How to create organic lotion formulas in 5 simple steps

Amber Carli 06.2026

Looking to create your own organic lotion formulas and achieve soft, soothed skin, without the need for advanced formulation knowledge? Our Create Cosmetic Formulas guide simplifies the process! 

Follow our comprehensive 5-step guide to start crafting your own organic lotion formulas today. Read on to learn how!

Start by logging into your Create Cosmetic Formulas subscription then…
 

How to create organic lotion formulas in 5 simple steps

1. Select Organic, O/W Lotion (Body) - Organic, as the type of formula you would like to create today, then click Create

O/W Lotion (Body) - Organic: Our Create Cosmetic Formulas program uses water as the base ingredient in lotion formulas so you don’t need to select anything here, the program will automatically adjust the water content as you select other materials. 

The first selection you need to make is which water alternatives and humectant you would like to add, then whether you would like to include a chelating agent. Water alternatives can help build your product story, and in the case of organic products, are necessary to meet organic compositional requirements in order to enable certification. 

Humectants add moisturising benefits to your formula, and chelating agents deactivate metal ions that could be damaging to the formula as well as boost antioxidant and preservative activity. Since this is a lotion and not a wash off product, the addition of a chelating agent is optional. 

I’ve chosen aloe vera juice for its conditioning and hydrating benefits, as well as to boost my product story of a soothing, organic lotion and glycerin as it is readily available. I’ve chosen the minimum input of aloe vera juice so as to not limit my water content later in the formula, and glycerin at 5% as higher inputs of glycerin can feel tacky on the skin. I have decided to use a chelating agent to boost antioxidant and preservative activity.

 

2. Choose your gum/rheology modifier and lipids.

The gum/rheology modifier is going to help build some structure to the lotion formula, while the lipids will condition the skin and add to your product story! 

For the gum/rheology modifier, I have chosen Caesalpinia spinosa gum for its non-stringy viscosity and stabilising benefits. For the lipid portion, I’m using aloe vera extract in sunflower oil to pair with the aloe vera juice and for its skin softening benefits, caprylic/capric triglycerides for its long spreading characteristics making it ideal for a body lotion formula, green tea extract in sunflower oil to add to the organic portion of the product and rooibos tea extract in sunflower oil to incorporate soothing and calming effects into my formula. 

The Create Cosmetic Formulas program will give you a recommended input range for all materials. 

I have added the Caesalpinia spinosa gum at the midpoint to get started, the aloe vera extract in sunflower oil at 3% to move it up the ingredient list and promote skin softening benefits in my product, caprylic/capric triglycerides at 1.5% to allow effective long spreading affects to the formula, and the extracts in sunflower oil in low proportions to promote soothing and calming benefits. All products were added at low inputs so as to not limit the water input in the finished formula.

Not sure which materials to select? That’s okay, read our go-to guide on cosmetic ingredients here for more information.
 

3. Choose the emulsifiers.

Non-ionic emulsifiers are used in body lotions to help stabilise the formula, these can be paired with an anionic emulsifier to further stabilise the formula. Since I have used a low input of lipids, I have decided not to add an anionic emulsifier. 

I have chosen a blend of archidyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, arachidyl glucoside as my non-ionic emulsifier due to its light skin feel and long-lasting moisturising action as well as the fact that it is palm free, contributing to product story. 

 

4. Select extras

Including added extras/extracts, essential oils/fragrances and actives into your formula (especially organic and natural formulas) adds to your product story and can increase the consumer perception of your product substantially. 

I have decided not to add any essential oil or fragrance to my product to appeal to a fragrance free target market, as well as no actives as I am creating a simple body lotion formula, and adding actives can be very expensive. For my added extras/extracts I have added calendula extract for its conditioning, soothing and protective benefits at 1% to boost my product story and enable these characteristics to be effective in the formula. I have also added kakadu plum extract, glycerin and pomegranate extract at 0.5% each to add to product story.


5. Select antioxidant and preservatives

Antioxidants and preservatives protect your product from microbial growth as well as stopping any undesirable smells, colours or viscosity changes from occurring.

 

For the preservative, I have selected a sorbitan caprylate, propanediol, benzoic acid blend at its maximum input for its broad-spectrum microbial protection. Mixed tocopherols are incorporated also at their maximum input to provide antioxidant protection, helping to maintain formulation stability and reduce oxidative degradation.

 

Then… click generate method:
 

Then here is my formula, and here is the method!  

Now all you need to do is find your nearest cosmetic ingredient suppliers, order the materials, and get making your fantastic organic body lotion formulas!

Once you’ve made one formula, you’ll be keen to make more! With Create Cosmetic Formulas, you have almost limitless formulation creation, and just one low annual subscription.

It really is that simple.

Happy formulating!

 

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