I had always been a little intimidated with the idea of making handmade toiletries, such as lotions, lip balms and the such. First of all, I thought I’d need all sorts of expensive ingredients. I thought it would take a lot of time, that I’d need all sorts of special pots to melt things in. Maybe I’d need to remember back to my high school chemisty class, which I just barely passed. I thought maybe I’d need to check out a book on Alchemy at the library and maybe even wear a flowing gypsy skirt and over-sized rings just for good measure. I just thought making lotions and potions was just much too involved for all that I already had going on in my life.
However I was getting really fed up with the store bought lotion. My youngest son has excema which means that we have to lube him up with lotion on a regular basis. Have you noticed on most of the store bought lotion that they have a poison warning on the back? Yes, if ingested, call poison control. Besides the fact that my two year old puts everything in his mouth already, I really didn’t like the idea that what I was putting on his skin everyday was worthy of calling poison control. If you skin is your largest organ, shouldn’t we worried about this? The all-natural store bought lotion was too expensive to buy for how much we go through, so I had to find an alternative.
Enter this hand lotion recipe (below) that I found on TipNut last fall and you know what? It’s easy. Ridiciously easy. Would you believe me if I said that I now make my own all natural hand lotion in less that five minutes with only four ingredients for less than a dollar a jar? And that it works maybe even better than anything I’ve bought? Seriously. This recipe is amazing. Now that I’ve given a jar to almost every single person I’ve come in contact with, I feel safe to share the recipe with you. And now you can go make some for yourself and everyone you know.
How to Make Homemade Hand Lotion
1 1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup emulsifying wax
1/4 cup olive oil
24-36 drops essential oil
I buy my emulsifying wax & essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs. For $6 you get enough emulsifying wax to make, oh, about 15 or more batches of homemade hand lotion. In a pyrex measuring glass I combine the olive oil and emusifying wax and microwave for 1 minute until it is all melted.
I have found that our coffee mugs hold almost exactly 1 1/4 cup of water, so I fill is up and microwave that for 1 minute. While that is heating up, I add the essential oil into my melted wax/olive oil mixture.
Then pour the hot water into the wax/olive oil mixture and watch it turn milky white. I then pour the hot lotion into wide mouth pint size jars and let cool overnight. The next morning you’ll have a fresh jar of homemade natural hand lotion!
Oh and of course, you’ll need decorative labels to put on your jars, which you can download here. Remember, when you print these out onto Avery Sticker Project Paper
Make sure to read on How to Make Your Own Deodorant too!
Thank you for posting this. I am going to make some of my own this weekend.
I made lip balm for Christmas gifts and was amazed at how EASY it was, and how much better it was then store bought varieties.
OMG….my neighbor and I were just talking about finding a recipe for homemade lotion…Thank-you SO much !!!
Try it gals! You’ll love how easy it is to make and how nice it is to use.
wow thank you for posting this. I think I’m going to try this one of this day.
Technical question: What type of olive oil? Light? Wondering just because the EVOO can be very fruity smelling on its own? Going to try this. Thanks!
I did use a lighter version, however it was still extra virgin. It’s the kind we use in our everyday cooking, not the deep dark green kind we use on salads. I enjoy the smell of olive oil, so I don’t mind it in my lotion. However, if you happen to have grapeseed oil or any other nice oil you can use that.
What a great article and a new use for all that lavender oil we harvested last year.
Thank you very much for posting this and for the labels. Can you tell what kind of software you used for designing the labels? I would like to try to design my own.
Thank you again
Hi Patty, I use Illustrator to design the labels.
This is a very timely post. As soon as we use up all of the rest of the cheap-chemical-filled-but-necessary-because-we-don’t-have-much-money-and-husband-won’t-buy-the-more-expensive-natural-stuff lotion I am using right now, I will definitely be making lots of this. My Libby loves to put on lotion, and I will feel much better about her putting this stuff on. Thanks for the beautiful labels, too!
This is very cool! Once I use up the odds and ends of lotion I have sitting around in my bathroom, I’ll definitely try this.
Oh this is FABULOUS! I have so many wonderful things to put in this, I’m excited! Thanks so much for sharing, I’ll be linking as well.
Hi Rachel, this is a great base recipe, feel free to add all the extra wonderful things you like!
Sounds great. I have sensitive skin and am allergic to most perfumes/fragrances so this recipe sounds just perfect for me. Will let you know when I try it and how I like it.
