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Got dry skin?
Looking for a homemade lotion or hand cream that will nourish your skin?
Look no further. This recipe is super nourishing, super versatile and super simple.
I’ve bought so many lotions and creams in my life, but have really wanted to go to making homemade lotion myself.
I have this ridiculous bent towards DIY stuff.
I can’t stand forking out a ton of money for something when I can make it for a fraction of the cost myself.
Now, that doesn’t mean that I am opposed to buying high quality things.
In fact, I’ve been using a pretty pricey hand and body cream for the past 6 months that I really love, but I’ve been hoping to have a DIY version for my home that I could also recommend to all of you.
I asked all of my great readers the other day for recipes for DIY lotions and one reader had a recipe that really appealed to me. So I tried it, and–we have a real winner!
This homemade lotion is:
- non greasy
- super easy to make (no fancy tools–just melt, stir and pour)
- smells great
- has flexible ingredients (so you can pretty much use what you have on hand)
It’s a cross between a smooth lotion and a hard lotion. Are you familiar with those hard lotion bars that are all the rage now on the internet?
While I love the concept, I have found that the hard lotion bars are a little tough for me to use.
Mostly, I think it’s because I’m a little too impatient. I find myself trying to rub the hard lotion into my skin before it’s had time to soften and as I watch my skin pulling and stretching, I think, “That can’t be too good for my skin, can it?”
And frankly, it doesn’t feel too good.
So, for right now, I am using the hard lotion bars that I have for lip balm. They work pretty well for that, and I don’t think my lips are getting too stretched out 
.
Anyhow, this lotion is solid at room temp (maybe I should call it “Nourishing Not-So-Hard-Lotion”), but it isn’t super hard and softens up really quickly in your hands, even in our pretty chilly home. Our home is heated only to about 60 in the winter. See what I mean about frugal? Every time I think about moving the thermostat up, I think about the 2-3% of my heating bill that I’ve heard you save for each degree you lower your thermostat.
Let’s just say we all like long underwear around here .
Just yesterday, I used my Homemade Sugar Scrub and followed it with this Hand Cream and my hands felt super soft and revitalized last night. The moisture left from the scrub and rinsing it off is sealed into your skin by this hand cream.
A very frugal way to treat yourself, or someone you love.
Nourishing Hand and Body Cream
Ingredients
1/4 cup coconut oil (I use Nutiva organic or Tropical Traditions)
1/8 cup shea butter
1/8 cup cocoa butter (See notes for alternatives)
1 Tbsp aloe vera juice
1 Tbsp liquid oil of choice (like sweet almond, jojoba, etc.)
5-10 drops essential oils (optional. Read Which Essential Oils Company is Best?)
Method
1. Heat the shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter over low heat until melted.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Add the aloe vera juice, liquid oil, and essential oils and stir to combine well.
4. Store in container of your choice. I used small canning jars.
NOTES:
1. I love how versatile this recipe is. I used extra coconut oil and shea butter since I was out of cocoa butter and it still turned out great.
2. For essential oils, use whatever you like. I used orange, which was really heavenly smelling, especially combined with the fragrance of the coconut oil. I felt like a creamsicle . I guess if I used the cocoa butter I would smell like chocolate covered candied orange peel (I’m working on a recipe for that), or something like that. Lavender would be very soothing as well.
3. This makes a small amount–just enough for one of these small canning jars.
Of course, you can make more to stock up, or for gifts!
Two nights ago, I put a little warm water on my arms, legs, hands, feet, and elbows, and smoothed this lotion all over before going to bed.
This morning, my skin is obviously nourished and much happier.
There were other recipes that readers shared that I thought sounded great, so I am going to be working on more lotions in the future, hopefully my next one will be one that is liquid at room temp.
In the meantime, enjoy this treat for your skin.
Where to buy ingredients:
If you would like some essential oils at cost for making this body cream, check out my Natural Store page, or you can buy some from the company I recommend in my Best Essential Oils Series.
One of the best deals on aloe vera juice is at Vitacost. You get $10 off your first purchase of $30. Aloe vera juice is said to be great for intestinal health too, so get a large container while you’re at it.
For the oils, I am looking for more resources, but Mountain Rose Herbs has a nice selection.
For other great Homemade Personal Care recipes, see:
- Jojoba Oil Face Wash
- Easiest Deodorant
- Rose Water Spray
- Nourishing Lip Scrub
Do you have a favorite homemade lotion recipe to share?
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclaimer.
