How to Make a Warming Homemade Body Lotion
Lately I’ve been slathering on thick body butters and fluffy creams to help stave off dry winter skin. And while they work amazingly well these heavier solutions can be a bit of a pain to lug around when you need them which is why I enjoy the convenience of thinner lotions. It’s super handy to have a little squeeze bottle or pump bottle available to use without the greasy mess heavier options entail. Plus thinner lotion soaks in faster while you’re on the go.
I wanted to create a lotion that’s chock full of autumnal scents which include things that are warming and spicy and make you think of chai tea and homemade pie. I wanted this lotion to be hydrating enough to keep dry skin at bay yet light enough to work as a quick go to.
You can experiment with different essential oils, butters, carrier oils, and hydrosols to make a blend that suits your taste! You also won’t need anything special to whip this up just a simple hand mixer or immersion blender will do just fine.
Warming Homemade Body Lotion Ingredients
This recipe sounds like a lot of work but it really isn’t! it’s really simple and works well with substitutions so I really hope you give it a try.
Here’s what you’re going to need:
• A hand mixer or immersion blender
• 2 pyrex measuring cups (I used a medium size for both)
• 2 pots
• A container for storage like a pump bottle
• 2TB avocado oil (or carrier of choice like sweet almond, grapeseed, coconut oil, etc.)
• 2TB mango butter (you can sub shea butter)
• 2 teaspoon liquid lecithin
• 1 teaspoon beeswax pastilles
• 1TB emulsifying wax
• ½ cup of herbal hydrosol (like chamomile, rosemary, or rose…learn how to make your own here)
• ¼ high quality aloe vera gel
• ½ teaspoon pure vitamin e oil
• 10 drops black pepper essential oil
• 10 drops cardamom essential oil
• 10 drops clove essential oil (you can also sub cinnamon bark)
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops myrtle essential oil
You can also get amazing high quality essential oils HERE.
Loving Preparation- Warming Homemade Body Lotion Recipe
Alrighty! So this sounds like a lot of ingredients but I promise making this lotion is easy!
Here’s what you need to do:
1. What you want to do first is add the mango butter, avocado oil, liquid lecithin, beeswax, and emulsifying wax to one of the pyrex measuring cups
2. Fill both pots with about 1 ½ inches of water and place the pyrex cup with the wax/oil mixture into one of them
3. Next, add the herbal hydrosol and aloe gel to the other pyrex cup and place it in the same amount of water in the second pot
4. Bring both pots of water to a gentle simmer (try to make the heat even for both pots)
5. Once the wax/oil mixture has completely melted remove it from the pot of water carefully and pour the mixture into a large glass mixing bowl
6. Using a hand mixer/immersion blender, begin blending the wax/oil mixture
7. Slowly add the heated hydrosol/aloe mixture and continue mixing for another 3-5 minutes
8. Now you can add your essential oils!
9. Stir well and pour your fresh homemade lotion into a clean container like a pump bottle, squeeze bottle, or mason jar.
As this lotion cools it will thicken a bit more. If you keep it in the fridge it will last 3 months. If you keep it in a cool dark place it will last 3 weeks. Be sure to use it up because this lotion is devine!
This recipe makes about 8oz.
[yumprint-recipe id='109']For more awesome homemade body care recipes look below:
Green Tea Tree Face Mask
Rejuvenating Matcha and Rose Face Mask
Simple Fruit Masks for Beautiful Skin
Rejuvenating Rosehip Facial Serum
Blemish Remover Roll-on Recipe
P. says
In the recipe it says 1/4 aloe , just checking to make sure it's 1/4 cup of aloe
Anne Fletcher says
I'm looking forward to trying this recipe! Is the aloe vera gel a necessary ingredient?
Tash says
Hi Anne!
You don't need to use it 🙂 You can skip it!
Andrea says
I see you don't use any preservatives. How long does this recipe lasts?
Tash says
Hi Andrea!
This recipe should last a few months if you keep it in a cool dark place.
Elaina says
This sounds awesome! Homemade lotion has been on my to-do list for awhile now because (like you said) it's great to have something lighter and quicker absorbing to put on instead of body butter. I have many of the ingredients on hand to make it (with substitutions), but don't have the lecithin. What function does it have in the recipe? Is it essential? Thanks!
Tash says
Hi Elaina!
The lecithin is what keeps the ingredients from separating and also gives the lotion a very smooth consistency. It's used as an emulsifier 🙂 You don't need to have it if you shake the bottle before using. Lecithin also makes the lotion a little bit thicker without using more beeswax. Hope this helps and thanks you for the great question! 🙂
Renee Kohley says
Making lotions sounds so intimidating to me - but look at how lush that looks! I really want to try it!
Sylvie says
I need to make some, my skin is so dry in the winter.
Melissa @ My Darla Clementine says
I love the addition of black pepper and lavender in with more "autumn" scents like cardamom and clove. This sounds so good!
Rachel @ day2dayjoys says
Last year my kids and I made lotion bars to raise money for their child we sponsor with Food for the Hungry, maybe we can make this, this year.
linda spiker says
Looks good enough to eat! And I bet it smells heavenly!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says
Such a lovely lotion! I love the essential oils you used. I love the oils and butter too!
Tash says
It really is a lovely lotion for this time of year!