dlittlegarden: March 2011

Friday, March 18, 2011

Quick & Easy Lotion

Julie asked what recipe I used when making my lotion the other night, and the answer is...I don't remember where I got the recipe. Sorry! But I can tell you, it was the simplest set of instructions and I emailed myself the gist of it and just followed along:

First off, I had two big bottles of oil I bought at Madina in downtown Brooklyn. They have an online store! So easy. For the last year I've been using dribbles of the plain oil to moisturize my overly dry hands and shins. I use Sweet Almond Oil and Jojoba. From these, I measured out a 1/2 cup blend of the two and put it in a double boiler on the stovetop.

Then I shaved roughly 2 tablespoons of beeswax off a 1 pound brick I bought online (although you can easily buy beeswax at your local farmer's market), and tipped that into the oil in the double boiler.

I watched, gently stirring for about 10 minutes as the wax shavings melted into the oil. Careful not to douse yourself in hot oil and wax! Then, I turned off the heat on the stove and kept stirring the oil/wax mixture with a whisk while slowly drizzling 1/2 cup of distilled water into the bowl. Each time water hit the hot mixture, the oil and wax hardened a little and it became easier to whisk with more intensity.

Once all the water was added, I continued to whisk the mixture for about 10 minutes until the blend met my desired consistency. To finish it off, I put a few drops of peppermint oil in the bowl and whisked it until fully incorporated. Then I used a spatula to fill two small wide-mouth containers (I used Lush soap tins) with the lotion, and stored in my bathroom.

Fin!

Note:
I've been using the lotion every morning in lieu of the plain oil, and it is so much easier to apply/spread. Also, it seems that it absorbs into my skin more quickly, and I don't feel nearly as greasy. I'd love to try making lotion again, and maybe next time I'll try getting a little fancier with the scents I add. I may also try whipping the mixture a bit longer over a very controlled, low heat, because I notice that some of the distilled water separated from my lotion after a few days of sitting. I may also try adding slightly more wax next time to help everything set.

Another note:
The wax is so annoying to try to clean off a good knife, so use a craft knife or maybe a thrifted cheese grater or something you won't use on food to shave your 2 tablespoons of beeswax. Or! Buy the granulated beeswax from your local bee keeper. :)