Easy homemade lotion
that is non greasy and great for sensitive skin
Cracked dry skin from over washing? This recipe for homemade lotion is perfect for use on hands, body and face. It can be used on sensitive skin, and works wonders for those with acne, scarring, or eczema. This easy DIY lotion is made with shea butter and aloe vera, and is without beeswax, heating, coconut oil, or emulsifying. Perfect for use on face and body!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, but you will not be charged a penny extra! And mama, I never recommend products I don’t love or believe in)
Do you want to make your own lotion, but just don’t want the hassle of heating things in a double broiler or using emulsifying wax? This easy lotion is for YOU!
I’ve always dealt with very dry and sensitive skin. It has been a journey to find a lotion that doesn’t cause irritation, break me out, or leave me greasy.
Consequently, when you’re a frugal crunchy mama, it is really hard to find a cost-effective and HEALTHY option in stores.
If you are in a similar place as me, this DIY lotion needs to make it onto your to-do list. It has been the answer to my lotion quest.
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Making your own skin care products lets you tweak it perfectly for your own skin needs
My skin is pretty sensitive and I have random allergies and intolerances, so being able to add different essential oils just for me (or not) makes the world of difference.
For instance, I found a great natural store bought lotion that was perfect in every way except for the use of grapefruit essential oil. Guess what I’m allergic to? Yeah. Grapefruit.
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When I first tried to make my own lotion, I just couldn’t find a recipe I loved. Everything I tried just felt heavy and oily on my skin.
And I just hate a thick, greasy lotion. With every homemade lotion I tried, greasy is just what happened. Probably because, well, homemade lotions are pretty much oil-based and oils are…oily…
AKA greasy.
Bleh.
I was so close to buying emulsifying wax because apparently you can add water to oils when you do that, which makes homemade lotions less greasy (from what I read).
However, I wasn’t really looking forward to the mess it looked like it was to make.
Plus, adding water without enough preservatives to a lotion can cause a mold issue.
Here’s why this homemade lotion is the bees knees
BUT THEN I found a recipe that used aloe vera gel and shea butter—two of my favorite things that I practically always have on hand—and I decided to give it a go before embarking down the emulsion path.
The result is seriously amazing.
You’ll LOVE this lotion!
It’s extremely easy to whip up (quite literally, you just whip).
There’s no heating involved. No emulsifying. Just whipping (so a kitchen mixer is definitely going to be your best friend here).
Can you believe it?!
I almost didn’t.
This lotion helps to heal and soothe your skin, even if you have really dry and sensitive skin like me.
Cracked dry skin from over washing? You can use this on those poor dry hands for some much needed relief.
It is gentle enough to use on your face, but is also wonderful at moisturizing all over.
You can even use it in your hair to calm frizzies and help define waves a little bit.
Multi-purpose items are my FAVORITE! Seriously. Who doesn’t like having things that can do more than one job? If I can use something for a couple purposes, it makes me really happy.
So let’s talk about the awesome and simple ingredients in this homemade lotion…
Shea butter
This is a great natural butter that has a low (some argue non) comedogenic rating, meaning it won’t clog pores (which is pretty important when you’re slathering your pores in something!).
Shea butter also…
- Is high in vitamin E, which makes it ideal for those of us who have scarring
- Has anti-inflammatory properties
- Helps with collagen production, which softens and strengthens skin
- Has a natural SPF of 6
Aloe Vera Gel
It’s important to note that this recipe calls for the gel, not juice. Aloe vera juice contains too much water for the recipe to work.
I remember breaking off pieces from my Nana’s live aloe plants in Arizona whenever I’d get cuts or burns. It was immediately soothing. But if you don’t have your own aloe plant to harvest, check out my favorite aloe vera gel
- Has healing properties that reach the deeper epithelial level of the skin
- Provides a barrier for the skin that is moisturizing but not greasy feeling
- Treats acne and scarring since it contains hormones that are champions at reducing inflammation and stimulating new cell growth
- Is high in antioxidants, vitamin c, and vitamin e which all help with skin elasticity and slowing down the appearance of aging
Grapeseed Oil
This is an extremely light oil and also has a very low comedogenic rating. It’s also multi-purpose in my home since I love to use this oil in my kitchen for baking since it has a subtle flavor. In this lotion, it adds another layer of nourishing properties.
Grapeseed oil also…
- Is high in vitamin e, which evens skin tone and helps remove scarring
- Can accelerate the healing of acne by reducing inflammation and redness, and by helping cells regenerate to replace damaged skin
- Absorbs quickly and easily, meaning it doesn’t leave you greasy
Now that we’ve talked about the why, let’s get to this easy recipe!
Whip it up quick.
