Simple Lotion Recipes

Simple Lotion Recipes

 

We’ve had many of you reaching out to us asking for simple lotion and cream recipes. We decided to really take note of this, so we revamped the  Lotion Making 101 blog with extra info and easier format recipes, and we also designed some simple fail-proof recipes for lotions in this week’s blog. If you are brand new to lotion making, please do read the  Lotion Making 101 blog first as it explains some important information. If you know a little bit about lotions but are looking for some simple recipes then read on below!

 

Ultra Basic Lotion Formula

This is a very simple lotion recipe that is perfect for beginners to try. It is a really pared down formula, with no fancy ingredients or bells or whistles, but it is easy to make and will give the beginner a great idea of what is what.

We used two different types of oils to give a more nourishing skin effect but if you only have one type of oil you can simply substitute it for the other.

It has a runny lotion consistency that is very light and fast absorbing. Feel free to customise it by adding in your favourite essential oils at the end.

You can choose to use the measurement or the percentage amounts (which can then be converted into your measurement of choice, or used to scale the recipe up).

 

Heated oil phase

15ml / 8%  olive oil or  sweet almond oil

15ml / 8%   coconut oil

15ml / 8%  Eco E wax

 

Heated aqueous phase

125ml / 72% freshly boiled and slightly cooled distilled water

 Cool down phase

2ml / 1%  Geogard 221

 

As always, sterilise all utensils before you use them. Melt the emulsifying wax and the coconut oil gently but thoroughly in a water bath. Remove from the heat and stir in the almond or olive oil. Slowly blend the oil phase into the water using the blend-cool-blend cycle. When the lotion is made and cooled, blend in some essential oils if desired, and the preservative. Pour into a pump bottle or jar and store in a cool place.

 

Basic Lotion Formula 2

This lotion recipe uses a slightly different formula, but is also great for beginners. It makes use of a humectant and thickener for a more moisturised, richer skin feel and more viscous consistency.

 

Heated oil phase

10%  oil of choice

2%  vegetable cetyl alcohol

4%  Eco E wax

 

Heated aqueous phase

80% water

4%   vegetable glycerine

 

 Cool down phase

1%  Geogard 221

 

As always, sterilise all utensils before you use them. Melt the emulsifying wax, cetyl alcohol and the oil gently but thoroughly in a water bath. While the oil phase is warming up, mix the glycerine in with the water and bring that up to a similar temperature as the oils. Once both phases area thoroughly heated and the oil phase has completely melted, slowly blend them together using the blend-cool-blend cycle. When the lotion is made and cooled, blend in some essential oils if desired, and add the preservative. Pour into a pump bottle or jar and store in a cool place.

 

Additional reading:  Lotion Making Part 2

Happy making!


Back to The Essentially Natural Blog

2 comments

Hi Veronica, a preservative is a vital part of any formulation containing water. If you left it out, the lotion would spoil within a few days. So I don’t recommend leaving out the preservative!

Juliette

Can I leave the Geogard-221 out of the lotion recipe?

Veronica