It’s only October, I know. But I can’t help but begin to think about Christmas gift giving. I love giving handmade gifts when possible and that takes time. So, you’ll forgive me, won’t you, for mentioning Christmas when it’s not even Halloween yet?
And be sure to scroll to the great list of Gifts From the Homestead below which you can make this holiday season, or any time of year. The list is categorized by how long each gift takes to make – from an hour or less, to a month.
What’s a Lotion Bar?
Lotion bars are, like liquid lotion, a great way to keep your skin soft. But they are solid which means they aren’t messy and travel really well in a purse. I know it seems crazy that a solid bar would be able to soothe your skin, but the heat of your skin is just enough to slightly melt the bar as you rub it between your hands or over your skin.
Are Lotion Bars Good for My Skin?
Well, I suppose that depends on what you use to make your lotion bars, but everything I use in my lotion bar recipe helps to nourish skin!
Unrefined coconut oil provides moisture, and is easily absorbed into your skin. It helps remove excessive dead cells that make your skin rough and flaky. Unrefined (or virgin) coconut oil is rich in antioxidants, is anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal, and can help to protect skin against sunburn. (Where to find unrefined coconut oil)
Cocoa butter is solid at room temperature but melts at body temperature. It is rich and creamy and soaks right into your skin. And, like coconut oil, it’s rich in anti-oxidants and has sun-blocking properties. (Where to find unrefined cocoa butter)
Shea butter is primarily composed of fatty acids such as stearic and oleic acids. The moisturizers in shea butter are the same as those produced by the sebaceous glands of the skin. It is very healing to the skin. (Where to find unrefined shea butter)
Beeswax locks in moisture and provides a protective barrier against harsh environmental factors. It also has properties that are healing to skin. (Where to find beeswax).
Simple homemade lotion bar ingredients – beeswax, cocoa butter (or shea butter), and coconut oil.
How to Make Lotion Bars
As mentioned above, these homemade lotion bars begin with quality ingredients – beeswax, cocoa butter or shea butter, and coconut oil.
The ingredients are measured (see printable recipe below) and placed in the top of a double boiler. Here’s an easy way to make a double boiler if you don’t have one.
Place a few inches of water in the bottom of the double boiler, and heat gently to melt the beeswax, cocoa or shea butter and coconut oil in the lotion bar recipe. Stir gently as the ingredients melt.
Be careful not to allow the water to boil and splash into the oils. Any moisture in your lotion bars can cause mold later on.
Once melted, remove the ingredients from the heat, and add essential oils if desired, being sure to thoroughly stir them in.
Next, pour the melted lotion into lotion bar molds, and allow to cool thoroughly. Once cool, they will be hard to the touch and can be removed from the mold.
Store your lotion bars in tins; to use, simply rub the bars between your hands. The warmth of your hands will melt the lotion bars.
Printable Labels for Your Lotion Bars
And because you want your gifts to be packaged attractively, I’ve had some graphics created so that you can print beautiful labels for your tins. They print on 2″ labels (like these), or you could print them on paper, cut them out, and use a glue stick to attach them to your tins.
Click here for free printable labels.
Click here for free printable  Christmas labels.
Gifts From the Homestead
Gifts You Can Make in an Hour or Less
Make Your Own Lotion Bars || Learning and Yearning
Creative Cookie Packaging Ideas || Rootsy Network
Create a Giftable Indoor Herb Garden Kit || The Not So Modern Housewife
Two Holiday Chai Tea Blends: The Perfect Fall or Winter Gift || Healing Harvest Homestead
Soup in a Jar: the Perfect Comfort Gift || Dehydrating Made Easy
Snickerdoodle Cookies || Nancy On The Homefront
Cinnamon Roasted Almonds (with printable gift tags) || A Modern Homestead
How to Make & Give Homemade Hot Cocoa Mixes || Homespun Seasonal Living
How to Can Homemade Salsa || Not So Modern
Make Gift-Worthy Bread Mix In A Jar – Great for Your Own Pantry Shelf Too! || Oak Hill Homestead
Easy Homemade Bath Salts Recipe || Better Hens and Gardens
Peppermint Foot Salve || The Self Sufficient Home Acre
SPF Lip Balm Recipe || Our Inspired Roots
3 Bedtime Bath Teas for Kids || Homestead Lady
DIY Flaxseed Neck Heating Pad for Soothing Muscles || Joybilee Farm
No-Sew Scented Sachet Bags With 5 Herbal Recipes || Rockin W Homestead
Fall Air Freshener DIY || Feathers In The Woods
Gifts You Can Make in a Day or Less
