Lotion Making

[EastonsMom]

I saw this the other day on here and what do you know, I can't remember where! Any lotion making receipe out there a newbie can do? Thanks!

[swell_mel]

:

[velcromom]

Here's one:


http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/lotionmaking101.html

It's really easy, just remember that your homemade preservative free lotion should be kept in the refridgerator and used up within a couple of weeks at the most, so make a small batch. Bacterial contamination usually cannot be seen visually in lotion since a) they are microscopic until they form colonies, and b) many are white or cream colored so they match the lotion, and you can't depend on it stinking if it's bad because many bacteria are odorless and some actually smell good!

[EastonsMom]

Is there a way to get around having to keep it in the fridge?

[edensong]

Without a preservative, you really should keep it refrigerated.

However, you can make a body butter without water (anhydrous), which is similar to a lotion that wouldn't need a preservative, as long as you are careful not to introduce any water into it (i.e., make sure hands are dry when using it).

[EastonsMom]

How do you make that? I REALLY want to try and make lotion for E. and me and if it goes well as christmas gifts. Looking for the easiest way to start. Do I have to buy everything online or are there stores that sell this stuff?

[velcromom]

If you intend for someone other than yourself to use it, your best bet is to stick with products that don't require preservation or refrigeration.

Body butters and lotion bars are great, don't grow beasties under normal use circumstances and very easy to do. I get supplies online. I like unrefined shea butter best, and add a few lighter ingredients to make it a bit less heavy. You can probably find coconut oil, jojoba and sweet almond at a natural foods store but as for butters, I have never seen any at a store.

A simple recipe for body butter:

70% unrefined shea
25% coconut oil
3% jojoba
2% fragrance

Leave the shea out at room temp and you will be able to whip it without melting. Less mess and less chance of it getting grainy that way, too. I have had good results using my good old handheld mixer for this.

[edensong]

You've probably used shea, so here's a simple recipe.

Whipped Shea

• 1 ounce Shea Butter
• 0.5 oz "light" oil
• few drops essential oil of choice

This is really easy. Whip using a hand blender for about two minutes.

Put the mixture into the freezer for about 4 minutes. Pull it out of the freezer and whip again for another two minutes. Continue doing this as many times as it takes to turn the mixture into a frosting-like consistency.

You can use any kind of oil you want. I like jojoba oil. Use essential oil of choice.

This is a rudimentary recipe . . . there are so many possible variations (may wish to increase/decrease oil %, vary types of butter/oil/essential oils).

As to where to buy, there are many reputable online suppliers . . . not sure about your local market. Where are you?

[EastonsMom]

I am in Hell Hole Little Rock
These receipes sound easy enough, are they good for Lil E. ?

[EastonsMom]

: : am in Little Rock: : :

A hole in the Earth that NAtural living is almost Non Exisitent

What kind of oil is a light oil?

[edensong]

Jojoba, grapeseed, safflower, sesame, sunflower, borage, apricot kernel, peach kernel . . .

[daisymommy]

I just checked out this book at the library: Better Basics for the Home: Simple Solutions for Less Toxic Living by Annie Berthold-Bond, the same lady who wrote Clean Home Clean Planet (another favorite of mone).

It is full of natural recipes for everything you could possibly think of in your home, including bath and body products. There is almost an entire chapter on lotions!

I am going to have to buy this book it's so good.

[JessicaS]

I buy my lotion supplies from

http://brambleberry.com/

The others are right, lotion is *mostly* water without a preservative you need to refridgerate it.

Some recipes

http://www.soapnaturally.org/miriamr.html