I found this semi-homemade version on PatchworkTimes.com and thought it sounded like just the ticket for me. Simple, inexpensive ingredients and no melting or cooking required. Funny thing is I recently bought some beeswax pellets online in preparation for making lotion...but have yet to use any of it. I might have to find another project that requires beeswax...because I LOVE this lotion! It's rich and creamy and yet not too heavy...and it smells heavenly! I just love the smell of baby lotion. :-)
The original recipe called for: 16 oz. baby lotion; 8 oz. Vaseline, and 8 oz. Vitamin E Cream
But after consulting with my staff of advisors (my sisters), we decided to try replacing the Vaseline with Coconut Oil. The result was LOTION PERFECTION! It's thick, but not heavy, so it's very moisturizing but doesn't leave your hands (feet, etc) feeling greasy. Oh, and did I mention how good it smells!?!? I was considering adding some essential oils to make my own "scented lotion", but thought better of it when I smelled this.
My sisters and I immediately started slathering this stuff on and my oldest sister said it reminded her of her favorite Burt's Bees lotion, but at a FRACTION of the cost.
So here is the revisedHomemade Moisturizing Lotion:
16 ounces baby lotion
8 ounces coconut oil (solid form, not melted)
8 ounces vitamin E cream
Mix together with handheld mixer until it resembles icing.
Store in air tight containers...keep it for your own supply...or slap on a quick little label for gift-giving!
I gave one to each of my sisters's that were visiting. :-)
Cost breakdown:
Nutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil $7.00
Dollar Store Baby Lotion $1.50
Dollar Store Vitamin E Cream $1.50
Use roughly half the jar of coconut oil, the whole bottle of baby lotion and 1/2 the jar of vitamin E Cream.
Approximate cost: $5.75 for roughly 32 ounces. Or $1.44 for each 8 ounce jar I filled.
Ready? Set? MOISTURIZE! ;-)
{{{Update: Here's a fun idea! Put on one of those pump tops! Find out how to MAKE one on this post: Make Your Own Mason Jar Dispenser}}}
3 SIMPLE ingredients.....1 WONDERFUL moisturizer......is today's.....
I made this before Christmas using Vaseline and use cocoa butter instead of vitamin E cream. I love it!!! It smells so good and works really well!
ReplyDeleteDo you melt the coconut oil or use it as a solid?
ReplyDeleteI have made this for years:)I started making it with the baby lotion and switched to cocoa butter. Love the way that smells:)I also use the vaseline instead of the coconut oil, but I have the coconut oil. I wash my face in it. May try that next:)This stuff is truly wonderful though.
ReplyDeleteThe combination makes for a perfectly balanced, emollient cream! Added bonus that you can find the ingredients at your local grocery instead of having to wait for ingredients to get shipped. Seriously, this is a keeper.
ReplyDeletewhere's the 'recipe'????
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing, but I'm wondering,does the coconut oil ever go bad? I'm wondering how long this keeps for. Also, you mentioned buying stuff at the dollar store; were you able to find the coconut oil there, too? I looked for it at Target and didn't find it, and was going to look elsewhere. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCocoa butter cream would be a good option too. Didn't think of that. :-)
ReplyDeleteCarmen...I used the coconut oil as a solid. However, I put it in the microwave for just a few seconds to soften it so it was easier to scoop out. :-)
The recipe is listed in the post above.
Coconut oil has a very long shelf life. I wouldn't worry about it going bad.
I actually got my coconut oil through Amazon..but I have also purchased it at Walmart. When I said I got everything at the Dollar Store...I was talking about the lotion, vit e cream, and VASELINE. That was before I decided on using the coconut oil instead. Sorry about the mix up. :-)
Jill I love the sounds of this as I am a big time fan of coconut oil but I normally put it straight from the jar on my skin. I am curious can you tell me the cost breakdown?
ReplyDeleteThanks
Jennifer
www.thekamikazeshopper.blogspot.com
Jennifer...thanks for the reminder...I was going to add this to the post:
ReplyDeleteNutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil $7.00
Dollar Store Baby Lotion $1.50
Dollar Store Vitamin E Cream $1.50
Use roughly half the jar of coconut oil, the whole bottle of baby lotion and 1/2 the jar of vitamin E Cream...approximate cost: $5.75 for roughly 32 ounces. Or $1.44 for each 8 ounce jar I filled.
