Create your own clean lotion bar and have simple, holistic, consumable gifts ready to go for the holidays!
Lotion bars are similar in texture to a chapstick but are larger and designed for use on the body. They are super easy to make with minimal ingredients and once you get the hang of it, are simple to personalize with different scents from EOs or with herbal infusions for additional benefits. You can use simple molds like a muffin tin or dress them up with fancier silicone molds matched to the occasion.
To get started you need:
- A carrier oil like jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, or fractionated coconut oil.
- Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter
- Beeswax (Carnauba wax, Soy Wax or Candelilla Wax is a vegan option)
- Essential Oils (optional)
- Silicone Molds or Metal Tins
Mix one part carrier oil, one part butter and one part beeswax in a double boiler. You can substitute the double boiler with a glass bowl, mason jar, or pyrex measuring cup set over a saucepan with water. Bring the water to a boil and stir until ingredients are melted. Cool slightly before adding EOs. Pour into desired molds and allow to cool completely before removing. Lotion bars can be stored in an airtight container for up to a year.
Consider who you are gifting too when planning out your recipe. Some oils are heavier and greasy while others will more easily absorb and feel lighter. Apricot Kernel oil, Jojoba oil, Grapeseed oil, Argan oil or Fractionated Coconut oil (the kind that is liquid at cold temps) are lighter and absorb more quickly. Olive oil, Sunflower oil, Avocado and Coconut oil can feel heavier or greasy, but that can be desired in a bar intended for intense moisture. You can mix and match oils based on what you have around, who you are making bars for and their purpose. See below a couple ideas for hydrating skin and pain relief! Once you have made a couple batches play around with customizing your own scents and try different combinations of oils to find your favorite!
Soothing Calendula Oil Lotion Bars
- 1/4 cup calendula oil (purchase or make your own!)
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup beeswax
- 3-4 drops EOs (optional)
To infuse oil with calendula fill a small 1/2 pint or pint mason jar ~1/2 way with dried calendula flowers. Cover with your favorite oil or oil blend. I like a mix of Jojoba and Olive Oil. Cover and store for 4-6 weeks shaking occasionally. Alternatively you can speed up the infusion by setting the jar over a saucepan like a double boiler and gently heating over medium low heat for 2-3 hours, some people use a crock pot for this. Do not allow the water or oil to boil. Strain dried flowers from oil and store in a cool, dry place for up to a year.
Once you have your infused oil, either purchased or homemade, mix in equal parts with shea butter and beeswax in to a heat proof container like a mason jar or pyrex. Equal 1/4 cup measures gives you around 3/4 cups or 6 oz of finished lotion bars. Depending on the size of your molds that could be 3-5 bars, you can size up or down according to your needs!
Place heat proof container containing ingredients over a small saucepan of water and bring water to a boil, stirring to melt the ingredients. Allow to cool slightly before adding any EOs if desired, stir well and pour into molds. Flexible molds work best such as silicone molds or candy molds. After cooling completely pop bars out of the mold and store in an airtight container for up to 1 year.
Pain Relieving Lotion Bars
- 1/4 cup jojoba oil (a dandelion infused jojoba & olive oil blend is a nice boost to anti-inflammatory power! Decrease carrier oil by 1 TBS and stir in 1 TBS arnica oil with EOs for a similar boost.)
- 1/4 cup beeswax
- 1/4 cup menthol crystals
- 10 drops each of peppermint & rosemary EOs
- 2 drops of vetiver EO
To make dandelion infused oil use same process as described above with calendula swapping out dried dandelion flowers. Mix carrier oil, shea butter and beeswax in a heat proof container. Place heat proof container over a small saucepan of water and bring water to a boil, stirring to melt the ingredients. Allow to cool slightly before adding menthol crystals and EOs, stir well and pour into molds. After cooling completely pop bars out of the mold and store in an airtight container for up to 1 year.