Homemade Body Cream: Your Luxe DIY Body Lotion Recipe

Making my own natural skincare has been great for learning new skills and creating awesome skin are products. However, I was ready for a skincare challenge.

I have loved creating and using my own body butters, oils and balms that leave my skin feeling soft and pampered. But I knew creating a DIY body lotion recipe with water was the only way to add instant hydration to my skin. This recipe for body cream thus contains distilled water as a primary ingredient.

Adding water when creating a body lotion recipe does make the process trickier which is why I have avoided it for some time. It also means that preservatives will need to be added to ensure waterborne bacteria, yeast and moulds do not grow.

When creating this dry skin lotion recipe, water and oil combine to give your skin the best of both worlds, this also means it requires an emulsifier to combine the water and oil.

Using these ingredients does make it more complicated to make particularly if you are looking to make a completely natural DIY body cream recipe as many emulsifiers and preservatives aren’t natural or available in Australia.

Making this homemade natural body lotion recipe is trickier than my oil based skincare recipes and if you are new to making skincare, I’d suggest you start with my body butter or body oil recipes first and then make your way to this recipe.

If you have made your own skincare before, I highly recommend giving this skin lotion recipe a try as it is so luxurious and your skin is going to love it. Although this is trickier than my simple recipes, follow the recipe instructions and you will find it is easier than you think.

So let’s get started so you can learn exactly how to make your own body cream at home!

What Is A Body Cream/Body Lotion Homemade?

This recipe for homemade body lotion is a mixture of distilled water and oils that together with a natural emulsifier combine to make a luxurious and hydrating body cream/lotion.

While I love my oil based skincare, adding water to your body cream means it will be more rapidly absorbed by the skin, with a faster hydration delivery.

When water is combined with the other ingredients in this natural body lotion recipe, it absorbs and extracts the goodness from them. This means it increases our skins’ ability to absorb the nutrients from the other ingredients.

My best homemade body lotion contains a combination of distilled water, shea butter, emusifier, several oils, xanathan gum and a natural broad spectrum preservative.

Using a preservative can sound intimidating, but it is essential to protect your body lotion from harmful yeast, moulds and bacteria forming. The preservative in this recipe is a broad spectrum preservative that is considered natural for use in skincare.

I have also added vitamin E oil to my body lotion DIY recipe as it is used for slowing the process of oil oxidation which increases the oils longevity. Vitamin E oil however, cannot be used to preserve the water based ingredients in your body cream homemade recipe – despite what you may hear online.

Why Make A DIY Body Lotion Recipe?

I can think of many reasons why you should try making your own natural skin cream recipe and I have listed some of these below.

All Natural

One of the greatest benefits of making your own homemade skin lotion is that you can use ingredients that are all natural, safe and nourishing for the skin.

It also gives me the peace of mind that what I am putting on my skin is full of goodness.

Super Hydrating

This DIY moisturising body lotion is super luxurious and hydrating on the skin. It is absorbed quickly by the skin and leaves it feeling hydrated, soothed and soft.

You Have Full Control

Making your own DIY natural body cream means you have full control over what ingredients are added and which are not. You can substitute certain ingredients for others that you prefer.

Eco Friendly

Creating your very own DIY body lotion with essential oils is an eco friendlier option than constantly repurchasing it in plastic bottles.

Makes A Great Gift

Creating your DIY natural body lotion makes a great gift for friends and family. You can customise the ingredients to suit their needs and store them in cute bail jars.

Cost Effective

Making your own homemade dry skin lotion is totally cost effective in the long run. All natural body lotions can be super pricey and making your own is a long term budget friendly solution.

Ingredients For Making Body Lotion At Home

There are quite a few ingredients for this homemade face moisturizer for aging skin, dry skin and normal skin, but don’t worry. They are all easy to buy and available in Australia.

eBay and Amazon Australia are quick and easy places to buy ingredients and all the gear you need. Below, I direct you to the best place to buy each ingredient or you can click here to buy now on Amazon or here for eBay.

A couple of ingredients are only available on a specialist site. I also link to that where relevant.

