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Have you ever looked at the ingredient label on your face or body lotion? Most brands of lotions contain parabens, alcohols, and other ingredients that may be harmful to your skin. (Theres a reason to avoid parabens in particular they may be hormone disruptors.)
Sadly, even my Kiss My Face lotion, which I bought because it is paraben-free, has over 40 ingredients in it. (The lotion works well, and Im thankful for the lack of parabens, but because of the number of ingredients, its definitely not ideal in my book.)
Many lotions labeled natural and organic have more ingredients than you need and may still include ingredients that harm your skin. If youre looking for a commercially-sold lotion, check out the site Skin Deep for a list of the safest lotions.
A great alternative to buying lotion is making your own. Not only can you avoid unwanted chemicals, but many of the lotion recipes will save you money because the products are cheaper. This is because homemade lotions are more concentrated, and you need a much smaller amount than store-bought lotions. (See also: 10 Budget Beauty Products You Can Make at Home)
Here are some of my favorite homemade recipes.
The Easiest Homemade Lotion
Olive oil, or
Grapeseed oil, or
Vitamin E oil
Any of these oils will provide a lot of moisture to your hands without needing to mix any ingredients.
Instructions: Purchase a small bottle of the oil. I find that Trader Joes or local Middle Eastern grocery stores have some of the cheapest prices for olive oil. (You may want to smell the olive oil to make sure its not extremely smelly.) The other oils can be found at a local pharmacy or health foods store. Place a small dab of oil on your hand for the perfect amount of moisture.
Honey Lotion
5 tbsp emulsifying wax
1 tbsp liquid lanolin
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon honey
Instructions: Over medium heat in a double boiler, melt the ingredients until smooth.
Almond Lotion
1 tbsp vitamin E oil
1 tbsp grapeseed oil
1 oz grated beeswax
1-1/4 cups almond oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup water
Instructions: In a double boiler over low-medium heat, melt the beeswax with the almond and coconut oil. Let cool. In a separate container, mix the remaining ingredients. Using a whisk or blender, mix these ingredients into the beeswax/almond/coconut mixture.
Grapeseed Oil Lotion
Grapeseed is a lighter oil and wont be as rich as the other recipes above.
3 tbsp beeswax (or emulsifying wax)
2/3 cup grapeseed oil (or mix 1/3 grapeseed and 1/3 olive oil)
2 tsp coconut oil
4 tbsp water
Instructions: In a double boiler over low-medium heat, melt the beeswax or emulsifying wax and add in the grapeseed oil and coconut oil. Mix everything well. Let cool slightly and blend or whisk in the water.
In all of the above recipes you can add in drops (usually around 15-20) of your favorite essential oils for a great-smelling lotion. (Lemon and lavender are some excellent options.)
Youll want to store the lotions in a glass jar in a cool and dry place. They should last several weeks to several months depending on your climate.
Do you currently buy organic/natural lotion? Have you ever considered making your own?
ShareThisWritten by Elizabeth Sanberg and published on Wise Bread. Read more articles from Wise Bread.For a Frugal, Healthy Soap, Go With Goat Milk!
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