There is a big chance that the body lotion you bought from the store is too creamy, so much that you are debating whether try to thin it out. The question is, how? Does merely adding water do the trick, or is there more to it?
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The best way to thin out store-bought body lotion is by using distilled water. You can also use small amounts of almond oil or aloe vera gel, but be sure to add small amounts and mix until you reach the right consistency.
Here’s the deal with lotions, once you purchase and try them out and find out it does not live up to your expectation, it cannot be returned or replaced easily. It is rare for you to find a lotion that is too liquified, but not the other way around.
In the end, it comes down to how thick do you like your lotion to be. Not everyone is a fan of thick creamy body lotion. And this is why some feel the need to thin it out (or bring it back if that’s possible). If you’ve never tried to thin it out and threw it away each time, please keep on reading because you probably will never have to do that again.
How do you thin out store-bought body lotion?
One of the common ways to naturally bring a smoother and free-flowing texture is to add some almond oil to the cream. Start first with little amounts and keep mixing them until you find the cream smooth and convenient enough to your liking.
I must warn you, though, this is not an entirely foolproof method; many soap enthusiasts have advised using oils to thin down the lotion because lotions themselves are made out of butter and oils. The other alternative to this is to use aloe vera gel and mix a part of it with the lotion or cream.
The gel properties dissolve the cream, and together they make an excellent lotion. Aloe is an exceptional and, at the same time, the most inexpensive natural remedy to soothe the skin and the thick paste.
But the big winner in the bunch is distilled water. This is arguably the best way to retain the preservatives and not emulsify the structure of the lotion when you wish to thin your lotion out.
Some helpful ways for you
If you have done some research online, you probably came across forum posts where people would say using tapwater works as well—adding tap water to the cream, though a common answer, is a less preferred option.
Tap water works only well if it’s used up on the same day. By this, I mean the thinned-out lotion, of course. Unfortunately, water breaks and deactivates its elements. This happens pretty fast, so you’ll need to use the lotion immediately after. In case you are planning on using tap water, use it in small quantities, just enough so you’d still have the rest for the next time.
It is advisable to use such thick lotions immediately after a shower to have the best effects, though those I have mentioned previously are much more convenient.
What labs otherwise suggest is the following:
- Using deionized water to thin out creams is an effective solution. However, when choosing this option, adding a preservative is an inevitable necessity for a stable and consistent result.
- If choosing to add distillates, then don’t worry about the preservatives. Distillates are prepacked with preservatives, and they’re by far the best and the most convenient solution to thinning out thick creams. Most distillates are hydrosols, and it is in that quality for the creams to retain their structure.
- Preservatives like Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate hold the cream together from breaking or separating. However, despite all these necessities, proportion is instrumental in thinning down the lotion to perfection.
What to be careful of when thinning out lotion?
Be mindful of the quantities in which you will be adding the thinning agents. The ratio of the distillates and the preservatives to the water is very important.
When using oils and gels—and sometimes regular tap water—keep a check on how much you need for the day and use these agents accordingly.
If you happen to thin out the lotion a little too much, try using xanthan gum to thicken it back again.
Though with enough care, the aforementioned wouldn’t happen all that easily. It’s not very easy to break the chemical structure. Therefore, mix them all in weighted quantities or in tiny amounts.
Why you might want to thin out your body lotion
Thinning out body lotion is essential. Everyone’s skin is different, and therefore an additional amount of lotion is needed. For one, applying a big mold of cream is impractical and unhealthy.
Moderation is key, and applying large amounts of lotion will seal up the pores of your skin. Additionally, it also leads to wastage of your valuable cream, which we want to prevent as much as possible.
When not stored as it is supposed to be in its natural state, thickened cream might not prove as useful as it would when thinned out. This thick concoction becomes incredibly difficult to store and inconvenient to use.
Such hard creams also lead to the burning of the skin due to the lack of liquidity in them, and these screams affect the different body and skin types differently.
What are the effects of thinning out a lotion?
Since we are using thinning agents like preservatives and other distillates, it is possible to contract any allergies when exposed to an element for far too long. If the quantity in which they are mixed is not correct, it might lead to problems in the lotion that either shorten the lotion’s shelf-life or directly affect your skin.
Additionally, the new additions will change the chemical nature of the lotion. Thus adding the preservatives or distillates is compulsory and in the right quantities. If all is followed properly, there really is nothing at all to be worried about.
What to do if it’s too thin? Can you still save it?
Is it thinned too much? No worries, even if it becomes too thin, you can still use it as usual. Otherwise, xanthan gum usage is advised to mix with the loose lotion so that the mixture is condensed correctly, especially if you are dealing with a larger cream stock.
Why is all of this so important?
One of the biggest regrets many older millennials complain about themselves is their shared negligence for their skin or dermatological health. Undervaluing the essentiality of a good skincare routine or specific care for their exposed skin has left many people unsatisfied, both as a result of their faults and more so due to the consequences.
Thus, the increased emphasis on the skincare lotions, the ways to make it natural and remedy it at home.
Skincare transcends beyond just washing your face and hands and drinking enough water. It is heavily reliant on the atmosphere you spend most of your time in; outdoors, living spaces, tools used on your skin like the hair and makeup brushes, etc.
Last tip
Consulting a skin doctor is advisable. They’ll be able to guide you through any specific products should your assessment require any. And from there, we proceed with using lotions and moisturizers to shield our natural shield against all stimuli. I hope you are now able to thin your otherwise thick, store-bought lotions!