These are the places where I buy all these ingredients.

You don’t have to use the same oils that I do and can replace the avocado and macadamia oil with different oils if you would prefer. You can also switch the shea butter to a different butter or an oil if that would suit you better. Or you can decrease the amount of ingredients you need to buy by combining the oils and just getting avocado or macadamia oil. Whatever you prefer.

Olivem 1000

Olivem 1000 is a natural emulsifier that comes from olive oil. The product is a wax and it is flaky and white in colour. In skincare, it can be used to combine water and oil ingredients, suitable for all kinds of emulsions.

This product is handy for thickening lotions and improving the spread ability of a product. There are a whole range of emulsions that can be made from this stuff including creams and lotions, cleansers, body butters, conditioners and more.

This emulsifier is added to skincare during the oil heating phase which is then combined with the ingredients in the water phase when creating your emulsion. It has a large active pH range of between 3 and 12.

Olivem 1000 also has the benefit of adding moisture to products and because it is hypoallergenic, it can be used on all skin types including sensitive skin. I like using this product in my DIY hydrating body lotion as it is natural and easy to use.

Click here to buy it now.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a really nice oil on the skin. It is soothing and nourishing and contains protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins A, D and E and beta carotene which are all fantastic for your skin.

The benefits avocado oil has to offer the skin include nourishment, moisture, skin cell regeneration, anti aging, skin softening and more.

It is available in either refined or unrefined varieties.

Refined avocado oil is thinner, lighter in colour and has barely any aroma whereas unrefined avocado oil is thick, green and has a strong aroma.

Both varieties of oil are quickiy absorbed by the skin. However, this is the one time I suggest you buy the refined version.

Avocado oil is a good choice for all skin types but particularly helpful for those with dry skin, mature skin and eczema. I love using avocado oil in this DIY body lotion for dry skin as I find it super soothing and moisturising.

Click here to buy it now.

Macadamia Oil

Macadamia oil is another awesome oil for your skin. It is high in oleic and linoleic acids and contains an additional fatty acid called palmitoleic acid which can help the skin stay soft and supple and it also offers antimicrobial activity.

As a natural emollient, macadamia oil is great at keeping the skin soft and smooth and because it contains vitamin E and squalane, it is also a good choice for reducing oxidative stress and inflammation on the skin.

Macadamia oil can be used by all skin types but it is especially great for mature and sensitive skin types and those with eczema or scarring. I personally love using macadamia oil in my homemade body cream for dry skin.

Click here to buy it on eBay now.

Shea Butter

Shea butter contains a heap of different vitamins and minerals, fatty acids and antioxidants that all work to soften, moisturise and soothe your skin – leaving it protected and nourished.

Shea butter is a great product for dry skin. It is easy to use and melts once it comes into contact with the skin. It has emollient and occulsive properties which means it softens the skin and provides a barrier to hold in moisture for longer.

Shea butter also contains anti-inflammatory qualities which is great for soothing inflamed or irritated skin. However, if you have acne prone skin, shea butter is not always recommended as it may have the potential to clog the pores of oily skin types.

I love to use shea butter in this homemade moisturising lotion for dry skin as it gives a creamy and rich consistency and is totally nourishing for my skin. Please ensure you are only purchasing unrefined shea butter.

Click here to buy it now.

Distilled Water

For a water based body lotion, we are going to need water and although it is a pretty self explanatory ingredient, it is super important to use distilled water in your lotion recipe for dry skin.

Using distilled water instead of plain tap or bottled water ensures your water is completely free of any impurities.

Distilled water is created by boiling water to a vapor and condensing it back into a liquid in a separate container. Distilled water is also be known as purified water as it is completely free of impurities that could disturb your natural body cream recipe.

Click here to buy it on eBay now.

Glycerin

Glycerin is a natural product that is a popular ingredient for use in skincare as it a natural humectant – meaning it keeps the skin hydrated by attracting humid air to your skin.

Glycerin is a cheap and easy product to purchase. It is sweet and mild in taste and provides a thick, sticky consistency. A little goes a long way and we only use a small amount in this homemade body lotion for dry skin.

