Homemade Body Lotion Recipe

A cool, minty-sweet moisturizer for oily skin

This easy homemade body lotion recipe makes a cool, creamy moisturizer that refreshes and soothes hot, thirsty skin.

Its sweet, minty scent lifts your energy and your mood - use it after your morning shower for a happy start to your day.

This recipe includes lavender and peppermint essential oils to replenish moisture and soothe skin. It's especially good for itchy, bug-bitten, sunburned skin.

In fact, if you want to make a healing cream for burns and bites, just double the amount of emulsifying wax and choose your carrier oils based on their healing powers. (Notes on choosing carrier oils are below.)

Peppermint Homemade Body Lotion Recipe

Ingredients

1 - 2 tablespoons (4 to 8g) Emulsifying wax

1/3 cup (75ml) Grapeseed oil

1 tablespoon (15ml) Vegetable Glycerin

1/2 cup (125ml) distilled Water or Peppermint Hydrosol (peppermint floral water)

1 teaspoon (5ml) Vitamin E

18 drops Peppermint essential oil

10 drops Lavender essential oil

2 drops Palmarosa OR Ylang Ylang essential oil

10 drops Grapefruit Seed extract

Directions

Stir together the oil, emulsifying wax and glycerin in the top part of a double boiler, warming slowly over a low heat until the wax is melted. Remove from heat and pour in the Vitamin E.

In a separate pot on the stove or in the microwave, gently warm the water/hydrosol just until lukewarm. Do NOT skip this step - your moisturizer will separate later if the water is too cold.

Slowly pour the water into the oil, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until the mixture is thick and smooth.

Stir in the essential oils and the grapefruit seed extract. Pour the homemade body lotion into a clean, sterilized 8oz (250ml) dark glass or PET plastic bottle and allow it to cool before putting the lid on.

Shake the bottle occasionally as the lotion cools to prevent the ingredients from separating. Store in a cool, dark place.

This homemade body lotion recipe makes approximately 8oz (250ml) moisturizer for oily skin.

Storing Homemade Body Lotion - Important!

I have found that whenever my homemade lotions, moisturizers or sunscreens get too hot they separate. Because they don't have the same chemicals as commercial products, these natural moisturizers really do need to be stored in a cool(ish) location.

Customizing Your Homemade Body Lotion Recipe

For a thicker consistency, (more like a cream) add a little more emulsifying wax (up to a half a teaspoon more.) For a thinner consistency, add just a little less.

homemade body lotion
You can also reduce the strength of the scent by decreasing the number of drops of essential oils. Do not increase the essential oils, however, since they should only be a certain percentage of the total body lotion recipe.

Choosing the best carrier oils: For a richer, more moisturizing homemade body lotion, use Apricot Kernel or Jojoba oil. These oils are also good for eczema and psoriasis.

You can customize your blends further by adding small amounts of Kukui Nut or Sea Buckthorn oil. Read the carrier oils page and see what might work for you.

Replace the peppermint hydrosol with lavender or rose hydrosol. The rose will add a sweet (not to mention skin-healing) note without breaking the bank - rose essential oil is EXPENSIVE!

Where to Buy Homemade Body Lotion Ingredients

My favorite supplier for aromatherapy recipe ingredients is Mountain Rose Herbs. Their quality, prices and staff are all excellent! Here's some quick links to the ingredients you'll need for this homemade body lotion recipe...

Peppermint essential oil

Lavender essential oil

Palmarosa essential oil

Ylang Ylang essential oil

Grapefruit seed extract

Glass bottles and jars

Buying Organic Moisturizers

If you're looking for organic skincare products that deeply nourish, support and heal your skin, you really should check out the ones made by Just Natural Organic Care. They're packed with exceptional ingredients - take a look!

What Next?

Check out some more homemade body lotion recipes. Or visit the Lotion Making Help page if you're still looking for lotion recipe ideas or you have questions about making homemade body lotion.

Lavender Lotion

Sandalwood Spice Lotion

Homemade Sunscreen

Vanilla Cream Massage Oil Lotion Bar

Lotion Recipes Main Page

Aromatherapy Recipes Homepage from Homemade Body Lotion

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