Lemon and Strawberry Body Lotion

In this blog post, I’ll be showing you how to make a simple, refreshing body lotion at home using just a few easy-to-find ingredients. You’ll also learn what makes this lotion special, the ingredients needed to make it, and possible alternatives you can use.

A body lotion is a skincare product designed to hydrate, moisturize, and protect the skin by replenishing its moisture barrier. It’s typically lighter than body creams, allowing it to spread and absorb easily, making it an ideal moisturizer during summer or hot weather.

Why Make Your Own Body Lotion?

Homemade skincare is cost-effective, customizable, and free from harsh chemicals. This lemon and strawberry body lotion is lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs effortlessly. It deeply nourishes the skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and glowing.

The combination of lemon and strawberry fragrance oil adds a refreshing fruity fragrance that energizes your senses without being overwhelming. Plus, you can easily adjust the scent, texture, or ingredients to suit your skin type.

Understanding the Basics of Body Lotion Formulation

Body lotions are emulsions, combinations of oil and water, brought together with the help of an emulsifier. This emulsifier prevents the two immiscible liquids (oil and water) from separating, helping them form a smooth and stable lotion. Since lotions contain water, it’s important to include a preservative to prevent microbial growth and rancidity. Without preservation, the product can spoil quickly and harbor bacteria or fungi that may irritate or harm the skin.

Ingredient Breakdown

This Lemon and Strawberry Body Lotion is made with ingredients that are affordable and readily available. The result is a lightweight, non-greasy lotion that absorbs easily into the skin without foaming. It deeply moisturizes, leaving the skin soft, smooth, and with a natural glow. The subtle blend of lemon and strawberry fragrance gives the lotion a refreshing, invigorating scent that’s not overpowering but beautifully uplifting.

Distilled water forms the base of this lotion. It’s purified through steam distillation, making it free from minerals and impurities that could affect the lotion’s stability or shelf life. Distilled water also helps dissolve water-soluble ingredients and blend them smoothly with oils during emulsification.

Glycerine is a humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin. It’s a by-product of soap making (from the saponification of oils and lye) and helps keep the skin soft, hydrated, and smooth. It also improves the appearance of dry skin, acne, and signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.

Niacinamide is an amazing skincare ingredient with multiple benefits. It strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier, reduces redness and inflammation, minimizes pores, and brightens the skin tone. It also helps control oil production, diminish fine lines, and protect against environmental stressors such as UV rays and pollution.

Shea butter is the only butter in this recipe. It gives the lotion its rich, emollient properties, leaving the skin radiant and nourished after each use. Rich in fatty acids and vitamins, shea butter deeply moisturizes, soothes irritation, and provides mild anti-aging and healing effects. It can also help relieve eczema, psoriasis, and dry patches.

Soybean oil is affordable and easily accessible. It’s rich in linoleic acid, vitamin E, and isoflavones, all of which strengthen the skin barrier, improve elasticity, reduce inflammation, and combat signs of aging like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Glyceryl stearate is the emulsifier, that helps blend the oil and water phases into a stable lotion. It’s perfect for creating lightweight, creamy emulsions with a smooth texture.

To enhance the sensory experience, a small amount of lemon and strawberry fragrance oils were added. They provide a light, pleasant scent without overwhelming the senses. 

For preservation, liquid germall plus was used, it’s a broad-spectrum preservative effective over a wide pH range and is both affordable and reliable.

Materials Needed

• 2 heat-safe containers

• Measuring scale

• Immersion blender

• Spatula

• Gloves

• Sterilized jar or lotion bottle

150g Batch Size Formula

Heated Water Phase

• Distilled Water – 180g (78%)

• Glycerine – 6g (4%)

• Niacinamide – 4.5g (3%)

Heated Oil Phase

• Shea Butter – 22.5g (15%)

• Soybean Oil – 15g (10%)

• Glyceryl Stearate – 10.5g (7%)

Cool Down Phase

• Strawberry Fragrance – 1.5g (1%)

• Lemon Fragrance – 0.75g (0.5%)

• Liquid Germall Plus – 0.75g (0.5%)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Weigh your distilled water, glycerine, and niacinamide in a heat-safe container.

2. In another container, measure your shea butter, soybean oil, and glyceryl stearate.

3. Place both containers in a water bath and heat to around 70°C, or until everything is melted.

4. Pour the water phase into the oil phase and blend with an immersion blender for 1–2 minutes until emulsified.

5. Allow the emulsion to cool down to below 40°C.

6. Mix in your strawberry and lemon fragrances, along with Liquid Germall Plus. Stir thoroughly.

7. Pour your finished lotion into a clean, sterilized container and store in a cool, dry place.

FAQs

Q1: What can I use instead of shea butter and soybean oil?

A1: You can substitute shea butter with mango butter or tallow, and soybean oil with sunflower oil. These alternatives will slightly change the texture but still give great moisturizing results.

Q2: What if I don’t have Glyceryl Stearate?

A2: You can use Emulsifying Wax (E-Wax) or Olivem 1000 instead. Note that the consistency may vary depending on your chosen emulsifier.

Q3: How can I make this lotion fragrance-free but still include lemon and strawberry?

A3: Use strawberry fruit extract and lemon oil instead of fragrance oils. Adjust your distilled water quantity accordingly if adding lemon oil, and always stay within the recommended usage rates provided by your supplier. Ensure your final formulation still totals 100%.

Final Thoughts 

This formulation shows how simple and rewarding it can be to make skincare products at home. It's beginner-friendly, affordable, and delivers a product that truly works, moisturizing, softening, and leaving your skin refreshed.

If you’re interested in learning more about making your own skincare products, check out my downloadable ebook, which includes over 30 beginner-friendly recipes with detailed explanations and easy-to-follow steps.

I hope you enjoyed this post, I’d love to see what you make.