A pourable, lighter emulsion for face or body, thinner than a cream.
Light and fluid, sinking in quickly to a soft, dry-touch finish.
Body lotion, Light facial moisturiser, Cleansing milk, Hand and body lotion
What it is
A lotion is built like a cream but with more water and less oil and thickener, so it flows from a pump or bottle. It spreads easily over large areas and leaves a light, non-greasy finish. It is the usual format for body moisturisers, lighter facial moisturisers and cleansing milks.
Fast-absorbing and easy to spread over large areas.
Pump packs limit in-use contamination.
Works for face, body and cleansing milks.
Challenges
Low viscosity makes any separation easier to see.
Less occlusive than a cream.
Needs a robust preservative system.
Shelf life
Unopened
24–36 months01236 months
After opening
6–12 months01224 months
Main risks are creaming or separation, viscosity drop over time and microbial growth.
Packaging
Pump bottleSqueeze bottleTubePouch
In the lab
How it is made
01Heat both phasesWater and oil phases to about 70–80 °C.
02Emulsify under vacuumOil homogenised into water with less wax.
03Add polymer stabiliserHolds droplets in place at low viscosity.
04Cool and finishActives and preservative go in below about 40 °C.
05Check pH and flowConfirm the viscosity suits the chosen pump.
cold fill · 25 °CUses a liquid or piston filler, with pump output and dose consistency checked against the chosen pump.
Specifications
pH
pH 4.5–6.52 acid7 neutral10 alkaline
Viscosity at rest
2,000–15,000 mPa·swaterlotioncreambutterpaste
Batch sizes
50 L pilot1,000 L5,000 L production
Lab notes
Preservation
Required; a broad-spectrum system validated by challenge test to ISO 11930. Pumps lower in-use contamination compared with open-neck bottles.
Stability testing
Accelerated storage at 40–45 °C, freeze–thaw, centrifuge for separation, viscosity tracking and pump compatibility.
Regulatory, Australia
Cosmetic for moisturising and appearance claims; body lotions with SPF follow the same Excluded Goods conditions as creams (SPF 15 or less, a pack of 300 mL or 300 g or less, no water-resistance claim, broad-spectrum testing to AS/NZS 2604:2021); otherwise they are therapeutic sunscreens. Label ingredients under the Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020.
