| Just as my impending exams attempted to steamroller right over me, I found myself in great need of a small moment of personal time. I mean, really what girl should do without some soothing and much-needed pampering? Especially considering I had to do without my traditional holiday break this year. I am living in China at the moment. My time off didn’t come until after the new year.
As I reached around attempting to collect things for a much needed personal moment, I found I had a scant tablespoon of lotion left. Me! Of all people! How does such a tragedy happen? I knew I immediately needed to make some lotion. Unfortunately that meant my spa moment was put off. Come join me as we rectify my bare vanity table! First, I want to have Shea Butter in this formulation. Shea Butter is exquisite! I will admit, I am a personal fan and it is one fixed oil I always have in my cupboard. Shea Butter always seems to go the extra mile and it’s a wonderful ingredient to put on any label. It is one everyone recognizes and has given a value. I also wanted to use wheat proteins. While this additive may have an initial funky smell to it, I find it is worth it! Wheat protein is a luxurious ingredient. It adds a smooth tactile property that I have found fairly unrivaled in many other ingredients. I mean wouldn’t you want to give any lotion a little something extra to make your skin feel good? I know I do! I also chose to add olive oil to my formulation. You’re probably wondering why olive oil? Well, I chose olive oil because how easily accessible it is to most people. Most of us can pick it up at our local grocery store and/or have it in our kitchen. How simple is that? The last ingredient I wanted to talk with you about is Rice Bran. Rice Bran is a personal and staff favorite for massage oils. It is also awesome in lotions! I will admit this is an under-used and easily dismissed oil. Well, no longer! Try some Rice Bran in your next formulation!
Recipe:
Weigh everything except the Lavandin Essential Oil and Liquid Germall Plus. Heat everything gently until melted. Mix well until emulsified. Allow the lotion to cool. Add the Liquid Germall Plus and Lavandin Essential Oil and color if desired. Package and enjoy!
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 Finished Lotion  Weighing Ingredients  Heated Ingredients  Mixed Lotion |
This sounds wonderful. Love lavender.
I have some questions about the mixing process. I have made lotions now for a few months and had mixed results. I have added all ingredients (aside from germall and scent) and heated then stick blended until emulsified and had it be a very runny lotion, even the next day. Also, with the same recipe, I’ve heated the oils and wax until melted then added the water after warming it and then emulsified and had it be fine. What would cause the same proportions to have different results from the two methods? The first method (how you all say to do it) is obviously much easier 🙂
It is very important to make sure all ingredients are completely melted. When the dump, heat and mix method is employed it is critical to make sure the emulsifying wax and stearic acid are melted and can be mixed into solution. If these items fail to melt then mix properly it will appear like a slightly grainy mixture and be more fluid. Heating is the key. Use a thermometer to help you achieve the completely melted stage.
The very first book I read about making lotions said to heat oils and waxes together, and any water, aloe juice, etc. separately. When they are both at about 130 degrees, stick blend for 3 minutes, then wait 10 minutes, stick blend again for 5 minutes. Then the temp is low enough to add your preservative and any extracts. I usually use the microwave for the water part, and a small sauce pan on the stove for the oils and waxes. Mixing this way has always worked, I’ve never had a batch not turn out! I tried one time to heat everything together, and it turned out runny and never mixed very well. It’s a little more work, but very worth it to not have failed batches!! 🙂
130 degrees F is not sufficient to melt all of your ingredients. This is why we do NOT recommend the heat separately. The book you have read is misinformed for making small batches. Facilities that implement oil phases and water phases have equipment to heat the ingredients to specific temperatures.
The reason your mixtures vary in finished viscosity is the holding at certain temperatures. Even bigger batches of 150 gallons can have viscosity variances by holding, or not holding, a temperature for a length of time.
For small batches that most of our customers make, 5 gallons or less, we do not recommend the phase process. Learning to melt ingredients completely to have them work correctly is very important.
I’m new to all of this but can’t wait to receive my first order of supplies and start whipping up my own lotions in my kitchen.. thanks for all the info you share here on the blog…