See how to make the best DIY body lotion for dry skin in winter with cornflowers and chamomile! This lightweight DIY body lotion is very moisturizing and made with natural materials, without synthetic fragrances and skin-softeners.
The moisturizer feels velvety and is perfect to keep your skin soft and supple all winter long. Plus, you get useful tips for how to make homemade body lotion from scratch and learn about the skincare benefits of blue cornflowers and chamomile essential oil!

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The Best DIY Body Lotion for Dry Skin in Winter
No more runs to the beauty store needed – I’m going to show you how to make a vegan DIY body lotion for dry skin at home! This homemade moisturizer could become your favourite herbal body lotion. I’ve been sharing winter skincare products all week long, and it was time to add an easy body lotion to the lot.
When you look up DIY body lotion online, you’ll find many lotion recipes that are actually soft body butters or creams. Most don’t even use a preservative, which isn’t safe for a beauty product containing water. Don’t get me wrong, I love a rich, creamy body butter (and you should totally try this whipped pumpkin spice body butter).
But for this all-natural skincare recipe, I wanted a moisturizing body lotion that is very hydrating, non-greasy and absorbs quickly. Something that feels lightweight and nourishing at the same time. A body lotion for a pump dispenser that you grab whenever your skin feels dry and in need of a little care. Simply, the best body lotion for extremely dry skin.
Grab a bag of dried cornflowers (I’ll tell you why this one is my favourite beauty ingredients below) and let’s make moisturizing body lotion from scratch!

Ingredients for DIY body lotion for dry skin
The silky feel and moisturising effect of my non-greasy body lotion for dry skin come from the ingredients. Since this is a homemade lotion without beeswax, the recipe is suitable for vegans. So, let’s see what materials we need to whip up the best natural body lotion without chemicals:
- dried blue cornflowers petals – The dried herb is used to create a nutrient-rich heat-infused oil.
- cornflower hydrosol – The floral water is loaded with the skincare benefits of blue cornflowers and strengthens the hydrating effect in this DIY body butter.
- Olivem 1000 – Olivem 1000, an easy-to-use emulsifying wax, is needed to combine the water and oils for a homemade lotion that isn’t greasy. For other ways to use the emulsifier, check out this DIY rose cleansing balm. Olivem 900 would be even better but is harder to find.
- jojoba oil – Jojoba oil provides moisturization and is absorbed quickly into the skin. The oil is humectant ingredient meaning it creates a protective barrier that locks moisture in the skin.
- shea butter and cocoa butter – Both plant-based butters are highly concentrated in fatty acids that soften and regenerate the skin, perfect for a DIY lightweight moisturizer.
- vitamin E – Vitamin E is used to further the anti-oxidant qualities of the other ingredients.
- French blue clay or Kaolin clay – A small amount of fine kaolin clay gives the improves the texture further. I used French blue clay, which gave the lotion its lovely blue colour, but white Kaolin clay is perfect, too. Add clay is only recommended for normal and oil skin types.
- Optiphen Plus – Since this moisturizing body lotion contains water, a preservative must be used to avoid contamination from mould or bacteria. Optiphen Plus is a paraben-free preservative and will prolong the shelf life of our easy body lotion recipe.
Skincare benefits of blue cornflowers
The use of blue cornflowers in herbalism, medicine and cosmetics has a long history. Traditionally used to treat eye alignments, cornflowers are beneficial for skincare products, too. The flowerhead contains many phytochemicals, which are biologically active compounds, that give the herb excellent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and astringent qualities.

