Abstract: A pumping mechanism for a bottled lotion is constructed so that lotion is prevented from flowing out of the bottle if the bottle is inadvertently not placed upright. The pumping mechanism includes a hollow cylindrical member, a piston member, a hollow operating rod, a cap, a hollow pressing member, a ball, an upper valve, and a compression spring arranged in a manner so that when the operating rod is pressed downward, it will disengage the upper valve from the piston member before the bottom end thereof matches against the piston member.