Writing lotion/cream recipes?

[throughthebarricades]

Hi,

I am new to making bath and body products and would like to try writing a recipe for lotions/creams.

I am not really sure how to begin. I've picked out some butters and oils I'd like to use, but whether it'll work or not I have no idea.

Any easy rules of thumb - like % of ingredients needed in each phase, must-have ingredients, etc.? I've compared a lot of recipes I've found online but they all seem to be fairly different so I am not sure what works/what won't.

Thanks

 

[throughthebarricades]

Just noticed maybe this isn't the right forum to post this in - moderators can move post if they see fit, thanks.

 

[ToniD]

if you go to swiftcraftymonkey's blog, she has posts on how to make a lotion or cream. A great place to start is the lotion tutorial on the side bar under free downloadable PDFs. She really gives lots on info on whys and what ingrediants and how things work. Great stuff

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1020026/introductiontolotionmakingthingie.pdf

 

[Earthchild]

I second Swift's blog; it is the holy grail of learning-to-craft blogs! She has so much amazing information, and downloadable e-books which include a guide to lotion making. Here is the link:

http://swiftcraftymonkey.blogspot.com/

 

[throughthebarricades]

Thanks!!! This is really helpful!!

 

[lauramw71]

The only way to really find out if the butters and oil will work is trial and error. If you want to make your own, you need to read up on every ingredient you want to use.. Definately not an easy or cheap process, but if you didn't want to try any of the ones you found, I really don't know how else you would go about it. Oh, make sure you keep notes of EVERYTHING you do. Nothing worse than finding perfection and realizing you didn't write down what you used/did!

 

[throughthebarricades]

Thanks Laura