Lotion Bar Recipe: Homemade, All Natural (2024)

I didn’t know it was so easy. I’m thinking those would be great in a Christmas basket! Now my question is where can I buy those ingredients?

Thankyou for posting these recipes! I love this and am going to try this with my kids… yay!! WE are trying to get away from toxic living all around, and this is a great homemade remedy right here!

Thank you for this wonderful post just in time for Christmas! I love making things myself, but haven’t ventured into toiletries that much. I make my own earth-friendly cleaning supplies that I enjoy, so this is right up my alley. 🙂

Those look easy and like everyone else, I think they would be great Christmas gifts.
Good post.
Have a wonderful day.
Pam

Thanks for posting this! I know what I’m doing this weekend. 🙂

achtung!–thanks! It’s sooo easy. Have a good weekend!

I bought my beeswax at Hobby Lobby this afternoon, and my lotion bars are almost completely cooled off. I was surprised to see a wide selection of soap-making ingredients on the shelf in my Hobble Lobby. Too convenient!

mother hen–oh I like that. No waiting for stuff. I hope you like them. And thanks for your post–it really made our day–I love the way you write. You have the gift.

I’ve been wanting to make these for a while, and I’ve finally been able to! (I had to search a bit for the beeswax.) I added some rose fragrance and a bit of red mica, so they are a nice pink-orange color with a light rose-honey scent. So pretty! I also added a little less than half a teaspoon of cornstarch, since I read on another website that it can help cut down on the greasy feeling. I have six small bars of these cooling now, but being the impatient (and waste-hating) person I am, I scraped some of the cooled mix left on the inside of the bowl and rubbed some on my hands and arms, and I can tell already that I’m going to love them. Thank you for the recipe!

Honey-rose has got to be so warm and lovely a scent. I want a sniff! Thank you and I hope you like them!

I love these! I made a batch using oil-extracted jewelweed, and they’re great for poison ivy and other skin itches. Since jewelweed extract doesn’t keep very well, I also put in quite a bit of lavender and tea tree oils, so it also keeps bugs away.

Oooh, that sounds particularly nice, AcerRubrum. Very cool ideas.

I use pure coconut oil on my skin, it is the best moisturizer I’ve ever used. Soaks right in and is non greasy. I use it on my face also, and am amazed by the results. It looks great under my mineral make-up an gets rid of acne, because Coconut Oil kilss bacteria, viruses, etc. The best for skin is Virgin Organic Cold Pressed Unrefined Coconut Oil. (Best price is Azure Standard which sells a whole gallon for $37.00) or you an buy much smaller quantities to start out. Other uses are too many to name but: hair conditioner, make up remover, cooking oil, aftershave, shaving cream, etc…..

Tomato Ladyon 07/21/2009 at 3:44 pm

Heather, that sounds great. Coconut oil benefits are something that I have only recently begun to hear about. One of those “best kept secrets” I guess. Glad to know your experiences with different uses of it. Thanks for the tip on pricing.

TL — Was this posted on Tipnut? I’m thinking I saw it there and that’s how I found you in the first place. Am I right?
Yours is the first blog I ever visited!

Tomato Ladyon 08/23/2009 at 8:22 pm

Always in Blue–I can’t remember! Possibly so. Keep on visiting, we love you guys!

FANTASTIC! I am collecting directions for bath products I can make at home and this Christmas I am planning on making gift baskets for all my friends and family. Your lotion bar will be the perfect addition to my bath bombs, sugar scrubs, coffee scrubs, and soy candles!

Thanks for sharing =) Love making lotions! Try using almond oil with some orange essential oil soooooooo nourishing and aroma therapeutic!

Wow! First visit and I feel quite at home! I’m always whipping up something and everyone I know in real life thinks I’m crazy. Well, not too crazy since they are now buying my stuff. 😉 I’ve stopped buying things with ingredients I can’t pronounce. Looking forward to a long visit.

Tomato Ladyon 10/29/2009 at 10:40 pm

Kimberly–Welcome! Glad you found us!

Mid-winter celebration present making time!!! I have been wondering what to get my family and friends for the season, and was starting to think that a trip to the dollar store for some bubbles (everyone loves bubbles!!) might be in order, but now I found something even better! Of all the random websites I have stumbled across over the years, this is BY FAR the best one!!! Thanks for being awesome!

lynn@queenofthecastlerecipeson 12/03/2009 at 10:14 am

This is so neat. I’ve never heard of a lotion bar before. Nifty!

Could you use olive oil or canola oil? What kind of olive oil? Vegetable oil is either corn or soy. Corn, when ingested, gives me a horrible headache. Due to a reaction to soy and health concerns my OBGYN doesn’t want me eating or even putting anything with soy in it on my body.

Tomato Ladyon 12/11/2009 at 4:21 pm

Johanna–Absolutely. Olive or canola would be just great.

Lenetta @ Nettacowon 12/19/2009 at 2:19 pm

These are really neat! I linked to them on my weekly roundup (post is under my name). One of the my “little luxuries” is yummy smelling lotion, so I like the idea of playing around a bit with scents. Thanks for sharing!!

Phoebe @ Getting Freedomon 12/22/2009 at 4:30 pm

I can’t wait to give these a whirl–they sound so easy! Now, to find me some beeswax..

these look great.. I actually just bought a lotion bar through a wonderful company that has these.. but I’d love to try my hand at making them.. I wonder if you could share how much beeswax you use for however many.. I did check out Essential Wholesale but wonder how much to buy.. love your blog.. will be visiting often

Tomato Ladyon 12/27/2009 at 10:31 am

Hi Tina–Thank you! Here’s one method: Once you find out the capacity of your molds, multiply that amount by how many bars you want. Then divide that amount by 3 to see how much of each of the 3 major ingredients you will need. Happy lotion bar making!

okay, that makes sense, thanks.. do you use special molds.. are a certain type required.. I have some candle molds I’ve never used… do you think that would work?

