I have been wanting to make my own lotion for a LONG time! But I haven’t been able to find QUITE the right “recipe” for me. There are as many formulations for lotion out there as there are fish in the sea it seems! Heavy, light. Greasy, non-greasy. Scented, unscented. etc etc etc. To be honest I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted…but knew I would know it when I found it. Sure enough…I did!
I found this semi-homemade version on PatchworkTimes.com and thought it sounded like just the ticket for me. Simple, inexpensive ingredients and no melting or cooking required. Funny thing is I recently bought some beeswax pellets online in preparation for making lotion…but have yet to use any of it. I might have to find another project that requires beeswax…because I LOVE this lotion! It’s rich and creamy and yet not too heavy…and it smells heavenly! I just love the smell of baby lotion. :-)
The original recipe called for: 16 oz. baby lotion; 8 oz. Vaseline, and 8 oz. Vitamin E Cream
But after consulting with my staff of advisors (my sisters), we decided to try replacing the Vaseline with Coconut Oil. The result was LOTION PERFECTION! It’s thick, but not heavy, so it’s very moisturizing but doesn’t leave your hands (feet, etc) feeling greasy. Oh, and did I mention how good it smells!?!? I was considering adding some essential oils to make my own “scented lotion”, but thought better of it when I smelled this.
My sisters and I immediately started slathering this stuff on and my oldest sister said it reminded her of her favorite Burt’s Bees lotion, but at a FRACTION of the cost.
So here is the revised
Homemade Moisturizing Lotion:
16 ounces baby lotion
8 ounces coconut oil (solid form, not melted)
8 ounces vitamin E cream
Mix together with handheld mixer until it resembles icing.
Store in air tight containers…keep it for your own supply…or slap on a quick little label for gift-giving!
I gave one to each of my sisters’s that were visiting. :-)
Cost breakdown:
Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil $7.00
Dollar Store Baby Lotion $1.50
Dollar Store Vitamin E Cream $1.50
Use roughly half the jar of coconut oil, the whole bottle of baby lotion and 1/2 the jar of vitamin E Cream.
Approximate cost: $5.75 for roughly 32 ounces. Or $1.44 for each 8 ounce jar I filled.
{{{Update: Here’s a fun idea! Put on one of those pump tops! Find out how to MAKE one on this post: Make Your Own Mason Jar Dispenser}}}
3 SIMPLE ingredients…..1 WONDERFUL moisturizer……is today’s…..
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I made this using vitamin e cream, vitamin e oil Vaseline, and lavender baby lotion. Wow! This stuff is great to put on your feet at night then cover in socks. Also, when you are going to be running errands all day wear your socks with tennis shoes then you are able to put this great moisturizer on b 4 the socks. I just can not say enough good things about it. PS: I purchased vitamin e cream at Kroger. I do know that my dollar store carries vitamin e oil at fairly inexpensive price.
if you would like a recipe with beeswax; make your own lip balm. i have made on, you can find the recipe with beeswax, oils and honey here:
http://making-beauty.tumblr.com/post/18125099551/sweet-honey-lip-balm
I'm wondering, can Shea butter be substituted for the baby lotion? I'd rather not put the mass marketed product with who knows what ingredients on my skin. …and no petroleum anything either.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
i would love to try and make the lotion, but have not found a place to buy the vitamin e cream, where do i go!!??
Vitamin E lotion/cream at wal-mart, hy-vee grocery, and Lewis Drug store
Also found it at Dollar General for 1 dollar!
Would this cream be okay as a daily face moisturizer?
i know coconut oil and vitamin e cream are both good for your face, but I'm not sure about the baby lotion
I found your blog on Pinterest and I am so glad I did!!! I can't wait to try this lotion.
To Abby who posted on March 4….
please repost when you try softening and mixing your coconut oil. I had the same problem and thought about softening it – but then didn't know how it would re-solidify…..so i chickened out. Can't wait to hear about your results.
~windi
I totally forgot that I’d posted on this! I didn’t end up rewarming it, we had a 90+ degree day a couple days ago, and it got warm enough in our bedroom that the coconut oil did melt, I was able to mix it back up with my finger and when it cooled off again the lotion was perfect! no lumps! So I would say either throw it in a double boiler and heat gently until smooth or wait until it’s 90+ in your bedroom. =)
I've never heard of coconut manna before…but apparently it's something like coconut butter? I say give it a try and see! :-) I'm all for experimenting!
Hello I am a new pintrister and I LOVE ALL your natural and money saving cleaning products. I keep reading about essential oils. What are they and where do I find them. I went to Hobby Lobby and they knew nothing. Thank you for all your help and tips.
Dawn,
Essential oils are the natural extracts from plants and flowers, and can be used in many applications. They are best when bought as “pure”…no fake stuff added. You can find them at Whole Foods, or most any health food type store. My favorite is lavender. You can also get them online…just google “pure essential oils”. I hope I explained this right, and I hope it helps.
I was at Hobby Lobby yesterday and they had some essential oils. They are by the soap making stuff. They also have fragrances you can add to soaps and lotions in that section too. If you want you can try looking on their website and try searching for soap making stuff. I found some on there as well.
Just made my first batch ~ about half of the recipe since I noticed when I got home that my baby lotion from the Dollar Store was only 10 oz., so I adjusted accordingly. The only thing I would change is making it fresh out of the shower so I can use it ~ since I had so much on my hands and in the bowl and on the mixer, but didn't 'need' it at the time. Also made a complete mess trying to make a funnel and get the lotion in a lotion pump ~ fail! I wonder if this is just extending the life of the baby lotion, though??????? Oh, and my local Dollar Store didn't have Vitamin E cream, so I had to buy it from Walmart.
