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January 26, 2021 — 10:24 AM
Slathering yourself in moisturizer as soon as you step out of the shower isn’t just a luxurious experience: It's a much needed one. Velvety textures feel soothing, no doubt, but locking in hydration post-rinse is also the key to a strong skin barrier—those few extra seconds spent rubbing in a cream or oil are the difference between scaly skin and a glowing complexion allover. All the more reason to have a handy bottle of lotion on your bathroom shelf! But if you find yourself blowing through bottle after bottle (it’s easy to fly through product, especially if you’re dipping into it after each rinse), here’s a twist: Make your own vat of lotion.
Whipping up your own concoction is pretty straightforward, whether you’re in dire need of a butter-thick confection or a non-greasy veil of moisture.
“It is so much easier than you would think to make a simple lotion,” says Jana Blankenship, product formulator and founder of the natural beauty brand Captain Blankenship. In fact, you only need three measly ingredients: a carrier oil (think jojoba, coconut, almond, etc), a liquid (rosewater, aloe, or some distilled H2O), and wax to hold it all together.
Of course, you can chuck in some optional add-ons if you’re feeling fancy—scan all the possibilities with these five recipes below.
This is Blankenship’s go-to number, a light, basic hydrator that works its magic year round. Here’s what you’ll need:
½ cup jojoba oil (or other carrier oil of choice)
½ cup aloe, ½ cup rosewater, or ½ cup distilled water (you can use whatever you have on-hand).
1 Tbsp beeswax or wax of choice (candelilla wax is a great vegan alternative)
Optional: 1 Tbsp shea butter (to make it extra nourishing), 1 tsp vitamin E or rosemary extract, and 10 to 15 drops essential oil of your choice.
Place the wax, carrier oil, and shea butter (if using) in a heatproof glass measuring cup or mason jar.
Make a double boiler by heating several inches of water inside a small pot. When the water boils, lower it to simmer and put the glass bowl or cup inside the water.
Stir the ingredients with a spoon until fully melted, then remove the cup from heat.
Pour ingredients into a small glass or metal bowl and wait until it cools to room temperature.
Slowly add your liquid (either aloe, water, or hydrosol), and other optional ingredients while mixing with an immersion blender. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, just pour the ingredients into your standing blender instead of a bowl and slowly add the ingredients while blending on low.)
Blend the mixture until you reach a creamy consistency.
Scoop into a glass jar with a lid, and keep in the fridge for up to one month.
2.
Thick, whipped lotion.
“To make a whip-thick version you can omit the liquid and use carrier oil, butter, and wax,” says Blankenship. Here’s a recipe that piles on the butter:
¼ cup shea butter.
¼ cup cocoa butter.
½ cup coconut oil.
Optional: 1 tsp vitamin E or rosemary extract.
Place the wax, carrier oil, and shea butter (if using) in a heatproof glass measuring cup or mason jar.
Make a double boiler by heating several inches of water inside a small pot. When the water boils, lower it to simmer and put the glass bowl or cup inside the water.
Stir the ingredients with a spoon until fully melted, then remove the cup from heat.
Stir in your optional ingredients, if using. Pour the mixture into a mason jar with a lid.
Wait until the mixture cools to room temperature, and place the jar in the fridge. Leave it until it solidifies (which usually takes about one to two hours).
Scoop out the mixture into a mixing bowl, and blend with a standing mixer or immersion blender (or pour it into a standing blender and blend on medium speed).
Blend for about 5 to 10 minutes until it reaches a fluffy, whipped consistency. (Note: “If the cream sticks to the sides of the bowl, push it down with spatula to reintegrate,” says Blankenship.)
Transfer the lotion to the jar and keep in the fridge, away from direct sunlight. Because there’s no liquid, the lotion should keep for up to one year (just remember to scoop it out with clean, dry fingers or a clean spoon).
3.
Lightweight, non-greasy lotion.
Sometimes you want a thin moisturizer that nourishes without a slippery seal-like sheen. Totally fair! All you have to do is take out the butter and replace it with aloe:
½ cup jojoba oil (a lightweight oil that closely mimics the skin’s own sebum)
½ cup aloe
1 Tbsp beeswax or wax of choice (candelilla wax is a great vegan alternative).
Optional: 10 to 15 drops of essential oil.
Place the wax and carrier oil in a heatproof glass measuring cup or mason jar.
Make a double boiler by heating several inches of water inside a small pot. When the water boils, lower it to simmer and put the glass bowl or cup inside the water.
Stir the ingredients with a spoon until fully melted, then remove the cup from heat.
Pour ingredients into a small glass or metal bowl and wait until it cools to room temperature.
Slowly add your aloe and essential oils if using while mixing with an immersion blender. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, just pour the ingredients into your standing blender instead of a bowl and slowly add the ingredients while blending on low.)
Blend the mixture until you reach a creamy consistency.
Scoop into a glass jar with a lid, and keep in the fridge for up to one month.
4.
Fragrance-free baby lotion.
For those with sensitive skin, baby lotion is a must—most are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free hydrators that soothe angry skin with ease. Good news: This DIY recipe only features gentle, skin-loving ingredients for your skin barrier.
½ cup jojoba oil (or other carrier oil of choice;
squalane oil is top notch for those with a compromised skin barrier).
½ cup aloe or ½ cup distilled water.
1 Tbsp beeswax or wax of choice (candelilla wax is a great vegan alternative).
1 tbsp shea butter.
Optional: 1 tsp vitamin E, which can
ease inflammation.
Place the wax, carrier oil, and butter in a heatproof glass measuring cup or mason jar.
Make a double boiler by heating several inches of water inside a small pot. When the water boils, lower it to simmer and put the glass bowl or cup inside the water.
Stir the ingredients with a spoon until fully melted, then remove the cup from heat.
Pour ingredients into a small glass or metal bowl and wait until it cools to room temperature.
Slowly add your aloe or water and vitamin E, if using, while mixing with an immersion blender. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, just pour the ingredients into your standing blender instead of a bowl and slowly add the ingredients while blending on low.)
Blend the mixture until you reach a creamy consistency.
Scoop into a glass jar with a lid, and keep in the fridge for up to one month.
For a lightly fragranced moisturizer, you can of course use any essential oil blend you please (Blankenship favors chamomile, lavender, and juniper berry for a fresh scent), but a rose-scented lotion is subtle and relaxing. Try this lather below:
½ cup jojoba oil (or any other carrier oil you choose)
½ cup rosewater
1 Tbsp beeswax or wax of choice (candelilla wax is a great vegan alternative).
10 to 15 drops of rose oil.
Optional: 1 Tbsp shea butter or cocoa butter
Place the wax, carrier oil, and butter if using in a heatproof glass measuring cup or mason jar.
Make a double boiler by heating several inches of water inside a small pot. When the water boils, lower it to simmer and put the glass bowl or cup inside the water.
Stir the ingredients with a spoon until fully melted, then remove the cup from heat.
Pour ingredients into a small glass or metal bowl and wait until it cools to room temperature.
Slowly add your rosewater and rose oil while mixing with an immersion blender. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, just pour the ingredients into your standing blender instead of a bowl and slowly add the ingredients while blending on low.)
Blend the mixture until you reach a creamy consistency.
Scoop into a glass jar with a lid, and keep in the fridge for up to one month.
Creating your own lotion is as simple as combining oil-based ingredients and water-based ingredients (that’s what all moisturizers are, anyway!). Whether you keep it basic or add in some fun extras, each cream coats your skin with healthy ingredients and keeps water locked in. And if you’d rather skip the DIY and purchase a bottle? Well, these clean body lotions always have you covered.
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