joyous.jpgUpdate: I’ve been using this cream for a couple of days now and I love it. It’s very light and silky, not at all oily, it absorbs quickly and leaves my skin very soft. I’ll definitely make this lotion again when I’m done with what I have.

I made this recipe for my friend Lola’s birthday. It makes a nice and light lotion, with a silky/creamy consistency. This version has no preservatives, but it should be good for several weeks if you make sure to sterilize your pots and containers before using them. Otherwise store it in the fridge, and it should last for several months. Given how hot it is, I like keeping mine cold anyway. The cream is light enough that you can use a lotion pump for it, but it’s OK for a wide-mouth jar as well.
This recipe makes a little over 5 oz. I used three types of oils, but you can use one or more in whatever proportions you want – just make sure they come up to 6 tablespoons or so. I used chamomile infusion (tea), but you can use regular distilled water or a different infusion. If you do use an infusion, let it seep for at least 2 hours.
It takes a while for this mixture to thicken up, but don’t despair, it will. Just blend (at intervals, so that your blender does not burn out) until it cools down.

  • 2 Tbsp. Jojoba oil
  • 2 Tbsp. Avocado oil
  • 2 Tbsp. Coconut oil
  • 1/2 tsp. Stearic acid
  • 1/4 tsp. Emulsifying wax
  • 1/4 cup herbal infusion or distilled water
  • 1/4 tsp. Borax
  • 1 tsp. Vitamin E oil
  • 3-4 drops Essential or Fragrance oil

Put the carrier oils in a small microwave-safe bowl (I used a pyrex ramekin) and add the stearic acid and emulsifying wax. Microwave in high until the wax melts 30 to 90 seconds, depending on your microwave.
Mix the infusion/water with the borax in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave until it boils, 30 to 60 seconds, depending on your microwave.
Pour the oils into the water, slowly and gradually, while blending all the time with an electric stick/hand blender. Blend until the mixture emulsifies, and then continue blending, 20 seconds at the time, until it cools down and thickens.
Add the vitamin E and blend until incorporated. Add the fragrance or essential oil and blend until incorporated again.
Transfer the lotion to bottles/jars.
Note: To transfer thickened lotions into bottles with a small aperture, I first spoon them into squeeze bottles and then I squirt them into the final container. A funnel may work just as well, but I don’t have one šŸ™‚
Recipe adapted from Article Base.