Conventional hygiene and cosmetic products have long lists of chemical and synthetic ingredients that are not always the best for skin and health. If you prepare your own body lotion at home you can be sure that it only contains what you have wanted to put on it.
For many people, body lotion is part of their daily personal care routine. Whether after showering, sunbathing, waxing or shaving, a good body lotion cares for stressed skin and hydrates it.
However, in conventional lotions, the chemical ingredients and mineral oils tend to irritate and dry out sensitive skin. They can also contain microplastics that cause environmental damage.
If you make your own body lotion, you can do without synthetic ingredients and use purely natural raw materials. This way you also save money and a lot of waste on polluting packaging.
THE BEST INGREDIENTS FOR A HOMEMADE BODY LOTION
You only need a few ingredients to make your body lotion. The most suitable natural substances for a nourishing body lotion depend on the type of skin and personal needs. Knowing its properties, you can decide for yourself which vegetable oil you want to use and if you want to add an additional essential oil to give your lotion a fine fragrance.
- Shea butter contains valuable vitamin E, which protects the skin against free radicals. It also has vitamin A, which promotes skin regeneration. Provides hydration and slows down the aging process of cells.
- Almond oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids that are particularly well absorbed by the skin. Stabilizes the fabric, is very moisturizing and gives off a very neutral smell.
- Coconut oil has a cleansing, antibacterial and nourishing effect. It melts on warm skin and gives the homemade lotion a creamy consistency.
- Jojoba oil is quickly absorbed by the skin and regulates the natural flow of sebum without clogging the pores. The beta-carotene it contains is good for tissue development. Jojoba oil is odorless.
- Cocoa butter s rich in fatty acids and helps the skin, even the one that tends to dry out easily, to retain its hydration. Offers a succulent scent of chocolate.
- Beeswax has an antibacterial and fungicidal effect. It also ensures proper consistency in self-made body lotion.
- Rose water has antibacterial, invigorating and refreshing effects. Moisturizes and calms redness. It also contains essential rose oil, which gives it a delicate fragrance.
- Aloe vera gel is highly hydrating, has anti-inflammatory effects and contains valuable amino acids. This gel is especially indicated in summer due to its cooling effect.
- Essential oils give the body lotion a natural scent and different properties. Tea tree oil and lavender oil, for example, have an antibacterial and calming effect, while rose, vanilla and sandalwood oils are known for their sweet and intense aroma.
SIMPLE BODY LOTION RECIPE
Our simple homemade body lotion recipe contains only natural ingredients that you can adapt to your needs. It works without emulsifiers, which in conventional body lotions allow oil and water to mix. For this mixture to take place, we are only going to use a powerful hand mixer.
Ingredients:
- 75 ml rose water (or boiled water)
- 100 ml of almond oil, jojoba oil or 100 grams of coconut oil, shea butter or cocoa butter
- 3 tablespoons of beeswax (vegan alternative: carnauba wax, obtained from the leaves of the Copernicia prunifera palm)
- 5 to 10 drops of essential oil (optional). Alternatively: 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Also, you need
- A large pot for the double boiler
- Two smaller pots
- A hand mixer
- A container to mix the ingredients.
- A clean glass with a capacity of about 200 ml
Elaboration:
- Before starting, it is important to sterilize the jar for the finished cream, and also to thoroughly clean the work surfaces.
- Put the vegetable oil or the fat with the beeswax or the vegan variant in the small pot and place it in a double boiler on the stove.
- Turn the stove to high heat until the water boils and the wax melts and mixes with the oil.
- Stir the oil and wax mixture to form a homogeneous mass and turn off the heat.
- Remove the pot with the liquid mixture from the water bath and place a clean pot in the water. Add the rose water and heat it with the residual heat.
- Then pour the warm rose water into a bowl and stir gently with the hand mixer over medium heat.
- Now you can gradually add the still warm wax and oil mixture to the rose water while continuously stirring with the mixer to get a smooth cream.
- Optionally, now you can add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil and aloe vera gel.
- Put the finished body lotion in the sterilized bottle and store it in the refrigerator.
STORAGE, USE AND VARIATIONS OF THE RECIPE
The good thing about homemade cosmetics is that you can achieve different results with small variations in the quantities and ingredients. You can adapt the body lotion to your needs and use the oils that you already have at home. With the following tips, the homemade body lotion can be varied and refined. It is also important to store the cream correctly so that it lasts as long as possible.
- Since homemade body lotion is based on fat and wax, it can be kept for several weeks or months. It will last even longer in the fridge. However, the lotion should be removed from the refrigerator about half an hour before use to soften its consistency.
- The shelf life of the body lotion is longer the less it comes into contact with germs and bacteria. Therefore, the cream should be scooped out of the jar rather than directly by hand.
- The finished body lotion can also be frozen in small quantities. This prolongs the shelf life and the cream can be consumed in portions.
- Instead of rose water, you can also use fresh herbal teas. For an aromatic and invigorating body lotion, infusions of chamomile, sage or green tea are suitable.
