4-Ingredient DIY All-Natural Lotion Bars
DIY Skincare & Beauty Natural Beauty Natural DIY
Smooth like butta.
That’s all that was running through my mind as I popped these DIY all-natural lotion bars out of their molds and rubbed them over my skin for the first time.
Because they’re so silky smooth and… well, kind of look like butter.
I’ve been meaning to make lotion bars for so long and am THRILLED I finally got around to it!
What the heck took me so long!?
If you’ve been around these parts before, you know that I love a good DIY. And if you’re a lady/fellow who likewise loves her/himself a good DIY, you know the excitement that comes with a new project — the act of using a successfully completed DIY for the first time is almost spiritual. This project was definitely no exception.
Best yet: these DIY all-natural lotion bars are super simple to make.
And they’d make a darn good little handmade gift (I’m planning to give them out to all of my lady friends this Galentine’s Day!).
DIY All-Natural Lotion Bars
Ingredients
Makes about 10 oz or 8 lotion bars using these “100% Handmade” molds
- ½ cup coconut oil (I used refined coconut oil since it has less scent. But if you prefer a coconuty scent, choose unrefined coconut oil.)
- ½ cup shea butter, cocoa butter, or mango butter
- ½ cup beeswax pastilles or shredded beeswax OR 4 1 oz beeswax bars
- 25 drops essential oils of choice (I used rose, geranium, and ylang ylang for an uplifting, floral combination)
Directions
- Using a double boiler (if you don’t have a double boiler, simply place an oven-safe glass measuring cup or bowl in small pot filled with about an inch of boiling water), melt the beeswax.
- After the wax is melted, add your butter of choice.
- After the butter is melted, add the coconut oil.
- After everything is melted, remove from the heat and add the essential oils.
- Give everything a stir and then pour the melted mixture into your molds.
- Let them site undisturbed to harden, which can take up to an hour (pop them in the fridge if you’re feeling impatient!).
To give as a gift, I’d suggest wrapping the lotion bars individually in some parchment paper and sealing it closed with a cute sticker or twine.
Hi Nadia,
Is this Shea butter and cocoa butter 1/2 cup each or either one 1/2 cup each
Hi nadia
Was wondering can I pop these in the fridge for longer lasting?
Hi, Nadia! Love your blog. How much does this recipe yield?
Certainly!
Hello 🙂
I was wondering if I could replace the coconut oil with almond oil?
Hi, Tina. This is a recipe for lotion bars! It is not a soap LOL 🙂
Hi Nadia, thank you for the recipe. I tried it and it came exactly as shown in the picture. But the soap is not at all lathering and it seems like applying moisturizing cream instead of body wash in shower. Can we add anything to get little foam like dove. We are used to dove from so many years.
I just love your blog, I can’t wait to try out these lotion bars. How many drops of each oil did you use? Also, what oils would you recommend using with unrefined coconut oil?
YAY 🙂 So happy to hear it, Swetha!
I have tried these lotion bars and my entire family is in love with these! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Nadia,
Just recently discovered your blog and am loving it, thank you 🙂 Just wondering if you have suggestions on a good shampoo and conditioner?
Coconut oil is mostly saturated fat so it’s very stable. She butter is over 40% stearic acid (a saturated fatty acid) and 40% oleic acid (a monounsaturated fatty acid) so it’s pretty stable as well.
I’d say these would last up to a year, perhaps longer before the fats start to oxidize to the point that you would notice a change in scent and not want to use the bars.
But what about lipid oxidation?
Hi mikaela- not nadia, but I think I can help in answering that. Since this is an anhydrous mix, it’d be good for longer than lotion, which is a waterbased mix. I think this would last about 3 months-ish? Or longer..
Hi, Nadia,
just wanted to ask- how long do these bars last, since they are without any preservatives? I am a pharmacist and if you make a lotion in a pharmacy, it must be used within one month because it doesn´t contain preservatives and it usually contains some kind of a drug. Is it the same with these lotion bars?
Love the listing of all the toxins in products and food!!
Hey, Mel! Good question – I actually have mine just sitting in a small soap dish in my bathroom. If you want to just pour it in a jar to make it like regular lotion, you may want to decrease the beeswax so it’s softer and easier to get out of there!
Hi, I’ve made similar lotion bars recently but I’m not sure how to use them frankly. What am I supposed to keep them in, they work well but I ended up putting the bar in a mason jar to carry it around so I feel I might as well just pour it in the jar directly instead of making bars?? What do you keep them in?
Thanks in advance,
Mel
Hi, Thelma. The oil cleansing method is not something I do personally but many people have great success with it! I instead use face oils as moisturizers. I talk about my whole skincare routine here: My Super-Simple All-Natural Skincare & Beauty Routine But again, it’s really about finding what’s best for your unique skin’s needs!
Hey,
Just wondering if you recommend the Oil Cleansing Method ?
Thanks,
Thelma