Shared at The Shabby Nest, Skip to My Lou, The Prairie Homestead, GNOWFGLINS, The Nourishing Gourmet, Sorta Crunchy, The Shabby Creek Cottage, A Glimpse Inside, Diet, Dessert, and Dogs, and Food Renegade.
I make a very similar ‘lotion’ and wasted a ton of my essential oils trying to create a nice scent and in the end, it always still smelled like shea. So now I have just resigned to smelling like shea butter …which I also like… and not wasting my expensive oils. Just thought I’d mention that
Thanks for the recipe!
Hmmm. I typically use unrefined shea butter but this time I used refined b/c I wanted to use it up. I never minded the smell of shea – does it bother you? Thanks!
I’ve never encountered this. Have you tried using coffee infused oil along with vanilla? I’ve never smelled like Shea.
Then again, you can pretty much use any oil that is solid at room temperature instead of shea like almond butter, hemp seed butter … or simply use more cocoa butter.
Oops, also meant to add that some citrus oils react with the sun (photo sensitive), increasing sensitivity to the ultraviolet rays, so some might want to be careful adding citrus oils to a body lotion.
Yes, you are right. I should find out and add that info. I know bergamot without being treated to remove the photosensitive components, is an issue – thanks!
I checked w/ the owner of NAN and he said in these small amounts that it is not a concern, even w/ the most photo-sensitizing oil which is plain, unadulterated bergamot. So…if you like creamsicle…go for it
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I am going to make this. Thanks for the recipe. I’ve been using whipped coconut oil but it’s still greasy AND my skin is still dry. I’m hoping this is the formula I’m looking for.
Please let me know. I have never liked straight coconut oil. I am going to keep trying things, but for sure my hands aren’t as dry as yesterday. They aren’t perfect today but waaay better.
Got my ingredients today and just made my first batch. It took only minutes to melt the solids and stir everything together. Can’t wait for it to cool. I’ve already rubbed some of the liquid on my hands and it feels terrific.
Yippee! So glad to hear it. Did you see the body wash post today?
I did see the body wash recipe. I might try that too. My lotion is pretty good. I wasn’t happy with the texture. It was semi-solid as you described, but had little bits of something sort of hard that melted on contact with my skin, but it was still weird. So I whipped it with my stick blender and now it’s very creamy. I’m going to use it every day and I’m hopeful that my skin will be happy!
You mean my recipe didn’t work out? If so, glad to hear it’s better now. Not a fan of “something hard” in my lotion. Ick.
It was just little bits. It had previously been all liquid, but it’s like something “crystallized” for lack of a better description. My best guess is that it’s either the cocoa butter or shea butter. I’ve never worked with either of those before. I think whipping it solved the issue. I just checked it and it had hardened again, kind of like my whipped coconut did, but it’s still fairly soft and melts right onto my skin. I’m happy so far.
Hmmm.. Not sure. But glad it worked out!
Hi liz just thought I’d let you and others know that if cocoa butter melts too fast it will crystallize. Melt very slowly in double broiler.
Nice Recipe! I’m always experimenting and looking for safer alternatives.
Please check out my new blog @ http://www.enrichedmarket.com/blog.asp
and online store @ http://www.enrichedmarket.com
Like us on facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/enrichedmarket
I am brand new at this (a stay at home mom) and trying to participate in the natural alternative world and help spread the word.
So did you set up this site to sell things out of your home?
Yes. While I’m home with my kids, I want to contribute to the natural health movement.
I admire the site that you have built.
any advice you could offer i would greatly appreciate it.
admin@enrichedmarket.com
Good for you. So you are stocking those things in your home and shipping from there? Then I need your help b/c I have a few things for sale and folks need to email me. What a cumbersome method
.
If I have time I can help but I am really swamped and trying not to ignore my kids. I am still healing from heavy metal toxicity and chronic fatigue and this week I haven’t felt well so I have to be careful. Let me know
.
Thank You
Yes. I found companies, signed up for their wholesale program and ordered a little bit of everything. When I see what is selling, and what’s popular, I will order more of that. I have shelves in my office and have them stocked there.
Hope you heal up soon! I am on the Master Cleanse myself! I was due for a detox! LOL
Sounds like my style. I am doing nutritional balancing, which I hope to write more on soon. Just a bit is on my blog. Talk w/ you later. I need to get to bed.
I love your lotion post. I have made hard lotion for my hands, but dang, it’s hard! This is my day cream for my face. I have a more intensive night moisturizer:) It has also cleared up a couple family members’ eczema.
