Homemade Hand Lotion

Does your child know that cosmetics like shampoo, soap, and hand lotion are created by scientists? This activity will help your child understand how it's done.

• 2 cups water
• 1 packet unflavored gelatin
• 4 tablespoons glycerin
• Few drops of perfume or cologne
• 1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol

Directions

1. Heat 1 cup of water to nearly boiling. Stir in the gelatin, then stir in 1 cup of cold water.
2. Let the mixture cool until it's just warm. Add the glycerin, perfume or cologne, and rubbing alcohol and mix well.
3. Put the mixture in the refrigerator.
4. Stir the mixture every 15 minutes or so.
5. In 1 hour, it should have the consistency of loose Jell-O. Take it out of the refrigerator and whip it with a fork or an eggbeater.
6. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. If it's too thick, add water until it's thin enough to pour.
7. Homemade hand lotion makes a great gift. To package it, pour it into a clean baby food jar or other small jar. Tie a circle of fabric over the jar lid with a ribbon and label the jar however you like.

More on: Activities for Children Ages 6-10

Excerpted from:

Copyright © 2001 by Patricia Kuffner. Excerpted from The Children's Busy Book with permission of its publisher, Meadowbrook Press.

To order this book visit Meadowbrook Press.