Introduction

I have a daughter that has hands more rough than sand paper. 40 grit sand paper! Anyway, she has tried many creams on them and hates them all because they stink or burn or whatever. She has really liked the lanolin creams but tea tree essential oils and peppermint essential oil have been used at the rate of ridiculous and she hates the burning sensation.

So we came up with our own. Here is the recipe.

This was made on the blog on December 14th, 2009.

This was also made on the blog on January 18th, 2012. This blog post includes the use of Optiphen as a preservative.

Ingredients

112 grams Lanolin
56 grams Shea Butter, Refined
31 grams Colorless Jojoba Oil
5 grams Vitamin E Acetate
50 grams Liquid Glycerin (do not use soap here)
5 grams Conditioning Emulsifier

Instructions

Melt and stir together all ingredients. The lanolin is the slowest to melt, but will melt upon stirring without causing the entire mixture to get too hot. Lanolin is an emulsifier so it will hold the glycerin into suspension. Stir until cooled. If you are putting this mixture into a Grand Oval Bottle that sits on the cap then pour into the bottle while still fluid. Shake well throughout the cooling period.

I used Bourbon Geranium Essential Oil (15 drops) with a SMALL amount of Lavender Essential Oil (10 drops) to aid her sore hands. She doesn't mind the smell at all. A gal at work tried this on her cracking heels and LOVES it.

Comments

I filled two 4 fl oz Grand Oval Bottles with this mixture so it will make dispensing easier. It is very thick yet VERY easy to spread and massage into dry spots. Fragrance amounts are listed PER BOTTLE so you can give a tea tree & peppermint mixture to a friend that has cracking heels. Tea tree 10 drops, peppermint 10 drops. You can add more but it is best to start with less and then add to your desired level than call us wanting to know how to take it out. (You must multiply the batch to dilute an overused essential oil.)

During very cold weather this mixture may seem too difficult to remove from a Grand Oval bottle. Place the bottle between warm hands for a few minutes and the mixture will become easier to dispense. Shallow jars are recommended if you do not want to be concerned with the product becoming too firm for easy removal.

Small lip balm jars or tins make this mixture very portable. If the jar is stored in a pants pocket the mixture will be somewhat fluid. Do not put this mixture in a lip balm or lotion bar tube.

Yield

Two 4 fl oz bottles or jars.