I have a jar of herb-infused olive oil I made this past summer sitting on my counter in the kitchen.
It’s been beckoning me in the recent days…telling me it’s ready.
So, I’ve decided to set half of the oil in freshly, dried herbs with the addition of organically cultivated goldenseal root for a new batch of anti-microbial ointment I’ll make when my current stock is out.
With the other half of the oil, I am in the kitchen whipping up a quick batch of lotion!
For this lotion, I’ve set out with the intention of creating a richer formula to give our skin extra protection and moisture for winter.
Made with the absolute best organic olive oil (this is the only olive oil I’ll ever use), in combination with the following skin-loving herbs ::
- calendula flowers and comfrey leaves + roots from my home garden
- plantain harvested along a stream while visiting my sister in Colorado
- organically cultivated St. John’s wort + olive leaf I purchased from Mountain Rose Herbs
Moisturizing Winter Lotion
Ingredients
*Choose only organic ingredients. I have linked directly to the ingredients I personally use and recommend.
- 1 ounce kokum butter (I get my kokum butter here)
- 3 ounces herb-infused organic olive oil (click here to learn how to make herb-infused oil)
- 6 fluid ounces liquid of choice, i.e. aloe vera gel, calendula hydrosol, rose geranium hydrosol, lavender hydrosol, or a strong infusion of green tea
- 1/2 ounce organic vegetable glycerin OR raw, organic honey
- 1/2 ounce emulsifying wax
- 1/2 ounce stearic acid
- 0.1 ounce citric acid
- 0.1 ounce rosemary antioxidant (extract)
Essential Oil Blend
*For the highest medicinal value available choose the organic oils from Mountain Rose Herbs…this is the brand/company I trust to provide the ultimate in health + safety for myself, my family, and my friends.
- 30 drops geranium essential oils
- 15 drops frankincense essential oils
- 25 drops cedarwood essential oils
- 30 drops chamomile essential oils, (lavender is an excellent substitute)
Method
- Using a kitchen scale, weigh all ingredients.
- In a small sauce pan, combine the kokum butter, herb oil, liquid of choice, glycerin (or honey), emulsifying wax, stearic acid, and citric acid.
- Heat mixture on the stove over low heat, until the mixture is well combined and completely melted. Stir frequently.
- Remove from stove.
- Using an immersion blender (or a wire whisk), stir intermittently until cool, creamy, and thick.
- Add in rosemary antioxidant (extract) and essential oils.
- Stir well.
- Pour into storage jars (I use these).
Please remember :: Making lotion at home in your kitchen requires the utmost in cleanliness in order to inhibit bacterial growth and prevent mold. This is why it is very important to use aloe vera gel, hydrosols, or purified/distilled water for the tea infusion in the recipe. Likewise, please be sure to use thoroughly cleaned utensils, pans, bowls, and counter surfaces throughout the process.
This lotion should last 4-6 month on the counter. There is no need for refrigeration. However, if you see mold growing, toss it out. Tip :: If you use more than one jar/container feel free to store them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them. And just so you know, I’ve never had any mold grow in mine — ever.
***I make this for my family and for my dear friend. Her daughter has eczema…and this is the only thing that helps!***
Without adding all the other waxes and ingredients, I keep a plastic squeeze bottle of it in the shower, squirt it down my arms, legs and chest while still in the shower. Rub all over and gently towel dry. Your skin will be unbelieveably moist.
Linda
Why do you use emulsifying wax instead of beeswax? And what do the citric acid and stearic acid do?
Thanks for sharing!
Great question…me too
This sounds deliciously indulgent. I can imagine the way my skin would drink it up. I’m eager to try it, but I guess I’ll have to be patient as my oil infuses..
reading through it again and placing my order at Mountain Rose Herbs… I’m wondering on the 6 oz of fluid, can I do a combination of those things?? 2 oz aloe, 2 oz rose geranium hydrosol, 2 oz green tea for example? I’ve never purchased a hydrosol before, so I think I want to start with a small one (3oz) the first time…
Oooooo…a girl after my own heart:) I mix it up all the time!! That sounds like a lovely nourishing blend!
Your link for the olive oil points to a website that sells Coconut Oil. So do you use olive oil or coconut oil in this lotion.
Thank you
Tropical Traditions is known for their superior coconut oil, but if you look “cooking oils” tab to the left, you’ll see they sell a wide range of oils (i.e. coconut, olive, sesame, etc). I used olive oil in this recipe.
Thank you so much. Can’t wait to try this out.
Hi! Is this lotion for sale also?
Hi – would it be okay to substitute shea butter for the kokum butter? I tried to order from Mountain Rose, but they are out of stock. Can’t wait to make this! I was so excited to see this recipe – I was looking for a good winter lotion after the air turned dry and cold here! Thanks!
Hi Addy…shea butter or cocoa butter would be fine substitutions.
as someone who has used essential oils for over 3 decades, I would recommend Mountain Rose oils over doTerra … the latter may be ‘therapeutic’ but their scents are not at all to my liking ….
I agree Bearspirit! DT is under investigation by the FDA for the claims they make about their products. They claim their products are therapeutic grade, but, there’s actually no such thing. That’s simply a marketing/buzz word which has no exact meaning. EO’s are generally used therapeutically, so, it’s really just stating the obvious.
I totally agree with you ! This company is all about the money and not what the true herbal and EO community is about !!
Can you just make this lotion for me then I’ll buy it from you?? Also, are all of the ingredients okay for a pregnant lady to use?
Thanks!
Just wondering about the answers to above questions as those are my questions as well. Thanx.
Would really like to know if you can substitute beeswax for emulsifying wax and at what proportions. That is an ingredient that never fails to clog my skin no matter what products I have used it in.
Thank you!
Emulsifying wax is a very specific type of wax that allows you to fully emulsify (blend together) the oil ingredients and the water-base ingredients so that they never separate. If you use beeswax (which is fully oil-based and does not emulsify) the water-base ingredients will separate from the oil-base and the end result will be very, very different. If you leave out any hydrosols, aloe, water, or tea then beeswax should be fine. But if you use any water-based ingredients, you must use an emulsifying agent to achieve a permanent blend.
The amounts listed in the essential oil blend seems like a large amount for such a small amount of other ingredients. Are you supposed to use all of the oil blend?
I hate the smell of geranium. Can I use something else?
I went to Mountain Rose Herbs to see how much the rosemary extract was and it is a little pricey. Can I assume your using this as a preservative, can I use something else in place of the rosemary, something a little less pricey? Thank you!!
Can you you do without the essential oil blend? I am very sensitive to smells. Also I am allergic to rosemary can I eliminate it? Thanks
For essential oils, it is 1 drop per oz of carrier oil! You could make those into a Master blend and put as many drops. (1 drop per oz) as you would need.