liquid lotion recipe

Clients ask often what lotion I'm using, especially those who are bodyworkers. It's a simple personal recipe that I came upon by experimentation around 2016 and have used in bodywork ever since. It provides a lot of glide initially. The aloe sinks into and hydrates the skin. The remaining very scant surface of oil and lecithin offer a good grip with no significant feeling of residue on the skin afterward. Clients say they appreciate not feeling like they need to run home and shower and not needing to think carefully about what clothes they wear to a session over concerns with oil.

The three basic ingredients are also hypoallergenic, which works well in my practice because many of my clients have sensitivities or allergies that require careful selection of bodycare products. I've never had anyone report a challenge with sensitivity to this lotion.

Recipe

4-5 parts aloe gel

1 part organic, extra virgin olive oil

a small amount of liquid sunflower lecithin--(a teaspoon to a tablespoon per 16 ounces of the combined other ingredients.

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Pour about half the aloe gel into your lotion container. Add the lecithin. Shake until integrated. Add the remaining ingredients. Shake again.

That's it--you're done.

Variations

I'll use something closer to four parts aloe gel in winter when a little more oil on the skin can be helpful. More sunflower lecithin will provide a slightly waxier texture, suitable for winter. In summer I keep to a five to one ratio of aloe and oil--the extra hydration is great in the heat and occasionally it's extra aid going gently onto a sunburn.

I like to add a small amount of lanolin or replace some of the olive oil with it when I need a solution with a firmer grip. This is great for working with clients who have a high tolerance for traction on their tissues and where extensive, aggressive myofascial release is appropriate, such as in releasing old scars or adhesions.

The only reason I don't have a more precise measure for the lecithin is the fuss required to be precise about it with its thick, sticky texture. It works well in a range of concentrations. Sometimes I have left it out entirely; you could do so if lecithin is hard to find. The only immediate downside is the need to shake the bottle frequently to have a good balance of oil and aloe. This will probably leave a little more oil residue in sheets or clothes as well. The texture and resulting grip are different, but take no more getting used to than the main version.

The aloe has a touch of a sour odor. Most clients would not notice it in most applications. I don't mind it myself. For personal use, essential oils do a lot to cover the odor. I avoid essential oils in the lotion for the sake of clients with strong sensitivities.

Notes

I've never had this formula stain clothing, and my massage sheets never develop the rancid odor of sheets that absorb a lot of oil--the lecithin probably helps the small amount of oil does get into them to mostly come out in the wash with regular detergent.

With processed and preserved aloe gel this lotion is shelf-stable. So long as it is used within the shelf life of the oil it has never spoiled for me. I make and use roughly 32 ounces per month.

This lotion is more liquid than most, so I use a bottle with a pour spout of about 1/8" diameter--I don't use a pump bottle because the lotion squirts. You may find a better solution than I have if you prefer pump bottles.