Simple Hard Lotion Bars

As Christmas is fast approaching we are busy preparing gifts for our loved ones.  This year we are making quite a few gifts to share with our children and family.  One quick and easy gift we like to share around the holidays are hard lotion bars.  These hard lotion bars can be made quickly in the kitchen with materials you probably already have on hand.

Lori and I usually get together in early December to make our yearly batches of soap and hard lotion, most of which we use ourselves, but we do make some to use as gifts for family.

The following is the recipe we use.

Materials and Ingredients Needed:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Double boiler or two pots
• Spoon
• Molds – you can use muffin tins, soap molds, etc.
• Measuring cup
• Parchment paper
• Shea Butter – 1 cup
• Beeswax – 1 cup
• Coconut Oil – 1 cup

This recipe is easy to remember because it uses equal parts of all three ingredients.

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Step 1

Start by measuring the beeswax.  If you have beeswax pellets this makes measuring much easier.  Since we use a block of beeswax we use the double boiler to melt the beeswax until we have 1 cup.  This takes a bit of guess-work, measuring and pouring until we have the right amount.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never heat beeswax in the microwave or directly on a stove top it may ignite, always use the double boiler method.

Step 2

Once the beeswax is melted, measure the coconut oil and add it to the double boiler that the beeswax is already in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3

Next, add in the Shea butter and stir until all parts have been melted and mixed together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4

Once all ingredients have been well blended pour the liquid into your molds.  We use both a soap mold and muffin tins, filling the soap mold first and then filling the muffin tins about 1/2 an inch thick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5

Let the bars sit to cool completely before taking out of the molds.  To speed the process up and to make removing the bars easier you can but the molds in the freezer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6

Cut and wrap the lotion bars.  We use parchment paper to wrap the bars individually, you can use whatever you like to wrap and package your bars.  We have also used small tins to keep the bars in and to give as gifts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This recipe is the most basic, but you can adapt it to suit your needs.  In the past we have added essential oils to the bars and have played around with the amounts of ingredients.  If you want your bars to be harder add more beeswax (good for warmer climates), if you prefer the bars softer add more coconut oil (better for cooler climates).

We use these bars daily for our hands and body.  Both our boys have eczema and these bars help to keep their dry skin hydrated and soft.

Where to buy ingredients:

Coconut oil can be purchased at most grocery stores, or you can order from amazon.ca

Shea butter can be purchased at some health food stores or ordered online (we order online),

(Shea butter does have its own fragrance, if you don’t want to have the Shea butter add a scent to the bars I would recommend buying refined Shea butter).

Beeswax can be bought locally from beekeepers or ordered online,

 

Do you make homemade gifts for friends and family?