Easy Applesauce Recipe For Canning or Eating Fresh || Hidden Springs Homestead
How to Make Hot Process Soap Complete Picture Tutorial || Healing Harvest Homestead
Crockpot Apple Butter with Canning Instructions || A Modern Homestead
DIY Quilted Mug Rug || Flip Flop Barnyard
Feathers & Hugs – How to Create a Psalms 91 Throw || The Farm Wife
DIY Flower & Veggie Row Markers || The Self Sufficient Home Acre
Make Your Own Veggie Hod || Nancy On The Homefront
Horseshoe Farm Sign – Fun DIY Gift for the Horse Lover || Homegrown Self Reliance
Gifts You Can Make in a Week
Easy Primitive Throw Pillow Tutorial || Hidden Springs Homestead
How to Make a Rag Quilt || Flip Flop Barnyard
Make Your Own Plant Pots and Baskets || Homestead Lady
Special Gifts That Take One Month to Create (but are well worth the wait)
Making Herbal Vinegar || Better Hens and Gardens
Elderberry Elixir – A Delicious Immune Boosting Gift || Homegrown Self Reliance
How to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract || Farming My Backyard
How to Make Strawberry Wine Step-by-Step || Stone Family Farmstead
How to Make Cold-Process Soap from Scratch || Oak Hill Homestead
Make Your Own Lotion Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup beeswax pellets or grated
- 6 tablespoons coconut oil
- 6 tablespoons cocoa butter or shea butter
- 40 - 50 drops essential oils* of your choice
Instructions
- Place several inches of water in the bottom of a double boiler.
- Combine beeswax, coconut oil, cocoa butter or shea butter in the top of a double boiler.
- Heat gently on stovetop, stirring occasionally, until all ingredients are melted.
- Remove from heat and add essential oils if using.
- Pour into 2" round silicone soap mold.
- Allow to cool completely before removing from the mold.
- Store in tins, or other container.
- To use, simply rub the lotion bars between your hands. The warmth of your hands will melt the bars.
Notes
Thank you for visiting Learning And Yearning. May "the LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num 6:24-26
Janet Garman says
Susan I like how you made this process look like something I can do. I have high hopes o f making some lotion bars for gifts for this Christmas season.
Thank you
Susan Vinskofski says
I know you can do it! Seriously, this is one of the easiest products I’ve ever made. 🙂
lisa says
How long would you say one bar last? Would you think I could make large bars? Do you have recommendations for where you purchased your ingredients? Thank you!!! 🙂
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Lisa, Sure, you can make the bars whatever size you prefer. They are fairly long lasting. For supplies, just click on the “where to find” links in the article. Thanks for stopping by!
Toni says
Can these be made without coconut? (coconut allergy here. It’s getting hard to find coconut free lotions and such)
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Toni, Yes! You can use tallow instead of the coconut oil.
Brenda Nelson says
I don’t care for the smell of coconut. Can it be replaced with something else?
Brenda Nelson says
Sorry….just saw the answer for my question!
Anna @Green Talk says
Love this idea for gift giving. I usually make homemade jams for gifts.
Elaina Newton says
What a neat idea! Lotion bars are on my eventual to-do list and they would be so handy to carry around during the winter when your hands get dry.
Lynne Ohlson says
Thank you very much for sharing. These sound wonderful. I haven’t had a chance to make them yet but while I am here I want to THANK YOU for being one of the very few sites that don’t send you to a second page to get the recipe. It is very very thoughtful of you. If my wi fi is running slow it is so frustrating to have to wait while a second page loads. Thank you thank you thank you.
Regards, Lynne
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi Lynne, thanks for taking the time to compliment! It’s sincerely appreciated.
Jennifer says
I was the fortunate recipient of one of Susan’s wonderful handmade lotion bars. Mine was gone by mid-February! Each time I used it I enjoyed the process of rubbing it between my hands and smelling the pleasing natural oils. Mostly, I enjoyed being reminded of how blessed I am to have Susan for my thoughtful, loving, and creative friend.
Susan Vinskofski says
*blush* So glad you liked it, Jenny!!!
Paige says
In your picture of the lotion bar inside of the tin; how did you get the lotion bar SMALLER than the tin? It’s for resale/gift so I think you wouldn’t have rubbe it in your hands first. I’m just thinking ahead. Thanks
Susan Vinskofski says
Paige, I used this mold http://amzn.to/1QSvEZa which is 2″, and this tin http://amzn.to/1W3VIBL which is 2.5″. Hope that helps.
