Lotion Makers..... please read....

[Chef Isaac]

I am making some hand lotion and when I mix it, it gets thick. How does one put it in the little bottles without making a big mess. All I can think of is a funnel or a pastry bag.

Also..... what is the difference between hand cream, hand lotion, salves, body lotion, body butters, etc?

[summer1052]

A funnel will work indeed. Despite many years of effort, I have never mastered the use of a pastry bag for frosting, cookie dough, lotion or anything else. Useless IMHO. Perhaps a properly trained chef can make it work!

The other differences are mostly about texture. Body lotions/creams/etc are intended for the whole body, and hand products for the hands. Some of us who do needlework are picky about products that leave residues. (Udder cream is great!)

Salves are "medicinal" (but be careful here not to make claims, or you're a drug not a cosmetic, and in FDA Hell) and used for burns, drawing splinters, muscle relief, etc. These are usually sold in the little flat tins.

Butters usually include shea/mango/olive or other butters that have a texture just like they sound like they do. (Think the differences between Crisco Oil and Crisco Shortening.) Lotion bars are a big deal now, and some men will use those, who would not otherwise bother.

I really like Mountain Mist Sage soap making supply at the sage dot com. Read the descriptions of their products and don't forget lotions need a preservative. (Learned that one the hard way! )

GL
Summer

[Chef Isaac]

Summer:

I would like to talk further. May I call you?

[Jeff McGuire]

Chef,

I make a lotion bar in a twist up tube and tins, people really like it for elbows and nuckles I add vanilla oil for a nice scent without it being overpowering. I haven't found a good recipe for a softer lotion yet that I like well enough to sell.

[Chef Isaac]

Jeff:

Do you have a recipe for your lotion bar?

I will be tightening up the lotion (soft) recipe in the next two weeks and I can pass it on to you if you would like. The base recipe is great. Now dealing with a little speration issues. But I am hopping to have that under control soon!

[beekeeper_sd]

I just lately started using plastic syringes (without the needle) that you can get at a veterinarian clinic. I used to pour out of my pan or from a little creamer pitcher but always seemed to dribble on the outside of the jars. The syringes work really good and clean up pretty good with a baby bottle brush and hot soapy water.