I love tending to my small allotment plot or just pottering about in my tiny/container garden at home. The excitement of planning and planting new vegetables, pulling weeds, digging whilst forgetting to wear a proper glove and oh the beautiful agony of all the rose thorns. Overtime, I have noticed my hand getting a bit dry, and rougher after a gardening task- this is not necessarily a bad thing, however the recipe I will be sharing today is for reviving dry, tender and sometimes itchy hands.
This emulsified hand lotion was formulated especially for gardeners or people who work with their hands and struggles with a bit of callous and dryness or if you just want softer hands period. It is not your average oil-and-wax blend—this is a formulation intended for deep moisturisation, therefore we have a water phase and a preservative will be used. It is a lotion with calming and healing properties for tired hands to revive the skin from external stress hence the use of these particular ingredients.
Hempseed oil
A randomized, single-blind crossover study published in PubMed investigated the effects of dietary hempseed oil on patients with atopic dermatitis. The results indicated significant improvements in skin dryness, itchiness, and reduced use of dermal medications after 20 weeks of hempseed oil supplementation. These findings highlights the potential of hempseed oil in managing chronic dry skin conditions. Hemp seed oil is an effective solution for combating dry skin. Its unique blend of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants not only moisturizes but also strengthens the skin barrier and reduces inflammation.
Hemp seed oil is abundant in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, which are crucial for maintaining the skin’s lipid barrier. This barrier helps prevent water loss, keeping the skin hydrated and plump. Regular application can significantly improve skin moisture levels and reduce dryness.
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid found in hemp seed oil, exhibits potent anti-inflammatory effects.This can help alleviate redness, irritation, and inflammation associated with dry skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Despite being an oil, hemp seed oil has a comedogenic rating of 0, meaning it won’t clog pores. This makes it suitable for individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, offering hydration without the risk of breakouts. sixgldn.com. I added kokum butter and babassu oil to give the lotion its emollient properties, especially kokum butter due to its solid texture and natural tendencies to create a protective layer over the skin surface. Cocoa butter or mango butter can be used as substitute for kokum butter while coconut oil is a good substitute for babassu oil.
Additionally, it is packed with vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, that helps to combat oxidative stress and free radical damage.
This recipe also includes pentavitin, a natural humectant derived from corn sugars and responsible for long lasting skin hydration, and vegetable glycerin to create this gem. To improve the texture and allow for more spreadability, I added Isopropyl Myristate, however you can replace this with more of your oil of choice or eco silk. Urea can also be replaced with more vegetable glycerine, however it is one of the most effective ingredients I know to visibly improve dry skin.
Emulsifiyng wax, blends water and oil into luxurious, lotions and creams with texture that absorbs quickly and no greasy feeling – for this recipe I used emulsifying wax BP. Unlike balms and butters which I love and have a lot of incredible uses, this cream however, hydrates and seals simultaneously, calloused and dried gardening hands. After all we cannot moisturise without hydration, hence an emulsified lotions seems to be the best alternate.
Plus, you get to control every ingredient, experimenting with new butters, oil, waxes and even additives.
This recipe is for a 300g batch.
Oil Phase:
60% Distilled Water: 180grams
4% Glycerine: 120grams
3% Urea: 9grams
Water Phase:
10% Hempseed Oil: 30grams
5% Kokum Butter: 15grams
5% Babassu Oil: 15grams
5% Emulsifying Wax: 15grams
2% Cetly Alcohol: 6grams
2% Isopropyl Myristate: 6grams
Cool Down Phase:
1% Vitamin E: 3grams
1% Pentavitin: 3grams
1% Preservative Eco 3grams
1% Essential Oil/ Fragrance Oil: 3grams (Optional)
The process
- In a double boiler, melt your oils, butter, and emulsifying wax until fully liquid.
2. In a separate container, warm your distilled water, glycerin and urea to the same temperature (around 160°F / 70°C).
3. Slowly pour the oil into the water while blending with an immersion blender.
4. It’ll turn creamy, that means it has emulsified.
5. Let cool below 104°F / 40°C. Add your essential oil and preservative. Stir well.
6. Pour into clean jar, pump bottle, or tube and store in a cool place.
It must be noted that as the lotion gets cooler, the texture thickens and becomes a bit more viscous; however, this is still a lotion and is lighter than a cream. It is extremely smooth with no soaping, leaving an almost iridescent effect on the skin.
Use your lotion on clean, dry hands.
Ultimately, the hands are very powerful garden tools and a little bit of roughness is never an issue, in fact I think it is a testament to all the hard work we put in to make our garden- big or small, containers or even a tiny balcony as beautiful and as productive as it can be and this lotion is like a loving ode honouring that (a bit much over a hand lotion?…maybe).
Anyway, thank you for visiting this space and let me know if you will try it or any thoughts you may have.
tlgemsandmixes 