How To Make Aloe Vera Lotion For Men

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Skincare doesn’t have to be just for women. So I decided to show you how to make aloe vera lotion for men. There are so many feminine scented body lotion recipes around that I thought it would be nice to add a more masculine scented one. 

To be honest, I know plenty of men that aren’t really bothered about what their skincare products smell like. But some do, and if that’s you or someone you know, then this is the product you’ve been looking for. 

diy aloe vera lotion for men, next to avocado and some almonds

What’s In This Recipe

Let’s have a look at what’s in this oh-so-manly aloe vera lotion recipe. 

Aloe Vera   

Aloe Vera is well known for soothing inflamed or wounded skin by hydrating and repairing tissue which helps the skin heal quicker.   

Aloe vera has so many good qualities, its antibacterial and antifungal properties make it a great natural ingredient for calming and improving acne or eczema-prone skin. It’s also a good choice for adding to anti-aging creams and lotions, so in this cream, it’s a good all-rounder.   

Aloe Vera can be in gel form or water. I’m using the gel form in this recipe because I have some to hand, but I’d happily use the aloe water as a substitute.

If you are unable to obtain Aloe Vera, you can leave it out and top it up with some distilled water.

Avocado Oil

This is one of my favorite oils and one which I always have to hand. It’s one of those oils that can be used straight from the bottle to moisten and soften the skin. It’s good for all skin types, has a medium penetration rate, and holds a very good shelf life.   

The unrefined Avocado oil is green in color and goes cloudy or solid when it’s been kept in the fridge, and holds a slight odor. Refined avocado oil looks and smells nicer (light yellowish color) but has fewer therapeutic values.  

Sweet Almond Oil 

Another good all-round oil that suits all skins. Sweet almond oil is packed full of vitamin A and E that can help regenerate new skin cells and restore elasticity. 

This is such a well-priced oil that can be used to enhance many skincare products. If you have an allergy to nuts, peach kernel is a good substitute as it holds very similar properties. 

Vitamin E 

I’m adding this for extra wow, but it is optional. If you choose not to use it, simply increase the sweet almond by 1%.   

Cocoa Butter

I always like to include good cosmetic butters in my everyday moisturizer.  Cocoa butter is a hard butter that is easily absorbed into warm skin. It is rich in antioxidants and can often be found in anti-aging creams.

Essential oils

Apart from giving this DIY aloe vera lotion a masculine scent, the essential oils have also been chosen for their skin-enhancing benefits.   

Sandalwood is a good anti-aging and anti-inflammatory oil, and of course, it smells wonderful.

Cedarwood can help to combat dry skin and has a rich and woody aroma. 

Bergamot has a light citrus scent that brings a bit of freshness to the aloe vera lotion. It’s great for acne and blemishes. 

Bergamot can be phototoxic, meaning it makes the skin more sensitive to the sun. If you are going to be using this lotion in the sun, you should substitute it for a safer oil such as sweet orange which is not phototoxic.  

Ready-made Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil Blends  

Essential oils can be expensive when you first start and there are some lovely scented ready blended essential oil mixes available at very good prices.  

If you prefer to use a designer-style fragrance oil rather than essential oils, that’s also ok, but remember that fragrance oils are not natural and have no cosmetic or therapeutic benefits for your skin beyond imparting an aroma.      

Preservative  

As this cream contains water and oil, it’s prone to mold and bacteria and will only last a few days without a preservative. If you are worried about keeping the aloe vera lotion natural, there are some good preservatives that are widely accepted in natural skincare.

Not sure which one to choose? Why not take a look at our preservative page.  

diy men's body lotion next to an avocado and some almonds

How To Make Aloe Vera Lotion For Men

Skincare doesn’t have to be just for women, so I decided to show you how to make aloe vera lotion for men. 

