Handmade Coconut Oil Lotion

I finally made handmade lotion.  It turned out great! I was so excited. This lotion is great for really dry skin which is what my husband and daughter have. Most homemade lotions follow the same ingredient ratio which allows room for creativity.  An ounce of natural bee wax for every cup of oil/butter plus a few tablespoons of a "water" to change the consistency from thick, like a cream or thinner like a lotion.  I developed my own recipe using these ratios.

All of my ingredients, except my essential oils, came from Mountain Rose Herbs.  I love MRH.  They have tons of bulk herbs and tools. They can also be found on facebook which is awesome because they always answer your questions when you post. 

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Handmade Coconut oil Lotion

(Make sure all tools and containers are clean and dry)

2 ounces Natural Bees Wax

1/4 cup Calendula Oil

1 1/4 cup Organic (unrefined  cold pressed) Coconut Oil

1/2 cup cold pressed Olive Oil

8 tablespoons Chamomile Infusion

61 tablespoons Aloe Vera Juice

(less "waters" will make more of a cream)

2 Tablespoons Vitamin E Oil

1/4 teaspoon Tea Tree Oil

15 drops essential oil Fragrance (add more if you prefer)

I made my own chamomile infusion by putting 1/2 ounce chamomile flowers in a clean pint jar and then adding boiled distilled water to the top.  You will need to use a knife or chopstick to stir out the air bubbles.  You may need to keep adding water until it reaches the top of the jar with 1/4 inch space left from the rim.  Let it 11steep for at least 2 hours. Strain into a strainer lined with a coffee filter or layered paper towels.  You can make all types of healing herbal infusions for lotion and salve making.  Lavender, Calendula, Plantain, St. John's Wort, Rose, etc. have healing and calming properties.  You could also use Flower Waters (Hydrosols).  

"Hydrosols, also known as floral waters, hydroflorates, flower waters or distillates are produced from steam-distilling plant materials. Hydrosols have similar properties to essential oils but are much less concentrated. Unlike their "essential oil added to water" counterparts, true steam-distilled hydrosols contain all the beneficial components that whole plant materials have to offer.
Hydrosols are usually a by-product of essential oil production, but the highest quality comes from devoted distillers who, with artist-like precision, steam small batches of fresh floral and plant material strictly to produce hydrosol (the hydrosols offered by Mountain Rose Herbs are produced in this fashion)." -- Mountain Rose Herbs

Chamomile Flowers

You don't have to make an herbal infusion if you don't want to.  You can just add more aloe vera gel/juice instead. Also Rose water which can be found at most grocery stores can be used.

After the herbal infusion is ready then the next step is to melt the bees wax in a double boiler.  

1oz Beeswax bars

Melting beeswax in a double boiler

While the bees wax is melting, measure out your oils/butter.  No matter how much of each oil/butter you use, it has to equal 2 cups total.  So next time I may try one cup coconut oil, 1/2 cup shea butter, and 1/2 cup of an herbal infused almond oil. See? So versatile and fun!

Calendula Flower Oil

Cold Pressed Olive Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil

Once all oils/butters have been measured, pour into bowl with melted wax.  The wax will seize up at first but it will melt back down again as you stir. 

Melting oils and beeswax

Once everything has melted pour directly into the blender so that it can cool.  You just want it to thicken like a pudding but not harden.  Next you will add your "waters" through the top of the lid while you are blending.  You will notice the sound of the blender change as the water is being added.  Add any essential oils or natural preservatives at this time as well.  

Cooling oil mixture

 Blend well and then pour your finished lotion into your desired container of choice.  Something opaque and air tight is recommended.  I re-used a plastic pump lotion bottle that I cleaned well. I am storing the extra in a glass jar and placing it in the fridge.   

Oil mixture blended up with the waters

I recommend storing extra lotion in the fridge unless you use a natural preservative which I am going to get for my next batch.  I am told that unrefrigerated lotions containing NO preservatives will last a few weeks at room temperature. I did add a little tea tree oil to my lotion which will help cut back on bacterial growth but there are definitely stronger natural preservatives available.  

Both T-50 Vitamin E Oil and Grapefruit Seed Extract are used as natural preservatives because they are anti-microbial and will extend a product's shelf life. Both can be found on From Nature With Love.  (Stay away from the parabens!)

Well I hope you all try this recipe and maybe even experiment and develop your own special handmade lotion or creme.  I know I am hooked!!!  Next I will make a face cream. Yay!