How to Make a Beautiful + Nourishing Homemade Hand Cream
If you’re new to DIY skincare, this homemade hand cream recipe is a great starting point.
This recipe will be super easy for all you seasoned soap makers out there. You’ll likely find that you already have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your arsenal. You’ll love the thick, luxurious, and skin loving results.
Homemade Hand Cream for Winter
Equipment
- Electric Mixer
- microwavable bowl
Ingredients
- 3 ounces coconut oil
- 1.75 ounces mango butter
- 1 ounce olive oil
- 0. 125 ounces beeswax
Optional
- fragrance oil or essential oil
Instructions
- Melt solids. Melt the oil, butter, and beeswax in a double boiler set over low heat.
- Add liquids. Remove from the heat and add the fragrance oil and essential oil, if using. Add the olive oil. Stir well until fully combined.
- Cool. Set on the counter to cool at room temperature until solidified, at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- Whip. Whip until white fluffy using electric mixer, about ten minutes. If consistency does not change after whipping, place the oils in the fridge for 15 minutes and try again.
- Store. Store in clean container at room temperature. May melt if stored above 80 degrees.
Video
Notes
What makes this hand cream stand out is its rich, balm-like consistency. It melts on your skin and absorbs, leaving your hands soft and moisturized.
Please note that the finished product is very rich and thick If you want a softer cream more like a traditional store-bought cream, you will need to add emulsifiers and preservatives. My favorite body cream recipe can be found here.
You can adjust the ingredients to suit your needs, making it a great DIY project. Whether you have hard-working hands, dry skin, or sensitive skin, you can tailor this recipe to create your ideal hand cream.
Equipment and Ingredients You’ll Need for Homemade Hand Cream
Unlike soap, this recipe is somewhat flexible. You can substitute other butters as long as you keep the “bigger” ingredients the same.
- Olive oil. Any kind will work. Don’t waste an expensive extra-virgin olive oil on this recipe.
- Coconut oil. If you make a lot of soap or other bath and body products, get a variety that’s not food-safe. It’s much less expensive. (You can get well-priced bulk oils at Nurture Soap.)
- Beeswax. You will want to get the little beads, which are easier to measure out. Beeswax is very hard and difficult to work with in big pieces. (I use this kind of beeswax.)
- Mango butter: This tropical butter melts beautifully into your skin, leaving it feeling nourished and supple. If you can’t find it, shea butter is a good substitute, but it might be slightly heavier.
- A hand mixer or stand mixer. It’s nearly impossible to whip this by hand!
- A digital scale. You won’t regret having one. I use mine daily for soap, bread, and other kitchen projects. Here’s the one I have.
- A clean storage container. You can buy special tins for body butter and hand cream, or use a shallow mason jar.
- Essential Oils. Customize your hand cream by adding your favorite essential oils. Lavender essential oil is a popular choice due to its calming and anti-inflammatory properties. You can also use essential oils like sweet orange, tea tree, or peppermint based on your preferences.
For those interested in extra benefits, consider adding a natural preservative or a few drops of Vitamin C. These can help increase the shelf life and provide additional skincare benefits.
Gya Labs Sweet Orange Essential Oil for Diffuser – 100% Natural Citrus Essential Oils for Skin – Sweet Orange Oil Essential Oil for Aromatherapy (0.34 fl oz)Beeswax Pellets 2 lb, White, Pure, Bees Wax Pastilles, Triple Filtered, Great for DIY Projects, Lip Balms, LotionsYellow Brick Road Raw Mango Butter 8oz
FAQs
No, the cream will be too thin and won’t have any “body” to it.
If you don’t have beeswax, you can use candelilla wax as a vegan alternative. It works similarly to beeswax and helps maintain the consistency of your cream.
Nope, since there is no water in this recipe, you don’t need to worry about mold growing. It’s almost like a whipped chapstick!
You can make tweaks and substitutions, but the consistency will change. That doesn’t mean it won’t work, just that it will be different. I would recommend not increasing the amount of olive oil or beeswax, as they dramatically affect the finished product.
Yes, adding a few drops of Vitamin E oil can help extend the shelf life of your hand cream and provide additional nourishing benefits for your skin.
Store your hand cream in glass jars away from direct sunlight to prevent it from melting or spoiling. If your home is very warm, consider storing it in the fridge.
Skincare Formulations
Combining Oils and Butters
When making your own hand cream, using equal parts of different carrier oils and butters can create a balanced and effective moisturizer. For example, combining sunflower oil, sweet almond oil, and cocoa butter can yield a rich and nourishing product.
Adding Water
If you prefer a lighter, more conventional lotion, you can experiment with adding distilled water to your recipe. Just remember that adding water will require a broad-spectrum preservative to prevent mold and bacteria growth.
Expert Advice
- Making Small Batches. When trying a new homemade lotion recipe for the first time, it’s best to make small batches. This way, you can tweak the recipe to your liking without wasting ingredients.
- Experiment with Your Own Recipe. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your own recipe. Mix and match different oils, butters, and essential oils to find the perfect blend for your skin type.
- Join a Forum Community. For more tips and advice, consider joining a forum community dedicated to DIY beauty products. You can find older threads and discussions that offer valuable insights and ideas for your next time making homemade skincare products.
Final Thoughts
Creating your own hand cream with natural ingredients is not only rewarding but also allows you to avoid synthetic fragrances and other potentially harmful chemicals found in commercial hand creams. Plus, it’s a great DIY project that can be done in small batches, ensuring your cream is always fresh and effective.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.