Simple Hand Lotion Concept (Hand Mixable)

Making a stable cream by hand without a machine can be challenging because it typically requires heating ingredients and strong mixing to properly emulsify the oil and water phases. However, you can create a simpler hand lotion or a balm-like texture that is easier to mix by hand and can incorporate natural extracts.

Here is a conceptual outline for a hand lotion that you could attempt to mix by hand, focusing on incorporating natural extracts:

• Water Phase: This will be the main part of your lotion. You can include purified water and water-soluble natural extracts.
  • Example: Witch Hazel (Distillate - Alcohol Free, Paraben Free) can be included in the water phase for its soothing and pore-tightening properties.
• Oil Phase: This provides emollience and nourishment. You can use liquid carrier oils (like Sweet Almond Oil or Sunflower Oil) and soft butters (like Shea Butter), which are easy to work with at room temperature or slightly warmed by hand. Oil-soluble extracts are added here.
  • Example: Natural Bisabolol (Brazil Chamomile) is an oil-soluble extract known for reducing irritation and can be added to your oil phase.
• Stabilizer/Thickener: While a strong emulsifier is hard to use without a machine, adding a water-phase thickener (like a gum) can help stabilize the mixture and give it a lotion-like consistency, preventing complete separation.
• Preservative: This is crucial for any product containing water to prevent microbial growth. You must include a broad-spectrum preservative.
  • Example: A preservative like Mild Preserved™ COS is important to ensure the product remains safe to use. Follow the supplier's recommended usage rate.
• Other Optional Ingredients: Glycerin for hydration, Vitamin E as an antioxidant, or a mild fragrance suitable for skin.

Mixing Method (Hand Mixing):

1. Combine your water phase ingredients (water, Witch Hazel, water-phase thickener if using). Stir well until the thickener is dispersed and starts to hydrate.
2. In a separate container, combine your oil phase ingredients (carrier oil, butter, Natural Bisabolol). You might gently warm the butter slightly if needed to soften it, but avoid high heat. Mix the oil phase ingredients together.
3. Slowly add the oil phase to the water phase while continuously stirring vigorously by hand. Keep stirring until the mixture appears uniform. It may not form a perfectly stable emulsion like a machine-mixed cream, but it should form a usable lotion consistency if a thickener is used.
4. Once cooled (if any gentle warming was used), add your preservative (like Mild Preserved™ COS) and any other optional ingredients. Stir thoroughly to ensure even distribution.

Store the lotion in a clean container. Due to the limitations of hand mixing, stability might be less than a commercially produced cream. Make small batches and observe for any separation or changes in smell/appearance.