The Handmade Gift You’d Actually Love to Receive
If you’ve never made holiday gifts, that’s going to change right here. And if you’re already the Michael Phelps of handmade gifts, this might just be the gift against which you judge all handmade gifts from here on out. It’s just that lovely, coveted, luxurious, and effortless.
Elegant Gifts
Gifting friends, family, co-workers, teachers, neighbors, and others with an elegant gift of your own signature Luxury Hand and Body Lotion definitely will definitely put you on the map.
It’s a homemade gift you would actually like to receive, it’s that good. And what better time than this weekend to make gifts? It’s quick and easy!
No Experience Required
Not particularly crafty? No worries. If you can assemble, empty, stir and mix well, you’ve got what it takes to make dozens of these gifts start to finish in a single evening.
And the best part? Around $5.00 per gift, depending on where you buy the ingredients and containers—all of which are readily available in supermarkets, drugstores, and online (I’ve included resources below.)
This hand and body lotion is so amazing, I have friends who nudge me about this time of year, letting me know they’ve run out and wouldn’t it be nice for them to be re-gifted with another jar of my signature lotion. That’s how unique and lovely it is.
The Routine
- Gather the ingredients
- Mix them together
- Divide between your choice of small containers
- Apply a label or gift tag
- Embellish as you desire, and there you go.
Done, and in no time flat. So easy!
Luxury Hand and Body Lotion
To make this luxury hand and body lotion (or call it cream), you need the following specific ingredients in the quantities noted.
1. Bath & Body Works Body Lotion
8 oz. Bath & Body Works Body Lotion. This is the most important and the operative ingredient in this luxury lotion.
While this body lotion comes in a plethora of scents, again, again this year, I’m using  A Thousand Wishes with Shea Butter because it is fabulous (packaging seems to vary from one year to the next).
This product is available in a plethora of fragrances, but it is this particular Thousand Wishes product’s formulation and subtle fragrance that will make your homemade product perfect in every way.
2. Vitamin E Skin Care Cream
4 oz. of Vitamin E cream. Fruit of the Earth is an excellent brand, linked below, is an excellent choice. Or any brand that is equivalent.
NOTE: The link below is for  8-oz. of Vitamin E Skin Care Cream, which is the best value at this writing. So make sure you use only HALF  (4 oz.) for one batch of homemade lotion.
3. Fragrance-Free Baby Lotion
18 oz. Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Moisturizing Lotion , or any brand fragrance-free moisturizing baby lotion.
It is important to use fragrance-free products there. It would be risky to start mixing fragrances with the Thousand Wishes (first ingredient above). Who knows how that would turn out, and it’s a risk best avoided.
4. Fragrance-Free Hand Lotion
32 oz. Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer. Any brand of fragrance-free hand lotion can be substituted here, however this Jergens Unscented is excellent both in quality and price.
And yes, this is a lot of product—32 oz. is one full quart. Make sure your mixing bowl is large!
5. Intensive Repair for Dry SkyÂ
5 oz. Eucerin Intensive Repair Very Dry Skin Lotion. I do not know of a suitable substitute at this writing, for this excellent product.
Resources
The links for these products below are for Amazon; you can find them at your local drugstore, discount department store, or supermarket.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric mixer or hand whisk
- One gallon-size zip-type or another similar plastic bag
- Any 6 oz., 4-oz., 2-oz., or other type lotion jars with lids. Small pump bottles work if you can find them in the size you need.
Instructions
1. Combine ingredients
Empty all five ingredients in the correct amounts (above) into a large mixing bowl.
2. Whip it
Using an electric hand mixer or whisk, whip together until well incorporated, about 5 minutes.
3. Fill a large zip-type bag
Using a rubber spatula or other kitchen utensil, transfer the lotion to the bag. Close the top. Using scissors, snip off a small portion of one of the bottom corners to create a simple “piping” bag.
4. Fill jars or containers
Fill the jars by gently squeezing the bag so the lotion extrudes from the snipped corner.
5. Give your signature lotion a name
Create small labels or tags with your message of choice.
6. Embellish as desired
That’s it. Beautiful, homemade gifts that will be well-received because you have just created a high-quality hand and body cream (or is it lotion?).
Because all of the ingredients except for the Bath & Body Works lotion are unscented, your lotion will have a very light, subtle scent—certainly not overpowering or offensive. Simply lovely.
