Homemade Lotion Bars

Photo by Valerie Jones

One of the most challenging parts of using natural body products (for me) was finding something to moisturize my skin. I started off by trying a homemade moisturizing body wash. It was awful - it smelled so bad! Then I went to using straight coconut oil right after a shower. It absorbed into the skin nicely and felt great, however the smell was too strong for me.

So I finally got around to making lotion bars. I wasn’t sure if I would like using a bar. I never have before. But the recipe I found was simpler than liquid lotion so I felt like it was worth the investment. And it is!

I love how easy it is to use the bar. It seems to last a while and the ingredients are perfect for my skin. Hooray!

Making lotion bars is so easy. If you are looking for a fun and easy DIY project, give these a try!

Lotion Bar Recipe

Equal parts:

Beeswax

Coconut Oil (or other oil like almond or jojoba)

Shea Butter

Essential Oil (optional)

Note: If you want softer bars, use more oil – harder bars, use more beeswax. Do not worry about measuring exactly.  I eye-balled it and everything turned out great!

1) Use a double-boiler or a jerry-rigged version like I did (small pot inside large pot of boiling water).

2) When the water is steaming, add the beeswax.

3) Once the beeswax is melted, add the oil and stir.

4) Add the shea butter last. I read that if the shea butter is heated for too long it can turn grainy.

5) Keep stirring until everything is melted. Finally, pour the liquid into a mold. You can use a silicone mold (different shapes are fun for gifts) or a muffin pan. I used a mini-muffin pan.

6) If you want to add a scent to your bars, immediately add a drop of your choice of essential oil before the liquid starts to set up in the mold. Stir with a toothpick. 

7) Leave it all out on the counter until the liquid has hardened. To remove from a muffin tin, turn the pan over and press firmly on the bottoms of the muffin cups. The bars will pop right out!

To use, simply warm the bar in your hands then rub all over!

The bars should be ok to store at room temperature, however if you have a lot of them it might be best to store extras in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them. I read many bloggers make a year's worth in one batch and just keep them in the fridge. 

I was so pleased with how they came out! I made some with lavender oil and some without any scent. I love the natural smell of the beeswax and shea butter. And it feels so good on my skin too! I am thinking about making another batch soon using vanilla. They would be great for gifts!

(DP)