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Calendula Lotion Recipe

Instructions for making a simple calendula lotion with calendula-infused oil. The texture is thick and creamy but feels light and absorbs quickly. It's ideal for hands and body and for those who have dry and irritated skin. Makes one 100ml pot but can be scaled up for larger batches.
Keyword calendula recipe, lotion, skin care recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Cooling time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings 120 ml
Author Tanya Anderson
Cost $5

Equipment

Ingredients

Water Phase

  • 80 g rose water (rose hydrosol) 2.82 oz or ¼ cup + 1 TBSP + 2 tsp - can use distilled water instead
  • 1 g honey ¼ tsp - or vegetable glycerine as a Vegan alternative

Oil Phase

Cooling Phase

Instructions

Make the Calendula Infused Oil

  • Before making calendula lotion, you must first make calendula oil. There are several ways to make it, and you can use a liquid carrier oil of your choice. I use sweet almond oil, but others that I recommend include grapeseed oil and apricot kernel oil. For a heavier, more conditioning lotion, you could use avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil. Here are the instructions for how to make calendula oil.

Prepare the Oil & Water Phases

  • Measure the ingredients of the oil phase into one heat-proof glass jar. Measure the water phase ingredients in a second jar.
  • Next, create a double boiler. Place a potholder or folded-up kitchen towel at the bottom of a saucepan. Set the two jars on top of it, then fill the pan with hot water from the tap to the level of the jars' contents. Any more than that, and the jars can float.
  • Bring the water in the pan to a boil on the hob, then reduce the heat to a simmer. You're ready for the next step after the oil phase ingredients are fully melted. It helps to stir or swirl the jars to speed this step up. It should only take a few minutes after the water in the pan comes to a boil.
  • Once the oil phase is melted, remove the jars from the pan and set them on the kitchen counter. Stir both phases with a spoon to make sure they're fully incorporated.
  • Next, carefully pour the water-phase ingredients into the oil-phase jar. The contents will turn an opaque, creamy color but still be liquid.
  • Using a kitchen spoon, stir the ingredients together. I use a quick stirring motion and hold the jar in my other hand. It usually takes just a minute or two for a small batch to thicken up to the consistency of mayonnaise. When you reach this thickness, set the calendula lotion to one side to cool.

Cooling Phase

  • As the lotion cools, prepare the cooling phase ingredients. Some broad-spectrum preservatives, such as my favorite Geogard Ultra, come as a powder. Mix this powder (1.5 g or ½ tsp) with the rose hydrosol until it's well dispersed. Other preservatives come pre-dissolved in a liquid carrier. If your is, it can be added directly to the lotion, but please follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • When the lotion is 43°C (110°F) or cooler, add the preservative, rose hydrosol, and optional essential oil. Stir well.
  • Every time I've made this recipe, the pH is fine and does not need adjusting. However, it's always best to test your batch by following the instructions in the notes field. Skin lotion pH must be 4.5 to 5.5, and many preservatives are only effective at particular pHs.
  • Spoon the calendula lotion into a clean and dry container, using a spatula to scrape every last bit. Allow it to cool to room temperature before sealing it with a lid. If you've used the Geogard Ultra preservative, the product has a shelf-life of up to eighteen months and must be used within six months of opening.

Video

Notes

Testing for pH
Skin creams and lotions should be pH 4.5 to 5.5 to feel comfortable on your skin. If they're more acidic or alkaline, they can sting or cause dryness. To work out your batch of lotion's pH, stir a half teaspoon of lotion into 1-2 tsp distilled water. Dip a pH paper into the liquid and then compare the color to the ones on the pack. 
You can make the lotion more acidic (lower the pH) by adding tiny amounts of lactic acid or citric acid dissolved in a small amount of warm, distilled water. Make it more alkaline (increase the pH) with triethanolamine or by dissolving a small amount of L-Arginine or bicarbonate (baking soda) in water and adding it. Pass it through the sieve and into the lotion. Take the pH reading again and adjust again if needed.