Hope this helps. :-)
Was given a gift of something similiar at Christmas, could smell the baby lotion. Have been wondering about the recipe. Thanks for sharing this one. Does anyone have a recipe for a frugal eye makeup cleansing cloths or cleansing lotion? Would be a great addition to my facial care.
ReplyDeleteI think I am going to make some for my coworkers and also to give for birthday gifts! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the quick response. I've been looking for something that smells good, but haven't found body washes that work that well, so I thought I'd try a lotion, but a lot of them have scents I don't really like that much. Coconut totally works!
ReplyDeleteCan I just tell you how happy you make me!! I love your blog and all of your wonderful cost-saving and eco-friendly ideas! My daughter is an herbalist who teaches classes in all sorts of ways to live a healthy, sustainable lifestyle and I love to share your ideas with her!! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jill that cost is amazing! What a great gift also. Wow I just love making our own things so rewarding and such great savings.
ReplyDeleteMay I link this post in on my blog Jill? I am sure my readers would love to try this also.
Jennifer
www.thekamikazeshopper.blogspot.com
This looks scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteWow, this looks great! I can never find a lotion that KEEPS my hands and elbows fully moisturized all day without making them feel greasy and sticky. I would love to try this!
ReplyDeleteSo excited to try this, been wanting to make lotion but hadn't had time to buy beeswax. Made your body butter last weekend (even with the flu- it was that easy)! We slathered ourselves in lavender and slept so well. My question is really unrelated to this post, but what containers are you using for your homemade laundry detergent, I noticed they are clear and unlabeled. In an effort to recycle I've been using Arizona tea jugs- they work well but I'm getting tired if looking atvthe labels! Love your blog!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCan you do this without coconut oils? I'm allergic and can't put any on my skin.
ReplyDeleteSounds great! I think I might try unscented baby lotion so I get the coconut smell or add essential oil. Not a big fan of baby lotion smell. (I know--strange!)
ReplyDeleteIf this works for my skin, I may have to give you a big *KISS*! I have tried everything from expensive to painful to get rid of my acne, and I've always felt like my skin broke out because it was too dry, not too oily. But the first thing the dermatologist wants you to do is dry it out even more! Will update after the 14 days!
ReplyDeletePosted on wrong one. I meant to put this on the 14 day wash with oil challenge. lol. I am definitely going to try this moisturizing cream too though! Thanks for your blog, I love it!
ReplyDeleteYour site is THE BEST! I featured your site today on my blog, Tapestry's Imagingings with a link back. Please feel free to grab a button if you'd like :) Keep up the great work! YOU ROCK!
ReplyDeleteCould you please tell me where in Walmart I would look for the coconut oil and also I would like to know if your vitamin e is 8oz. or 4 oz. The one I purchased is 8 oz. but they also had a 2 pk of 4oz. each. Just wondering which amount to use.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about Walmart, but Target sells cocunut oil too. You can find it in the baking aisle!
DeleteWhen buying coconut oil, look for organic/cold pressed. Amazon has a 2 pk for $15 if you have a prime shipping membership and sign up for subscribe and pay. Best price around!
ReplyDeleteWell this looks good. I made the other one with the Vaseline before Christmas and wasn't that thrilled with it but I'll give this one a shot with the coconut oil instead of vaseline. For those that don't like the smell of baby lotion (ME included) they make all different scents, including lavender. I think I also saw unscented the other day. Be careful of the brands of CO sold in Walmart or Target though. I would only use the Extra Virgin unrefined type. And please don't zap all the nutrients out of it in the microwave (sorry Jillee!) - expecially if you're cooking with it or eating it.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the recipe!
I cannot wait to try this!!
ReplyDeleteIs this for sensitive skin too? Or do you have another recipe for sensitive skin moisturizers?
ReplyDelete@Deborah - I too was looking for frugal eye makeup cleansing cloths and a friend told me that she uses baby wipes. I bought the organic, fragrance free wipes from Whole Foods and they work really well. And, of course, they're much cheaper than the wipes sold for makeup removal.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to make this moisturizer!!
I had snagged my neighbor's Arizona Tea gallon jugs for the detergent too.
