If you’ve never made DIY Lotion Bars, you have to try this simple shea butter and essential oil lotion bar recipe! You can use them right in the shower for instant and lasting hydration.
The golden rule of body lotion application is to “apply immediately after shower to seal in moisture.” So you could safely say I’m a failure at lotion. I always have the best intentions of applying it when I get out of the shower, but in reality, it doesn’t happen very often. By the time I get out of the shower and I do my facial skin care, I’m rushing to get makeup and clothes on, and then the clothes are on, so another opportunity for moisturized skin has bitten the dust.
How Do Lotion Bars Work?
I first discovered the idea of lotioning in the shower during a stroll through one of my favorite stores to stroll through, Lush. I found a thing called a lotion bar that you use in the shower. In the shower! I thought it would be a game changer, which it was, and it has definitely been a skin changer! After finishing your shower, you just grab the solid lotion bar and smooth it over the areas needing moisture. The lotion glides on, absorbing quickly and easily. Then simply pat dry. The scent and softness last all day like a champ. Genius, right?!
While I love the Lush version, I’m a scent girl. I like a variety of scents in my life, and this bar comes in just one scent. It isn’t offensive by any means, but I’m not in love with it either. A scent that I am a big fan of is lavender. Lavender anything! It’s my scent mood transporter.
I’ve played around with various ingredients and recipes, I found the homemade lotion bars that were the winner! And they are reeeeeally easy to make! They are extremely moisturizing and dense… a little goes a long way!
How to Make DIY Essential Oil Lotion Bars
Video and Written Instructions (printable instruction card at the bottom of post).
Gather your ingredients. You will need:
- Beeswax pellets
(the pellets are much easier to work with and melt than bulk!)
- Shea Butter
- Unrefined Coconut Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Silicone soap mold
If you would like to experiment with different scent combinations, I have found some great essential oil combos that I used in my DIY sugar scrubs that would work well with these. too.
These DIY lotion bars make great gifts as well… I like to wrap them in parchment paper and tie a ribbon around them.
Here’s to the end of dry skin forever!
DIY Lotion Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Beeswax pellets
- 1 cup Shea Butter
- 1 cup Unrefined Coconut Oil
- ½ teaspoon Lavender Oil or your favorite essential oil
- Silicone soap mold
Instructions
- Add 1 cup beeswax pellets, 1 cup shea butter and 1 cup unrefined coconut oil into a microwave safe measuring cup (or bowl with a spout).
- Pop the measuring cup in the microwave, and cook on high for 1 minute. Take out and stir; cook for another minute. Repeat 2 more times or until the mixture has completely liquified (my microwave melts the mixture in 4 minutes total). The beeswax will be the last thing to melt. Once melted, stir in the lavender oil (or whichever scent you prefer).½ teaspoon Lavender Oil
- Immediately pour liquid into molds (it begins to harden quickly!) Let the liquid settle for about 5 minutes (so it doesn't spill everywhere when you transport it!) and then move into the refrigerator. Keep refrigerated for at least 1 hour.
- Remove from the fridge. The bars pop right out as you push down on the bottom of the lotion bar mold.
Rebecca Hayes says
Do you have to use beeswax,or can you use more of something else or something else altogether?
Lydia says
Hi Rebecca! You could try, but the beeswax is what keeps the bars firm enough to use in the shower. I haven’t heard of any successes uses anything else.
Morinda says
I used soy wax in place of the beeswax and mango butter, my bars simply are not staying very hard! They are more of a salve consistency. Is this what they are supposed to be like? My house stays at 68°F, so I don’t think my house temperature is the issue.
Lydia says
Hi Morinda! Unfortunately I’m afraid it might be due to the soy wax. 🙁 Soy doesn’t harden the same way that beeswax does for this purpose.
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
Lydia says
Hi Vanessa! They can be kept for about a year, although the scent does dissipate over time.
Joni W says
You can also add 1/2 to 1 tsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder to make them less greasy.
Lydia says
Great suggestion, thanks Joni!
Christina says
You can also use Canfelilla wax instead of beeswax.
Amber says
You can buy soy wax at Michael’s it will be with the soap and candle supplies but you can also find it at Walmart or Joannes or any craft store as well and of course Amazon but I’ve been having issues with them lately during Covid. Best of luck!