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Are your hands dry, cracked and in need of replenishment? If so, I’ve got an easy (but oh so creamy) DIY hand lotion for you! This recipe keeps it simple yet effective and will nourish the driest of hands, naturally. Read on for my super easy hand lotion recipe!
Making lotion can be very rewarding but it can also be very frustrating. It’s hard to find the right ingredients that don’t compromise your lotion’s effectiveness, and it can be difficult to get the right consistency.
I’ve done A LOT of experimenting and wasted A LOT of good product. I’ve tried so many other blog’s recipes and even brushed up on my chemistry (my worst subject) just to get the perfect consistency that will work for the hands.
I had originally posted this same DIY hand lotion recipe but with way more emulsifying wax. I have since done research on emulsifying wax and there was just way too much in the previous recipe. Emulsifying wax has very little benefit for the skin. It mainly binds water and oil. So, I would rather use as little as possible to still get the binding action.
This DIY hand lotion is very nourishing for the hands. Olive oil is very moisturizing, and contains vitamin A and antioxidants. Lavender soothes, heals and moisturizes while being antiviral and antibacterial. Vitamin E is optional but it is very nourishing as well as a natural preservative. Feel free to mix different essential oils into your cream! I add lavender to mine because I love the smell of olive oil mixed with lavender-simply heaven!
More Creamy Lotion Recipes:
- Almond Cocoa Body Lotion
- Rosehip Cypress Facial Cream
- Firming Eye Cream
- Hyaluronic Acid Anti Aging Cream
- Dry Skin Moisturizer
Before you start the process of making lotion, you might want to check out my step by step guide on how to make lotion. My guide will give you a picture tutorial on exactly how to make creamy, fluffy lotion!
DIY Hand Lotion
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tsp. NeoDefend (find it HERE)
- 2 TBSP Emulsifying Wax (find it HERE)
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil (find it HERE)
- 1 tsp Vitamin E Oil (find it HERE)
- 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil (find it HERE)
Directions
- Fill a medium sized pot 1/2 way full with water.
- Place a glass pyrex bowl with a spout in the pot.
- Turn stove top on medium heat and melt emulsifying wax and olive oil.
- In another “double boiler” (medium sized pot, 1/2 way full of water with a glass bowl placed in the pot) heat you water and neodefend.
- Once the emulsifying wax is melted and once neodefend has dissolved, you must get your oil mixture and water mixture to be around the same temp before mixing-This is imperative or your water and oil will not bind. I use a thermometer like THIS to monitor my mixtures.
- **As a rule of thumb, both mixtures need to be about the same temperature when mixed. This temperature is typically around 130-160 degrees.**
- When you’ve got both mixtures at the proper temps, remove from heat and add your water into your oil! Voila!!
- Take a hand blender and mix your water/oil mixture for about 1 minute. Let stand for 15 minutes then mix for about 30 seconds again. Once you notice that the water isn’t separating at the bottom of your bowl after not mixing for a few minutes, you are done mixing. I would say this process should take about 1 hour. You can’t mix it too much.
- Once your mixture is no longer hot, add your essential oils and vitamin E, mix one more time, then pour into containers.
- Let containers set for 24 hours. Your cream will thicken in this time.
This recipe makes about 12 ounces.
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DIY Hand Lotion
Yield: 12 ounces
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tsp. NeoDefend
- 2 TBSP Emulsifying Wax
- 1/4 cup Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Vitamin E Oil
- 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions
- Fill a medium sized pot 1/2 way full with water.
- Place a glass pyrex bowl with a spout in the pot.
- Turn stove top on medium heat and melt emulsifying wax and olive oil.
In another “double boiler” (medium sized pot, 1/2 way full of water with a glass bowl placed in the pot) heat you water and neodefend. - Once the emulsifying wax is melted and once neodefend has dissolved, you must get your oil mixture and water mixture to be around the same temp before mixing-This is imperative or your water and oil will not bind. I use a thermometer like THIS to monitor my mixtures.
**As a rule of thumb, both mixtures need to be about the same temperature when mixed. This temperature is typically around 130 degrees.** - When you’ve got both mixtures at the proper temps, remove from heat and add your water into your oil! Voila!!
- Take a hand blender and mix your water/oil mixture for about 1 minute.
- Let stand for 15 minutes then mix for about 30 seconds again. Once you notice that the water isn’t separating at the bottom of your bowl after not mixing for a few minutes, you are done mixing. I would say this process should take about 1 hour. You can’t mix it too much.
- Once your mixture is no longer hot, add your essential oils and vitamin E, mix one more time, then pour into containers.
- Let containers set for 24 hours. Your cream will thicken in this time.
Notes
- Distilled water must be used in order to keep your cream fresh longer.
I have included a preservative with this recipe. NeoDefend is considered certified organic and non-GMO. It is antioxidant and very gentle to the skin. Those of you weary of using a preservative must remember that it only makes up .75-1% of your product. - Emulsifying wax is an absolute must. Beeswax won’t cut it.
- Your cream should always be stored in glass bottles preferably dark glass. This will also keep your cream bacteria free longer.
- A container that allows you to pump out your lotion is a good idea-this keeps you from depositing bacteria from your hands into your lotion.
- Do not store in the fridge during those 24 hours that it is setting up. I made this mistake thinking I could speed up the process and it’s consistency was inconsistent! I ended up having to mix it with my hand mixer the next day and managed to salvage it but avoiding mixing was the whole point of this recipe!
Did you make this recipe?
DIY Hand Lotion Recipe Notes:
- Distilled water must be used in order to keep your cream fresh longer.
- I have included a preservative with this recipe. NeoDefend is considered certified organic and non-GMO. It is antioxidant and very gentle to the skin. Those of you weary of using a preservative must remember that it only makes up .75-1% of your product. You can read more about and purchase NeoDefend HERE.
- Emulsifying wax is an absolute must. Beeswax won’t cut it.
- Your cream should always be stored in glass bottles preferably dark glass. This will also keep your cream bacteria free longer. However, since this is a thick hand cream that I like to carry in my bag, I did buy THESE plastic squeeze bottle for easy transport.
- A container that allows you to pump out your lotion is a good idea-this keeps you from depositing bacteria from your hands into your lotion. I bought THIS pump bottle for next to my bed.
- Do not store in the fridge during those 24 hours that it is setting up. I made this mistake thinking I could speed up the process and it’s consistency was inconsistent! I ended up having to mix it with my hand mixer the next day and managed to salvage it but avoiding mixing was the whole point of this recipe!
There you have it, my easy DIY hand lotion recipe you should make pronto!
xx, Jenni
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