Homemade Lavender Body Lotion

Body lotions and oils are great for the winter. Cold weather, indoor heat, hot showers all dry out skin and it's great to have lotions or oils on hand to soothe skin. The problem is that natural chemical free and gluten free lotions are very expensive to buy. Also, a lot of the so-called natural body products still have some undesirable ingredients in them. Sometimes I am amazed at the lengthy list of ingredients and the number of ingredients that look like chemical names in products that say natural on the label. I have never found a lotion in the store that meets all my standards and also is a reasonable cost. This is why I decided to start making my own lotion. This is how I make my lotion:

Lavender Body Lotion

3/4 pure oil - olive oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, etc.

3/4 cup distilled water

2 tbsp shaved bees wax

30 drops lavender essential oil

tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract

glass mason jars to store lotion

Tools needed: I have separate tools just for lotion making

Blender

glass pyrex measuring cup

rubber spatula

Instructions:

Sterilize all tools by using the dishwasher or boiling water.

Pour the distilled water into the blender and set aside.

Pour the oil or combination of oils into the glass measuring cup

Shave off the bees wax with a knife or vegetable peeler (it usually comes in a block), measure and put into the measuring cup with the oil.

Heat water in a pot and create a double boiler with the glass measuring cup to melt the bees wax into the oil.

When the bees wax is melted remove the measuring cup from the double boiler and let sit for 2 minutes.

Turn on the blender with the water already in it and slowly pour the oil into the blender creating an emulsion

Once the oil and water are fully combined, add your essential oils for scent. (I like Young Living oils best)

Add some tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract to act as a "preservative"

Blend until combined.

Transfer into mason jars to store.

This is what the finished product looks like...

This recipe has worked well for me and it makes 2-3 small jars of lotion. The lotion is very soothing and seems like a luxurious expensive creme which is why I love it. The lavender scent is also very calming. You can make changes to the recipe to get the lotion you like the best - change the different oils that you use or you can use herbal infused oil which adds a nice touch. One of my favorite infused oils is calendula infused oil - I use this to make diaper rash creme for my daughter which has worked great.

Do you make your own lotion? Do you have any tips or tricks to share? What are you favorite oils or herbs to use in lotions?

Learn more about Natural Parenting on my blog theholisticmama.com