Sophie
Awesome! My boys have excema and I’ve been intimidated with the thought of making homemade lotion, but it’s been tickling my brain! I am so excited to try this recipe, thanks for sharing!
This looks brilliant – and I love the labels. Thank you!
Can I substitute bees wax for the emulsifying wax?
Hi Jennifer, I think you do need to use the emulsifying wax because that bind the water and oil together. But you could half the recipe and try the beeswax.
Wow, this sounds so easy! I just figured that it must be hard to make lotions and other toiletry items! Thanks for posting this — I am definitely going to bookmark it and give it a try!
I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. I have very dry skin and get small patches of eczema so I use tons of lotion. My only problem with making lotion is that I’m really picky about the texture I like. I like a thick, rich, but creamy lotion. I too think it’s so much better to use a lotion with very few and completely nontoxic ingredients in it.
thank you for sharing this! I might give it a try.
Thanks for posting this, I’ve been out of lotion for a while, had everything I needed to make it but was waiting to buy some Aveeno anyway. I do worry about homemade lotion going bad without germaben or whatever in there but it’ll be good for a while at least, no sense in not doing it. My hands thank you.
By the way the lotion I just made is Spikenard and Geranium. And I replaced 1/4 of the water with pure Aloe vera.
I’m so excited to try this! Thank you.
I made this after I read this a few weeks ago. I ordered the emulsifying wax to do it exactly like this recipe. I was surprised at how well it turned out. The only thing I don’t care for totally is that it does feel a little waxy even after rubbing it in. But it made a nice pint mason jar size and it works great. Way too easy.
Hi Sharon, I’m glad you tried it. I too noticed that it was a little waxy feeling, but it’s not enough to deter me from making it, because you are right, it’s way too easy.
Hey!
Thanks for posting this awesome recipe! I can’t wait to try it out. I just have a few questions about it first. I went through your comments and I don’t think anyone else asked them.
1. What is the self life on this lotion?
2. What do you use to keep fungus and bacteria from growing in it?
3. Does it have to be refrigerated or anything like that after you’ve used it?
I look forward to reading future posts!
Cheers
Hi Decinces- The shelf life on this is at least three months, that’s the longest I’ve had it last. And no it doesn’t need to be refridgerated. I keep mine on my bathroom counter. I’ve never thought about germs and bacteria growing in it. I never think about it with commercial lotion either though. I go through this lotion quickly and have never noticed any strange things growing in it
If you are worried about it, try putting one or two drops of tea tree oil in it- it has antibacterial and anti fungal properties. I hope you try it!
LOL..sorry it’s suppose to say ’shelf’ not ’self’ in the first question.
I love this! I will definitely make some. But I’ve been having trouble finding essential oils. Where do you find yours?
I get mine from Mountain Rose, the same place that I get the emolsifying wax from. They have good prices and have all sorts of different scents.
I make soap, sugar scrubs and lip balm for our family. I (and a couple of the kids) have eczema and Psoriasis and I’ve looked high and low for a good lotion recipe. This might be it. Thanks!
I hope you like it too Rita!
What kind of oil do you use or can you use other than Lavendar? I’m allergic to Lavendar… Thanks so much I look forward to trying this and giving it as gifts!!!
Hi Jody, you can use any oil you like. Jasmine is another one of my favorites, but use anything you like. You poor thing that you are allergic to lavender!
Thanks for clarifying that you can use any oils… Thats nice to know. Thanks for your concern about being allergic to Lavendar but when you have never used it (or remember using it) you don’t miss it!
Again thanks for the wonderful post! I’m super excited to make it. 
Hey thanks for putting this up…..I want to know can I use the 100% coco butter in place of the olive oil?
Hi Nat’e – You know, I have no idea. I think it might make it a very thick lotion because coco butter is a solid at room temp where as olive oil is a liquid. You can always try, right?
Hi there,
Can you please please tell me where you got those cute little jars from?
Thank you so much for this site as I’ve been going crazy trying to sort this out. xx
Hi Christine, You can get those jars at the grocery store in the canning section. They are the wide mouth pint jars.
Can’t wait to try this recipe out! But, one question: What do I do if I don’t have a microwave? I always have a hard time converting microwave instructions to stovetop – any tips?
thanks!
Hi Melissa – You can easily use the stovetop, you just want to melt the ingredients, no need to get to any sort of temperature…just melted. Good luck!
What a great idea – as soon as heard about this, I had to try it. The wax and oil separated from the water when I poured it and I was wondering if anyone had a tip for me so this doesn’t happen when I make the next batch.
