Sleep Aromatherapy Lotion: It's a Good Thing!
Do you have trouble winding down at night? You don't have to stare at that ceiling until 2 a.m. You can use aromatherapy recipes to help insomnia, like this homemade sleep lotion recipe, to help calm your mind and body.
Some nights I use sleep balm to help me sleep, but sometimes I want/need something a little lighter. I've accumulated natural sleep remedies over the years, and this DIY sleep lotion is a favorite of mine. I like this natural sleep lotion because it absorbs quickly, and I can use it as an all over body lotion.
And if you're no Martha Stewart, don't worry. This is an easy to follow recipe that I've broken down into four steps. Seriously, if you can use a mixer you can make this homemade sleep lotion!
What You'll Need to Make your Homemade Sleep Lotion
When making recipes like these, it's always best to have all of your ingredients right there with you ready to go. It's just easier to pick up something to pour it in rather than having to stop what you're doing to go and find it.
Supplies List:
- 1/4 cup beeswax pellets
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
- 1/2 cup jojoba oil
- 2 tsp 100% vitamin E oil
- 50 drops lavender essential oil
- 30 drops chamomile essential oil
- 10 drops vetiver essential oil
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch
To help you out, I've put together an Amazon shopping list of everything you'll need to make your aromatherapy sleep lotion.
This recipe is not exactly a cream and it's not a runny lotion either. I was able to use it with a pump bottle, but I think it would be easier to use in a glass jar or a flip top lotion container.
Because this recipe doesn't have any preservatives, you have to keep the germs out. If you're not using a pump or a flip topbottle, you can put your sleep lotion in jelly jars or glass jars. I suggest using any glass container with a tight fitting lid.
If you don't have any empty jars or lotion containers laying around, here's some that would work well for this recipe:
6 Pack Firefly Craft Amber Glass Apothecary Salve Jars, 4 ounces each
Pack of 6 - 4oz Cobalt Glass Boston Round Bottles with Pump TopsNewday Bottles, Amber 4 Oz with Hand Press Smooth Black Disc Flip Tops, Pack of 6
DIY Sleep Lotion Step by Step Instructions:
Step 1
First, fill a small saucepan half full with water and bring to a slow simmer.
You could use a double broiler, but I just use a pint mason jar to make my lotions and balms.
Add the beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter to the jar. Stir until completely melted.
I recommend using a shish kabob stick or chopsticks to stir your oils.
Once everything has liquefied, carefully pour it into a small, steep sided bowl. (I used a soup bowl)
Set aside to cool, but don't let it harden. If it does get hard while you're working the next step or have to step away, just put the bowl over the pan of simmering water to turn it to liquid again.
Step 3
When the heated oils are cool enough to stick your finger in , add the jojoba/almond oil.
Beat the oils together with a mixer. At the beginning it will kinda look like scrambled eggs. Keep mixing until smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes.
Next, add the vitamin E and essential oils and mix well.
Step 4
*This recipe makes about 8 ounces of lotion.
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How to Use your Aromatherapy Sleep Lotion
Essential oils work best when they're rubbed into the soles of your feet, nape of your neck, and the pulse points at your wrists and temples.
But you really can't go wrong with where you put this lotion. It's silky, creamy and very moisturizing and you'll want to use it as an all over body lotion. And that's okay. You'll inhale and absorb the sleep benefits of the oils through your skin.
Use your homemade sleep lotion about a half hour before bed. I like to use it after I've had a long soak in some sleepy bath salts.
How this Homemade Sleep Lotion May Help you Sleep
Aromatherapy can be an effective natural sleep aid once you know how to use it. The sleep promoting essential oils in this recipe are what may help you when it's inhaled and absorbed through your skin.
Lavender essential oil is a well known sleep inducing oil. It's actually been scientifically proven to help sleep, but do you know why?
Lavender not only helps you feel drowsy before bed, it also helps you stay asleep longer and may also help to ease anxiety by relaxing your mind and body. It works wonders once you know how to use lavender oil for sleep.
Chamomile is also a famous for helping sleep. (chamomile tea anyone?) Its essential oil is even stronger than the tea form. Chamomile helps to still a racing mind and has a sedative effect on the body.
This homemade sleep lotion recipe also has vetiver. It's an essential oil that's usually used as an antiseptic in soaps and lotions, but it also has some awesome sleep properties, too. Vetiver may have a tranquilizing effect on the body and may help reduce stress and tension.
Once you get the hang of making DIY sleep lotion, you can get creative and make a sleep lotion catered to what keeps you up at night by using different sleep promoting essential oils.
How to Make an Essential Oil Sleep Blend to Add to your Sleep Lotion
If you're new to essential oils, you're probably unsure as to how to use aromatherapy for insomnia or even which essential oils could even help you sleep.
Here's a chart of just a few essential oils and how they may help sleep:
Valerian Essential Oil
Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
Bergamot Essential Oil
Sweet Marjoram Essential Oil
Wide Awake at Bedtime
Stress and Anxiety
Waking Up in the Middle of the Night
Restlessness
There's many more essential oils that may help sleep. In my Essential Oil Sleep Guidebook, I go into detail of nearly sleep promoting 20 essential oils and how to use them in over 40 recipes like this one.
If you have more than one thing that's keeping you up at night, don't be afraid to blend them together. Just use the above chart to tailor your lotion according to what's keeping you from sleeping. Add 20-30 drops of each oil if you're making a blend, or 40-50 drops if you're using a single oil.
If you're not sure how to start, you can find recipes in my posts, 5 Easy Essential Oil Recipes for Sleep, and The Best Essential Oil Recipes (and how to use them). The recipes in those posts are for diffusers, but you can use them in your homemade sleep lotion. I'd probably double the amounts for this recipe though.
If you're still unsure about creating your own sleep blends, you can buy a pre-mixed sleep blend. It's all in one bottle, so you can cut out other oils and add 20-30 drops to your lotion.
Important Safety Tips
Your homemade sleep lotion is all natural, and it doesn't have any preservatives and can go bad. There are some steps you can take to make your lotion last longer:
- Some people may have a sensitivity to certain oils. Before using a particular EO for the first time, do a patch test. Mix a couple drops with a carrier oil and rub it into your forearm. If you're reaction free after 30 minutes, it's safe to add to your sleepy lotion.
- Store it in the refrigerator, and only leave out enough that will last you for a week or so.
- If you're using a jar, use a spoon to scoop it out. Germs, sweat, etc., from your hands can contaminate your lotion and cause mold.
And There ya Go...
See! Making homemade sleep lotion isn't that difficult. It does take a few special ingredients, but when you break it down it's just like following a baking recipe.
Once you're confident making your own natural lotion, branch out and make your own sleep balm. It's an easy recipe you can make in less than 15 minutes!
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