This simple summer lotion gives you a bit of a shimmery sun-kissed boost, and comes together in a flash. It’s lightweight, making it perfect for warmer days, and you can choose how much shimmer you want.
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Really, it’s just a basic emulsified lotion with added mica for some colour a sparkle. I chose safflower oil for the oil base for something that absorbs quickly.
The water base is a blend of honey, glycerin, and water (or aloe vera juice, if you have it on hand). The honey and glycerin help give the lotion a bit of an extra moisturizing punch by attracting moisture from the air to your skin.
I used a blend of gold and bronze micas in my lotion. I found I liked the effect of 6 pinches (three of each)—it’s a pretty mild shimmer, but definitely noticable in the sun. I recommend working slowly if you decide to go above and beyond 6 pinches to avoid accidental blinding sparkleyness.
Summer Shimmer Body Lotion
7g | 0.25oz emulsimulse/ritamulse (or other complete emulsifying wax—not beeswax!)
18g | 0.63oz safflower oil3g | 0.1oz raw honey
2g | 0.07oz vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada)
70g | 2.5oz water or aloe vera juice (not gel!)4 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops eucalyptus essential oil (globulus or radiata)3/8+ tsp bronze and/or gold mica (I use these tiny measuring spoons to measure out such small amounts)
Broad spectrum preservative of choice (why?)
Weigh out the emulsifying wax and safflower oil into a small saucepan and melt over medium heat.
While the waxes and butters are melting, combine the water, honey, and vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada) in a small glass measuring cup and gently warm though.
Once the oil part has melted, add the water mixture. Heat through to ensure everything is melted before removing the pan from the heat. Whisk the mixture as it cools—it will thicken into a nice white cream (the thickening may take a few days if you are using a different emulsifying wax than emulsimulse/ritamulse).
Whisk in the essential oils and the micas. Transfer the mixture to a 120mL/4oz pump-top bottle.
Hi Marie!
This looks absolutely divine! You are quite creative and I always look forward to your new recipes =)
I was wondering, I had a friend ask me if it is possible to make an oil free moisturizer, particularly for the face (she doesn’t want to use oils despite the wonderful benefits for skin). Is this something that can be done without chemicals?
Thank you!
Thanks, Ashlynn! I’ve noticed most “oil free” moisturizers are lies. They still contain fatty acids like cetyl alcohol, just not complete oils. It’s kind of crap, really. So… you could make your own lie version… but that seems silly. Without something to help hold the moisture in the skin (something that forms a water barrier, like oil), moisturizers aren’t, well… moisturizers.
Hi, I just recently created a ‘virtually’ oil-free moisturizer, (I added a few essential oils for acne prone skin), but the base is definitely oil-free! It was created from Aloe Vera Gel and Sea Kelp BioFerment (which can be found on Lotioncrafters.com). I use these at a ratio of 2-3T Aloe Vera Gel, to 1T Sea Kelp BioFerment. It’s perfectly acceptable to use the SKB at 100% strength, but it is definitely more costly! Also, I have found it is best to combine the two, and a solubilizer, if ur adding any essential oils, in a Pyrex double boiler, and warm until you can create a homogeneous mixture, let cool only a little, as this will congeal, then pour into final container(s), leave tops off, until mixture is cool.
While at LotionCrafter.com u can check out their all natural preservative called, NeoDefend, in case u wanted your end product to be All-Natural.
I hope that helps! Sorry to be so overly verbose!
Very cool! Thanks, Nicole. How dry is it where you live? Do you typically have dry skin?
Love this idea. Will the gold/bronze mixture work for darker skins (like cocoa coloring). Or should i only use the bronze? I have red undertones…
Hi Shirley! If you aren’t sure how the micas will work on your skin, feel free to do a wee patch test. You are, of course, welcome to use any blend you like 🙂
Looks lovely! Any idea if almond/jojoba oil would work instead of safflower?
Yup, that’ll work 🙂 Read this for more info.
Hi!
This recipe is a great idea. I just made and, interestingly, got almost 250ml of product. Might be the emulsifier I used (INCI: Glyceryl Sterate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate) as it was recommended by the lady at the cosmetics shop. I just doubled the micas and the scent I used and it seems fine!
Thank you!
Hmm. I know some e-waxes can give the final product a really airy, moussey texture, so that might be it (you could just have a lot more air in yours). Otherwise—did you do any weight/volume conversions? I’m glad it turned out, though!
could you use silver mica instead of bronze and gold?
You can, but it’ll be more of a winter shimmer than a summer shimmer 🙂
Could I use silver mica instead of bronze and gold?
You can, but it’ll be more of a winter shimmer than a summer shimmer 🙂
This lotion sounds wonderful! Just wondering, you said the lotion would last one to two months before spoiling. Why would it go bad so quickly if you are using a broad spectrum preservative?
Ah, good catch. That should say “if you choose to forgo the preservative…” before the two months bit 🙂
I was wondering with the water or aloe vera juice option, wouldn’t the water mix with the oils?
I’m not really sure what you’re asking, but yes, of course the water will mix with the oils—that’s the point! 😉
Hey. How do i unsubscribe from comments w/o unsubscribing from site? When following the provided links, it shows the link to unsubscribe from site. Thanks.
I’m afraid I’m not sure :/ I suppose you could unsubscribe from everything, and then re-subscribe just to the site? Though I do worry if you unsubscribe entirely you might be put on a “unsubscribed” black list, which does happen with some email lists. I’m afraid I don’t have much control over my emails. I’m looking at it, but it’ll cost hundreds of dollars a month :/
Hello Mary, i jus have on hand E wax is ok?
Other question, how many ewax can i substituid for 1oz of bee’s wax?
Hey Teresa! As long as it is a complete emulsifying wax you can use that. E-wax and beeswax cannot, in any circumstances, be used as substitutes for one another—read this for more information 🙂
Will this stain your clothes?
Thanks, Marie…. you rock!
I haven’t had any issues with it as long as I’m not layering on a ton of it, but at the same time I wouldn’t wear this with a white dress just in case!