I remember several years ago, we drove cross county to visit some friends in Oregon. She was very talented in making homemade lotions. She could make anything and it was always prefect. I ask her to teach me. Here are some of the tips that she gave me:
1 Always use fresh ingredients
Using old ingredients will make your completed product smell old and loose it potency quickly
2 Always store properly
Storing properly will keep the completed project fresher longer. High Temperature has a way of ruining homemade lotions and creams quickly. I often make this and keep in refrigerator till I am ready to use or give as a gift.
3 Use what you make
Making a lotion or cream and storing it in the medicine cabinet will only lead to waste. It will get old and you will have to throw it out
She then took me to a natural foods store and showed me the differenced in products available. I was amazed at what was available. I had no idea because this was all new to me. These products are also available online
One of my favorite Recipes for Cream is Coconut Cream
.1 oz wt. Citric Acid
.3 oz wt. Emulsifying wax
.5 oz wt. liquid glycerin
.4 oz wt. Stearic Acid
2 oz wt. coconut oil
6.9 oz wt. Water
Few drops of your favorite essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in microwave safe container. Heat until just melted. Wisk quickly until turns white and milky looking. Poured into approximately two 4 fl. oz containers and 1/2 oz left to play with. I didn't scent it because I prefer scented lotions, a few drops of Orange Essential would go nicely with the coconut oil.
This makes your body feel so soft and just smells fresh and yummy!
What are some kinds of lotions and creams that you have made? Do you know any tips for storage or techniques for making that are great?
Share your thoughts and ideas with us.
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Comments: 10
I make all of our lotions, creams and whipped butters :) It's a lot of fun and they also make great gifts. I do use virgin coconut oil, (it tastes good too)! What I also do, being that they can be given as gifts is I use a preservative - not much, .5 % to the total blend, and that takes away your need to store them in the fridge, keeps the bacteria from growing and your gifts can be made ahead, bottled or jarred, and kept till Christmas.
Vitamin E is a good additive as it's an anti-oxiant, but it's not going to keep things from growing in any blend, only a preservative will do that and though it's not a natural ingredient, it's a necessary one for mine anyways.
I use lots of different essential oils in my blends as well - different people have different favorites :) Being an aromatherapist, I've got many oils and love to try out new blends just to see what people really like. And I've found some of my favorites this way too ;)
The other good thing to package them in, especially since canning season is almost over --- the 4 ounce quilted-patterned canning jars, with the wide mouth. They're pretty, they're on sale right about now, and it's a good time to get them! I picked up a couple of cases just to be ready!
Marilyn