Outstanding Homemade Lotion: easy no-heat, no emulsifiers method
A luxurious, creamy, effective homemade lotion with all-natural ingredients. Easy no heat, no emulsifying method.
Materials
Instructions
- In the bowl of a kitchen mixer, fitted with a whipping attachment, add the shea butter and whip until creamy, scraping down the bowl frequently with a silicone spatula.
- Add in the liquid oil and whip it on low for about 1 minute until it is well blended, stopping to scrape the side of the bowl at least twice.
- Optional: Add in any desired essential oils and whip again
- Add in the aloe vera gel in intervals--a little bit at a time! Whip it on high, stop to scrape, whip it again, then repeat, adding a little bit more aloe vera gel. Continue until all of the aloe vera gel is added and the lotion reaches a fluffy consistency
- Scoop lotion into a jar. Keep extra lotion that cannot get used within 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
- Enjoy naturally smooth, moisturized skin!
Notes
- *You MUST clean all of your equipment and containers very well before use to avoid mold and bacteria growth. I keep rubbing alcohol in a fine mist bottle and spray the bowl, attachment, jar, measuring utensils. and spatula before making my lotion.
- *This moisturizing lotion does not use a stabilizer since there is some in the aloe vera gel I use, and I keep the extra in the fridge until needed. If you use fresh aloe gel, I'd suggest looking into a naturally derived preservative like this one
- *If you experience a greasy feeling, rub the lotion in more to your skin. A little really does go a loooooong way! Wait five minutes until your skin absorbs what it needs, and then gently wipe off any excess. If that doesn’t solve it, add a tablespoon of aloe vera gel at a time until the lotion becomes less greasy, whipping and scraping lotion frequently.
Check out my favorite kitchen tools that will make all this DIY lotion stuff a breeze
A really quick cleaning tip (don’t worry about the mess!):
Boil water while you whip up this lotion (you can use a pot or check out this super nifty electric kettle I’m totally in love with). Put the dirty mixing bowl and attachment in the sink and pour the boiling water over it. All the left over oils and butter will come off, making clean up a breeze.
Awesome! I had no idea about the benefits of grapeseed oil either!
This looks so good! I love to make this kind of thing as a gift!
I’m so glad you’re here! Thank you for your comment.
You sound like a lovely gift-giver!
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
You’re so welcome! I’m happy you found this recipe! It’s my favorite.
I’d give it quite a few months for the shelf life, since most aloe vera gels have a 2 year shelf life. Everyone in my family uses this lotion, so it’s never made it past the three month mark, but I’d assume it could easily last at least 6 months without refrigeration.
Hi how much dose it make of cream in mL please
To be completely honest, I’ve never actually measured! We’re running low on lotion, so I’ll be making some again soon. I’ll be sure to get back to you once I do! Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful at this moment.
Hey Melissa! Thank you for this great recipe, it ticks all my boxes in terms of low comedogenic rate while still providing deep moisture. Did you end up finding out how many mls or oz this recipe yelds? Just trying to figure out the ideal essential oil ratio for my sensitive skin. Thank you kindly!
Hi Robin! Thanks for the reminder to measure this lotion! I had to make some this morning, so I grabbed my kitchen scale and it came out to exactly 5 oz.
It’s definitely a deep moisturizer and has been the best for my dry sensitive skin.
Thank you for your comment! I hope you enjoy the lotion!
Thank YOU! 🙂
wow i am really inspired and would like to try it….Thank you so much for motivation
You’re so welcome! I hope you do and that it works out for you! I find that the aloe and oils can separate after a while. But it can still be used as is if it doesn’t bother you, or just pop it back in the mixer and re-whip it 🙂
Wow! I just made this cream and am very impressed and surprised. I hadn’t made a lotion with Aloe Gel yet and am very pleased with the results. I added all essential oils that are best for wrinkles and fine lines and will use this as my wrinkle cream. Thanks for Sharing!
I’m so glad you are enjoying this cream! Great idea to tweak the essential oils and use it as a wrinkle cream. Thank you so much for taking time to leave feedback. You’ve made my day!
I just made this & LOVE it. I also used it on my face as a makeup remover. (I’m still using what I have purchased before attempting to make my own) I loved how it even took off my waterproof mascara! Thank you for the recipe. I will touch base once I’ve used it a while.
You just made my entire week. Thanks for taking time to comment! I’m thrilled it worked out so well for you. Please do jump back on and let us know how it goes after a while <3
Hi, wanted to do this but unfortunately I have allergic reactions to aloe Vera gel.
Is there any substitute for this recipe.
Thanks
I’m sorry to hear that! I understand allergic reactions…we have lots of things to avoid over here. Unfortunately, this recipe doesn’t work with anything else that I can think of. But the GOOD news is you can just leave out the aloe vera gel and make a whipped shea and oil body and face butter. I’ve added a tablespoon of arrowroot powder to mine to make it less greasy. It works really well for dry skin in the winter time.