This recipe as stated, yields about 65 oz. total of fine hand and body lotion (or cream, whatever you choose to call it). However, your mileage may vary depending on how long and vigorously you whip the lotion. Be careful to not make it too fluffy or to whip it too long. I find that about three to five minutes is ideal. Any longer and you run the risk of your lotion “splitting” or becoming watery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I use the exact brands shown?
In my opinion, yes for the Bath & Body Works Body Lotion or Cream because that is the key ingredient that makes this such an awesome homemade product. As for the other ingredients, the product type is important and approximately the quantity/size shown because the proportions are important. This is not an exact science so if you were to find say fragrance-free hand lotion in 15 oz. size, using two of them (30 oz.) would not adversely affect the outcome, although you would be about 2 oz. shy of total product at the end. That being said, try to locate the sizes shown if at all possible.
Where can I find pretty jars with lids?
You can find all kinds of plastic jars with lids (I wouldn't recommend glass for this project) at Amazon (see links above). Or look in any hobby and craft store like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmart, and so forth.
If I cannot find the products and shown is it OK if some are not fragrance-free?
I would avoid that if at all possible! Mixing fragrances could make for a very odd if not unappealing outcome! But let me be quick to add that I have not tested mixing fragrances at all. You might come up with your own signature blend! Just know going in that a failure might be pricey if you have no choice but to throw it all away. The ingredients are simple to find online, in any supermarket or drugstore, Walmart or Target.
Luxury Homemade Hand and Body Cream
Ingredients
- 8 ounce Tube or bottle any fragrance Bath & Body Works Body Lotion. "A Thousand Wishes" is highly recommended!
- 4 ounce Any brand Vitamin E cream.
- 18 ounce Any brand fragrance-free baby lotion
- 32 ounce Any brand fragrance-free hand lotion
- 4.5 ounce Vaseline Deep Intensive Jelly Cream
Instructions
- Empty all five containers into a large mixing bowl.
- Using an electric hand mixer or whisk, whip together until well incorporated, about 5 minutes.
- Fill a large zip-type bag. Using a rubber spatula or other kitchen utensil, transfer the lotion to the bag. Close the top. Using scissors, snip off a small portion of one of the bottom corners to create a simple "piping" bag.
- Fill the jars or your containers of choice by gently squeezing the bag so the lotion extrudes from the snipped corner. I use these  4-oz. plastic jars in cobalt blue with black lids because they make an elegant presentation
- Give your signature lotion a name then create small labels or tags with your message of choice.
- Embellish as desired
Notes
Everyday Cheapskate participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.
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Hi Mary –
My question: How long will your Luxury Homemade Hand and Body Cream last. I’m wondering if I can make it now and hold it until next Christmas (I’ve already given out most of my Christmas gifts this year, but I can’t wait to try this recipe.)
Also, I’ve found that the Vaseline Intensive Deep Moisture Cream has been hard to find – I wonder if it’s been discontinued. I have found Vaseline Intensive Care All Purpose Cream With Vaseline Jelly & Vitamin E and wondered if it was the same thing.
There isn’t anything that you’ve suggested that I haven’t LOVED!! I’d love to see some more product recommendations! I can’t even remember all the products you’ve recommended that I’ve bought…and I haven’t been disappointed by any of them! Eufy, Shark, a stroller (that baby is now 11 years old, so it was a long while ago), an iced tea maker…that’s all that comes to mind at the moment but I know there’s more!…Keep up the great work!
Thanks,
Carol
Hi Carol … The hand and body lotion will last a very long time. I’ve never had it go “bad” or separate before it was all gone. I’m talking a year or longer! Should it change in texture, just whip it up and back to its desired fluffiness. I’d store it in a cool place if you have that option. Thanks for your kind words! Means a lot to me. Oh, and yes you are right about the Vaseline product. The option you cite will work well.
thank you 🙂
I hate to be a downer Nellie, but I made this a couple years ago and added it to pretty baskets I was making for Christmas and received virtually NO responses neither positive or negative. I say this just to warn people to not be surprised if they don’t get the thanks they should. I loved the lotion and plan to make it again, except this time it will be just for me!
I think that may say more about your giftees than your lovely homemade gift 😉
Is there something else I can use other them Vaseline?
I don’t use Vaseline.
I suggest that you find a product that promises deep intensive care and healing, that satisfies you.
Possibly Aquaphor?
Great idea, Angela!