Easy to Make Spring Floral Lotion Bars
Have you ever heard of lotion bars? I don’t know why it has taken me so long to try them! They are my newest favorite obsession to moisturize my skin. I love these smaller molds to make one time use, individual-sized lotion bars. It feels like a much-needed massage applying the bars. And they absorb quickly leaving my skin so soft!
What is a lotion bar?
A lotion bar is a solid form of moisturizer that is typically made with nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, and various oils like coconut or jojoba oil. Unlike traditional liquid lotions that come in bottles, lotion bars are compact and easy to use. To apply a lotion bar, you simply rub it between your hands or directly onto your skin. The warmth of your body helps soften the bar, allowing it to glide smoothly and provide hydration to the skin. Lotion bars are popular for their convenience, as they are travel-friendly, mess-free, and can be easily stored in reusable tins or containers.
Some benefits of using lotion bars:
Moisturizing: Lotion bars are formulated with rich, moisturizing ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil. These ingredients help to hydrate the skin, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, and supple.
Long-lasting: Unlike traditional liquid lotions that can be easily absorbed or washed away, lotion bars create a protective barrier on the skin, sealing in moisture and providing long-lasting hydration.
Convenience: Lotion bars are compact and travel-friendly, making them ideal for on-the-go hydration. They come in solid form, eliminating the risk of spills or leaks that can occur with liquid lotions.
Easy to use: Lotion bars are easy to apply. Simply glide the bar over the skin and massage in the melted oils. The warmth of your skin will soften the bar, allowing it to glide smoothly and evenly over the skin.
Customizable: Lotion bars can be customized with various ingredients to suit different skin types and preferences. Essential oils, botanical extracts, and other ingredients can be incorporated to enhance the moisturizing and therapeutic properties of the bars.
Environmentally friendly: Lotion bars typically come in minimal or no packaging, reducing waste compared to bottled lotions. Additionally, many lotion bar formulations use natural and sustainably sourced ingredients, making them environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional skincare products.
Versatility: Lotion bars can be used to moisturize various parts of the body, including hands, feet, elbows, and knees. They can also be used as massage bars to provide relaxation and relief to tired muscles.
Cost-effective: Since lotion bars are highly concentrated and long-lasting, a small amount goes a long way. This makes them a cost-effective option for skincare, as they can provide months of hydration from a single bar.
Overall, lotion bars offer a convenient, effective, and eco-friendly solution for moisturizing and nourishing the skin, making them a valuable addition to any skincare routine.
Spring Floral Lotion Bars
These spring floral lotion bars only take about 5 minutes to make and work wonders for moisturizing your skin. They also are easy to travel with and make great gifts!
In my favorite spring floral lotion bar recipe, I first melt down my butter, beeswax and oil in a double boiler, then remove from heat, add the essential oils, and stir into the silicone molds! So easy!
About the ingredients:
Shea Butter: Shea butter is a rich, creamy fat derived from the nuts of the shea tree. It is deeply moisturizing and nourishing for the skin, thanks to its high content of fatty acids and vitamins, including vitamins A, E, and F. Shea butter helps to hydrate and soften the skin, soothe irritation and inflammation, and improve skin elasticity and suppleness. Its emollient properties make it ideal for dry, damaged, or sensitive skin.
Beeswax: Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees and is commonly used in skincare products for its emollient and protective properties. Beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin, sealing in moisture and protecting against environmental stressors. It helps to soften and smooth the skin, while also providing a stable base for other ingredients in lotion bars. Beeswax is particularly beneficial for dry or chapped skin, as it helps to prevent moisture loss and promote healing. If you prefer not to use beeswax, you can substitute carnauba or candelilla wax, just make sure you use half the amount that you normally would for beeswax.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a versatile oil extracted from the meat of coconuts and is prized for its moisturizing and nourishing properties. It is rich in fatty acids, including lauric acid, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Coconut oil helps to hydrate and soften the skin, improve skin barrier function, and promote healing. It absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue, making it suitable for all skin types, including dry, oily, and sensitive skin.
