How to Make Hand Lotion

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Hand lotions are wonderful; they smell great and leave your skin feeling silky-smooth. If you have sensitive skin, however, store-bought lotions can make your skin feel worse. Organic lotions can be hard to get, and if you do happen to find them, they can be very expensive. Luckily, it is easy to whip up your own lotion. Best of all, you can customize it with your choice of essential oils to create your own fragrance!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Water-Based Hand Lotion

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    Pour the oil into a glass measuring cup, then add the wax. Stir the two ingredients together until just combined.
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    You can do this in a pot filled with water over medium heat. You can also heat the mixture in the microwave for about 1 minute. [1]
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    [2] You can use any scent you like; rose and lavender are especially popular in hand lotions. You can even use a combination of scents, such as rosemary-lavender or eucalyptus-mint.
    • If you wish to have unscented hand lotion, you can skip this step.
    • Some essential oils are good for the skin. For example, rosemary and tea tree oil are anti-inflammatory.
    • Pomegranate seed oil has anti-aging qualities. Cedarwood reduces irritation, and ylang-ylang is an effective cleanser.
    • The best herbs for lotions are calendula and chamomile. They are good for dry skin.
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    [3] For a twist, you can use rose water instead. This will have a nice, subtle fragrance to the lotion.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    The mixture will be milky-white and liquid-y. Don't worry, however, it will thicken up once it starts to cool down. You should not have to stir the mixture, but if the ingredients aren't coming together, give the mixture a quick stir.
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    To make the lotion easier to use, consider pouring it into smaller mason jars instead. A great size to work with is 4 ounces (120 milliliters). You can also pour it into a glass soap dispenser so that you can pump it out instead.
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    Because this lotion contains water, it is perishable. Keep it in the fridge, and inspect it for mould or bubbling regularly. It should last about 4 weeks, but it may expire sooner than that. [4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Making an Oil-Based Hand Lotion

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    Fill a saucepan with 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water, and place a heat-safe bowl on top. Make sure that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. If it does, pour some of the water out.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    This will great the base for your hand lotion. If you do not like olive oil, don't own any, or simply want something more special, try almond oil, grapeseed oil, or jojoba oil instead. [5]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    [6] This will give your lotion that thick consistency. It is also a natural humectant, so it may help keep your skin moisturized. [7]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    [8] The vitamin E oil will help nourish your skin as well as act as a preservative. The shea butter will help lock in moisture and nourish your skin. [9]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    Stir them occasionally with a spoon as they melt; this helps them melt more evenly. It may take up to 20 minutes for the ingredients to melt. [10]
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    Start with 10 drops, then add more as desired. Plan on using between 10 and 20 drops of essential oil. You can use one fragrance, such as lavender, or you can use a combination of 2 to 3 fragrances, such as lemon-mint-eucalyptus. [11]
    • If you want a natural-scented lotion (coconut oil and shea butter), you can skip this step.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    A great size to work with is 4 ounces (120 milliliters). This will make the lotion easier to scoop out. Alternatively, you can pour the lotion into a glass soap dispenser instead.
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    Because the lotion does not contain water, it should last about 6 months. [12] It does not need to be refrigerated, but if it is very hot in your home, you might want to store it in the fridge.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Making a Whipped Hand Lotion

