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Lush’s Ro’s Argan Body Conditioner is a luxurious product that provides ultimate hydration for very dry skin. You can make a copycat version of it at home using natural ingredients like shea butter, argan oil, and rose water to both hydrate and soothe dry skin.
When I first heard about “body conditioner,” I was more than a little confused. You mean, like, lotion? In the shower? Turns out that’s exactly what they meant. And if you’re constantly battling dry winter skin, like me, it’s awesome.
Even though cold weather wreaks havoc on my skin, there’s nothing I dislike more than standing in a freezing bathroom applying body lotion after a shower. I get cold and cranky just thinking about it. So it’s no surprise that slathering on this rose-scented body conditioner has quickly become one of my favorite beauty rituals.
Jump to:
What Is Body Conditioner?
As the name suggests, you apply body conditioner all over your wet skin after washing, let it soak in a little, and then lightly rinse it off. A steamy shower creates the perfect environment for adding extra hydration.
Plus, since you’re able to rinse off the excess, you’re not left with that sticky, greasy feeling you get with some lotions. Just silky soft skin. Similar to lotion bars, but in a different consistency.
How To Make Body Conditioner
Here’s how to make your own:
Body Conditioner Ingredients
Lush’s body conditioner contains six different oils and butters, but guess what’s the first ingredient listed? Yep, water. Who wants to spend that kind of money on a product that’s mainly water??
I’m usually a the-more-ingredients-the-merrier kind of person (I mean, six different oils must be better than five, right?), but you don’t need 6 different body oils and butters to make this recipe.
Trimming down the ingredient list saves you a ton of money without losing any of the conditioner benefits. Win win.
Base Ingredient: The main moisturizer is shea butter, which is great at replenishing moisture and locking it in so the skin stays supple longer.
Emollients and Moisturizers: We added sweet almond and argan oil, which is chock full of vitamin E, and glycerin.
Emulsifier: Emulsifying wax (available online or at cosmetic supply stores) brings everything together in a lotion-like consistency.
Liquid: Rose water helps maintain the skin’s pH, reduces redness and just plain smells amazing.
Scent: Bergamot oil, which helps reduce irritation and balance skin issues.
Instructions
Step 1 | Melt Base Ingredients
Use a double boiler to melt the shea butter.
Step 2 | Add Emollients and Emulsifier
Add sweet almond oil, argan oil, and emulsifying wax to the melted mixture. Stir until the wax is completely melted.
Step 3 | Combine with Liquid
Remove from heat and let cool for a minute or two. Add the vegetable glycerin and whisk the mixture as it cools. Gradually add the rose water to the mixture, stirring continuously to create an emulsion.
Step 4 | Cool and Add Optional Ingredients
Once the mixture is a lotion-like consistency, allow the mixture to cool slightly, and then whisk in the bergamot oil.
Step 5 | Cooling and Storage
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature before transferring it to a clean, airtight container. The body conditioner will thicken as it cools.
Substitutions
It may sound like a lot of supplies, but if you make a lot of bath and body products, chances are you already have most of these things on hand. If not, I was able to pick up everything on Amazon for about $30 and free shipping. And aside from the rose water, I had more than enough leftover ingredients to make at least 10 more batches.
Carrier oil — Swap the almond and argan oil for the carrier oil of your choice. Jojoba oil and grapeseed oil would work well.
Butter — You can swap the shea butter for cocoa butter, cupuaçu butter, or mango butter.
Rose water — If you’re okay going without the rose scent, skip the rose water entirely and use filtered water instead.
Essential oil — Feel free to swap the essential oils. For a stronger rose scent, you can use a rose absolute.
How To Use Body Conditioner
After washing up, apply a quarter-sized amount right before getting out of the shower (it’s best to avoid direct contact with the water so you don’t rinse it off too early). Once it’s had a few seconds to sink in, lightly rinse off the excess and pat yourself dry with a towel.
And did I mention you get to reap the benefits from the warm comfort of your shower? No more naked shivering, or messy hands, or trouble getting your skinny jeans on over freshly lotioned legs.
FAQ
Yes, you can customize the recipe based on your preferences and skin type. For example, you can use different oils, butters, or essential oils.
If it’s too thick, you can add a bit more liquid. If it’s too thin, you can melt it again and add more emulsifying wax or butter.
The emulsifying wax is crucial for creating a stable emulsion in the body conditioner. Omitting it may result in a separation of water and oil in the product.
Copycat Argan Body Conditioner Recipe
Just like conditioner for your hair, this argan rose body conditioner will lock in moisture and keep your skin smooth in dry winter weather.
Yield: 8 ounces
Cost: $10
Instructions
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Combine the emulsifying wax, almond oil, shea butter and argan oil in a small sauce pan. Heat on low until thoroughly melted.
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Remove from heat and let cool for a minute or two. Add the rose water and vegetable glycerin and whisk the mixture as it cools. Mine thickened quickly, but depending on the emulsifying wax you use, this could take a while. Just make sure to whisk every now and then until it comes together.
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Once the mixture is a lotion-like consistency, whisk in the bergamot oil.
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To use, apply a quarter sized amount right before getting out of the shower (it’s best to avoid direct contact with the water so you don’t rinse it off too early). Once it’s had a few seconds to sink in, lightly rinse off the excess and pat yourself dry with a towel.