Ahhh!! I can’t wait to make this!! This sounds so wonderful! Thank you for the recipe :)
I recently tried making this using coconut oil. Big mistake for me in Texas. It was solid when I bought it but soon liquified. Coconut oil must be kept below 76 degrees or it liquifies. Wasted lots of product. Think I need to use something different instead of the coconut oil. Any suggestions for my next batch?
Brenda, there is a coconut oil that melts at 92 degrees, that would be better for you, still may get melty on those very hot days.
An elderly woman with beautiful skin gave me a similar recipe years ago when I moved to the south. Hers just required baby lotion, small jar of Vaseline, and a container of Vitamin E cream (she advised me to “cut the top off your lotion bottle” to get the product that doesn’t get squeezed out – so I did and there was nearly a half cup still inside!). I picked up everything at the Dollar Store, so it probably runs about $6 a batch. I swim in a chlorinated pool every day and this recipe keeps my skin smooth and soft. Love it!
I love this recipe! I put it in 1/2-pint, wide mouth canning jars, and they make a beautiful gift. The first time my lotion had lumps of coconut oil that wouldn’t whip out, even with a wire beater on high speed. The second time I made this, I first melted the coconut oil in the microwave for one minute on high (in the bottle it came in). When I mixed the ingredients, they were smooth, and excellent consistency. There is no need to throw out coconut oil if it melts! Next time I make this, I will add bergamot essential oil, my favorite natural fragrance.
Where do you buy your coconut oil? I’ve gotten some at sprouts for 8.99 on sale (I love that kind) and then some refined stuff at whole foods for 6.99 (Im not too sure about this stuff)
Alicat…the first time I bought it I just got it at Walmart…but then my sister turned me onto the Nutiva brand and I buy it through Amazon.com
I recently tried the original recipe I saw on pinterest with the Vaseline and it is greasy so I will be trying yours in a small qty hopefully it will be better thanks
Just an FYI for those who are concerned about this… Baby lotion typically contains mineral oil (as does baby oil), which is petroleum based (as is vaseline). Often people looking for homemade products are looking for something natural & actually good for your skin. I agree that vaseline makes your skin soft, however I choose not to put petroleum products on my skin. Our skin is an organ & it absorbs into us what we put on it. Chemicals & petroleum based products are off limits for me. If I won’t eat it, I typically won’t put it on my skin. So, if you’re concerned about the same thing, I would use more body friendly ingredients.
I have made both recipes. I did not like the one made with coconut oil. it did not mix well and had tiny lumps in it. also ,I noticed it separating a day or two later in the jars . The recipe with the vaseline is just as creamy as the day a made it, and the moisturizing last longer. I live in a very dry climate. harsh cold winters, and dry hot summers, what kind of climate you live in ?
Im gonna try this with emu oil instead, I have excema on my arms and my ankles, and that seems to help a lot. Especially right after showering.
I have to re mix it every time I use it because the coconut oil has separated (again). It is very light and fluffy though I must say. Going to try and mix the petroleum free jelly kind next time instead of coconut oil although I am worried about the olive oil going rancid before I use a whole batch unless I store it in the fridge. My fav is still the vaseline recipe so far…..
I do not want to use coconut oil, nor petroleum jelly, what else can I use ? Has anyone added any essential oils ? when adding essential oil, do I change the quantity of any of the other liquids ? Thank you for your help. Am looking forward to trying this at some point when I can figure out the right items to use.
I used Natures way organic extra virgin coconut oil, Ojoba Collective shea butter (both from Amazon), vitamin E oil and few drops lemmon essential oil (Mountain Rose Herbs). Most of those are organic certified and while they might cost a little more, I still have plenty of ingredients left to make more lotion. I’ve had some tumor issues so for me organic is a must. I melted the shea and coconut oil together in glass measuring cup in microwave using 15 sec increments…took about 30 sec. Stirred it all together with few drops vitamin E and lemon essential oil. Made a water and ice bath in a bowl and set measuring cup with ingredients in the bath. Beat ingedients with a mixer until nice and fluffy. I live in Florida, if your coconut oil turns liquid (it does at 76F), stick in fridge for few minutes.
I make my own version of vaseline. Works great! In a double broiler or in a pan on low heat melt 1 part beeswax to 4 parts oil (whatever oil you like best). Let cool and homemade vaseline! Hope you like it! As far as essential oils, you shouldn’t need to change the liquid quantities at all.
Made this recipe with coconut oil, lotion and vit E cream…..LOVE IT! However, been wondering what I could substitute for the baby lotion to make it more natural, organic, etc….any thoughts, ideas?
I just made this and can’t wait to use it! I found myself slathering it on and I was making it. I wish time in the kitchen was always this enjoyable! Bought the vitamin E cream at krogers but ended up spending almost $10. I’ll have to do my dollar store research next time.
I LOVE THIS STUFF! Just made my second batch and gave some away for mothers day!
anything dollar store is poisoned, and i’m not talking just hfcs, ESPECIALLY baby products.
@anid…..perhaps you could expand on your issue with dollar store products….without more details or info I dononot see a reason to not use their baby lotion..
Love all this stuff. Thank you Jillee!!
Jillee,
I’m curious if you have checked all the ingredients in the baby lotion to be sure there are no petrochemicals or less than desirable ingredients? I know we want to trust that baby lotion is safe, but with everything I’m learning about the world, I have to wonder. I’m almost wishing I still had a baby so I could run and check…
Personally, I just use coconut oil , nothing else. Apply it to your skin while it’s wet, and it’ll absorb better then anything in the world. Pure and natural.
Just made my first batch, well I love it !!! My husbands response was that will sure fel good on my feet. Guess maybe I should stash a bottle, dont think I will be the only one using this. Thanks a million !!
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