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    Fill a saucepan with 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) of water, and place a heat-safe bowl on top. Make sure that the bottom of the bowl is not touching the surface of the water. If it is, pour some of the water out.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    [13] This will create the base for your lotion. Both coconut oil and shea butter are wonderful for the skin because of how moisturizing and nourishing they are.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    [14] Don't add the essential oils just yet; you'll add those in at the very end. Honey is a natural humectant, so it will help attract moisture to your skin. It is also non-perishable, so you don't have to worry about your lotion going bad.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    Stir the ingredients together from time to time to help them melt. It may take 10 to 20 minutes for everything to melt completely.
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    The mixture will turn solid as it cools. Don't worry if it looks too thick, however; you will be beating the mixture to give it a light, fluffy texture.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    Keep the mixture in the bowl. You are simply doing this to make it easier to mix later on. [15]
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    [16] Start with just 20 drops, then add more as needed. You can use any type of essential oil you like. It can be one fragrance, such as chamomile or lavender, or a combination of fragrances, such as lavender-rose.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    If you don't have one, you can use an electric mixer or even a food processor. Keep beating the mixture until it turns light and fluffy. [17]
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make Hand Lotion
    If you'd like, you can scoop it into 4-ounce (120-milliliter) mason jars; this will make it easier to scoop out. Because of its light and fluffy texture, this lotion is not recommended for dispenser-type bottles.
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    Because it does not contain any water, it is non-perishable. Nonetheless, try to use it within 6 months. If it gets too soft or starts to melt, store it in the fridge.
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  • Question
    Can I use petroleum jelly instead of emulsifying wax?
    Community Answer
    Yes, petroleum jelly would work just as well as emulsifying wax. They have pretty much the same consistency and petroleum jelly is very good for the skin.
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  • Question
    Can I add food coloring to add some color to my hand cream?
    Community Answer
    I wouldn't, the food coloring might trigger an allergic reaction or cause a rash.
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  • Question
    Can I use plastic containers rather than the mason jars?
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    Yes, you can.
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      Warnings

      • Keep an eye on your lotion. Water-based lotions are perishable, while oil-based ones typically are not. Regardless of what your lotion is made out of, if it starts to look or smell strange, throw it out.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 2
      • Make sure that all of your jars, bowls, and utensils are clean. This will prevent your lotions from getting contaminated.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 2
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      Things You'll Need

      Making a Water-Based Hand Lotion

      • 1¼ to 1½ cups (300 to 350 milliliters) hot water
      • ¼ cup (28 grams) emulsifying wax (not beeswax)
      • ¼ cup (60 milliliters) olive oil
      • 24 to 36 drops essential oil
      • Glass measuring cup
      • Small mason jars

      Making an Oil-Based Hand Lotion

      • ½ cup (120 milliliters) olive oil (or almond, grapeseed, or jojoba oil)
      • ½ cup (120 milliliters) coconut oil
      • ¼ cup (36 grams) beeswax pellets
      • 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
      • 1 to 2 tablespoons (15 to 30 grams) shea butter
      • 10 to 20 drops essential oil
      • Saucepan
      • Heat-safe bowl
      • Spoon
      • Small mason jars

      Making a Whipped Hand Lotion

      • ½ cup (120 milliliters) coconut Oil
      • ½ cup (115 grams) shea butter
      • 3 tablespoons (67.5 grams) honey
      • 20 to 30 drops essential oil
      • Saucepan
      • Glass bowl
      • Hand mixer, electric mixer, or food processor


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      References

      1. ↑ http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-to-make-handmade-handlotion-w-label-download/
      2. ↑ http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-to-make-handmade-handlotion-w-label-download/
      3. ↑ http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-to-make-handmade-handlotion-w-label-download/
      4. ↑ http://asonomagarden.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/how-to-make-handmade-handlotion-w-label-download/
      5. ↑ http://benandme.com/2016/03/homemade-nourishing-hand-lotion-with-essential-oils.html
      6. ↑ http://benandme.com/2016/03/homemade-nourishing-hand-lotion-with-essential-oils.html
      7. ↑ https://www.annmariegianni.com/beeswax-the-natural-protectant-that-soothes/
      8. ↑ http://adelightfulhome.com/how-to-make-hand-lotion/
      9. ↑ http://benandme.com/2016/03/homemade-nourishing-hand-lotion-with-essential-oils.html
      1. ↑ http://adelightfulhome.com/how-to-make-hand-lotion/
      2. ↑ http://benandme.com/2016/03/homemade-nourishing-hand-lotion-with-essential-oils.html
      3. ↑ http://adelightfulhome.com/how-to-make-hand-lotion/
      4. ↑ http://imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-hand-cream/
      5. ↑ http://imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-hand-cream/
      6. ↑ http://imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-hand-cream/
      7. ↑ http://imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-hand-cream/
      8. ↑ http://imperfectlyhappy.com/diy-hand-cream/

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