Body lotion is one of those skincare products that’s simple and complex at the same time. Making the lotion itself is rather easy; figuring out the perfect formula is the hard part. Here are a few tips for making your own body lotion, body butter, cream, and more.
Know What You Want Your Lotion To Achieve
Knowing what you want your lotion to achieve will help you throughout the formulation process. Lotions have a variety of uses and can help soothe dry and cracked skin and deter blemishes. It all depends on what you put in it. Depending on what you’re crafting your lotion for, you may need active ingredients for scents or extracts. For example, if you’re looking to craft a lightweight, hydrating moisturizer for sensitive skin, you may want to avoid using strong scents and focus on using quality emollients and humectants.
Decide on Texture
Lotions can come in various thicknesses, from milky and lightweight to thick, buttery, and creamy. While every lotion needs water and carrier oil, the ratio of these two ingredients will greatly affect the overall texture. The more water in the lotion, the thinner the lotion will be. A lotion with 90 percent water will be very light and milky, whereas knocking that percentage down to 60 percent will create a creamier texture.
Don’t Forget Thickeners and Stabilizers
Most thickener and stabilizer ingredients do the same thing, but their individual purpose is different. While thickeners will change the texture, stabilizers will increase the stability of the formula. Most commonly, lotions will include cetyl alcohol and xanthan gum because, when combined, both stabilize and thicken the formula. This combination of ingredients also helps prevent the lotion from separating over time.
Preservatives and Antioxidants Are a Must
While you may hear that vitamin E and lemon juice can be used as preservatives, this simply isn’t true. Lotions contain water, and bacteria naturally grows in water. This means bacteria can grow in lotion, causing the formula to decay. However, vitamin E is an antioxidant, which is necessary to prevent the oil in your lotion from oxidizing.
With these few tips for making your own body lotion, you’re one step closer to crafting a lotion that suits your needs or creating a lotion for your very own skincare line. But if you don’t want to go through all that chemistry, Essential Wholesale & Labs sells bulk body lotion. You can use this lotion as a base so you can customize the formula to meet your specific needs without learning all the science.