Deanna says
I have these in the fridge now to set, how long do you set your before removing from the mold? These smell divine, I used sweet orange, nice combination with the cocoa butter. Thanks for the recipe.
Susan Vinskofski says
I agree – orange and cocoa butter are a wonderful combination! The bars should harden rather quickly – within a half hour I would guess.
Deanna says
They did and they’re beautiful, I found a mold with a design and they look fantastic, feel nice too. I will give them out for Valentine’s Day. Thanks again!
Susan Vinskofski says
Everyone will definitely feel loved!!!
Debbie says
Where did you get the tins at? That is a great idea.
Susan Vinskofski says
Thanks, Debbie. I used tins like these: http://amzn.to/1QvyYqV.
Sherry says
Can I use almond oil instead of coconut oil. And would u still use the same amount. Also can u use both Shea Butter and cocoa or is it better to use only one.
Susan Vinskofski says
Sherry, yes you can use both the cocoa and shea butters. You can play around with other oils as well but may have to adjust the beeswax to get the right consistency.
distracted grandma says
Nobody wants to download someone else’s labels while you advertise your website on them. I am not going to advertise for you for free. That is just wrong.
Susan Vinskofski says
You are certainly are under no obligation to use them. I notice that you don’t complain that I am giving you my recipe for free.
Chris says
My mother always said – if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it. I think Susan was really nice to share her recipe and advice on how to make these bars.
Vicki says
Strange lady in town!!!
Kari H. says
LOL !!
I, for one, am quite thankful for the lovely article and ensuing FREE recipe with very handy links for the exact products used. As a wife and homeschooling mother of 3 young children it is an absolute gift for me to find such a wonderful resource to make a beautiful, quality, handmade Christmas present!
The time saved from bundling and loading up the kiddos for a trip to Michaels where they may or may not have the correct items I need to make these lotion bars… well, you get the picture 🙂
Thank you Susan for including the Amazon links, it is WONDERFUL to have just what I need left on the front porch.
Lastly, thank you for the beautiful, printable, and FREE, labels; I will be using them.
Susan Vinskofski says
Thank you so much for the kind words and support, Kari. Happy lotion bar making!!!
Kim Stanley says
Sue,
I will gladly use your labels. After all, it would be wrong to take credit for your recipe! I’m wondering if it would be advisable to use a good vanilla extract for scent rather than essential oils…I just really like the smell of vanilla, but would love to hear your thoughts before I go and potentially ruin the final product!
Many, Many Thanks,
Kim
Susan Vinskofski says
Thank you, Kim! As far as the vanilla, I would say that it would probably be ok. But, is probably good enough? I haven’t tried it myself. Maybe you could try a half batch to see how it goes. Glad you stopped by!!!
Sara says
Hi there. Would it be possible to swap the coconut oil for jojoba oil? What extra would I need to make it harden if using jojoba, due to the fact it doesn’t solidify in a cooler environment like coconut oil does. Also are these bars suitable for warm weather gifts? Aussie Xmas is rather warm
Susan Vinskofski says
Hi! I’ve never had my lotion bars melt during the summer so I think that should be just fine. I wouldn’t want to recommend a substitution I’ve never tired myself, so I really don’t know about the jojoba oil. Thanks for stopping by!!!
Kathleen says
I will be making these for Yule presents! Can hardly wait to get started – and am keeping one for myself. Most of my gift-giving is crocheted or knitted and my hands dry out so fast, my grandmother always kept a bar of beeswax around for just this problem, but I think these will be much nicer and will make great gifts! Thank you for sharing!
Christine says
Great recipe but could I use a little less beeswax as I found the bars a bit too hard? Little chance of them melting in Scotland.
Susan Vinskofski says
LOL. Yes, they do seem hard but melt rather quickly once the warmth of my hands hit them. Enjoy!
Irini S. says
Thank you for the recipe and the labels. I made the lotion bar and put it in packing bags, so I have a small part in my bag and the rest in the cooler do not solve……. superior
Susan Vinskofski says
You’re so welcome Irini!
Leslie says
I want to try this. What is the shelf life on this?
Jeri says
If you used the 2 oz molds, do you remember how many it made per batch? Thanks!
Robin says
Hello,
Thank you for the recipe. I can’t wait to make it. I do have a question however, since I’m making this for my family and am new to all of this. I keep reading to use dark glass for these type of things using essential oils and that tin can have a back impact on essential oils.
I like the idea of using the tins and just want to make sure they’re ok to use…
Thank you…
Susan says
That’s a great question, Robin. You would never store essential oils in metal, but the tins are perfectly fine for this recipe since the amount of EO is low. I have used the tins for years.