Making Lotions & Creams 101

In this class you'll learn how to make from scratch, wonderful lotions & creams for the body. We'll discuss all necessary ingredients like emulsifiers, humectants, emollients, as well as standard equipment and supplies needed to get started. You'll learn about the properties and shelf-life of vegetable/nut carrier oils and butters (like shea butter and mango butter), and how and when to use antioxidants "all-natural" preservatives on the market, we do use a synthetic preservative (but it is paraben-free).

We'll demonstrate two fantastic recipes, a nice light body lotion and a wonderful shea butter hand/foot cream. The batches we make in class will be unscented and uncolored and you'll get to add your choice of essential oils, fragrance oils and color. Popular scent combinations include lavender & mint, lemon & rosemary, and geranium, ylang ylang & sweet orange. Once finished scenting and coloring, you will package and label your custom product.

You will leave with a 3 oz. bottle of body lotion, a 2 oz. jar of shea hand & foot cream, and handouts complete with both of these tested recipes, detailed instructions, information on each of the ingredients, and recommended suppliers. Due to the necessity of making emulsion products in batches, this class is primarily demonstration / lecture style, with hands-on elements.

Once you take this class, you will never buy commercial lotions or creams again!

ABOUT THE TEACHER:
Anasa Tatum began making products to help her grandson who was diagnosed with eczema, and after curing him, fell in love with making food for the skin. She has been making her own cleansers, creams, oils & scrubs since 2004 and is the owner of Herbal Grace Bath & Body. She sells her products at trade shows throughout the bay area, on-line, and does small & large custom orders. Anasa has a degree in chemistry and subsequently worked in pharmaceutical quality control for 9 years. She lives in (and loves) the bay area. See our teacher page to view all of Anasa's classes.