How To Make A Natural Hand and Body Cream or Lotion

Herbal lotions and creams should be put into dark glass jars to protect them. Clear jars allow light in and it ruins the herbs, as well as the essential oils.

This is an easy and basic starter recipe for a great natural hand and body lotion. You can play around with combinations of essential oils to get the perfect scent for you.

•  1 teaspoon calendula infused oil
• 4 teaspoons rose oil
• 1/3 cup (2.6 ounces) shea butter
• ½ tablespoon of beeswax
• 3/4 cup (6 ounces) of sesame oil
• 1 cup (8 ounces) aloe vera gel
• 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil or a blend of essential oils.

To make it a lotion, add about 1/4 cup more oil of your choice.

You can make substitutions for oils in case of allergies.

Place aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil in a glass heat proof bowl. Set on double boiler on low/medium heat. Mix well.

Place a pan on low heat and add the calendula oil, shea and beeswax. Continue to heat on low until they are fully melted.

Once the calendula shea butter, and beeswax mix is melted, stir in sesame oil.

Now, while both the aloe vera mix and the calendula oil mix is warm, pour into a third bowl. Whisk constantly. You can do this in a blender, to make life much easier.

As the oils start to blend together, the mix will turn creamy white. When it starts to thicken, add the essential oils.

Mix well for about 15 -20 minutes. Transfer to a dark glass jar. Dark glass jars will protect the oils and essential oils from losing their properties.

Let the lotion cool, and then place the lid on. Be sure to label with all ingredients. Mark with date. Lotion should last from 6 months to one year, depending on how it is stored. It should be stored in a cool, dark, dry cabinet.

How To Make Rose Oil

Rose oil is wonderful for skin. It has great healing benefits for all skin types and is especially wonderful for delicate or sensitive skin.

To make rose oil, you will need dried roses, and apricot oil. You can use other oils, but apricot oil sinks into skin fast, and leaves it soft and silky.

Place about one cup roses into a one quart canning jar. Pour apricot oil over roses. Be sure the oil covers the herb. Shake. Let sit for one day, and check to make sure roses are still covered under oil. If not, add a bit more oil. Let stand for 4-6 weeks in a sunny window. Strain, and bottle in dark glass jars. Label and date the oil. Discard the spent roses. The oil will now have all the wonderful medicinal properties of the rose in the oil.