Winter Lotion Bar Recipe

Brrr! It’s cold outside! The frigid temperatures and low humidity during these winter months can actually draw moisture from your skin, leaving you itchy and uncomfortable. This is the time of year where moisturizers become a necessity.

Making and using your own lotion bars is a fun alternative to store bought lotions and creams. They are solid at room temperature and when applied to skin only a small amount melts and absorbs, creating less mess and waste of product. Creating them yourself gives you 100% knowledge of what you’re putting on your skin, unlike the mysterious chemicals you find inside store bought lotions.

We’ve created a super simple recipe that only has four all natural ingredients! Included in this recipe is a choice between shea butter and cocoa butter. Both soften and heal the skin, but will add a different quality to the finished lotion bar. Shea butter is smooth and malleable, which means your lotion bar with be slightly softer and melt faster when it comes in contact with skin. Cocoa butter is hard at room temperature and has a strong, chocolate-like scent. The scent's strength will diminish when combined with the other ingredients and essential oils.

Lotion bars are much more functional when made palm size. You can achieve this by using small individual molds (a muffin tray filled ⅓ a way can work here) or a large mold cut into smaller pieces after it dries. Silicone molds are the best option because they provide easy removal.

This fast and easy project is fantastic for personal use, a customizable product for your business, or an exciting holiday gift

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces Coconut oil
  
• 4 ounces Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
  
• 4 ounces Beeswax
  
• 15 drops Lavender essential oil
  
• 10 drops Rosemary essential oil
  
• 5 drops Peppermint essential oil 

Supplies:

• Gloves
• Glass bowl
• Pot for boiling water
• Stirring utensil 
• Silicone mold(s)

Instructions:

1. Combine coconut oil, butter of your choice, and beeswax in a glass bowl over a smaller pot or saucepan with 1 inch or so of water in it.
   
2. Bring the water to a boil, stirring ingredients continuously until they are melted and combined.
   
3. Remove the mixture from heat, and let it cool for 2 minutes
   
4. Add essential oils and then gently stir until they are completely integrated.
   
5. Carefully pour the mixture into mold(s).
6. Gently tap the mold on your work surface to release any air bubbles.
   
7. Allow the lotion bars to cool completely before removing them from mold.