Hello There! Are you enjoying this beautiful spring weather? I hope it is spring like where you live. For a few days in a row we’ve had amazing blue skies and warm sun. Although temperatures have been around freezing at night. Which means that since we are in wine country, we wake up to the loud hum of the vineyard fans running, trying to keep the frost from damaging the tender new buds.
I’ve had a few people comment lately that they’ve tried making the homemade hand lotion I posted but that it kept separating. I’ve been making this for over a year and a half, probably about once a month and haven’t had it separate on me yet, so the only thing I can think that might make a difference are in the temperatures. Each microwave is so different, and I’m sure some have tried this on the stovetop too. Our microwave was my grandmas, so it has be to close to 20 years old! (Do you think it’s shedding all sorts of radioactive waves when it’s on? That’s what I fear. I need to read up on old microwaves.) Anyway, today I needed to replenish my supply, so when I made it, I took the temperature of each step. I updated my How to Make Hand Lotion page (which I actually use as an all over body lotion) so check that out if you have been wanting to give it a try.
I’ll be back soon with a recipe on how to make your own laundry detergent. I made sure to use it for a good long time before I wrote about it because I’d hate to share something that doesn’t work. Enjoy your day!
Am I a cave woman? I don’t use a microwave. I have one – on the garage floor.
I plan to visit Sonoma in the near future. Would you mind commenting on 3 local eateries you could recommend here:
http://maybellinemckelvey.blogspot.com/
I’m another cave woman here… We don’t have a microwave either
I’m really looking forward to the laundry detergent post!
I’ve made several batches of lotion using your recipe. I’ve found that if you mix the whole solution well, then when it cools its less likely to separate.
I put a hand mixer into the jar and pulse the whole warm mixture a few times, thats seems to help.
just a few ideas for more success with your lotion
-a stick blender (like what is used to make smoothies etc)will do about the best job without whipping a ton of air into your lotion, keeps the emulsion droplets fine enough that it is more likely to remain stable over time.
-a more accurate and hassle free method of measuring your hard oils is to melt them first. dont heat your oils too hot, just to the point of melting as a very high temp will damage some oils, can change the molecular structure of ingredients, also will hasten breakdown (mold and bacterial growth). once the oil portion of the recipe has gently warmed to a liquid state, heat the water portion of recipe to the same temp before blending together.
-as i dont see the use of a reliable preservative here i suggest keeping any unused portions of lotion in your fridge and ditching any that is over a few weeks old for safety.
-a pump dispenser will preserve products longer than a pot as there is not the same amount of finger contact and the higher risk of possible contaminants.
A Sonoma Garden,
Can you use Paraffin Wax as a substitute for the emulsifying wax? If not, do you know wat stores offer emulsifying wax or a suitable substitute?h
I wouldn’t think that parrifin would work. Just click on the link for the emulsifying wax and it will take you to the store you can buy it from.
There is nothing better than a good lotion to heal the damage done to your skin caused by the winter months.
I’ve used the recipe several times and we are ALL stocked up for the next few months!
The first time I did it, it separated. Since then, I stir it with a spoon as soon as I put the mixture in the jar and a few other times as it cools.
I’ve been so pleased and surprised by how wonderful chamomile essential oil has smelled in the lotion. My husband’s fave is grapefruit.
Thanks for the wonderful (and simple!!!) recipe! ~H
can you use glycerin? Just exploring hand lotions that contain glycerin. I don’t know if it is any better, but just wanted to run by you.
Thank you!
I don’t know Sarah. I’m sure you could add some glycerin, it would just take some experimentation.
How long does it keep?
I can’t give you a solid answer on how long this lotion keeps Bladerunner, I always use it up too fast!