by Katie
Wellnessmama.com 

Coconut Oil‘s nourishing properties make it an excellent skin lotion and homemade lotion bars make it even easier to apply. Lotion bars are very moisturizing and incredibly easy to make with only a few ingredients. No liquid ingredients are used so no emulsifying or preservatives are needed.

Uses for Lotion Bars:

I often give lotion bars as gifts since they can be easily customized with essential oils or natural scents. They are completely natural and safe on babies and children. The coconut oil and shea butter create a natural SPF of about 5, which make them ideal for outdoor activities.

My personal favorite uses for lotion bars are:

• To soften and protect dry skin
• During pregnancy to prevent stretch marks
• On sensitive baby skin to help sooth diaper rash or eczema
• To sooth dry skin from rashes, eczema or psoriasis
• After shaving to prevent dry skin
• As a nighttime facial moisturizer
• After doing dishes to moisturize hands

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/2 cup Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
• 2/3 cup Beeswax Pastilles or grated beeswax
• Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• Optional: Essential Oils for scent

How to Make:

When I first started making this recipe I used a double boiler and blender before I realized that there was a much easier way that didn’t require excessive dishes. Here’s the easy way (my blender thanks you!):

Combine ingredients in a quart size or larger glass mason jar or reused glass jar. Fill a medium size saucepan with a couple inches of water and place on a burner over medium high heat. I recommend putting a lid on the jar to prevent water from getting in as this ruins the lotion bars.

Bring the water to a simmer and stir or shake the contents of the jar until completely melted. This should take about ten minutes. Quickly pour into whatever molds you are using. I highly recommend silicon muffin cups or molds if you have them because they are so easy to clean. Regular muffin tins or even small glass jars also work. You can even use small jelly-size glass jars if you want to keep the lotion bar in the jar for travel or to give as a gift. This recipe will make approximately 6 lotion bars if using muffin cups or small jars.

Leave in molds for at least 4 hours or overnight (preferable) and carefully pop out of molds. I wrap in cellophane bags and tie with burlap and twine for gifts.

How to Use Lotion Bars:

Lotion bars are designed for use on dry skin in place of lotion. Apply the same way that you would use soap in the shower but on dry skin with no need to wash off. The heat of your skin will transfer a very thin layer of moisturizing lotion to the skin, which will absorb in 3-5 minutes.

Customize Them!

The great thing about lotion bars is that you can customize them to your own preference. Here are a few ideas or I’d love to hear yours!

• Add 20-30 drops of your favorite essential oil for scent. I like lavender or ylang ylang.
• Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and 1/2 tsp of powdered ginger for use on sore muscles after working out.
• Add 1/2 cup organic arrowroot powder and a tablespoon of baking soda to make a natural deodorant bar that puts most regular deodorants to shame. Leave out the baking soda if you have sensitive skin. You can also add the powder of a couple capsules of shelf-stable probiotics for extra odor protection.
• Infuse the coconut oil before making with some common kitchen herbs to make a bug-repellent bar that works great without chemicals.
• Add a couple tablespoons of Zinc Oxide Powder (non-nano) to make sunscreen bars. The powder will settle a little which is normal. Be careful not to inhale the powder.

Katie is a happy housewife and work at home mom of four. She’s a real food crusader dedicated to cooking healthy, whole-food recipes for her family and helping other families do the same. A lover of books, kettlebell junkie, scuba diver, and coffee addict who can finally do a pull up. Stop by and say hi at her blog: WellnessMama.com