Hi Tammy, I’ve been thinking about your problem… did you heat up the water before you mixed it with the hot wax and oil? That’s the only reason I could think that it would seperate.
Thank you – I did heat up my water – but I think it’s because I used crystalized wax instead of emulsifying wax. Do you think that’s the problem?
Hi to both:
I am having the same problem. I used emulsifying wax and hot water off the stove, and once it cools, a body-butter consistency layer forms on top, and the bottom layer is very thin. I can’t get it to pump in the lotion containers I bought for Christmas.
I love the lotion, though, and will definitely use it for myself, and would like to give it as gifts if I can figure out how to fix this.
I’d be grateful for any suggestions!
–Jennifer
Love this idea! I wonder if I could add dried herbs to the mix? I have some calendula, lavender and chamomile that I’m growing just for the purpose of adding to homemade products.
Excellent recipe. I just tried it for the first time, and it was very easy and quick (a little messy, but that’s just the type of person I am).
Where can I buy anhydrous lanolin and bees wax from? I looked around at Trader Joes and at Whole Food- could not find them. Please let me know.
Freny, I think you’d have to mail order those things. Do a google search for them. What are you going to do with them?
Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!! I made a couple batches last night and they turned out great! I wanted to print some of your beautiful labels, but they come out small & I can’t seem to find a full size setting in my print menu. I am using Adobe 9…..where is this setting on your menu?
Hi Jenny, I’m glad that the lotion turned out well for you! On the labels when I print, there is a little option in the print box that says: Page Scaling:’ Shrink to Printable Area’. I change that to the option that says: ‘None’. I work on a Mac so I’m not sure what it says on the PC print menu. Hope that helps!
Does any one know how to make rose water by placing it in the sun. I would like to use Rose water in place of the water.
I was reading the instructions an realized that someone already asked about a preservative. Asonomagarden if you was to include a preservative which would you suggest? I would like to give this as a gift and you have no control how long a person will keep a product. I would hate that 6 months later it has funny things moving around in it. I was going to use Vitamin E anyway as one of the ingrediants. I see that you say Tea tree oil is a great additive. Can anyone tell me of the products that one might add for eczema and psoriasis conditions.
Hi Bonita, I wish I could provide you with preservative info, but my lotion making knowledge is limited only to this recipe. When giving it as a gift I’d just suggest to your receivers that they use it promptly since it is free of any preservatives. I’ve added Vitamin E to batches before and it all floats to the top instead of mixing in. You can try it, but that is what happened to me. This recipe as is helped my son’s eczema quite a bit so I’m not sure what else you could add to make it even more effective. Let me know if you do find something.
Hi there, I have recently made your recipe, one with olive oil and one with coconut oil. I liked the olive oil better. But, after about a week the coconut oil had little black spots growing on the surface, then about 4-5 days later the olive oil one did. You have not had this problem at all??
I didn’t put in fridge, but less than two weeks seems so short of time.
Any ideas?
Thank you for the recipe and labels, so generous of you.
Hey Michelle, Sorry that you got those black spots. Is it humid where you live? Maybe the heat and humidity got to it. I keep mine on the countertop, but we’ve had a cool summer this year. Maybe try again when it’s cooler?
Just curious – I looked into emulsifying wax on the ‘net, and it seems that it is made using sodium lauryl sulfate, or sodium dodecyl sulfate, which is the scientific name for the same. I’m trying to exclude this chemical from my household – it appears in many store-bought shampoos and toilettries, and its original usage was as a cleaner or degreaser. Does Mountain Rose have anything to say about their house brand? The affects of SLS may be negative for those suffering from excema.
Thanks in advance, I would love to make my own lotion, but not if it’s got SLS hiding in it anyway…
made some of this lotion and it worked great. a recommendation:
i made a bottle with a pump in it and also a jar with lid, as recommended. the pump has no mold growing in it, and its been close to two months at room temp, but the jar grew some right away. i think its a matter of touching it with your hands, so a glass bottle with a pump works best.
for the prior comment, i’ve read that beeswax works as an emulsifier also, its probably worth investigating for entirely natural ingredients.
oh! also Grapefruit Seed Extract is a good anti-mold agent to add to homemade stuff, you only need a couple drops, so the expense of it works out.
bottles, I’ve been getting “boston” bottles at sunburst bottle company, you can choose white or black pumps. I reuse them for ages, and they work great.