Glycerin is also a good product for oily skin types as it provides hydration by pulling water from the air without making the skin feel greasy.

Click here to buy it on eBay now.

Xanthan Gum

Xanthan gum is a natural gum that comes from the fermentation of sugar. You may have seen it listed as an ingredient in a snack you have eaten before as its thickening benefits are popularly used in packaged foods and in the food industry.

In skincare, xanthan gum works in pretty much the same way as it does in food. It thickens the product and can provide gel like textures which van be helpful in making products like my DIY eye gel.

Xanthan gum feels really nice on the skin, luscious and smooth.

Click here to buy it on eBay now.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E oil is a great oil for your skin as it is an antioxidant that can smooth, soften and repair the skin. However in this DIY non greasy body lotion, it is essentially being used to extend the life of the oils.

When oils, like the oils in this easy DIY body lotion, are exposed to air, they begin to slowly oxidise over time – which is what causes oil rancidity.

This is why vitamin E oil is used – as it delays this from happening which extends the longevity of your DIY body cream for dry skin.

Click here to buy it now.

Geranium Essential Oil

I love using geranium essential oil in this homemade body lotion recipe for dry skin for its great scent and the benefits it has to offer the skin.

Geranium oil has a heap of great properties including being a natural astringent, deodorant, antiseptic, fungicidal and more.

It is a nice choice in this DIY hand and body lotion as it is totally soothing and calming on the skin and it enhances the skin’s glow. The aroma is herbaceous and sweet and is said to improve your mood by reducing feelings of sadness and stress.

Geranium oil may irritate sensitive skin types so do be sure to perform a patch test if you are concerned.

Click here to buy it on eBay now.

Lavender Essential Oil

This geranium and lavender body lotion recipe makes a beautiful combination of aromas in this homemade lotion for dry skin.

Lavender oil alone is a great choice for relaxing and de-stressing while still keeping you focused. It is my favourite essential oil and it has many benefits to offer the skin.

Lavender essential oil can be used to heal scars, burns, bites and rashes. It is soothing on dry skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and it contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiseptic and fungicidal properties.

Other awesome benefits include easing inflammation, joint pain, muscular aches, stress, depression and anxiety. It can be used by all skin types. However, it can cause dermatitis if it is overused.

Those with oily and acne prone skin could benefit from lavender essential oil as it has the ability to unclog your pores and kill bacteria on the skin. It is also used to reduce wrinkle lines and stretch marks.

Click here to buy it on eBay now.

Of course, you can choose from any number of essential oils to use in your DIY vegan body lotion recipe or you could leave them out, up to you!

Do You Need A Preservative?

Yes, a preservative is necessary whenever water/water based ingredients are being added in a skincare recipe.

Waterborne bacteria, yeast and moulds can grow when using water/water based ingredients and using a broad spectrum preservative is essential to protect exposing your skin to these harmful microbes.

If you search for skincare recipes online that contain water, many will not include a preservative and you can also choose not to but there is a real risk of harmful bacteria, yeast and moulds growing in your product.

Preservative Eco

This preservative is considered a natural preservative for use in skincare. It contains benzyl alcohol, salicyclic acid, glycerine and sorbic acid.

These compounds are found naturally in rowan berries, willow bark and pine resin. This product contains no isothiazolone, parabens or formaldehyde which other preservatives can.

Preservative eco is a liquid preservative that is added to skincare during the cooling phase. It smells delicately of almonds. However, once it has been added to a product, the aroma is no longer noticeable.

Preservative eco can be used to create a wide variety of water based products for the skin and hair.

Click here to buy it now.

How To Make Body Lotion From Scratch

Like I said earlier, this is a trickier DIY skincare recipe.

This is because you need to mix together the water ingredients and heat them separately to mixing together the oil ingredients and heating them BUT you need to have both lots heated to 70 degrees Celsius at the same time.

It thankfully sounds trickier than it is and if you just follow the homemade body lotion recipe below, I promise that you can do it.