Lavender-Infused Oil: Lavender-infused oil can help promote relaxation, alleviate stress and anxiety, and soothe irritated or inflamed skin. Its antimicrobial properties make it effective for supporting healthy skin, while its gentle nature makes it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Additionally, the subtle floral scent of lavender can uplift the mood and enhance overall well-being.
Essential oils: Essential oils can be added to this lotion bar recipe for the aroma as well as skin supporting properties. See recipe below for essential oil blending recipe ideas.
To make:
First add the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil to a double boiler and melt on low. If you don’t have a double boiler, a Pyrex dish on the side of a pot of hot water on the stove works great as well! After melted, add lavender infused oil.
Once the butter, beeswax and oils are melted together, remove from stove and pour in essential oil blend of choice. Stir to combine. Then pour into silicone molds. You can use any silicone molds you have. You could also use cupcake liners. I like my lotion bars to be smaller as one-time use product so I can get a new one out time. I love this spring themed silicone molds for this.
Then let the lotion bar mixture solidify in the molds. I typically leave the lotion bars in the molds overnight, but 2 hours is enough time for them to harden up.
Carefully remove from the molds and store in glass jar or container away from direct sunlight and heat. When stored in dark, cool place, the lotion bars will last up to 1 year.
Spring Floral Lotion Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (55 grams) of oil of choice (I used lavender infused oil but calendula oil, apricot seed oil or jojoba oil would work great as well)
- 1/4 cup (54 grams) shea butter
- 1/4 cup beeswax pastilles (if substituting carnauba or candelilla wax use 1/8 cup)
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 30-40 drops of essential oils of choice *see recipe ideas below
Instructions
- In double boiler, heat on low beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil until melted.
- Add oil of choice and stir to combine.
- Remove from heat and stir in essential oils.
- Pour into silicone molds.
- Allow to cool for at least 2 hours, remove from molds and store in cool places for up to one year.
- To use: After bathing, take one lotion bar and hold between hands to soften. Gently massage into skin to support areas of dryness.
Some essential oil blends to try in your homemade lotions bars:
Lavender Rose:
30 drops Lavender
4 drops Rose
Spa Day:
20 drops Lavender
6 drops Vetiver
4 drops Sandalwood
4 drops Ylang Ylang
Calm Mama:
15 drops Lavender
10 drops Clary Sage
4 drops Bergamot
Beauty Sleep:
10 drops Clary Sage
10 drops Tangerine
6 drops Juniper
5 drops Vetiver
Floral Delight:
15 drops Lavender
5 drops Rose
8 drops Petitgrain
Muscle Relief:
10 drops Copaiba
10 drops Peppermint
10 drops Black Spruce
Sweet Dreams:
20 drops Lavender
5 drops Roman Chamomile
5 drops Frankincense
Invigorate and Refresh:
20 drops Lavender
10 drops Eucalyptus
Lotion bars offer numerous benefits that make them a popular choice in skincare. Their convenient solid form makes them mess-free and easy to apply, providing long-lasting hydration without any spillage or waste. The rich combination of nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils deeply moisturizes the skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and rejuvenated. Additionally, the eco-friendly packaging and sustainable formulations make lotion bars a conscious choice for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. With their versatility, effectiveness, and eco-conscious qualities, lotion bars have truly found their place as a must-have item in any skincare routine.
I hope you found this recipe helpful! If you are wanting to learn more about how aromatherapy can benefit the mind and body, check out my new book Science of Essentials as well as my best-selling recipe book Science of Essentials Best Recipes: The Ultimate Guide for Essential Oil Recipes for Your Mind, Body and Home here.
If you are new to essential oils, you may also find this blog I wrote helpful: How to Safely Add Essential Oils to Your Bath.
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