How To Make a Solid Lotion Bar (or Lotion Stick)

by Carrie

Lotion Bars (or lotion sticks) are an easy way to take care of your skin year-round, but especially in the middle of summer.  Hours spent outside in the hot sun can zap the moisture from your skin, and days of going barefoot (or wearing flip-flops) might leave your heels looking and feeling a little rough.  Lotion bars are an easy fix to these problems: easy-to-make, easy-to-use, and easy-to-transport, wherever your summer travels may take you.  

Solid lotion bars contain just 3 simple, natural ingredients.  Coconut oil and shea butter work together to moisturize and soften the skin while the beeswax seals in the ingredients and leave behind a gentle, protective coating.  Your normal body temperature causes the lotion to soften as it comes in contact with your skin and the ingredients will begin to melt into your skin for immediate moisturization.

Want to make your own?  Follow along to Measure, Melt, Mold, and Moisturize.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 oz. Beeswax
• 3 oz. Coconut Oil
• 3 oz. Shea Butter

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

• Kitchen Scale
• Double Boiler
• Bowls
• Molds (muffin tins, ice cube trays, candy molds, twist-up tubes like these or these, etc.)

STEPS:

1. MEASURE. Using a kitchen scale, measure out each of the ingredients, placing the beeswax and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler.  Place the shea butter in a separate bowl.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                           
2. MELT.  Using a double boiler, gently heat the beeswax and coconut oil over low heat until melted.             
   Remove from heat and carefully add the shea butter.  Stir the mixture until the shea butter is thoroughly melted.  (If needed, gently heat the mixture for an additional minute or two in order to provide enough heat for the shea butter to melt.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
3. MOLD.  Pour the liquid mixture into various molds or twist-up tubes (like large lip balm containers, as in the picture at the beginnnig of this post).  Lotion bars can be removed from molds (or twisted up, if using a tube) as soon as they cool to room temperature.  (Molds can be placed in the freezer to allow easier removal of the lotion bars if needed.)
   
   
4. MOISTURIZE.  Rub the lotion bar onto your skin to apply.  That's it!                                                                                              

  **NOTES:

• Convert the recipe into percentages to make whatever total amount you desire.  Each of the ingredients in this recipe will comprise approximately 33% of your total amount.
• You can experiment with other oils and butters, but if you use more liquid oils you'll need to increase your % of beeswax.
• Lotion bars will melt in high temps, so we advise against leaving them in vehicles for long periods of time in the middle of summer.
• Lotion bars are equally loved in the winter, when your skin is exposed to extreme temps and very dry air.
• If you don't have any skin sensitivities, you can scent these with fragrance oils or essential oils.  Check all applicable warning before using any FO/EO and be certain to abide by safe usage amounts.
• Some Wet Shavers may also find these useful as a pre-shave product.

How do you keep you skin in top condition during the dog days of summer?