Lotions out of the kitchen

I've been dabbling in homemade lip balms and body care type stuff for a little while.  Had pretty good success with the balms, some a bit firm but they last really nicely on the lips.  The last super moisturizing brown sugar Shea butter scrub I made sure was super moisturizing, but also way too greasy to use except in tiny amounts.  The fragrances or something in retail lotions tends to give me hives, eek!  :(  So even though I may love that hazelnut vanilla cream lotion from Bath and Bodyworks, I can't use it for more than one day.  Sunscreens do that to me too.  Maybe it's the SLS.  The nice thing about that shea moisturizing scrub though, was that it was completely edible ingredients.  All of it.  I will never have to worry about a reaction to the homemade stuff.

So my latest kitchen body creation was to attempt a non greasy hand and body lotion.  I am very pleased at how it turned out.  I may cut back on the Shea butter just a wee bit next time or go halfsies with cocoa butter.  (Yummy smell!)  You can choose whatever fragrance or essential oil you like to scent the lotion.  I'm sticking with the oils.  Fragrance and I are not friends.  So if you are feeling adventurous, here is how to make a thick, luxuriant body lotion.  A little goes a long way, think pea size for hands and carrot coin for legs.  I love to use it after doing the dishes or washing my hands.  They just drink it up, no greasy feel at all.  If they are just dry, it takes just a minute to soak in.  (I got all my specialty ingredients from Mountain Rose Herbs.)

Update: you can also add 10 drops of Grapeseed extract (GSE) as a preservative.  (I put this in the leftover tub since I just scoop from it directly with fingers.)  If you choose not to add the vitamin E or GSE, I would suggest storing the unused portion in the fridge for longer keeping. Especially if you are not using a pump and may have contamination from dirty fingers in an open container.

Creamy Aloe and Shea Body Lotion

makes about 4 cups

8 tbsp Shea butter

4 tbsp almond oil

4 tbsp olive oil

3 rounded tbsp emulsifying wax

3 tbsp liquid vegetable glycerin
3 cups aloe vera gel
10-30 drops essential oil or 1 tsp fragrance
10 drops vitamin E oil (optional)

In a medium saucepan, heat Shea butter slowly to 200ºF.  Turn off heat, add wax and leave to sit for 15 minutes.  Then add in the almond and olive oil.  In another pot, combine the aloe and glycerin and heat to 120ºF.  Remove from heat and slowly pour into the oil mixture, whipping with a stick blender.  Cool the mixture for 30 minutes and whip with the blender every 5-10 minutes.  After 30 minutes, add desired essential oil and Vitamin E oil, if using, and blend again.  Pour into four 8oz pump bottles.  (It may look a little runny right now, but it will thicken considerably when completely cooled so get it bottled while it's still easy to pour.)

Take a look at the ingredient list on your favorite commercial lotion.  Then enjoy your very own skin safe lotion that is practically edible.

Adapted from Glorious Lotion