Day Cream Recipe
3/4 oz beeswax
1/2 c sweet almond oil
1 cup aloe vera gel
1 tsp vit E oil
2 tsp vit C (I use a powdered ascorbic acid)
10 drops essential oil
Melt the first two ingredients, then let cool completely. I mean completely. The finished product will separate if you’re not patient. Add the rest of the ingredients, but go slowly with the aloe. The whole time you add the aloe, blend with a stick blender. You can also cool the first two ingredients in a blender pitcher then add the rest while blending. It makes a light and silky lotion that’s luxurious! I like lime and lavender oils together:) This makes quite a bit!
Sounds great and thanks! Do you find it is too thick and heavy due to the beeswax? So the above is the daytime face cream, right? Do you have the intensive night moisturizer recipe as well or is that store bought? Thanks again!
The beeswax sounds heavy, but it’s not. I added cocoa butter once, but that was very heavy, although my gram and gramps love it:)
My night moisturizer is as follows. I mix everything in a 2 oz. dropper bottle.
1 part Sweet Almond Oil
1 part Avacado Oil
1 part Jojoba Oil
2 tbsp Vit E oil
10-20 drops Lavendar oil
5 drops Chamomile oil
2 drops Neem oil
Wow – thanks! Is this for your face or all over? Guess I better start shopping. This could be fun….or very chaotic! So you don’t use this?
Sorry that wasn’t too clear…it’s late;)
I use it on my face every morning. My grandparents like it with the cocoa butter added. It could absolutely be for all over too, though. I do a scrub in the morning, followed by the day cream, an oil cleanse at night, and then my night moisturizer. All homemade! After spending oodles on expensive stuff (I’m a recovering Sephora addict), I really like my homemade better. The great thing is, when you buy the supplies, it will make several batches. You’ll be set for quite a while. Good luck!
Thanks! I am going to hopefully buy more supplies today
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when you say “1 Part” how much is that exactly?
Whenever you talk about 1 part it is the basis of the recipe. So you make the recipe according to how much you want to make. If you want a small amt and 1 part is 1/4 cup then 2 parts is 1/2. Hope that helps
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Twitter: rickiheller
says:
This sounds perfect. And I do bet it smells heavenly! I’ve been wondering how I’ll stop using bought creams (even if “natural”) so I am thrilled to see this recipe! Thanks, Adrienne! (And hope you had a very Happy V-Day yesterday).
Ricki recently posted..Wellness Weekend, February 14-18, 2013
Thanks, Ricki! I hope you like it. We had a pretty meh V’day. Broken leaking sink and a box shipping problem. Seemed like pretty much everything went wrong.
. Maybe today I can try a re-do. You?
I just made this, and it is amazing! It is soaking in nicely, and I smell so good! Next time I will use some peppermint oil, so it will be chocolate/peppermint!
Great great idea!!! I still need to buy my cocoa butter. What a wonderful idea! I just used it after my shower today and I feel better. I still would like a more liquid version but maybe I can change proportions.
Just made this with peppermint oil and it’s amazing! and so easy! thanks!
Great! One reader told me it was like a chocolate milk cream w/ the cocoa butter and the peppermint – yum!
oh it’s lovely! I was going to say too that while vitacost.com is a bit cheaper with the aloe vera juice, they charge $5 in shipping, so I bought some at Whole Foods for under $7. (Vitacost is still a great site though!) Thanks again…I’m allergic to parabens (surprise!) so this helps me out a lot.
Wonderful! I always buy at least $49 to get free shipping. Well..once I paid shipping. There’s always something else that’s a great deal that I can put in my cart
. Like 2 aloe vera juices 
. I am so glad! Hair rinse coming soon……and….hmmmm…I think body wash will be soon as well. And toothpaste. And deodorant…..and…and…
oooh can’t wait! I use a really simple hair rinse now…just unfiltered apple cider vinegar diluted with water and use it every other wash. it does wonders for dry scalp!
That’s what I was using. I bought a pricey one and love it so I am trying to make something a little more “special.”
I made this today with my nieces (ages 10 and 7) and it was a big hit. I also informed them that the lotions they have been using aren’t good for their health and I may have to answer to their mothers later, but I feel good to have given them a great alternative.
Woo hoo! Way to share the natural lifestyle! Did you see my post on shampoo making you sick
! Yucky stuff.
I hate spending money on beauty products, too!
Jeni recently posted..Quick…Get Your Bread and Milk
When you can make it and it’s just as good, I am all for it. Not having success in all arenas, but this one was good.
Sounds wonderful! I need to give this a try. I’m still stuck on using the chemical filled stuff from the grocery store. I really need to start making my own. Thanks for the recipe!
