Homemade Lotion

Today I had the privilege of attending a class at Herban Wellness in Kirkland, WA about how to make your own homemade lotions and salves. I learned so much. It inspired me to learn more about herbs, homemade teas,  poultices and share them with you. Today I want to share with you the recipe we made in the class. It was very straight forward and simple. I LOVE knowing what is in my cream. It feels and smells so good on my skin. The upfront cost of making your own at home can seem rather steep but then consider how much you pay for lotion at the store and realize in the long run you save money by making it at home.(example organic face cream by Avalon organics if 16.95 for 2 ounces worth!)  I hope to have a lotion making party at my house sometime soon. Perhaps you will join me!
The following is the recipe from Herban Wellness along with the directions. In a future post, I will go into how different oils and liquids can be used to alter the recipe for dry versus oily skin, muscle aches, acne and so forth. Ingredients:
2/3 cup of Aloe Vera
1/4 cup of organic olive oil 
1/4 cup of sesame oil,
10 grams of beeswax,
1/4 cup of either coconut or cocoa oil,
1/4 tsp of liquid lecithin or lanolin oil,
30 drops of vitamin E oil,
50-70 drops of a mix of the essential oils of your choice (for example 20 drops of lavender, 1 tsp of vanilla extract, 20 drops of  chamomile oil)
 Directions:

• First sterilize the following equipment with water and hydrogen peroxide (really cheap at Costco by the way) a saucepan, blender, pyrex measuring cup and rubber spatula. 
• Place Olive Oil (best price on organic I have found is at Costco), sesame oil, beeswax and cocoa butter in a Pyrex measuring cup. Then take a medium size saucepan and place the Pyrex measuring cup in it. Put water around the Pyrex measuring cup. With the burner on the lowest setting (do not allow mixture to boil or bubble) allow the oils to melt. 
• When the oils have melted, stir them together and refrigerate until cool. About an hour.
• Place the cooled oils in the blender. Turn blender on the lowest setting and then pour in the aloe vera very slowly. Use a spatula to mix the oils together if needed.
• When aloe vera and oils are mixed together pour in the emulsifier (lecithin or lanolin)
• Then add the essential oils of your choice and vitamin E. Blend it all together. 
• Place in sterile container. Refrigerate most of mix. Keep a small amount in your bathroom where you will use the moisturizer. Remember it has no preservatives so it will grow mold if kept too long. Will keep for up to 3 months if kept in the fridge. For this reason I recommend making small batches as needed. If you keep unrefrigerated use within one month.