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.
 | 2 ounce (2.5″) Shallow Tin |
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 silicone 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
Creative Cookie Packaging Ideas || Rootsy Network
Two Holiday Chai Tea Blends: The Perfect Fall or Winter Gift || Healing Harvest Homestead
Cinnamon Roasted Almonds (with printable gift tags) || A Modern Homestead
How to Make & Give Homemade Hot Cocoa Mixes || Homespun Seasonal Living
Make Gift-Worthy Bread Mix In A Jar – Great for Your Own Pantry Shelf Too! || Oak Hill Homestead
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
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)
Make Your Extracts for Cooking and Gift Giving || Learning And Yearning
How to Make Strawberry Wine Step-by-Step || Stone Family Farmstead
Homemade Candy Cane Soap with all natural ingredients || Learning And Yearning
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