Phytochemicals found in blue cornflowers
I mentioned some of the skin benefits of blue cornflower is my black lava bath salts recipe, but let’s have a closer look at some of the phytochemicals and nutrients in the herb (sources 1, 2, 3, 4):
- The anthocyanin protocyanin gives the flower its deep blue colour and has powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The specific name, cyanus, literally means ‘dark blue’ in Greek.
- Tannins bind and precipitate proteins, making the herb useful for treating itchy, dry and bleeding skin. The astringent properties of tannin also tighten the skin and reduce the appearance of pores.
- The flavonoid apigenin is an anti-oxidant that tones the skin and fights oxidative stress.
Topically applied, cornflowers can help to tone, freshen, soothe, restore suppleness and enhance the overall appearance of skin. The anthocyanins found in cornflowers are particularly useful to nourish dry, sensitive skin and eczema. All in all, a great ingredient in a body lotion with antioxidants!
Easy body lotion with cornflowers
This easy homemade body lotion recipe uses cornflower in two ways:
- cornflower-infused oil – Jojoba oil infused with dried cornflower petals provides deep moisturization and nutrition for your skin. I’ll show you how to make cornflower-infused oil in just a moment.
- cornflower hydrosol – Cornflower floral water is a wonderful toner, suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The hydrolate helps to tighten the skin and to treat acne and skin rashes.
I highly recommend cornflower hydrosol for this DIY body lotion. However, if you can’t find it use either another hydrosol (e.g. orange, rose, or mint) or deionized water.

Soothing body lotion with German chamomile
Can you add essential oils to lotion? Yes, you can! We all like to have the best smelling body lotion, and essential oils are excellent to scent body lotion naturally. They also add to the skincare qualities of our body lotion for dry and irritated skin.
In this homemade scented lotion, I used German chamomile, sweet orange, and vanilla oleoresin. The drop count is included in the recipe box below. Sweet orange and vanilla oleoresin lend the butter a lovely sweet yet refreshing scent, but German chamomile is the true hero of my DIY body lotion with essential oils.
German chamomile is very healing and provides excellent aid for dry winter skin. The EO’s anti-inflammatory properties calm skin inflammation and redness. The mild sedative effect soothes skin pain and rashes, while the anti-bacterial and anti-septic qualities are said to alleviate infections and flare-ups.
Its high chamazulene content gives the essential oil a deep blue colour. The azulene is credited for the essential oil’s calming and anti-inflammatory properties. The chemical also protects the skin from free radicals and boosts cell regeneration.
Tip: If you have extremely sensitive or inflamed skin, either omit the essential oils completely or only add 5 drops chamomile EO to the DIY body lotion for dry itchy skin.

Homemade body lotion from scratch
Are you wondering how to make DIY body lotion? It seems complicated but is actually rather simple. But first, what is a body lotion? Well, a body lotion is a low-viscosity moisturiser with a higher water content than oil compared to body butters or creams.
Body lotions are made by creating a water-oil-emulsion. An emulsion is a permanent mixture of two insoluble liquids, in this case, cornflower hydrosol and oils. As I already mentioned, Olivem 1000 acts as an emulsifier and stability agent in this hydrating lotion.
Now let’s see how to make homemade body lotion for dry skin in winter.
How do you make DIY body lotion for dry skin? – Step-by-step tutorial

Make cornflower-infused oil
While you can make a cold infusion, I prefer the hot-infusion method for this recipe because it’s quick and we need to warm the oil anyway. This is what you do:
- Add the jojoba oil and dried cornflower petals into a heat-proof jar or bowl and warm in a water bath for 30 minutes to an hour. Heat at the lowest possible temperature to avoid burning the oils or herb and add more water if necessary.
- Strain the oil through a coffee filter or a fine-mesh tea infuser to remove the solids and discard the cornflower petals.

Warm the ingredients
To make an emulsion successfully, the oil and water phase must have the same temperature. Again, the water should be warm, not hot. Mild steam is fine but not boiling.
- Measure 1/4 cup / 60 ml / 2 fl oz of the cornflower oil and 1 cup / 250 ml / 8.4 fl oz cornflower hydrosol and add both into two separate heatproof jars or containers.
- Add the Olivem 1000, shea butter and cocoa butter to the jar with the oil.
- Warm both jars in a water bath until the Olivem 1000 and butters have melted. Stir occasionally to speed up the process.
Tip: You can use leftover cornflower oil to make a DIY face oil recipe.