Mommypotamus has a lotion recipe that utilizes beeswax instead if you want to check that out. Here’s the link
A few questions.
Was your shea butter in a solid block? How did you measure out 1/2 c shea butter? Mine was a solid block and i cut off pieces until i got to 4oz (1/2 c) and added everything together and its just not mixing well. Im about to submerge the metal bowl in a sink half full of hot water to help melt the shea butter. What am i doing wrong?
Also, im super shiny when i use it. I even added an extra tbsp of aloe vera gel and it didnt help, maybe made it worse? I really dont know where i went wrong but i need help lol
More aloe should help, so don’t worry, you didn’t make it worse! When mine is not whipped very much it can make me a bit shiny too. When that happens I just leave it on for five minutes, which allows my skin to absorb as much as it needs, and then gently wipe off any excess.
It’s not as absorbent as a water-based lotion is, but is by far the best I’ve experienced without using an emulsifier 🙂
Oh Mercedes! It sounds like you’ve had a time of it! So sorry. My shea butter is a block, but far from solid. It reminds me a bit of firm goat’s cheese texture haha I just scoop it into a Pyrex measuring cup with a silicone spatula to get the needed amount. I’m sorry! I’ve never come across solid shea butter like that. If you try it again, I’d definitely soften it by putting the metal bowl in hot water. You do want to whip only the shea butter FIRST in the mixer, scraping down the sides of the bowl often. The shea butter has gotta be really creamy before you start adding in other ingredients.
Does T stand for a teaspoon or a table spoon?
Hi Ness, T stands for tablespoon. It’s an old school abbreviation that I should update for clarity 🙂
Does the lotion come out greasy? I’ve made quite a few lotions in the past but they are too greasy so my husband won’t use them.
Hi Jessica, this lotion is much less greasy than coconut oil based ones, but it is not a quick-absorbing lotion like you’d find in water-based store bought lotion. Your husband might find it a bit too greasy for his liking. It’s similar to a lighter whipped body butter. If you add 2-4 tablespoons more of aloe vera gel it will be even less greasy, but can separate quickly. It is best to make this in small batches so that it gets used up within 2 weeks.
You might want to look into an emulsified lotion recipe like this one: https://essentialmovestowellness.com/diy-lotion-recipe-non-greasy/
I hope this is helpful! It’s hard to know what each person likes and tolerates haha My husband likes the added aloe vera version, for what that’s worth 😉
I use this for all over lotion and even use it on dry hair to tame frizzies.
I made this and it did not come out smooth. The lumps of the shea butter never went away. Is this normal?
Hi there! I’m sorry that happened. No, this is not normal. The lotion should be as smooth as frosting. This can happen for a couple reasons that I know of. First of all, if the shea butter isn’t whipped completely smooth first, it can cause those chunks. Also, if the aloe vera gel is added too quickly it causes the lotion to separate, again causing chunks.
I would also be curious what shea butter and aloe vera you used. I’d love to problem solve with you!
Chunky lotion is disappointing! You can warm the lotion slightly and try whipping it again to salvage this first batch.
Let me know if I can help further!
I used fruit of the earth 100% aloe vera gel and Naissance 306 organic unrefined shea butter.
How did the shea butter whip up on it’s own before adding the aloe vera? Was it soft and frosting like?
The issue may have been with the aloe vera gel. It has quite a few added ingredients, which may have caused the “curdling” effect.
So sorry this didn’t turn out well for you. I hope you try it again with much better results!
How did the shea butter whip up on it’s own before adding the aloe vera? Was it soft and frosting like?
The issue may have been with the aloe vera gel. It has quite a few added ingredients, which may have caused the “curdling” effect.
So sorry this didn’t turn out well for you. I hope you try it again with much better results!
I recently made your lotion and did not add essential oil at the time but I do not like the smell. Can I add the oil now after it’s been made? It also turned out greasy. Do I keep adding aloe vera?
Hi Mary! I’m sorry this wan’t to your liking. I’m not fan of plain shea butter smell, either. My personal favorite scent to add is vanilla. Since there isn’t an actual vanilla “essential oil,” I buy a vanilla oil that’s extracted with CO2. It’s still natural and doesn’t bother my skin, but smells beautiful in lotion.
You can absolutely add whatever essential oils you want after making the lotion, but it is best to re-whip it in so that it’s evenly dispersed. While you have it in the mixer, already whipped up again, you can add in more aloe vera gel very slowly with the mixer on. I would start with another tablespoon, and increase slowly from there, adding no more than 1/4 cup. It will still be greasier than a store-bought water-based lotion, as we are still using a butter for the base, but shouldn’t be nearly as greasy as most diy lotions (or coconut oil based ones). I hope this is helpful, but if you have more questions, please reach out!
