The key to beautiful and healthy skin is using homemade lotion and creams and keeping it clean and full of moisture. You will be delighted by how easy it is to create your own wonderful moisturizing natural skin care products. homemade lotion and creams contain two basic ingredients: oil and water. Many creams use an emulsifier (a waxlike substance) to keep the oil and water from separating.

Formulas without emulsifiers are just as effective; however, these body lotions have to be stirred or shaken before each use. Dry skin is due not to the loss of skin oils but of water. Based on your skin type-oily, normal, or dry you will want to adjust the amount of oil and water in the products you use. Dry skin types will want to use more oil-rich products, while oily skin types should use water-based products.

If you are uncertain what type of skin you have, click here to take the what's my skin type quiz Some people feel they have combination skin, but you are better off treating your skin as one type or another. If in doubt, start with a good basic lotion and cream for all skin types and then adjust the recipe or product to meet your skins needs.

Skin type and character are constantly changing, and as you age your skin tends to get drier. I know that I can now use lotions and creams directly on my skin and it cries for more; when I was a teenager I would never have done this. as you travel, your geographical location can affect your skin type; I use far less homemade lotion and creams in a tropical climates than I do in an arid one.

The change of seasons also affects your skin type; in summer I never seem to have a moisture-loss problem, since I am constantly pouring lotions and creams onto my skin in the form of sun screens.
The melting point of the oils you use in your creams will affect how greasy they feel on the skin. Homemade lotion and cream with low melting points will feel quite greasy, whereas homemade lotion and creams with high melting points will not feel greasy at all and will vanish into the skin.

Simple creams can sometimes be the best. My grandmother had beautiful skin at age 75, and she simply used a basic cold cream every day.
The homemade lotion and creams contained in this section require *storage guidelines* I have found that most homemade lotion and creams in this section will last for 8 months to a year. But I’ve usually used up the batch well before it could spoil.

The recipes that contain real food ingredients will not last as long as those that are all oils for example, products with eggs usually last only a few weeks. I do not double the recipes unless I am making them as gifts. This way you have fresh product ever 4 to 6 months.


   Cold cream is the model for all homemade lotion and creams; it’s one of the oldest and best known of all beauty products. It’s a mixture of oil, wax, water, and a mild alkali. The combination of oil and wax provides a cleansing action when it comes in contact with your skin; dirt and oil on the skin surface are loosened and can then be gently wiped off with a clean, soft tissue or cloth. Left on, it acts as an emollient to soften and smooth the skin and relieve dryness. 


What you need:

• 1/8 teaspoon borax powder
• ¼ cup distilled water
• ½ cup mineral oil or light cooking oil
• 2 tablespoons grated beeswax

How to make: Dissolve the borax in the water in a glass measuring cup and set aside. Mix together the oil and beeswax in another glass measuring cup. Place the glass cup in a pan of water (about 1 to 2 inches of water), making a water bath. Heat the oil-beeswax mixture in the water bath over medium heat until the beeswax is melted (8 to 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.

When the wax is melted, bring the borax-water mixture almost to boiling I do this by putting the glass cup in the microwave on high for 1 minute. You may also heat it on the stove top in a water bath. Remove the oil-beeswax mixture from the water bath. Slowly add the borax-water mixture to it, stirring briskly. (you can also put the mixtures in the blender and whip.)

Pour the cream into a clean container with a lid. This mixture will last virtually forever or at least until you have used it up. (massage a small amount into your skin and tissue off or rinse off with warm water). Makes 8 ounces

Double Take: The mixture will become white and fluffy but will be a little runny until it has cooled completely. Once cooled, you  will have a nice basic cold cream. Because you have not added any perfumes, it will remain unscented. If you choose to prepare a cold cream with  a fragrance, just add a few drops of your favorite scent as the mixture is cooling.


   This is a light homemade lotion with the clean scent of almonds. It makes an excellent hand and body lotion. I like to use it when gardening or working in water, as the oil and beeswax form a protective layer on my skin. This lotion is just the right consistency for my skin type, which is normal to dry.

What you need:

• 1/8 teaspoon borax powder
• ¼ cup distilled water
• ½ cup almond oil
• 1 tablespoon grated beeswax
• ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

How to make: Dissolve the borax in the water in a glass measuring cup and set aside. Mix together the oil and beeswax in another glass measuring cup. Place the glass cup in a pan of water (about 1 to 2 inches of water), making a water bath. Heat the oil-beeswax mixture in the water bath over medium heat until the beeswax is melted (8 to 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.

When the wax is melted , bring the borax-water mixture almost to boiling. I do this by putting the glass cup in the microwave on high for 1 minute. You may also heat it on the stove top in a water bath. Remove the oil-beeswax mixture to it, stirring briskly. (you can also put the mixture in the blender and whip).

Allow the lotion to cool completely. Stir the almond extract into the cooled lotion if you would like more of an almond scent. The lotion will thicken as it cools. Pour the lotion into a clean container with a lid. (massage a small amount into your skin). Makes 8 ounces


This is a recipe for a basic moisturizer. (stearic acid is used to stiffen the cream and blend the oil and water.) it is a light cream with a velvety texture, perfect to use on your face during the day and under makeup. If you would rather not use mineral oil, any light vegetable oil may be substituted in this recipe

What you need:

• ¼ cup mineral oil or light vegetable oil
• ¼ cup stearic acid powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons glycerin
• 1 cup distilled water

How to make: Combine  the oil and stearic acid powder in a 16-ounce oven proof glass measuring cup. Combine the baking soda, glycerin, and distilled water in an 8-ounce oven proof glass measuring cup. Heat the oil and stearic acid in a water bath on the stove top  until the mixture is a clear liquid and all of the powder has melted.

Heat the water solution until just boiling (about 2 minutes in the microwave on high or 5 minutes in a water bath on the stove top). Slowly add the water solution to the oil and stearic acid. You will see the mixture foam up as carbon dioxide is released. Pour the entire mixture into a blender and blend on high for 2 minutes.

The mixture will be a white, fluffy cream. Spoon the cream into a bowl and allow to cool completely. When cool, stir again and spoon into a clean jar with a lid. (Massage a small amount into your face and neck). Makes 12 ounces