ReplyDeleteIf you are wanting to go natural and save money by making your own lotion. Take out the baby lotion it is one of the most toxic products on the market. Try a natural substitute lotion like shae butter. Coconut oil is one of the great oils for your skin and I use the same brand you do. Have fun I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone! I have severe dry skin and eczema on my hands, feet and elbows. I've started using apricot scrub to help get rid of all the dead skin, can't wait to try the homemade version. I've been making my own lotion for awhile now. It helps me like nothing else. Also, I'm a nurse and have seen it really help my patients also. I use one large baby lotion (which after reading above will be switching to Shea Butter on next batch), one thing of vaseline, 8oz vitamin e creme, 4oz liquid vitamin e and 4oz of extra virgin olive oil. After mixing well, I fill the containers used back up and close tightly. It is greesy so I will also be trying the coconut oil instead of vaseline. For the baby bottle, I put the lotion in a zip lock bag, cutting a small hole in the corner and squeezing back into container. I use it for months. I love this site. Thanks for all the information.
ReplyDeleteIs it good for aging skin?
ReplyDeleteI love this idea, thanks so much
ReplyDeleteIt's GREAT for aging skin. My mom is a home health-care provider for the eldery and provides it her clients. She says it will actually heal very, very dry skin. Thanks Jillee for spreading this One Good Thing.
ReplyDeleteUh-oh... what if I can't do the smell of baby lotion? Think the essential oil would cover it up?
ReplyDeleteIs this just for hands and body or can it be used for the face too?
ReplyDeleteI have a son with pretty bad eczema and have been thinking about making cream/lotion for him...think I'm going to have to give this one a try! I think I'll use Shea Butter instead of the baby lotion (the thicker the better for eczema) and the coconut oil. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to the coconut oil. I have used baby lotion on my face, but never the coconut oil or Vitamin E. Would this be something alright for faces, too?
ReplyDeleteMiranda
Great recipe but something to keep in mind... Baby lotion, just like Vaseline, is made with Petroleum. By buying products made with Petroleum we are increasing our dependence on foreign oil, not a good thing for many different political reasons that I won't get into here. Just something to be aware off. I say stick to the Shea Butter!
ReplyDeleteHad trouble finding the coconut oil in the tub,I got the baby lotion at the dollar store,no vitamin E cream though.Finally,at Meijers i found the coconut oil, It was in the the Women of color section! They also had the cream holder containers in the travel section, 10 for $10. Dont know if that is a deal or not, but i figured i would make a batch and share them with my quilter friends next time we meet up! now to find a free printable to make a label! Thanks, i will let you know how they all like it! Kim
ReplyDeleteKim...here is where I got the simple circle labels I used:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cottage-industrialist.com/storage/canning-party-circle-labels.pdf
Hope this helps. :-)
I made this at Christmas for gifts and used the Shea butter version of the baby lotion. I like the idea of coconut oil rather than vaseline. In Texas that might be a bit of a trick in the summer though :)
ReplyDeleteNutiva Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil -
ReplyDeleteCan you remind me where to pick up the Coconut Oil from....
Jill, do you use the coco butter instead of the baby lotion? If so, how much.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
I just found your blog and love, love, love it! Thank for everything.
Libby
Anybody have some good hints on where to find inexpensive vitamin E cream? I tried my local dollar store and Target and they didn't have any. I considered subbing in some vitamin e oil, but that's a lot pricier than the $1.50 cream! Maybe a gnc or something? Thanks! (Oh, and when I get mine made in the next couple of days, I'll let you know the results - making it for a friend with some seriously dry, cracked hands.)
ReplyDeleteI made this using vitamin e cream, vitamin e oil Vaseline, and lavender baby lotion. Wow! This stuff is great to put on your feet at night then cover in socks. Also, when you are going to be running errands all day wear your socks with tennis shoes then you are able to put this great moisturizer on b 4 the socks. I just can not say enough good things about it. PS: I purchased vitamin e cream at Kroger. I do know that my dollar store carries vitamin e oil at fairly inexpensive price.
ReplyDeleteif you would like a recipe with beeswax; make your own lip balm. i have made on, you can find the recipe with beeswax, oils and honey here:
ReplyDeletehttp://making-beauty.tumblr.com/post/18125099551/sweet-honey-lip-balm
I'm wondering, can Shea butter be substituted for the baby lotion? I'd rather not put the mass marketed product with who knows what ingredients on my skin. ...and no petroleum anything either.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this recipe!
i would love to try and make the lotion, but have not found a place to buy the vitamin e cream, where do i go!!??
ReplyDeleteWould this cream be okay as a daily face moisturizer?