Lynn
Suburban Farm Girl recently posted..Introduction to Real Food (Traditional Food)
Good move in the right direction! More non-chemical-icky stuff to come! You’re welcome!
I would love to have you link up to The HomeAcre Hop this evening!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-homeacre-hop-7.html
Lisa Lynn recently posted..Wildcrafting Wednesday
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been using straight coconut oil, and while it works great, the greasiness is an issue. Looks like I might have to put in a little effort.
This looks lovely.
Little Sis recently posted..Plant Your Own!
That’s how I’ve felt. I have never liked straight coconut oil on my skin. Hope you like this and thanks for sharing so much on our Wed hop!
Is there something I could use instead of coconut oil? It dries my sink out so much, even in a lotion I made recently.
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Cyndi recently posted..WHY?
How funny…why do so many folks love it? Try another solid fat….like more shea or palm or cocoa butter I would think.
I have always wanted to make my own lotion. Where can you find shea butter? Also, could the shea butter be replaced with olive oil?
You could try to replace it….I don’t know. Shea butter is solid at room temp so you will get a totally different lotion. I gave a link to Mountain Rose Herbs in the post. I am looking for other options to offer to you as well. Did you find that link?
Just saw this featured on Today’s Creative Blog. This looks great! I’m literally, at this moment, trying to not pick at dry cuticles. I could really use some decent lotion! Thank you!
Savannah recently posted..Dishwasher Safe Sharpie Mug Tutorial
Hope it helps!!!!
I made this yesterday, super easy. But mine turned out very hard, cannot get it out of container. I will try warming it tomorrow before my shower and see if that helps. I used beeswax instead of cocoa butter. Could be the problem!
Beeswax is for sure the issue. It is super hard. Maybe you could make another batch with another solid oil and mix them together?
Thanks! I will try doing that today, I now have some cocoa butter, hope it works. I liked it when is was still warm and soft!
Love your website and recipes. But, I made this lotion this weekend, it took 24 hours to set up into a pasty tan shade and then 24 hours later it is sitting in my 70 degree kitchen, partly melted and all the ingredients seem to have separated. What the heck went wrong??
Wow – not sure. So many others have had no issues. What oils did you use? Did you blend them well?
Thanks for your quick reply. I used Nutiva coconut oil, shea and coco butter I got from Amazon, melted them together, added the aloe, sweet almond oil and essential Lavender oil. I did double the recipe but it doesn’t seem that could be the problem. And I responded to your email with an email that had two photos of my mess. Pretty ugly, and very very greasy. Got any ideas because I really wanted this to work. Been wanting to go more natural for some time now.
Wow – very strange. And all of your solid oils were solid to begin with, right? I don’t know about this but what brand lavender are you using? I’m wondering about that….if it might have something to do with it. Thanks!
I melted them in a metal bowl rather that a pot. Think that might have had something to do with it? I also have no glass containers so I put it into plastic containers I had from another project.
I can’t imagine. Very off.
Sorry for the multiple posts. Didn’t see my first one. I’m using “now” essential oils and i used Aura Cacia sweet almond oil and yes, they were all solid when they went into the bowl. The butters don’t have a packager’s name on them.
No worries. Unless something is awry w/ one of them I can’t say. Maybe you should contact NOW and ask if their oil is really pure? I just wonder if something else could have been in there. I am just not an oil chemist…..I’d love to dig into this w/a place that makes lotions but this is outside my capability right now. Maybe try a small batch w/o the lavender for now?
Hi. Thanks for responding so quickly. I used Nutiva coconut oil and shea and coco butters I got from Amazon. Melted them together, added the aloe, sweet almond oil and lavender essential oil drops. The aloe broke into tiny bubbles, didn’t mix well with the oils. I also made a double batch, but I don’t think that would have mattered. I answered you email with an email with two photos of my mess. Got any ideas what went wrong?
Can you tell me about the lavender? Nutiva should be just fine. I can’t speak to the other oils….
I’ll try another batch this weekend and see what happens, will use a pot, single batch, no essential oils. My coco and shea butters are really hard, can’t crush them, have to break them with a knife tip. Will let you know on Monday. Thanks for the help. Your’s looks so pretty and white! I wanna some!
My shea was refined which I would rather not have used but it’s what I had. Cocoa butter is often tan and shea can be brown so the color is variable for sure.
Like Linda, I made this yesterday and mine is still loose. I’m thinking of adding beeswax and seeing if that stiffens it up. This is actually the first recipe I’ve seen without beeswax so I was curious. I followed your recipe exactly, except I did add a few capsules of vitamin E. I can’t imagine that would mess up the entire formula. Maybe I need to add more of one of the solid butters like Shea or Cocoa, not coconut. I actually also found it dying and this was the first site I’ve seen others say that.
