Best For

• Moisturizing the skin in a lighter, more spreadable form
• Covering larger areas quickly and easily
• Everyday skin care and body use
• Soothing dry, irritated, or sensitive skin
• Delivering herbal support without the heaviness of a cream, salve, or balm

Shelf Life

Herbal lotion usually has a short shelf life because it contains water. Most should be refrigerated and used within 1–3 months unless a proper preservative is included.

Basic Herbal Lotion Making

1. Prepare your oil phase, which is the oil-based part of the lotion. This usually includes infused oil, carrier oil, emulsifier, and any other oil-soluble ingredients.
2. Prepare your water phase, which is the water-based part of the lotion. This usually includes distilled water, herbal tea, herbal infusion, aloe vera juice, or other water-based ingredients.
3. Heat the oil phase and water phase separately until both are warm and close to the same temperature.
4. Melt the emulsifier fully into the oil phase.
5. Slowly pour the water phase into the oil phase while stirring or blending.
6. Continue mixing until the lotion is smooth and fully blended.
7. Add any heat-sensitive ingredients after the lotion begins to cool.
8. Pour the finished lotion into clean bottles or containers.
9. Let it cool completely before sealing and labeling.

What You Need

• Oil phase ingredients: usually about 20–30% of the recipe, often made up of infused oil or carrier oil plus the emulsifier and any other oil-soluble ingredients
• Water phase ingredients: usually about 65–80% of the recipe, often made up of distilled water, herbal tea, herbal infusion, aloe vera juice, or other water-based ingredients
• Emulsifier: usually about 4–8% of the recipe, depending on the ingredient used and how thick or thin you want the lotion
• Optional preservative: used in the amount recommended for that specific preservative
• Optional heat-sensitive ingredients: usually added in small amounts after cooling, often around 0.5–2% total, depending on the ingredient

• Tools & Equipment
• Two heat-safe containers
• Double boiler or saucepan setup
• Measuring spoons or cups
• Scale, if using weight-based measurements
• Spoon, spatula, or whisk
• Stick blender, hand mixer, or milk frother
• Thermometer
• Clean bottles, jars, or lotion containers

• For Finishing & Storage
• Clean lotion bottles, jars, or pump containers
• Tight-fitting lids or pumps
• Funnel or small spatula
• Labels or marker
• Refrigerator space, if needed
• Cool, dark storage area if using a preservative

Storage & Labeling

Store herbal lotion in a clean, sealed container. Label it with the name, main ingredients, and date made. Keep it refrigerated if it does not contain a preservative, and use it within its expected shelf life. If a preservative is used, store according to the ingredient directions and keep the container away from heat, sunlight, and contamination.