Simple Lotion Bar Recipe You Must Try

This lotion bar recipe is easy to make, convenient to use, and made from natural ingredients that you can feel good about.

The cool, dry winter air is hard on the skin. If you live a lifestyle that requires frequent hand washing, your skin is going to dry out quickly. Having lotion on hand helps keep the skin moisturized as well as providing relief for over drying. Lotions can also be a source for toxic ingredients such as PEGs, fragrance, and preservatives. Luckily if you’re trying to eliminate toxins from your products, a clean natural lotion is easy to make.

What Are Lotion Bars?

Lotion bars are made from ingredients that moisturize the skin, but are in their solid form. When they come in contact with the body’s heat, they melt into a creamy moisturizer. They maintain their shape like a bar of soap, but go on smooth over the skin to moisturize it like lotion.

Why Choose A Lotion Bar?

Lotion bars hold their shape and are less messy than traditional cream lotions. This makes them convenient for kids and adults. The natural ingredients absorb quickly into the skin leaving a non greasy feel. These are made from all natural ingredients so they are safe to use on the lips or anywhere the skin is overly dry.

They also don’t require any packaging like traditional lotions do. This is less waste in the environment as trash later one, as well as less energy wasted in the production and shipping of the product. No packaging also decreases your exposure to the BPA, Phthalates and other toxic chemicals.

Lotion Bar Ingredients

• Beef Tallow (can substitute lard or coconut oil)
• Beeswax
• Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter
• Essential Oils

Beef Tallow

Tallow is rendered beef fat. It’s more easily absorbed into the skin than plant oils because it is made up of similar elements. It also has a lot of fat soluble vitamins that nourish the skin, and won’t cause irritation like synthetic moisturizers do.

Tallow has been used for hundreds of years on the skin because it was readily available. It wasn’t until recent times that the use of tallow became uncommon. I find that tallow moisturizes my skin better than any product I’ve ever used. I especially love using a tallow lotion on my face. If you don’t have tallow available to you, lard or coconut oil would also work great. If you choose to substitute, you will still use the same measurements.

Lard

Lard is rendered pork fat, and like beef tallow, it has similar elements as our own skin making it easily absorbed. It is very nourishing for the skin adding moisture and soothing dry, irritated areas. Lard also help s in the production of collagen. Collagen reduces the appearance of fine lines, and also helps the elasticity of the skin.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is great for moisturizing the kin, and retaining moisture. It’s also anti-inflammatory making it good to use on the face and other areas that get frequent sun exposure. The major benefit of coconut oil is it is easily accessible. I can buy great organic oil at my local grocery store.

Beeswax

Beeswax is naturally antibacterial and antiviral. As a nurse I’ve often used honey to heal wounds on patients. The wax itself nourishes the skin and helps it retain moisture. It can also soothe dry, chapped skin, and help to heal wounds.

Cocoa Butter

The cocoa butter makes the bars smell amazing! It reminds me of summer or cookies. Not only does it smell amazing, it also has great benefits for the skin. It has a lot of fatty acids which helps to add moisture to the skin. It’s also a source for vitamin E. Vitamin E is anti-inflammatory, and also acts as a sort of sunscreen. It reduces the amount of light that can be absorbed into the skin.

Shea Butter

Not only does shea butter moisturize and soothe the skin, it also contains antioxidants which give it anti-aging properties. Shea butter can also help to heal over dry skin, cuts, and other skin wounds.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are optional in this recipe, but are a great addition if you want further soothing effects. They have long been used to treat various infections, illness, aches, and can improve your mood. The type of essential oils you use in this recipe will vary on the effects or scent you want. However, if you are planning on using your lotion bars daily, I wouldn’t use any oils that will irritate your skin with daily use. Here are some of the scents I frequently use:

• Lavender
• Lemon Grass
• Eucalyptus
• Rosemary
• Tea Tree Oil

Tools You’ll Need

• A glass bowl and large pot to create a double boiler
• spatula or spoon for stirring
• Candy molds or mini muffin tin

How to Make Lotion Bars

Start by measuring equal parts of all your ingredients. I prefer to use half cup measurements. Using beeswax pellets really make measuring easier. However, if you’re using a beeswax bar simply weigh 115 grams of beeswax.

Put around 3 inches of water in a pot and bring it to a low simmer. Cover the simmering water with the glass bowl. Make sure the bowl doesn’t sit in the water.

Combine all of the ingredients in the bowl, and slowly stir. Continue to stir the ingredients until they are all melted and combined.
Next, remove the melted ingredients from the stove and carefully pour the liquid into the molds.

Allow the bars to cool at room temperature until they are firm.

Remove them from the molds and enjoy!

Storing Your Lotion Bars

The lotion bar will keep for up to three months in storage. I prefer storing them in a glass jar with a lid to prevent them from drying out. Be sure to store them in a cool place. These bars will melt easily with very little heat, so storing them in a cool, dark cabinet will ensure they keep longer and retain their solid quality.

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