Luxurious DIY Lotion Recipe

If you’re still using store-bought lotion, here’s a super easy natural alternative that’s fun to make. This DIY lotion recipe has three basic ingredients and only takes 10 minutes to mix.

The base recipe is a super moisturizing waterless version that lasts for years without preservatives. While a lotion is technically a combination of water and oil-based skin care ingredients, this one is oil-based. It feels like a body butter and is great for dry skin.

Homemade Lotion

Years ago, I discovered I could make my own skin care products using natural ingredients, and I haven’t regretted it since. From homemade lip balm to whipped body butter, I love making my own. Lotion bars were one of the first things I made, and then I branched out to other kinds of lotions. This version uses unrefined coconut oil, almond oil, and shea butter to deeply nourish the skin.

Most lotions use emulsifying wax to mix distilled water with carrier oils. Doing it at home can be tedious, and it also requires preservatives to prevent spoilage. This DIY lotion avoids that problem by not using water. You can extend its shelf life even further by using Vitamin E. This antioxidant helps keep the oils from going rancid quickly.

Choosing a Carrier Oil

I use sweet almond oil as my carrier oil. It’s a medium-weight oil. It’s not as heavy as coconut oil, but it’s more moisturizing than something like grapeseed oil. You can substitute your favorite liquid carrier oil. Jojoba oil, olive oil, and avocado oil are also good options.

This lotion is very moisturizing and has more oil than water-based lotions, so you don’t need to use as much. It also has a longer shelf life than some homemade lotion recipes – all the ingredients are already shelf-stable and no water is added.

Custom Lotion Making

Once you have mastered the basic recipe, have fun customizing your lotion to suit your skin type, skin condition, and preferred scent.

The variations are endless, but here are some of my favorites:

• Baby Lotion – Steep dried calendula and chamomile in oil before making the lotion.
• Cool Muscle Love – For sore muscles, add peppermint, wintergreen, and ginger.
• Anti-Aging Face Lotion – Use argan oil and add lavender and patchouli essential oils.
• Lavender & Vanilla Lotion – Add a few drops of lavender and a dash of natural vanilla extract.

Essential Oil Safety

So how many drops of essential oil should you add to your DIY lotion? It depends on the essential oil and your preference. With the optional shea butter added, 45 drops of essential oil will give you a 1% dilution rate. A 2% dilution rate is generally considered safe in skin care products like lotions.

If you like a really strong scent, double the amount (2%), or cut the amount in half (or less) if you like a lighter scent or have sensitive skin. I avoid using essential oils on young children, especially babies.

Certain oils, such as wintergreen, cinnamon, and lemongrass, are harsh and should be used in small doses. Others, such as grapefruit and lime, are phototoxic. Some gentle essential oils that I love to use include:

Don’t you want to make one?

If you want a healthy lotion but don’t want to bother making it yourself or don’t have the ingredients, here are some great store-bought options that use clean ingredients and will hydrate dry skin.

Other Homemade Lotion Recipe Variations

There are lots of ways to make lotion at home, below are some lotion tutorials worth trying:

Have you ever made DIY lotion before? How did it go? Let me know below!