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DIY Chamomile Lotion Recipe

Chamomile Lotion

It feels so cold and harsh when we step outside of our warm homes during the winter months. And with extreme winter conditions that can often come with wind and frigid temperatures, it’s essential to keep our skin healthy. This DIY chamomile lotion is functional and easy to make—the perfect treat to help your skin through this winter.

Table of Contents

What is Chamomile Lotion?

Softening and moisturising, chamomile lotion is a light blend of cupuacu butter, chamomile-infused oil, and essential oils that create a light, easy-to-spread emulsion that quickly absorbs the skin. It is a comforting solution for everyday skincare. 

What is Chamomile Lotion Good For?

Winter weather is often harsh on our skin, causing dryness, irritation and itchiness. Chamomile lotion is a great natural way to restore moisture and calm your skin. The chamomile helps soothe irritated skin, and the cupuacu butter helps to lock in moisture. The essential oils in the formula create a lovely light fragrance.

How to Use Chamomile Lotion

You can use chamomile lotion as often as you like. To make the most out of it, applying lotion to the skin after a shower (while your skin is still damp) is best for retaining its moisture. To use, add a small amount into your hand, rub your palms together and apply to the skin in a circular motion until you have covered all of your body.

Key Ingredients

This lotion is a simple emulsion that includes various oils, distilled water and essential oils to make your skin feel softer and moisturised. Here are the key ingredients in this formula:

Cupuacu butter: Softening, hydrating butter protects the skin’s barrier and helps soothe and nourish the skin. 

Infused chamomile oil: Healing, antioxidant and anti-inflamatory, chamomile helps to soothe the skin and reduce signs of ageing. For this recipe, I have used sweet almond oil to infuse chamomile in. I’ll show you how to prepare infused chamomile oil here

Buriti oil: Abundant in vitamin A and E, buriti oil is a sumptuously orange oil that helps restore, re-hydrate and moisturises skin.  

Olivem 1000: Hot process emulsifier, Olivem 1000 helps create a skin-nourishing lotion that does not leave your skin feeling oily or greasy. 

Colloidal oatmeal: Not only oils and butter can keep skin healthy. Colloidal oatmeal can help keep the skin soft and improve moisture retention when applied to the skin.

Essential oils: Roman chamomile and melissa essential oil offer various properties, from healing and soothing to uplifting and promoting feelings of relaxation. In combination, they create a uniquely beautiful scent.

How to Make Chamomile Lotion

DIY Chamomile Lotion Recipe

Recipe by KayDifficulty: Intermediate Formulator
Makes

100

g
Total Time to Prepare

30

minutes

Softening and moisturising, this is an easy-to-spread lotion that quickly absorbs the skin. Perfect for winter months. To prepare 100g of the lotion you will need:

Ingredients

Directions

  • Prepare a hot water bath by bringing 2-3 cm of water to a simmer over medium-low heat in a small saucepan.
  • Weigh all phase A ingredients in a glass beaker, and place them into the hot water bath.
  • Weigh distilled water and colloidal oatmeal (stage B ingredients) in the second glass beaker, and place it into the hot water bath.
  • Mix xanthan gum and glycerine in a third beaker and set aside.
  • Once the oil phase in the first beaker and the water phase in the second beaker reach 70°C, slowly pour the oil phase into the water phase, stirring continually. Add glycerin and xanthan gum mix. The emulsion will thicken gradually. Keep string while it’s cooling down.
  • When your emulsion cools down to under 40°C, add phase C ingredients (vitamin E and essential oils).
  • Check the pH is about 5.5. If it’s over 6 or below 5, adjust before moving to step 8. Scroll down to the troubleshooting section to learn how. 
  • Add the Preservative Eco and recheck the ph. Adjust if needed, just like described in step 7.
  • You can transfer lotion into a lotion dispenser and allow it to set. The emulsion will thicken overnight.

Skin Patch Test

  • Carry out a skin patch test first to ensure you are not sensitive or allergic to the lotion. Apply a small amount of the product onto a clear patch of skin, somewhere you can leave it alone for 24-48 hours (like the inner wrist). If your skin turns red, itchy, or you experience any irritations, discontinue using the product.

Shelf Life and Storage

Lotions, just like most skincare products, will ultimately expire. As this formula includes preservative ECO, you should be able to store the product for about a year. However, if you notice any change in smell, colour, or texture, dispose of it and whip up a new batch. Store chamomile lotion in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. 

Substitutes

Please remember that swapping the ingredients in the formula will alter the final product. Consider how the ingredient you wish to switch will affect the final product’s scent, consistency, or absorbency when making changes. 

Cupuacu butter: This is incredibly moisturising and stable butter that helps to stabilise the formula. You can replace it with shea butter, but you won’t achieve the same texture.

Distilled water: Distilled water accounts for over 74% of this recipe. You could substitute distilled water for chamomile hydrosol. Or a combination of chamomile and melissa hydrosol if you have some on hand. 

Colloidal oatmeal: In this recipe, colloidal oatmeal not only helps improve skin moisture levels but also acts as a thickener. Omitting it from the recipe will affect the overall texture of the emulsion. 

>Oils: I have picked buriti oil as it intensifies yellow in the formula and offers an array of skin benefits. If it’s not available in your area, feel free to replace it with chamomile-infused oil instead. Infused chamomile oil is crucial here, and I wouldn’t recommend replacing it. 

Vitamin E: You can replace vitamin E with rosemary extract. Just remember rosemary extract has a robust aroma, and it might overpower chamomile. 

Olivem1000, Glycerin, Xanthan gum: I don’t recommend omitting or swapping any of these ingredients in this formula. 

Essential oils: Even though I love working with essential oils, they are potent substances that can cause adverse reactions if not used cautiously. Before swapping them, check out Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals by R Tisserand and R Young. 

Troubleshooting

How do I check the ph of the lotion?

Your lotion pH should be between 4.5 to 5.5. You can check it by diluting 10% of the emulsion in distilled water (10% emulsion/90% distilled water). Suppose the pH of the emulsion is too high. In that case, you can lower it using a drop or two of citric acid solution( 10% citric acid to 90% distilled water). Subsequently, you can increase pH by adding a drop or two of sodium bicarbonate solution (10% sodium bicarbonate to 90% distilled water).

class="wp-block-heading" id="my-lotion-split-what-happened">My lotion split. What happened?

Emulsions take a bit of practice to master. The most crucial part of ensuring hot process emulsion doesn’t split is: 

a) both the water and oil phases must reach 70°C before you attempt to combine them

b) keep stirring during the cooling phase. It’s important to stir the lotion continuously; otherwise, you risk emulsion will split. If you make small batches, use a milk frother like this, it will make the whole process much more manageable. 

FAQs

When should you apply chamomile lotion?

The best time to apply chamomile lotion is right after the shower while your skin is still damp and hydrated. Water evaporates quickly, leaving the skin dehydrated. The lotion will help lock the moisture in, leaving your skin soft and supple. 

How long does chamomile lotion last on the skin?

Generally speaking, lotion can take between 10-15 minutes to fully absorb into the skin, depending on how much you use. It should last anywhere between 4 to 6 hours. Apply a thin layer and only use sufficient amounts each time you apply.

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Are you looking for more ways to incorporate chamomile into your skincare? Check out the recipes below!


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