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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 200 g
Difficulty Level: Easy
Author: Angela Wills

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Ingredients

Heated Water Phase

Heated Oil Phase

Cool Down Phase

Video

Instructions

  • Pour the water, aloe vera, and glycerine into a heat-proof container. Give it a good stir to help the glycerine and aloe vera dissolve into the water.  
    125 g Distilled Water, 20 g Aloe Vera Gel, 10 g Glycerine
    Glycerine being added to the water phase part of the emulsion
  • In a separate heat-proof container, place the cocoa butter, emulsifying wax, sweet almond oil, and avocado oil. 
    12 g Avocado Oil, 12 g Emulsifying Wax NF, 4 g Cocoa Butter, 12 g Sweet Almond Oil
    Sweet almond oil being added to the oil part of the emulsion
  • Make up a bain-marie by adding a few inches of water into a sauce pan, and bring it up to a light simmer. When the water is just simmering, sit both the water and oil containers into the water.
    Both the water part and the oil part sit in a double boiler
  • Leave the containers in the simmering water until the oils have melted and the water has heated through. This will usually take around 20 mins. 
    The oil part is beginning to melt as it sits, with the water part, in the double boiler
  • Once the oils have fully melted, remove both containers from the water. Pour the container holding the water, aloe vera, and glycerine into the container with the oils.
    The water part is poured into the oil part
  • Stir the cream in intervals, stirring for two minutes then leaving to stand for one. Continue with the intervals until the cream has thickened and cooled below 104f (40c). If at any point it looks like the cream is starting to separate, vigorous stirring should bring it back together. 
    The emulsion is tested for temperature to ensure it is under 104F (40C)
  • When the cream is below 104f (40c) it's time to stir in the vitamin E and preservative
    1 g Vitamin E Oil, 2 g Preservative
    Cool down ingredients, including vitamin e, are added to the emulsion
  • Add the essential oils and stir well to make sure they are fully disbursed within the cream.
    .5 g Bergamot Essential Oil, .5 g Cedarwood Essential Oil, .5 g Sandalwood Essential Oil
    Cool down ingredients, including essential oils, are added to the emulsion
  • Your cream should now be ready to pop into a bottle or container. I find it easier to get it into the bottle whilst it's still warmish, as well as using a funnel. I then leave the lid off until the cream has completely cooled. After putting the lid on, just for good measure, I give the cream a shake. 
    1 Pump Bottle
    The emulsion is passed through a funnel and into a blue tinted, PET plastic bottle

Notes

Although the cream can be used immediately, I prefer to leave it for a couple of weeks before using it, this gives the essential oils time to blend together and mature. 
Category: DIY Bath & Body
Cuisine: N/A
Difficulty: Easy

Tried This ProjectMention @savvyhomemade or Tag me! #savvyhomemade

Final Thoughts

You’ll notice that this aloe vera lotion recipe isn’t that dissimilar from many of my diy lotion recipes. Men’s skin isn’t that different from women’s. After all, we’re all human.

My main goal was to make a homemade aloe vera cream that wasn’t all that complicated with a masculine scent. But that’s hard when you want to find essential oils that are also great for skin. I feel like my research paid off, if I do say so myself!

But if you’re interested in making your own skincare products, take a look at my other beauty recipes. You’re sure to find something that will tempt you to make your own homemade things. 

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Author: Angela Wills

Title: Founder and Author - Savvy Homemade

Expertise: Beauty Recipes, Skincare Formulation, Soapmaking, DIY Crafts, Parenting

Bio:

Angela Wills is an author, founder, and the driving force behind Savvy Homemade. With over fifteen years of experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to every post she writes. She is fearlessly dedicated to creating tried and tested beauty recipes, skincare formulations, soap recipes, and many other DIY crafts that will work for everyone. Angela has a Diploma in Skincare Formulation, is a proud member of the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild, and infuses each DIY product with her passion and expertise.

Discussion (3 Comments)

  1. Hello Angela,

    I love this recipe, especially that you have this portion converter and provide info in ml and oz! thanks! I wanted to ask if it is possible to use freshly taken from a leaf aloe vera gel?

    Reply
    • Hi Indigo,

      Yes, I don’t see why not. I would say that while lecithin emulsions are absolutely lovely and completely natural, they are difficult to achieve and take some more time and practice to get right.

      Reply

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