When your children have sensitive skin, it can seem like every type of lotion you put on them causes itching and irritation. “This is because the skin is the body’s largest organ,” explains holistic therapist and skin care expert Gemma Clare. “It acts as a protective shield.” Considering this, make your own homemade lotion using only ingredients that won’t irritate your kiddo’s skin!
Besides being more cost-efficient, homemade lotions can easily be customized with the scents and oils you prefer, without the extra additives in store-bought varieties. Keep a stock of lotion ingredients on hand, and save any used glass jars to use for lotion storage (be sure to sterilize them before filling, however). Your local corner store may not stock some of these ingredients, but search online for the harder-to-find items.
For children with sensitive skin, finding the right lotion can really make a difference. No matter which lotion you try on your child, always test it out first. Take it from Suzanne LeRoux , the brains behind organic skin care line One Love Organics, who says, “Like airborne and food allergies, topical allergies are unique to the individual. Always do a patch test for something new!” Check out these top 20 homemade lotions for sensitive skin types.
- Three-Ingredient Lotion
This super simple homemade lotion from the simple living blog Hens and Honey uses only three ingredients: coconut oil, cocoa butter and essential oil.
- Lime Oil Lotion
If you have irritated skin, make a lotion that both smooths and soothes, like lime oil lotion inspired by the Grass Fed Girl.
- Peppermint Lotion
For an invigorating lotion that will keep skin soft, create a vitamin E-based lotion with peppermint oil like the one suggested by budget blogger I Am That Lady.
- Shea and Coconut Lotion
Life From The Ground Up recommends a thicker shea butter lotion for skin that needs extreme hydration.
- Essential Oil Lotion
Sometimes you just want a lotion that smells really good, like these fragrant lotion recipes from homemaker blog Beauty In The Mess.
- Healing Lotion
The Paleo Mama suggests using a healing salve that contains olive oil and beeswax to heal broken or cracked skin.
- Anti-Itch Lotion
Use a homemade anti-itch cream if you have an itch that you just can’t scratch, just like the one from Fabulous Farm Girl.
- Aloe-Infused Lotion
When planning a day at the beach, make sure to bring along an aloe-infused lotion like one found on the culinary blog Gourmet Innovations.
- Sunscreen Lotion
DIY mom blogger Scratch Mommy found the perfect homemade sunscreen lotion for her kiddos.
- Rose Anti-Aging Lotion
The next time your hands need a little pick me up, try making this rose anti-aging lotion from Lovely Greens.
- Calamine Lotion
Don’t let bug bites get you down! Use the recipe provided on natural living blog Everyday Roots to create your own homemade calamine lotion.
- Facial Lotion
Keep those laugh lines at bay the natural way with the homemade facial lotion from Say Not Sweet Anne.
- Eczema Lotion
DIY Natural suggests using homemade lotion containing skin-soothing ingredients to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
- Shaving Lotion
Sometimes commercial shaving creams cause the skin to feel dry and itchy afterward. Not true with the homemade shaving lotion thought up by Little House Living.
- Cooling Foot Lotion
Primally Inspired has the cure for tired, overworked feet — a cooling homemade foot lotion that will pamper your tootsies.
- Lotion Bar
Make your own homemade lavender lotion bar like the one inspired by Gourmande in the Kitchen. A solid bar is less messy than lotion and easy to toss in your bag or suitcase.
- Epsom Salt Lotion
With the help of calming and therapeutic Epsom salts, The GFCF Lady creates a lotion that you can use to treat a wide range of inflammatory conditions.
- Arthritis Lotion
The next time your arthritis flares up, reach for a bottle of your very own homemade arthritis lotion that contains the numbing properties of capsaicin, courtesy of Everyday Roots.
- Sore Muscle Lotion
Mommypotamus encourages anyone with tired, aching muscles to try out her version of a sore muscle lotion. Perfect for those triathlon moms and kids out there!
- Acne Treatment Lotion
Even grown-ups get unsightly pimples now and then, but with the help of The Natural Acne Cure, you can make a homemade acne lotion that will kiss those bumps goodbye.
Love homemade products? Learn how to make Homemade Shampoo for the Whole Family.
Kelly Sundstrom is an award-winning journalist, author, artist and national special needs spokesperson. As the mother of twice-exceptional children, Sundstrom has been a guest speaker on Grassroots TV in Aspen, Colorado, and offers her support and advocacy to special needs families all over the country.