ReplyDeletei know coconut oil and vitamin e cream are both good for your face, but I'm not sure about the baby lotion
I found your blog on Pinterest and I am so glad I did!!! I can't wait to try this lotion.
ReplyDeleteThe recipe was super easy to put together and I really like the end result however, I just have a question for you. Were the sizes of coconut oil and vitamin e oil that you found larger than what the recipe called for. I just want to clarify what you meant when you said you used half the container. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMy mission today was to make this lotion! Took me a bit to find the ingredients, my local dollar tree didn't have vitamin E cream :-( I found it at Rite Aid for $5.49 for a 4 oz. jar. The coconut oil was a challenge also, finally found a 16 oz. jar at Fred Myer for $12.17 and baby lotion also at Freddies for $1.99 (I went with the night time lotion because I love the calming lavender smell!) The overall cost was more but I really wanted to give this recipe a try. So, total cost for me was roughly $19 for 32 oz. of lotion :-( A little spendy but I had fun making it and the lotion is really nice and rich, if a little greasy on my hands.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if this is what you all are looking for but I buy this Vitamin E lotion at Dollar General in a 2 pack. http://www.dollargeneral.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11896083
ReplyDeleteHope this helps
Just whipped up a batch of this wonderful lotion - my first attempt. Used Nutiva coconut oil (purchased at Amazon - subscribe & save), Fruit of the Earth vitamin E cream (purchased at Walmart) and Dollar General's brand of nightime baby lotion. Can't wait to slather it on! I did want to note that next time, I will attempt to soften the coconut oil before I add it to the mixture. Even though I whipped the heck out of the lotion, I still see small clumps of the coconut oil. Enjoy ladies!
ReplyDeleteMy recipe is
ReplyDelete16 oz Vitamin E cream
16 oz Shea butter
1 jar vaseline
I bought the vaseline and vitamin E cream at the Dollar General - vitamin E was $1 for 4oz. and Vaseline $2.50 a jar - then the Shea butter lotion was about $4 at WalMart. This recipe makes 10 small jars or enough to last one person probably a year. The vitamin E cream at the Dollar General has a touch of pink wonderful scent. I have had severe psoriasis for years with no relief from expensive medicines - this worked completely within a month - I am completely healed and totally convinced.
my friend gave me this recipe several years back although it broke my skin out, i have very oily skin, i gave it to my sister who loves it and who, dosent like to save money, but we put the highest sunblock baby lotion in it we could find, she has a pool and this has helped her skin spots.so you can wear it out side for sun care. got to love women, one day we will rule the world. lol
ReplyDeleteI accidentally bought Nutiva Coconut Manna...will this work instead of the coconut oil?
ReplyDeleteTo Abby who posted on March 4....
ReplyDeleteplease repost when you try softening and mixing your coconut oil. I had the same problem and thought about softening it - but then didn't know how it would re-solidify.....so i chickened out. Can't wait to hear about your results.
~windi
I've never heard of coconut manna before...but apparently it's something like coconut butter? I say give it a try and see! :-) I'm all for experimenting!
ReplyDeleteI picked up the ingredients the other day at Dollar General - 8 oz Vitamin E cream for $1, 8 oz (maybe? it was a large bottle) baby lotion for $1, and we already had coconut oil (inherited from a neighbor)... so I'm set! Can't wait to make this!
ReplyDeleteThose of you that mention cocoa butter or shea butter is it a lotion that has that in it or straight "butter?" Where can i get it? I may just try with some of the baby lotion i never used on my little guy...too squirmy and never had many skin problems. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHello I am a new pintrister and I LOVE ALL your natural and money saving cleaning products. I keep reading about essential oils. What are they and where do I find them. I went to Hobby Lobby and they knew nothing. Thank you for all your help and tips.
ReplyDeleteJust made my first batch ~ about half of the recipe since I noticed when I got home that my baby lotion from the Dollar Store was only 10 oz., so I adjusted accordingly. The only thing I would change is making it fresh out of the shower so I can use it ~ since I had so much on my hands and in the bowl and on the mixer, but didn't 'need' it at the time. Also made a complete mess trying to make a funnel and get the lotion in a lotion pump ~ fail! I wonder if this is just extending the life of the baby lotion, though??????? Oh, and my local Dollar Store didn't have Vitamin E cream, so I had to buy it from Walmart.
ReplyDelete