The idea of making my own lotion was very fascinating to me when I first learned it was possible. Primarily because of how expensive lotions are in the store, and the ingredient list made it sound very complicated.
Well, it turns out it is also expensive to DIY them, and it is also complicated!
However, it is not as expensive if you make several at a time. And if you make them often enough to keep your ingredients fresh. Also, if you are using high end ingredients, such as rosehip oil or essential oils, then the cost of doing it yourself is definitely lower than the store. Whenever I make lotion, I am amazed at how many ingredients are needed to make it! This of course, depends on what ingredients you choose to include. There are some ingredients that are non negotiable though, as they help keep the emulsion stable and the lotion safe
The advantage of making your own lotion is that you get to choose exactly what you want on it, as long as you follow some standard parameters.
Here are some curious things I have learned while making lotions:
Ingredient list:
Some people criticize commercial products ingredients list as being all synthetic-chemical sounding, which are hard to pronounce. When learning to label my own lotion though, I found out that even a lotion with some natural ingredients, could have a hard to read label. The reason is because regulation dictates that the ingredients are listed by their INCI name, instead of their common names.
So, an ingredient like “shea butter” should be written instead as “Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter.”
Water:
Water is usually the first ingredient listed in a lotion, because it is the one found in the largest quantity. Water is needed to make the oils in the lotion easy to be absorbed by our skin, and is also the reason why a preservative is needed in it.
Water sustains life, germs and bacteria included, so it is important to keep hands, surfaces, tools and clothes as clean as possible when making lotion.
This awareness makes me now suspicious when I see some cleaning hack or some other kind of tip, where someone shows you how to mix an ingredient with water; and keep it around for cleaning or whatever. And they never mentioning that such product should be used within a day or two, or keep refrigerated, because unless you take measures to prevent them, and sometimes despite doing that, some germs and bacteria will thrive in all that water.
Time:
Although not listed, it is an ingredient much needed in the process of making lotion. Time to allow for the alcohol with which you cleaned your utensils dry, time for measuring, for heating, to allow temperatures to raise, to drop, etc. It all takes time. I only make lotion when I know I have a free afternoon or day, so I can periodically check on the process.
I am often tempted to just go buy a lotion from the store when I am too busy to do it myself; and I have done it. But unfortunately, the last two purchases were unsatisfactory. (Different brands, different scents). There was an odd smell in the lotions that neither my husband or I could stand.
Process:
Here is a list of the process I follow when making lotions, it is straight from the source:
This is the video I made about my formulation from 2021:
This is the formulation itself (with some changes as I could not find the original one)
DIY lotion for dry skin
DISCLAIMER:
The DIY recipes on this website are based on my personal experiences. I am not a trained chemist, or skincare expert. The DIY recipes shared on this website haven’t been tested in a lab. Information about my products or recipes haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult a doctor or specialist for specific concerns about any skincare issues, or needs. Please use your discretion, based on your own research, when making homemade products. You may be allergic to the ingredients listed in the recipes, and use of essentials must be done with care. Some essential oils are not safe for pregnant women or children.
