DIY Lotion Bars

Is the winter cold taking a toll on your hands? Cracked knuckles and scaly skin are one of the many joys of winter. Traditional lotions and creams can cause your skin to dry out even more. That causes you to use more and in turn buy more. Smart marketing strategy, but not so great for my poor hands. Give these DIY lotion bars a try. They leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated. I’ve included recipes for both men and women.

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You Have Snake Hands?

Teaching preschool comes with many challenges, but one of them is staying healthy during cold and flu season. I take supplements and use an immune supporting roller to help keep me feeling my best. The most important thing I do is wash my hands. I wash after each diaper change, trip to the potty, before serving food, after serving food, before I eat, when we come inside, when I grab a sticky hand, and (my personal favorite) when somebody wipes their nose on my hand while holding it. Kids are gross, but they are so gosh darn cute. I think I spend half of my day washing hands, whether they are my own or somebody else’s. 

I mentioned one day that my hands felt like snakes to another adult. Of course, I was overheard by little ears. This led to an interrogation and a pat down. You have snake hands? Is the snake in your pocket? But snakes don’t have hands. Why did you take the snake’s hands? Are you going to give them back? Let me feel your snake hands! Why are your fingers so hard? And it continued for the duration of the day. Each time somebody remembered that Mrs. Morgan had snake hands the integration and pat down repeated itself. 

The difficult part is that I hate using lotion. I like the feeling of clean hands with nothing on them. So this means they get no support during the day. I’ve discovered that DIY lotion bars work great for dry skin. It is handy enough to use that I actually use them. I use the lotion bars on my hands at night and on my shins after shaving. They are so handy!

Another thing I do to help with my dry hands is use a sugar scrub. This removes all of the dry skin and smooths out the callouses. I keep a jar of it in the bathroom and in the kitchen to help remind myself to use it. Although it is not part of my daily routine, I use it on occasion. Check out the recipe here!

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About the Ingredients in the DIY Lotion Bar

Shea butter helps to moisturize the skin. I like the smell and texture of it more than I do cocoa butter. I don’t fancy chocolate smelling body products, but if that’s your thing be my guest. They are interchangeable in this recipe. 

The vitamin E oil is a great moisturizer. You will see it in many commercially produced moisturizers as well. This helps to rehydrate the skin. 

Beeswax creates a protective layer over the skin. This helps to keep in the moisture and the antibacterial and antifungal properties help help out the bad stuff.  Plus it can help cuts, scrapes, and rashes heal. It is hypoallergenic, which makes it great for everybody. It can reduce dry skin, itchiness, and inflamation as well. Beeswax contians vitamin A, which is good for the skin.

Coconut oil is great to eat, but also great for your skin. Like beeswax, it helps hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation, and help clean and heal scrapes. Coconut oil can lighten dark spots and help aging skin. It can be a bit greasy when applied to the skin, so keep in mind that a little goes a long way.

DIY Lotion Bars Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup beeswax

1 cup coconut oil

1 cup cocoa butter or shea butter (or a combination of both)

1 tsp vitamin E oil

30 drops of essential oils

Instructions

1. First melt 1 cup of beeswax, 1 cup of coconut oil, and 1 cup of cocoa butter, and 1 tsp of vitamin E oil together in a double boiler.
2. While it is melting, put down some parchment paper and your mold. Puting the parchment under the mold will save your countertops in case of a spill and make clean up a snap. Thank me later. 
3. Once everything is melted, remove it from the heat and add in 30 drops of essential oils. Check out Essential Oil Combinations for DIY Lotion Bars down below for some ideas.
4. Then pour the mixture into a glass measuring cup. This makes it easier to pour it into the molds.
5. Next quickly pour the mixture into the molds. 
6. Allow the DIY lotion bars to sit in the mold until they are completely cooled. I normally let them sit overnight.
7. Finally, pop them out of the molds and you’re done!

Tips for Making DIY Lotion Bars

If you don’t have a double boiler, make one using a pot and a glass bowl. Put water in the pot and set the glass bowl on top. This is how I make all of my things because I don’t have a double boiler either. 

If you don’t mind smelling like chocolate, then use cocoa butter. Otherwise, use the shea butter. I only use cocoa butter in the vanilla lotion bars because the smell of the cocoa butter is overwhelming.

If the mixture hardens in the cup before you finish pouring it in the molds, simply put the glass measuring cup in the pot of water used to make a double boiler. Once it melts, finish pouring.

If you need to speed up the cooling process, put the filled mold in the fridge or freezer.

Using DIY Lotion Bars

Rub the lotion bar on the skin in need. Then massage the lotion in with your hands. I typically apply it to the back of my hands, then rub it in all over. 

The DIY lotion bars are great for your hands, but also your elbows, knees, and legs. I use one after shaving to help keep my legs smooth.

I wrapped each bar in parchment paper. It looked pretty and was functional as well.

Essential Oil Combinations for DIY Lotion Bars

Working Man

This combo is great for the men. Use shea butter instead of cocoa butter. Add 15 drops of wild orange and 15 drops of clove.

Sleepy Time

I like to use this on my hands right before bed. Then I can smell them as I fall asleep. It’s like having a personal bedtime diffuser. I like using shea butter for this bar. Add 20 drops of lavender and 10 drops of Roman chamomile. 

Dry Skin

This is my go to in the winter time. Once again, I use shea butter instead of cocoa butter. Add 15 drops of lavender, 10 drops of frankincense, and 5 drops of tea tree. This works great on chapped or cracked hands.

Vanilla

Use cocoa butter and 30 drops of vanilla essential oil. Vanilla extract can not be substituted in this recipe. It will not mix in with the butters, oils, and beeswax like the essential oil will.

Mr. Manly

To avoid smelling chocolatey, use shea butter. Then add 10 drops of cedarwood, 10 drops of white fir, and 10 drops of cypress. 

The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Beeswax

Cocoa Butter

Shea Butter

Vitamin E Oil

Coconut Oil

Essential Oils Use the code MORGANSFARMHOUSE10 for 10% off your first order

Silicone Mold