I’ve tried out a few recipes for lotion and have found some that I really love. Homemade lotions and balms have cured any skin problems that I’ve had and are the best for those dry winter months.
This is available in My Shop as well.
The Whipped Shea Butter is what I use as my main lotion after I get out of the shower. It takes me 5 minutes to make and makes about 8 oz, so it fits perfect into an 8 oz jelly jar. A little bit goes a long way. I really love how this recipe works with my dry skin. I was worried about putting it onto my face (I didn’t want the oils to cause me to break out), but I gave it a try anyway and I love how smooth it has made my skin. I never break out from it.
I’m going to start using this recipe on my kids, but even just using it myself for the past few weeks, I have barely dipped into it. It definitely lasts.
**Measure Carefully. These recipes are specific so that the right consistency is met.**
The first two recipes are great body butters. The second two are obviously lotion bar recipes, but you can put them in any kind of container. The last two are balms for chapped or extra dry areas like your hands, feet, elbows and knees. Enjoy!
Whipped Shea Butter
- 1/2 cup [url href=”http://amzn.to/2kAxZ0k” target=”_blank”]Shea Butter[/url]
- 1/3 cup [url href=”http://amzn.to/2kMhZJu” target=”_blank”]Sweet Almond Oil[/url]
- 2-5 drops [url href=”http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=1050606&b=140557&m=19017&afftrack=&urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Estarwest%2Dbotanicals%2Ecom%2Fcategory%2Fpure%2Dessential%2Doils%2F” target=”_blank”]Rosemary Essential Oil[/url] (optional, but will prolong the life of the oils)
- 10-15 drops [url href=”http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?u=1050606&b=140557&m=19017&afftrack=&urllink=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Estarwest%2Dbotanicals%2Ecom%2Fcategory%2Fpure%2Dessential%2Doils%2F” target=”_blank”]Essential Oil of choice[/url]
- Whip shea butter with a hand mixer until soft
- Slowly add sweet almond oil while whipping
- Whip in essential oils
Directions:
With a mixer, beat shea butter in a bowl until it begins to soften.
Add carrier oil slowly. It will lump if you add it too quickly.
After all of your oil is whipped together with the butter, add rosemary and essential oil. I just made a batch with lavender and eucalyptus oil and it smelled wonderful. Use more lavender than eucalyptus to balance the scents.
Whip until it is all mixed.
Scrape into a 8 oz sterilized jar.
This next recipe is for those who don’t care so much for the shea butter scent. The cocoa butter can be substituted in the above recipe as well though.
Basic Body Butter
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp Cocoa Butter
- 3 Tbsp Shea Butter
- 5 teaspoons Apricot Kernel Oil
- 7 teaspoons Macadamia Nut Oil
- 1 Tbsp Jojoba Oil
- 2 ½ Tbsp (or 1.3 oz) Bees Wax
- 5-10 drops Essential Oils
If you do not have all 3 oils, you can add 5 Tbsp of one oil such as sweet almond or olive oil.
Directions:
- Add all ingredients except essential oils to a double boiler on low heat and stir until melted.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Whip until fluffy.
- Add Essential oils and mix.
- Transfer into desired containers (you can use lotion bar tubes for this recipe). Increasing the beeswax or cocoa butter makes a harder lotion.
Find this Lotion in My Shop.
Lotion Bar #1
Ingredients:
- 3 Tbsp Bees Wax
- 2 Tbsp Cocoa Butter
- 3 Tbsp Shea Butter
- 4 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
- 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil (optional, but helps to preserve oils)
- 10 drops of Essential Oils (optional)
Directions:
- Combine in a quart size glass mason jar with a lid and place this in a small saucepan with 1 in. of water over med. heat until melted.
- Remove and let cool slightly
- Add essential oils.
- Pour into molds and allow to set.
Lotion Bar #2
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Coconut Oil
- 1 cup Shea Butter
- 1 cup Bees Wax (can add an extra ounce or two if you want a thicker consistency, which leaves less lotion on the skin when used)
- 2 drops Rosemary Essential Oil (optional, but helps to preserve oils)
- 20-25 drops Essential Oils (optional)
Directions:
- Combine in a quart size glass mason jar with a lid and place this in a small saucepan with 1 in. of water over med. heat until melted.
- Cool slightly.
- Add essential oil.
- Pour into molds.
Body Balm
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbsp Bees Wax
- 4 Tbsp Shea Butter
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil, infused with herbs
- 5-10 drops Essential Oil (some great ones for skin are calendula, chamomile, comfrey, elder, rosemary, rose, rosewood, bergamot, lavender, geranium. They all have different qualities but do some great things for your skin). For my batch, I added peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus.
Directions:
Over low heat, melt beeswax, shea butter, and olive oil.
Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Add essential oil and mix well. I used eucalyptus, peppermint, and rosemary for this batch.
Pour into sterilized 4 oz jar and allow to fully cool. I didn’t have any nice glass jars on hand so I used plastic.
After it sets, it will look like this:
Elder Blossom Balm
This moisturizer rejuvenates skin cells and soothes and heals damaged skin. Makes about 1/2 cup.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Jojoba Oil
- 1 Tbsp dried elder blossoms
- 1 Tbsp dried crushed comfrey leaf
- 1 teaspoon bees wax
Directions:
- Warm oil in a saucepan on low heat. Remove from heat and add herbs.
- Pour into a glass jar, seal, and shake. Allow mixture to infuse in a warm, dark place for 2 to 3 days. Shake often.
- Strain oil through a wire mesh strainer and discard the herbs.
- Place glass jar in saucepan of water on medium heat.Add bees wax to oil and stir until melted and well blended.
- Store in an airtight, wide mouthed jar.