To do this heating, you need to use a double boiler or have a bain-marie set up. I generally use a double boiler when I’m making skincare (you can buy one like mine on eBay), but for this recipe, I find it easier to use beakers, especially for the water ingredients. This is because then I can easily heat them both in the same pot and I can also weigh the water ingredients before and after easily.

You do need to weigh the water ingredients both before and after you heat them so that you can work out how much water evaporated and replace this amount. If you heat your ingredients in a double boiler, you can still do this but it’s not as easy.

If you use beakers to heat the ingredients, you need to put something metal in the pot for them to sit on. Don’t ever put the beaker directly on the bottom of the pot. I use cookie cutters!

Once you’ve heated both parts and added any water, it’s very easy. Simply blend the two parts together with a hand blender.

You then need to let the body lotion DIY mixture cool down to 40 degrees before adding the essential oils, preservative and vitamin E oil because these body lotion natural ingredients can degrade if they are hotter than this.

When you are finished, you can place your new body cream in whatever you want to store it. I love bail jars (on eBay) for this.

You can watch this whole process of making my best DIY body lotion in the video below.

Revitalising Luxe Body Cream Recipe

Yield: 100g

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

This all natural body lotion recipe is the perfect mix for dry, normal or mature skin. It's formulated to be super regenerating and nourishing for your skin with ingredients that are hydrating and combat the signs of aging while being light and easily absorbed into your skin.

Print

Ingredients

• 8g Olivem 1000
• 7g Avocado Oil
• 7g Macadamia Oil
• 6.9g Shea Butter
• 66.6g Distilled Water
• 2g Glycerin
• 0.4g Xanthan Gum
• 0.1g Vitamin E Oil
• 0.5g Geranium Essential Oil
• 0.5g Lavender Essential Oil
• 1g Preservative Eco
• Bail jar

Instructions

1. Weigh and mix together the olivem 1000, avocado oil, macademia oil and shea butter. Place in a heatproof beaker, bowl or double boiler ready to heat
2. Mix the weighed xanthan gum and glycerine in a small bowl
3. Weigh and add the distilled water and glycerine and xanthan gum mix in a heatproof beaker, bowl or double boiler. Mix together
4. Weigh the water mixture in its container and write down the amount so you can compare it later
5. Heat both the oil mixture and the water mixture in a double boiler/bain-marie setup. You want them both to heat to 70 degrees Celsius around the same time. Use thermometres to check this and stir regularly
6. Once both have reached this temperature and are the same heat, remove from the heat
7. Weigh the water mixture in its container again. This will tell you how much water has evaporated. Add more distilled water to take it back to the same weight it was before
8. Blend this water mixture with a stick blender for 20 seconds to mix it together
9. Add the oil mixture to the water mixture and blend with the stick blender for another 30-60 seconds until well mixed. It will be white and still quite fluid
10. Cool the product to 40 degrees Celsius while stirring. You can speed this up by placing the mixture and its container into a cold water bath
11. Weigh the vitamin E oil, essential oils and preservative eco and add one at a time to the mixture stirring thoroughly after adding each one
12. Place into the packaging you want to use - a bail jar is perfect.
13. Enjoy!

Notes

If you want to be extra sure that this DIY body lotion non greasy will last, you should check the pH of the end product to check that it's between 3 - 8 which is what is required for the preservative in this recipe to work. This is a big range and it's highly unlikely this won't be the case though.

How To Use Your Homemade Body Cream Recipe

Now you have learned how to make your own body lotion at home and have made it – it is time to use it!

Using this DIY body cream for glowing skin couldn’t be any easier.

Simply take a small amount of your vegan body lotion recipe and rub it into clean and dry skin. It can be used anywhere on the body and it’s good to use day or night or both!

Your skin will love you for it, and you will feel instantly hydrated.

Final Words

I hope you have enjoyed this guide on how to make a body cream, I hope you have found it helpful and useful.

Making body lotion from scratch is a bit of a learning process but it is easier than you think. You will love the results. I hope you are feeling inspired to make your own.

Want to more more fabulous goodies? Find my recipe for face lotion here or hand lotion here. You can also try my fabulous (and easier to make) body oil here. All my DIY skincare recipes are here.

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