When I first heard of lotion bars, I thought they sounded...interesting, to say the least. I wasn't sure if I would like using a solid bar as a moisturizer, but I figured I could handle giving it a try if it was healthier for our bodies. I experimented a bit, making a few batches, and tweaking it along the way.
I came out with lotion bars that my husband and I both love! The bars are in a solid state, but when you rub them between your hands, they warm just enough to coat your skin, creating a moisturizing barrier. Because of the oil & wax, they do feel a little greasy at first. However, after a few minutes, it's all soaked in and your hands (or whatever you're moisturizing!) is so soft! Another great thing about these lotion bars is that it doesn't wash away the second you wash your hands. It seems like I can apply regular lotion to my hands all day long, but as soon as I wash my hands (which is a lot), it's all gone and needs to be applied again. Not with these lotion bars! I can use these bars, wash my hands, and the water just beads up, protecting my skin from drying out quickly. Love this stuff!
You have the option of not adding any essential oils, but I will tell you that the smell of cocoa butter is fairly strong when you do that. Personally, I love customizing the bars and having a variety of types & scents to choose from. I have a selection of essential oil blends, so I chose a few and made various types of lotion bars. These are just a few that I did:
*Muscle Relief (for my husband's back/shoulder pain)
*Tea Tree/Lavender (for healing)
*Goodnight Blend (for a restful sleep)
When I was making these bars, I decided to try the mixture as a lip balm, too. It was great! I actually love how it feels when you apply it, giving that moisture barrier, but not feeling heavy or sticky. Just keep in mind you will want to use essential oils that are safe for your face. I'm not that educated with EOs so I would suggest doing some research yourself rather than me giving you advice. :)
You can buy the empty lip balm containers on Amazon, as well as any shape of silicone molds for your bars.
I used a kitchen scale to measure the ingredients, which worked perfectly, but if you don't have a scale, measure it out as best as you can. Just keep in mind, the more coconut oil, the softer the bars will be, and the more beeswax, the firmer they will be. It worked best for me to have equal amounts of the three ingredients. 1:1:1 Ratio
Ingredients
20 g. organic cocoa butter, raw, unrefined
20 g. organic beeswax
20 g. organic coconut oil, cold-pressed, unrefined
essential oils, optional
1. Measure out your ingredients.
2. In a double boiler (or a glass bowl set over a sauce pan of water-just don't let the water touch the bottom of the bowl), heat over medium-high heat.
3. Let it heat and melt down, stirring occasionally.
*If you are putting the same essential oils in the entire batch, you can stir them in as soon as it's all melted.
*Since I made different types, I poured it into my molds (I used silicone cupcake liners) and dropped the different essential oils in each one, then stirred them up. It's important to work quickly. It sets up fast!
*With the leftover mixture, I just put the essential oil directly in the bowl, then used a clean, glass medicine dropper to fill the lip balm containers.
4. Once it's completely melted, remove from heat and pour it into your molds (see notes above about adding essential oils). If you find that the mixture is setting too quickly, return it to the heat and melt again.
5. Leave them on the counter and let them cool completely until firm.
6. Once set, you can pop the bars out and store them in containers or use them right away!
My hubby and I have one on each side of the bed to use before we go to sleep. I also apply mine throughout the day if needed, but he prefers to only use it at night so he doesn't have to deal with the greasiness. He gets a little irked when his hands don't feel clean, so even though these lotion bars soak in quickly, he can't stand the feeling of it on his hands. He says if he uses it at night, the greasiness is gone by the time he wakes up so he doesn't have to worry about it. :)
If you want my advice...try them. Even if you don't like "greasiness", I think you will be pleasantly surprised on how great these lotion bars are. You really only have to deal with the greasy feel for a couple minutes, and the benefits of how great these bars work make those minutes totally worth it!
They are awesome for any dry spots. Hands, elbows, knees, even your feet!
Perfect timing since the flip-flops are back again! :)
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