HOMEMADE LOTION BARS

I was super excited to take a stab at making lotion bars.  And I have to say, post crafting, they feel great.  They are solid at room temperature, and last a long time.  When rubbed on the skin, they leave a thin, smooth layer, making the skin feel super soft and moisturized.  Just in time for Valentine’s day, I wanted to make heart-themed lotion bars.  These are great to give away at a spa party or just hand out at the end of your Valentine’s day event.  They melt into your skin and relieve every bit of dryness.  This recipe takes only a few ingredients and is very similar to our HOMEMADE LIP BALM.

 

 

So let’s get started.  You will need:

  • 1 part Shea Butter (Cocoa butter works well too)
  • 1 part Coconut Oil
  • 1 part Cosmetic-grade Beeswax
  • Lavender Oil
  • Vitamin E Capsule (optional)
  • Silicone Mold (ice cube tray)
  • Food coloring
  • Mason Jar
  • Pot

    NOTE: I would suggest trying this formula on a very small amount first- maybe one or two bars.  See if you like the final result and then tailor the larger batch to the way you’d prefer.  For instance, I know some people prefer a less oily solution.  If that’s you, you can put slightly less coconut oil in the mixture.  But you won’t know that until you make one.  So try it on a small batch first, and then tweak it to your liking for the larger batch.

 

Next step is to heat up the mixture.  To do so, you will need to create a double boiler.  If you already have a double boiler, use that; if not, you can create one by filling a pot with about an inch of water, and heating it on the stove on a low setting.  You don’t want to cook the oils, you just want to melt it together.  Place the mason jar mixture in to the pot and you will begin to see the contents melt inside.  The heat settings should still be on low, here.  It doesn’t need to come to a boil, it just needs to get hot enough to melt the mixture.  Coconut oil melts fast.  Then the shea butter will melt, and slooooowly the beeswax will follow.  Stir the mixture as it melts to help it along.  Just to be safe, I removed the jar from the pot every now and again so the contents wouldn’t scorch.  NOTE: You will begin to see the dye sink to the bottom of the jar.  This is okay.  When it is all finished, you’ll see that the lotion bars have the color tint that you want.  Just continue to stir the mixture until it is all completely melted.  Careful not to get dye all over the place!  The melting process took about 20 minutes for this amount.
Now comes time to pour the mixture into your mold.  The mold is a fancy term for a silicone ice cube tray.  Geneane snagged this cute heart ice cube tray from the dollar section in Target and it worked perfectly for this DIY.  Now can I give you an example of what NOT to do?  When the mixture is completely melted, you will find that some of the coloring will sink to the bottom of the jar.  When pouring the mixture into the ice cube tray, DO NOT let the dye pool at the bottom as shown in the photo below.  If it does, when it hardens you’ll get what I like to call “bruising”: dye that’s stuck inside the lotion bar.  When you rub it on your skin, it will bust open and you’ll have gooey dye rubbed into your skin.  Ew…Not a good thing!  So as you’re pouring, when you see that the oil is poured out, stop.

 

 

This may take a little bit of trial and error, but that’s the great thing about crafting!  Here at Spark & Chemistry, we’re all about learning from our DIY mistakes.

After all of the mixture is poured into your ice cube tray, in a matter of minutes, you’ll see it begin to harden.  Just because it looks ready to pop out and use, doesn’t mean it is.  You’ll notice that though the surface looks hardened, the bottom of the tray feels warm- not done.  To speed up the process, stick it in the fridge for 5-10 extra minutes.  Once you pull it out of the fridge, you can pop them out!  Not to shabby, right?

 

 

Store these lotion bars at room temperature, or for a cooling sensation, keep them in the fridge and use when you need it.  You’ll notice that as soon as you touch them, they begin to melt into your skin.  If it feels a little too oily for you, next time, let up a bit on the coconut oil.  I was concerned at first about that, but as I held them, I realized that they weren’t completely melting; it’s just that the warmth from my skin activated the oils.  I love the way these feel.  I’m thinking on average, one lotion bar should last one day.  When you get out of the shower, rub it on your skin to feel moisturized and hydrated.  Place them in a glass vase to display for a party.  Your guests can grab one on the go.  Just make sure you have a plastic baggy so the contents don’t get all over their clothes or inside their purse!  It is like lotion, just to keep in mind.  This homemade craft is perfect for Valentine’s day and I just love them.  If you like this craft, share it with your friends!  Happy DIY!