Can’t wait to give this a try….. always looking for super easy lotion recipes. Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
I should not have substituted anything in this recipe before trying it first but I exchanged mango butter for shea butter. Too hard for lotion.
Having said that, I do think your recipe is one of the best out there. No powder or chemicals OR coconut oil, awesome.
Ooo, good to know. Yes, shea should be much softer, but it depends on the brand. I buy this one from amazon and it whips up at room temperature.
Hi! I guess I added my aloe gel too quickly and now my lotion looks separated and won’t whip. Is there any way to fix this?
So sorry for the delay in response and for your lotion separating! I’ve been able to save it a couple times when I’ve accidentally done that by continuing to whip it on high for 2-3 minutes. If it still isn’t combining, I’m afraid I don’t know how to salvage it.
Hi I’m slightly confused. So you dont melt the shea butter on the stove at all?
Nope. Shea butter should be soft to the touch, similar to a combo of cream and feta cheese consistency (weird but true haha). I buy this one and have the same consistency every time.
If yours is really hard, you might want to warm it slightly (not melt it) to soften it up a bit first. Then whip it on it’s own in the mixer until it’s very smooth.It might take a few minutes as the friction starts to warm it up and makes it smoother.
If it still won’t whip smooth you’ll need to melt it in a double broiler and then let it cool and whip it. But I’ve never had to do that with this recipe, which is part of the beauty of it. 🙂
Let me know if I can help more!
Is this lotion able to be put in a pump style bottle?
Hi Sarah! This lotion is definitely too thick for a pump bottle. It is much less greasy and thick than any other oil based lotion I’ve made, but it is not a water-based emulsified lotion (which can be pumped because with an emulsifier you’re able to add a lot more water to make it thin enough to pump).
I hope this helps clarify so you can find a DIY that fits your needs! 🙂
Thank you! I am looking into making my own lotion for the first time so thank you for that information.
Hi there!
I love the idea of less greasy homemade lotion behind your recipe and can’t wait to try it! I was just curious if you’ve ever combined Shea and cocoa butter in this recipe? I’ve got some to use up and just wondered if the CB will mix well with the aloe?
Hello! My experience with cocoa butter is limited, but from what I remember it needs to be melted to use in lotion (the stuff i got was like a brick). I have not tried incorporating it into aloe gel, so I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful here! I would think you could as long as you allow it to cool after melting and slowly combine it.
If you try it, please let me know how it turns out 🙂
Hi there, may I check if the “T” measurements mean teaspoon, or tablespoon? Thanks!
Hi there! T stands for tablespoon 🙂
Hi, how many grams or millilitres is 1/4 cup aloe vera?
Hi Ella, I don’t know about grams, but 1/4 cup=60 ml. 🙂
Hi.
Does the T stand for tablespoon or teaspoon?
Thanks
Kate
I’ve been trying to update this! T is old school abbreviation for tablespoon 🙂 Thanks for pointing out another T to fix. It’s been confusing for a lot of people.
Do you absolutely have to use a stand mixer?
Hi Alyssa! You can also use an electric hand mixer, but whipping it by hand with a whisk won’t work.
Just wondering why my lotion is grainy? I mixed in every small addition of aloe vera gel very well. Once it’s rubbed into my skin the grainyness goes away, but it’s not a very nice texture to start off with 🙁 The aloe vera gel that I used is in my fridge to keep it from going bad, so not sure if you think I’d have to warm it up before using in this recipe again ?
Hi Rachel, it sounds to me like it’s the shea butter mixed with the cold aloe vera gel. Having things room temperature will create a better, smoother texture. It might also be the brand of shea butter. Some that you buy in the store in small jars tend to be grainy for some reason. Was yours smooth and non-grainy before adding the aloe? If it was grainy before, you might need to warm it up slightly and whip it for a couple extra minutes. Then proceed as normal.
Can I live the grapeseed oil if I don’t have?can I use just the two ingredients?
Hi there, yes, it will still work without the grapeseed oil, but it might be a little thicker. You can also use olive or avocado oil instead if you have one of those 🙂
Thank you I will try it., but can I add vitamin e in it?
Absolutely! Vitamin e is a great addition.
Hi do you have a link with all products in one place. Also I don’t care if lavender so do you have link for other essential oil and also a cheap mixer. Would love to try this. Thank you
I haven’t seen anyone else use the grapeseed oil except you and myself. I put it in my hair conditioner ( which I put too much this time) because it rinses out well with just tepid water. The only other ingredients to this are ACV and bottled water. I do have aloe plants which I intend to use for this recipe. Thank you.