome helper you have 🙂
I am interested in trying this lotion, but the method area is blank and I am unable to find the video. Could you please send me the instructions or a link to the video? I greatly appreciate your help!!!
Hi, the video dosen t work…how to watch it ?
Thanks !
Hi Helene, I just tried it and it played for me. It does take a moment to buffer.
I read that this moisturizer absorbs into the skin better than other natural ones, is it because of the beeswax?
Hiiii
How much time using this cream?
Cream expiration date?
Can you use distilled water or plain tap water
The recipe link doesn’t work anymore. 🙁 I’m also not able to watch the video, because the country I live in has it blocked! Boo…can you describe the method used in addition to the video?
I cannot see the video 🙁 is there a way to fix that? I am doing a project and I was going to use this recipe. My partner is very bugged that the video is not working. I really like the idea though! Very smart! My little brother has eczema and I think that this would be perfect for him!
I have sensitive skin and eczema here and there. Can I sub tallow for coconut oil? Coconut oil tends to be not so kind to my eczema. Or how can I incorporate tallow with this instead of coconut oil? (:
could you use petroleum jelly instead of beeswax?
Hi!
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I just want to know that if one adds vitamin E (that is a natural preservative) to the recipe, do you think it might hold a few months at room temperature?
I love your site!
Zea
I have tried several of your natural DIY recipes and they are great! However, this one didnt work so well. I followed step-by-step and ended up with a greasy, chunky mess. 🙁
Didn’t work for me either. Wasted good oil and beeswax. It also took an hour to clean the mess out of my blender. 🙁
Hello,
I want to place an order from you, to our store in Netherlands .I want to know if you can ship here and accept credit card as a form of payment.
Reply back asap
Thanks
Hi Catherine, I don’t sell my products at this time, but thanks for reaching out!
Thank you for this blog, it’s been so helpful for me and my family!
thank you for all the great recipes and the information how to make it and their benefits.
I was trying to find the lotion recipe that you have with a different photo from years ago. Maybe it’s this one…either way, I’ve been using that recipe for years and no longer buy lotion because this stuff is so good (thanks to you!). I do run into a problem every now and then and I am wondering if you would have the answer. Some batches I have made end up having tiny granules of beeswax in the lotion after the batch is done. Any idea why this would happen? Thanks for your time!
I haven’t run into that issue so I’m not sure, sorry!