hands holding small Christmas gift in kraft paper and red bow

Homemade Body Lotion You’d Actually Love to Receive

/5 Comments/in /by Mary Hunt
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Gifting friends, family, co-workers teachers, and others with a jar of your own signature Luxury Hand and Body Cream 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 Christmas gifts? It’s quick and easy!

hands holding small Christmas gift in kraft paper and red bow

 

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? About $3.50 per gift, depending on where you buy the ingredients and containers—all of which are readily available in supermarkets, drugstores or online.

Here’s the routine:

  • Purchase the specific 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!

Ingredients

To make this lovely hand and body cream (or call it lotion) you’ll need 5 ingredients:

ingredients to make DIY hand and body cream for gifts

 

1. An 8-oz. tube any fragrance Bath & Body Works Ultra Shea Body Cream. Again, this year, I’m using Bath & Body  Works’ fragrance A Thousand Wishes because it is fabulous. Available at Bath & Body Works (in-store or online), also Amazon.

 

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

 

2. Any brand 4-oz. jar Vitamin E cream.

 

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

 

3. Any brand 18-oz. fragrance-free baby lotion

 

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

 

4. Any brand 32-oz. fragrance-free hand lotion

 

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

 

5. One 4.5 oz. tube Vaseline Jelly Cream

 

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer or hand whisk
  • a gallon-size zip-type or another 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.

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients

Empty all five containers into a large mixing bowl.

gift and cream

2. Whip it

Using an electric hand mixer or whisk, whip together until well incorporated, about five minutes.

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

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.

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

4. Fill jars or containers of choice

Fill the jars 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

 

ingredients for DIY hand and body cream gifts

 

homemade hand and body cream

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 shea body cream are unscented, your lotion will have a very light, subtle scent—certainly not overpowering or offensive. Simply lovely.

This recipe as stated, yields about 66 oz. total, or 16 (4-oz.) jars 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. I find that no more than five minutes is ideal.

Must I use the exact brands shown?

No, however, 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.

So, is this lotion or cream?

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon, at no cost to you.

Luxury Homemade Hand and Body Cream

This is the homemade gift you'd actually love to receive! High quality, very lightly scented, and non-greasy!
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Make Your Own
Cuisine: Gifts, How-To
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 16 4-oz.
Cost: Varies

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Electric mixer or whisk
  • Gallon-size zip-top 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.

Ingredients

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

Links for ingredient sources are in this post.
This recipe as stated, yields about 66 oz. total, or 16 (4-oz.) jars 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. I find that about five minutes is ideal.
Tried this recipe?Mention @EverydayCheapskate or tag #EverydayCheapskate!

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5 replies
  1. Denise Hagen says:

    5 stars
    I just made a batch of the lotion, using the ingredients in your instructions. I love it! I made it for Christmas gifts for my gal pals. It’s inexpensive to make but works just like a luxe lotion. It was so easy to make too. It’s hard to find a hand made gift that isn’t food. BTW, they have been getting your caramel corn and vanilla recipes as gifts for years. This lotion is another tool in my toolbox. I look forward to your posts everyday. Thanks for the practical inspiration.

    Reply
  3. Nora Mejia says:

    Mary you are the best! I read your post every day. unbeknowst to you, i started reading your books and little by little working on getting myself out of debt. I am proud to say I have been on a great journey, financially speaking. I really love your ideas such as making your own lotions which is also financially sound Happy hoilidays to you !!!

    Reply
  4. Jean Marshall says:

    5 stars
    I have saved the little plastic jars of Almay non-ooily eye make-up remover pads for years. Now I know what to do with them. 🙂

    Reply

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