The only thing I can think of right now is maybe it’s the temp where you live? Where are you? It’s super cold here still. Did you mean “drying”? I am not clear on your last sentence. Thanks.
You can also put your bowl into the freezer for a couple of minutes and then whip it with a standard mixer – that’s how I do mine. If it’s still too liquid, your ratio of liquid to solid oils is definitely off.
I am in Dallas area and it is warm one day and cold the next. Yesterday was warm and humid. Today is cool and drizzly.
I was referring to coconut oil being drying. I was a bit vague and random.
Maybe it’s liquid in warmer temps. I guess I’ll know in April ’cause my home is about 60 right now. I don’t like coconut oil myself but this lotion seems to work. I hope to find another one soon as well.
I melted down the lotion again and added beeswax. I don’t really know how much, but enough to make it solid. Much better. Maybe in winter it doesn’t need beeswax, and too much can make it too hard, I don’t really know enough about this lotion making yet.
I’ve made this lotion 4x and it is fabulous! It has helped clear up my eczema and my cracked heels. I’ve put it on my face and it seemed to make my skin have more even tone. My mom asked me what new cream I was using because she wants to buy some! So I had to make her a batch too! The only problem I’m having is that every single batch I’ve made, the aloe vera juice is separating from the rest of the ingredients. Do you know what could be causing this? I’d like to keep it in the recipe, but only if I can get it to mix with the oils and butters. Thanks!
That’s so great! I have no idea why it wouldn’t me mixing in. Did you blend it with a strong blender or immersion blender?
No, I didn’t use a blender. I just melted it all together in a stainless steel pot and stirred in the ingredients. How long do I mix it with the immersion blender? I don’t have one at the moment but going to the store tomorrow so I can pick one up. Thanks!
I just use one until everything looks well mixed. Perhaps heating it at a lower temp might help as well?
I tried heating it on low but after 30 minutes on the stove there was not one drop melted so I bumped it up to 1. Then it melted within 10 minutes. What about a double boiler? What temp (my stove ranges from lo/1 to high/9) should I use if I put the ingredients in the top of a double boiler and just let the warming water underneath melt the butters? I will pick up an immersion blender tomorrow and try that. I think I will need one anyway because I am researching sunscreen recipes and the couple I’ve looked at said to use one to mix the zinc oxide thoroughly with the oils. Thanks so much for you help!
Hm…I have no idea. I really like my blender but I got a bamix. They are pretty pricey but very nice. Hope it works. I guess the double boiler could help. I just don’t know why it wouldn’t work. Let me know.
Ok! Thank you for your time!
for my carrier oils and butters I like Brambleberry, they also have a good blog site called soap queen with great tutorials. super helpful for someone like me who is just getting into making their own lotions and potions. thank you for the recipe, I will have to try it out!
I saw their site. My friend has a soap business and uses their things but she makes soaps w/ artificial things in them so she is not as picky as I am. Thanks!
Sorry to say that I am VERY disappointed with this recipe… in the end, I had a jar of mixed oil, not cream or lotion…. it wouldn’t re-solidify in any fashion
Well this is a puzzle. So many say it is great and a few are having trouble. Did you heat it over very low heat?
so, determined not to waste, i was ready to slather some ‘oil’ on my daughter this am…. and presto! 12 hours after my lotion had cooled, been whipped with beaters (to fluff it a bit and to mix the aloe into it better), and set over a bowl of iced water without luck, it suddenly looked like lotion this am!!
GREAT!!!!
This is exactly what I have been looking for! I have done my own chapstick and love it. I now want a straight forward lotion. I use the DoTerra essential oils. They are certified 100% pure oil so a little bit goes a very long way. The blended oils smell wonderful, So I was looking for something to mix them in. Awesome stuff!
A lot of your stuff is vegan. You should advertise that! Great!
Do you mean I should put it in my tagline or something? I am not vegan anymore so I get concerned true vegans will get turned off–I use gelatin and the like some times.
I would just do it on the individual recipes where applicable.
A lot of you stuff is vegan! Great!
Do you know what the shelf life of this lotion is? I know some homemade lotions have a fairly short life of about a month at room temp. I haven’t made this yet but I really look forward to trying it.
I can’t make statements about that but the ingredients are pretty shelf stable. I’ve had mine since the post was written and it isn’t “off” at all. The lotions I buy w/o preservatives have 6 month+ shelf life on them and the owner of the company said you can even use them 1 year w/o worrying about it.