Slowly pour the water passe to the oils and mix to blend the emulsion.
Optionally, mix in a little blue clay. Then Transfer into a pump dispenser.
Mix the emulsion
Although we use more water than oil, this homemade body lotion is a water-in-oil emulsion, meaning the water phase, the hydrosol, is added to the oil phase. This type of emulsion is ideal for dry and sensitive skin treatments.
- Transfer the oil-Olivem mixture into a large jar (I used a 32-oz mason jar) or a tall mixing bowl. Add the essential oils and vitamin E* and whisk with an immersion blender to combine.
- Stir the Optiphen Plus into the cornflower hydrosol.
- Keep whisking and slowly pour the warm hydrosol to the oil phase. Whisk the emulsion for 2 to 3 minutes until well blended.
- Sprinkle the French blue clay or Kaolin clay on the lotion.
- Mix well to combine, then transfer your homemade body lotion into a pump bottle or airtight cosmetic jar.
*Cut open 5 vitamin E capsules with the tip of a small paring knife and squeeze the liquid into the jar.
Read on to learn how to adjust the texture and viscosity of the herbal body lotion.
Adjust the viscosity of the body lotion
The beauty of making your own skincare products at home is that you can adjust the formula to your personal preference. The amount of water we add defines the texture of the DIY body lotion for dry skin. Here’s what you need to know:
- 1/2 cup water gives you a light body cream.
- 2/3 to 3/4 cup of water creates a perfectly smooth, pumpable non greasy homemade lotion – my favourite and what you see in the pictures.
- 1 cup water will make the body lotion liquid similar to non-greasy body oil.
I recommend to add 1/2 cup of hydrosol/water and then check the consistency. Does the emulsion feel thick or thin? Gradually add more water until the dry skin body lotion reaches your preferred consistency.
Tools and supplies to make DIY body lotion for dry skin
Tab or click the links below to shop the supplies used to make this homemade body lotion for winter:
- glass jars – I like to use 16-oz wide mouth mason jar for warming and melting, and 32-oz jars for mixing. These glass jars are non-metallic, heat-resistant and have the perfect size to whip the body lotion.
- stick blender – A handheld stick blender is the tool of choice for mixing the emulsion.
- pump bottle or soap dispenser – I filled the hydrating lotion into a soap dispenser from Ikea. A glass pump bottles work great as well.

More homemade winter skincare ideas
Whether you need more winter skincare ideas or just enjoy making natural products, the following homemade beauty recipes will make your skin looking and feeling great!
Bath & Body
- Hawaiian black lava bath salt with cornflower and hibiscus
- moisturizing snowflake bath bombs
- DIY moisturizing soap for dry skin
Face
- blue clay mask recipes
- exfoliating cleansing balm with jojoba beads
- hydrating eye cream with birch sap
- lip repair cream with berry wax and pomegranate seed oil
- face moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin

The Best DIY Body Lotion for Dry Skin in Winter with Cornflowers and Essential Oils
See how to make the best DIY body lotion for dry skin in winter with cornflowers and chamomile! This lightweight DIY body lotion is very moisturizing and made with natural materials, without synthetic fragrances and skin-softeners. The moisturizer feels velvety and is perfect to keep your skin soft and supple all winter long. Plus, you get useful tips for how to make homemade body lotion from scratch and learn about the skincare benefits of blue cornflowers and chamomile essential oil!
Materials
Cornflower infused oil
Oil phase
- 1/4 cup / 15 g / 0.5 oz Olivem 1000* (see not below)
- 1 tsp / 5 g / 0.2 oz shea butter
- 1 tsp / 5 g / 0.2 oz cocoa butter
- 15 drops German chamomile essential oil
- 5 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 5 drops vanilla oleoresin essential oil
- 5 vitamin E capsules
Water phase
- 1 cup / 250 ml / 8.4 fl oz cornflower hydrosol (can be subbed for other hydrosols or deionized water)
- 10 drops Optiphen Plus
Optional
Instructions
Cornflower-Infused Jojoba Oil
- Add the jojoba oil and dried cornflower petals into a heat-proof jar or bowl and warm in a water bath for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Heat at the lowest possible temperature to avoid burning the oils or herb and add more water if necessary.
- Strain the oil through a coffee filter or a fine-mesh tea infuser to remove the solids
and discard the cornflower petals.
DIY Body Lotion
- Measure 1/4 cup / 60 ml / 2 fl oz of the cornflower oil and 1 cup / 250 ml / 8.4 fl cornflower hydrosol and add both into two separate heatproof jars or containers.
- Add the Olivem 1000, shea butter and cocoa butter to the jar with the oil.
- Warm both jars in a water bath until the Olivem 1000 and butters have melted. Stir occasionally to speed up the process.
- Transfer the oil-Olivem mixture into a large jar or a tall mixing bowl. Add the essential oils and vitamin E** (see tip below) and whisk with an immersion blender to combine.
- Stir the Optiphen Plus into the cornflower hydrosol.
- Keep whisking and slowly pour the warm hydrosol to the oil phase. Whisk the emulsion for 2 to 3 minutes until well blended.
- Sprinkle the French blue clay or Kaolin clay on the lotion.
- Mix well to combine, then transfer your homemade body lotion into a pump bottle or airtight cosmetic jar.
Notes
*How to measure Olivem 1000
To achieve the best texture, I recommend weighing the Olivem with a kitchen scale as measuring by volume isn’t very precise. If using a measuring cup, fill the cup lightly with wax flakes but do not press the Olivem in.
**How to open vitamin E capsules
Cut open three vitamin E capsules with the tip of a small pairing knife. Squeeze the liquid from the capsules into the oil-Olivem-mixture.
How to use body lotion for dry skin
Pump out a small amount of body lotion and massage into the skin using gentle, circular motions. Wait a minute for the lotion to absorb into the skin before putting on clothes. You can use the lotion on your entire body, several times a day.
If storing the lotion in a star, clean your fingers before taking out product or use a cosmetic spatula.
Can I use lotion to moisturize my face?
Since this is a body lotion without coconut oil, I think you can. The toning and tightening qualities of the cornflower and the soothing effect of the chamomile essential oil are certainly beneficial for the face as well.
Shelf life and storage
Body lotion with Optiphen Plus has a shelf life of six months. The lotion can be stored at room temperature in a moderate environment. In a hot climate, it’s best to store the lotion in the refrigerator.
Recommended Products
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Printable Winter Body Lotion Label
Tab or click the button below to download a free printable body lotion label.
Over to you!
Thanks so much for visiting Country Hill Cottage – we’re so happy you’re here! Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below!
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Irena xx
Cheryl
Thursday 30th of January 2020
Love the sound of so many of your recipes but due to living in South Africa where a lot of the products you use are not available I cannot try them. What with the dollar rate exchange to our Rand it makes it almost impossible to to order these online.
Irena | Country Hill Cottage
Thursday 30th of January 2020
I'm very sorry to hear that, Cheryl. I recently created a series of 8 easy recipes that use only a very limited number of ingredients. You can find them in this post. Perhaps some of these ingredients are available at a reasonable price. Also, if you let me know what products are available to you I can try to keep them in mind when making new recipes.
Cari
Friday 25th of October 2019
Your photos are gorgeous! I also love German chamomile and reach for it often for skin care. Great recipe!
Irena | Country Hill Cottage
Saturday 26th of October 2019
Thanks a lot, Cari! Yes, German chamomile is one of my favourites, too, my skin loves it.
Kyla @ A Life Adjacent
Wednesday 23rd of October 2019
Wow, what a gorgeous recipe! This lotion looks so creamy and soothing, and I love the beautiful blue colour. Also love that you include so many useful tips and highlight the important of preservatives. Beautiful photos, too.
Irena | Country Hill Cottage
Thursday 24th of October 2019
Thanks a lot, Kyla! French blue clay does give the lotion a beautiful colour, doesn't it? And I'm glad to hear that you find the tips useful. xx
Rebecca Dillon
Tuesday 22nd of October 2019
What a gorgeous recipe! This is perfect not just for my own skin but holiday gifts as well!
Irena | Country Hill Cottage
Wednesday 23rd of October 2019
Thank you, Rebecca!