Chamomile Makes This Herbal Lotion Luxurious

Crafting a homemade lotion may involve a few more steps than other handcrafted herbal products. But this soft and soothing chamomile body butter is well worth the extra time and effort!

Chamomile is loaded with powerful antioxidants that help regenerate the skin, tighten pores and reduce blemishes and redness. Adding this aromatic herb to our lotion creates a versatile product that will moisturize and soften the skin while smoothing wrinkles and clearing up acne. 

What You Need

• 3 ounces oil of choice
• 1 1/2 ounces coconut oil
• 1/2 ounce (by weight) beeswax
• 2 1/2-ounce chamomile infusion
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
• essential oil (optional)
• immersion blender
• medium-sized glass or metal bowl
• double boiler

Step 1: Brew the Infusion

The first step is to brew our chamomile infusion. This can be made with either Roman chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile, or the German, Matricaria recutita.

These two plants are certainly different species. But they offer many of the same benefits and are often used interchangeably in commercial skincare products. Feel free to use whichever species of chamomile you have available. 

We’ll make our infusion by pouring 1 cup of boiling water over 3 tablespoons of dried chamomile flowers. Allow to steep for at least 15 to 20 minutes. Use a tea ball or reusable teabag, or strain out the flowers using a sieve after the water is well infused.

This will produce more than enough chamomile infusion for use in our lotion recipe. 

Read more: Interested in growing chamomile? Here’s what you should know!

Step 2: Prepare the Lotion

Next, combine the oil, coconut oil and beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the beeswax is melted and the mixture well blended.

Then pour the oil and beeswax mixture into a glass or stainless-steel bowl to let cool. 

Once the oils have cooled to room temperature and begin to solidify, you can add the vitamin E oil. This step is optional, but the vitamin E will act as a preservative, extending the shelf life of the lotion.

This is valuable because of the use of water in this product. (Water can often promote bacterial growth.) 

This would also be the stage that you would want to add any essential oils to the lotion. Lavender would be an excellent addition to this recipe, but feel free to experiment with oils that you may already have at home.

Anywhere from 5 to 15 drops of essential oil should be plenty.

Step 3: Combine Everything

Now, add the chamomile infusion, mixing continuously until the lotion emulsifies into a smooth, creamy consistency. You could do this by hand with a whisk. Using an immersion blender, however, will make the job much easier! 

It’s important that the infusion is also at least room temperature or warmer when you add it to ensure proper emulsification. If you don’t have an immersion blender, a table-top blender will work but will be a bit more difficult to clean. 

Use a rubber spatula or similar tool to move the chamomile lotion into jars for storage. Now you have fragrant and soothing body butter that your skin will thank you for!