As I’ve shared before, I deal with dry skin and eczema on my hands, especially during the winter. “Light” lotions just don’t cut it when it comes to moisturizing my skin, so I made this “heavy duty” lotion to provide the level of moisture my skin needs.
I have seen many recipes for lotion like this that contain coconut oil, but some people with eczema find that coconut oil is actually drying to their skin. Try this recipe and see if it helps!
This basic recipe can be adapted using different essential oils, depending on what works well for your skin. I like lavender and frankincense, but other good options would be skin care, carrot seed, geranium, and patchouli.
Moisturizing Shea Butter Lotion
1/2 cup shea butter
2 Tbsp. jojoba or olive oil
5-10 drops lavender oil
5-10 drops frankincense oil
Fill a heavy sauce pan with about 2 inches of water. Place a mason jar in the water and heat the water over medium heat. Into the mason jar, place shea butter and jojoba or olive oil. Melt together, stirring as it melts. Carefully remove mason jar from the saucepan and pour the melted butter and oil into a metal bowl (like the bowl of a stand mixer). Refrigerate until it has solidified (but not too hard… 45-60 minutes). Using a stand mixer or a hand-held mixer, whip it until it resembles frosting. You will have to scrape down the sides and bottom occasionally to make sure it is all combined. Add essential oils and mix again. Spoon lotion into a small jar. Ready to use right away!
This lotion is perfect for putting on your hands and feet before bed. If you have cotton gloves, you can wear those to bed and wake up with soft hands!
You could also give this away as a gift! Tie on some ribbon and add a cute label, and it’s the perfect little gift.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to the essential oil company I use and love. I personally purchased the oils and ingredients mentioned in this post and I was not compensated for writing this post. If you choose to buy essential oils through my links, I will receive a small commission and it will help support my family and this blog. Thank you.
Aliesha Caldwell is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Could you use Vitamin E oil?
Yes, absolutely!
Hi, how much in weight the shea butter the and oil would be?
That would be 4 oz. shea butter.
the time is here again and my hands are dry as can be! They are close to cracking, so I headed to Pinterest to make something myself. As I am not happy with coconut oil in everything (you know, I figure it’s like with the wash nuts from India – they backed so popular worldwide that the locals didn’t have enough for their need and began washing in rivers with regular detergent!)… I have also read negative things about what is happening to rain forests due to high demand for coconut oil. So I am excited to try this version of yours! Have everything at home and hope it still works out today.
I do not always check out the background of each blog I come across but I looked at yours short and thought (I am member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nicknamed Mormons),”Yes!!! ThereSTILL ARE other people who believe in marriage, the Savior AND in having children!!!” I grinned reading that you are a family of six – SO FAR! We are in our mid-thirties, have 5 children – four on earth and our oldest in heaven – and people can’t believe it when I say I am open for more! And then I home birth, too… I really am no hippie… Well, sometimes it it just so good to hear of others in the world going about doing good and trying their best to follow the Savior! Wishing you much inner peace and strength to reach out this Advent season! Tara
what size bottle should i use?
Hi Jessica,
I would not put this in a plastic bottle, as it is not the right consistency to squeeze out of a small opening. It should be packaged in a glass jar as pictured (4 oz.) or a small plastic container with a wide opening like this: http://amzn.to/1NcBeTe
Am I able to purchase shea,butter through your website?
Here is where I recommend purchasing Shea butter: http://go.rockymountainoils.com/aff_c?offer_id=2&aff_id=1032&source=lotion&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockymountainoils.com%2Fraw-shea-butter-organic-4-oz.htm
Have you tried this on your face? I’m looking for a heavy moisturizing night cream for my face and my sensitive skin does not like the coconut oil face moisturizer recipes.
It is very thick (and designed for very dry skin), so it may not be suitable for your face, but you’d have to try and see. Certain skin types may do just fine, but as always, try it on a small spot first before using it on your entire face.
is it good for young children?
If making it for kids, just use lavender and drop the frankincense.
I keep a bottle of Made from Earth’ Holistic Honey Lotion at my desk. Not only does it heal my dry hands, but the smell, which is great, actually wakes me up during that afternoon lull. Instead of grabbing a candy bar or coffee I put on some lotion and the smell wakes me up, while taking care of my skin. Love it!
That sounds lovely!