Thank you for the great idea! One question though. When you say hand cream, I’m assumming you can use it all over. Also, do you have a good recipe for body wash? I get nervous everytime I shave and then lather up with all those store bought chemicals. How can that be good for you? Thanks again!
I was wondering, is this lotion creamy or runny? does it thicken after it cools? if I wanted it creamier, could I use a electric mixer to make it that way? and does it get moldy if its not used right away? thanks
Angela, It’s a creamy lotion and mine hasn’t gotten moldy at all. But I tend to use an entire jar within 6 weeks or so. Have fun making it!
Hey guys,
Just wondering if anyone knows how to add a bit of color to the lotions?? I’m guessing using regular food coloring would not be wise. Thanks, J
Sonoma, I know this is an old post, your labels are gorgeous. I am wondering if you use laser or ink jet for those labels?
thank you for sharing all of this
Hi dreamseeds, I used my inkjet for these, but I’m sure a laser would do just fine too if that’s what you have.
Is this ok to ask? How did you get your letters to go around the circle in a curve.
I totally love your design and have never been able to figure it out.
Your blog is awesome, Please keep blogging after you sell your place
As asonomagarden has said, Mountain Rose Herbs sell not only emusifying wax, but also many of the products you have all asked about. Look there first.
Also, these are some of the essential oils that I chose to put in a cold cream for ACNE, ECZEMA, PSORIASIS, DERMATITUS, ITCHING:
frankincense eo(eo = essential oil), organic patchouli eo, jasmine eo, organic ylang ylang eo, sandalwood eo, lavender eo, organic rosemary eo, organic geranium eo, organic bergamot eo, organic spearmint eo, tangerine eo, organic tea tree eo, organic petitgrain eo – all sold at MRH.
If you look up the essential oils at Mountain Rose Herbs and look at each one, they have a spot called “learn more” in each one that if tapped, will tell you the benefits of each that will help different problems.
Check it out!
Hi,
I tried two batches. I want to give as gifts this X-mas and hoping they do not “turn” as fast as some are saying. I used clean baby food jars and was wondering if I should put the lid on while still hot? I tried some with no lid overnight and the lotion was all runny underneath a harder film on top. But all I did was scoop it all out and use the electric mixer (I recommend that) and is fine now. Any other suggestions on covering/not covering the jars while cooling? Thanks
I put the lid on while it cools which helps it not have that firm top. I’ve found that if I keep the glass jar on the bathroom counter then it doesn’t go bad. But when I put it under the sink cabinet then it does tend to mold faster. I would suggest making this in mid December for xmas gifts, just in case.
thanks for this recipe. i have seen other recipes for lotions and i believe they suggest using a mixer to blend the ingredients. i think it helps with the creaminess too.lavender is antibacterial also. emulsifiers act as a surfactant to keep the cream stable over time (mixed, not separated), so emulsifying oil would be necessary if you want the cream to stay mixed. here is a link to natural emulsifiers, including beeswax.
http://allnaturalbeauty.us/emulsions.htm
lecithin is also a natural (soy) emulsifier
i found two more sites that might be of interest to readers
they both deal with preservatives
http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/library/preservatives.asp
http://homemadebathproducts.blogspot.com/2008/08/natural-preservatives.html
i did notice it says that you shouldnt dip your fingers into the jars, but use a spoon or somesuch, as water is a great breeding ground. it also stated that you should refrigerate after 3-4 days….
A stick blender has been my most successful tool for creammaking. I had separation issues prior to using one.
I’m a pharmacy student who started to learn how to compound this year, and I’m looking for some “recipes” for lotion online that I can make for Christmas gifts.
Several points I’d like to share. First, this recipe seems fine, but it is a TOPICAL product. If your child ingests it, call poison control. It may be natural, but so is chalk. That doesn’t mean you should be eating it.
Also, if you are aware of a compounding pharmacy in your area, the pharmacists there may be able to answer some of your questions about making your own lotions, especially if you’re concerned about safety or want to know where to order supplies.
Lastly, when we made cold cream, we gave it a six-month expiration in our class. If you don’t add preservatives to your lotion, I’d suggest using it up by six months or throwing the rest away.
Oh, one more thing. Try to use sterilized and/or really clean containers while making your lotion. This should make it last longer.
If the lotion does smell funny or have spots in it, DON’T use it.
WOW!!!! I’m only 10 yet i now can sell and make my own HAND
LOTION.i was amazed at how fast and easy this is thanks sooooooo!!! much.just wondering dose any body else have good cosmetics recipies.
sincerly,
Jessica.R.Gomes