| Summer can be very enjoyable but … when you live in a desert and other places around the world get half or more of your annual rainfall average in one rainstorm, you really need some extra pampering with an emphasis on the moisturizing. With this need in mind, I formulated this thick body cream that could deal with the low humidity of Utah.I have used small amounts of Lanolin in body creams and I enjoy the heavier body that creams with Lanolin have. As I was looking to make a cream that could feel luxurious and feel moisturizing, Lanolin was an excellent choice.
As I am making a thick cream, I wanted to use Emulsifying Wax as my emulsifier and Stearic Acid as my thickener. These ingredients help ensure the cream won’t separate and gives the body to cream. I used Hydrovance as my humectant because I think summer lotions should keep skin well moisturized without being sticky. Since I like Hydrovance, I used it in my formula for fantabulous skin. As I wanted to make this cream enjoyable for all skin types, I chose Avocado Oil. This oil is one of my favorite oils because it versatile and enjoyed by people with either oily skin or dry skin. I added Ivy and Chamomile extracts to this lotion as I like these extracts for their skin soothing properties. Collect needed items:
Recipe: (Makes 10.58 ounces or 300 grams)
Weigh all ingredients except the additives into the microwave safe container. Heat in the microwave using short time bursts until everything is melted. Blend the ingredients to a smooth, creamy consistency using the immersion blender. Add additives once the temperature drops to 120° F in the mixing bucket. Blend until completely mixed. Pour into jars and allow to cool completely before capping. |
 Completely cooled cream on a finger.  Finished product  Putting in the Additives to cooled cream  Blended cream  Melted oils just out of the microwave |
Notes:
This cream is thick and heavy, so it will take some time to massage into the skin. I like to apply creams like this one after I get out of the shower. Once it has been applied, your skin will feel soft and moisturized all day long Great for the desert where we feel like our skin dries out fast!
This looks heavenly! In the south, we have cold and drying weather in the winter, so this would be great to keep my skin from cracking and bleeding in the winter wind! And, that is so true about applying moisterizing products right after the shower. All day long, I feel moisterized. Thanks for sharing!!!!
Hi Andee! This looks marvelous! We also live in the high desert and it has been horribly dry this year. Our family is allergic to parabens and we avoid petroleum based products also. Is Liquid Glycerin a good exchange for hydrovance in most situations? Taylor had said I could switch it out in a different recipe but I failed to ask if that was pretty consistent 🙂 Would the emulsifying wax have anything in it that I would worry about? Steric acid is a natural substance, correct? Thank you so much for sharing all these creations! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Andrea,
You can easily substitute Liquid Glycerin for the Hydrovance in most recipes. I would recommend reworking any formulas to make sure the Liquid Glycerin stays at or below 3% just to prevent stickiness. Our emulsifying wax is vegetable derived, so you are fine with that. Even our Stearic Acid is also vegetable derived!
I hope this helps!
Andee
Thank you Andee! I really appreciate your help!!!
Now that sounds like the perfect cream for the winter when the moisture from my hands is sucked dry!
Hello Andee!
Do you heat the water and the oils separate form each other? Then add them all together? If so, & if not, what are the temps you heat them up too?
thanks!
Valerie,
I heat all my ingredients together except for my temperature sensitive additives. Extracts, preservatives, fragrances, and other additives. I usually heat all the ingredients to approximately 180 F. This is usually hot enough that the emulsifying wax, stearin acid and other high melt point ingredients will melt. I usually blend my ingredients together and if I still have lumps or granules, then I reheat for 30 seconds and try again. I’m not worried about the beginning temperature of my mixture or overheating my ingredients because I only heat in the microwave for short bursts of time. I do worry about the temperature before I add my additives. I don’t want my lotion or cream to be over 120 F before I add these ingredients.
I hope this helps!
Andee
This looks great! However, does the smell of lanolin overpower? That’s always my concern when using lanolin.
Whitney,
As this cream only has 2% Lanolin, you won’t be able to notice the scent of lanolin. Especially if you use a fragrance! Isn’t that great news?
Thx Andee!
Yes that does help a lot. I’ve only made lotion by heating the water, then adding emulsifying wax and srearic acid when water was just about to boil. When they are melted I add my heated oils, and the additives when temps are about 110*. All is done on the stove, but the microwave seems like a better way to go. I appreciate your posts!
This looks like a great solution for my end of the summer high desert feet!
However, my daughter is allergic to lanolin. Can you recommend a substitute or should I just leave it out and add the amount to the avocado oil?
This sounds great. Could I substitute optiphen for the liquid germall plus?
Yes you can change the preservative. I would use the Optiphen at 1.5% instead of the 0.5% suggestion of Liquid Germall Plus. I would also anticipate the mixture to be a bit more fluid because Optiphen can make a lotion or cream less viscous.
Cheers!
Tina
Thank you so much for your help. It is great to find a company full of knowledgeable people who are willing to help. Keep up the good work. 🙂