Love this recipe! I used a pyrex dish in the microwave to melt the ingredients together, which worked great. For gift giving, I’ve been using paper “candy and nut” cup for a mold that can go with the bars. They are greeted with rave reviews. Thank you for posting this recipe!

Wendy, are you talking about just using the paper cupcake/muffin liners? I’m thinking that’s the same as the candy and nut cups?

Hi! Can you just use muffin tins with cooking spray for the molds? And also how about butter flavor crisco? Or do I have to get the un-butter kind? LOL
thanks, been wanting to do this for a long time. hubby has eczema.

Tomato Ladyon 03/25/2010 at 3:33 pm

Tigerlily–I don’t think the cooking spray would be necessary, but you can use it if you like. I’ve never tried it, so I can’t say for certain, but I doubt the butter flavoring would change the consistency. It may increase the possibility that someone would want to eat the bars, or that smelling them would induce a craving for popcorn!

I put mine in cookie tins. I just pop them in the freezer to cool and they pull away from the sides on their own.

Tomato Ladyon 09/27/2010 at 2:59 pm

Norma Austin–Hello. Before I respond fully to your question, I noticed you wrote “bar soap” in your first sentence. The recipe here is for lotion bars, which look just like soap, but are actually moisturizers/skin conditioners which you leave on and don’t soap up with. I’m going to assume for the purposes of my answer that you understand this and simply wrote “soap” because it is what normally follows “bar” in typical usage. Am I right? I do stuff like that all the time.
Anyway, you can substitute any liquid-at-room-temperature oil for the avocado oil, in the same proportions listed in this recipe. For example, olive oil is a common choice. If you are browsing the aisles (or virtual aisles online) you can substitute any liquid oil that lists properties you value for your particular usage, like conditioning, skin soothing, mildness, etc.
To check out our other natural skin product recipes, I encourage you to browse the listings under our DIY Body Care Products category: https://littlehouseinthesuburbs.comcategory/diy/body-care-products
Just scroll down and you’ll find liniment, lip balm, sunscreen, and more. The rule of thumb that applies for substitutions throughout these recipes is sub liquid oils for liquid oils and solid oils for solid oils. Which ones you use are a matter of personal preference.
Now, if you actually do wish to make SOAP, we can help with that, too. Just go here: https://littlehouseinthesuburbs.comcategory/crafts/lye-soaps
. . . and you will find our soap recipes. Let me know if you need any more info. Hope this helps. Thank you and our best to your daughter.

I recently found your site and am having fun poking around. I am going to try these with beeswax, vitamin E, almond oil and shea butter. I’m hoping that the almond and honey scent will be as good as it sounds.

I have all these ingredients! I will try to make the luxery one today even!

CharleneMon 11/13/2010 at 5:05 pm

Tomato Ladyon 11/13/2010 at 5:31 pm

CharleneM–Glad you are enjoying the bars!
Cocoa butter should be fine.
I’ve seen beeswax in the beekeeper catalogs, local beeks would probably have some, too.

I love this recipe! So easy!
Do you have a simple recipe for a lotion?

Kim Thiessenon 12/03/2010 at 10:59 pm

Tomato Ladyon 12/04/2010 at 4:17 pm

Kim Theissen–Thanks! Glad you found us! I use lots of different things for lotion bar molds. The last thing I tried was those little plastic single-serving fruit cups for lunchboxes. They have a little decorative fluting on the bottom that makes them really cute–fill about halfway. The actual molds I use are soap molds, like Milky Way molds. They are carried by most soaping suppliers online. Soaping suppliers also have lip balm tubes and pots, too. Hope you have fun with the bars. People love them when you show them what to do with them!

Kim Thiessenon 12/09/2010 at 9:03 pm

Tomato Ladyon 12/10/2010 at 9:16 am

Kim Thiessen–1. I used Crisco for this post. 2. This might be related to #4, see below. 3. I usually explain how to use them–warm in the hands, rub into skin, etc. If you weren’t going to speak to the recipient I agree a short instruction tag would be useful so they don’t try to wash their hands with them! You could get creative with clip art and your printer and make some gift labels with instructions. Here are some ideas for inspiration: http://www.oneprettything.com/?s=labels 4. I measure my beeswax melted. The idea is to have equal parts of all ingredients. You can do this by weight if you have a scale without premelting each component. This might be why your bars aren’t releasing cleanly if you have less beeswax than the other ingredients. They should pop right out of the molds when cooled completely.
I love your gift package. Mmmm, lemon is THE BEST.

Kim Thiessenon 12/10/2010 at 10:59 pm

I put my non-popping bars back into the double boiler and re-melted them with some more beeswax – they popped right out of the molds, perfectly! Very productive night – made 15 lotion bars, 19 little pots of lip balm and 13 jars of lemon sugar scrub. Hopefully, I’ll get them all packaged up tomorrow!

Tomato Ladyon 12/11/2010 at 7:50 am

Kim Theissen–That’s great! You are really rolling. Reminds me I need to get on it!

Do you think olive oil would work in the lotion bar recipe, in place of the vegetable oil ?

Tomato Ladyon 12/26/2010 at 9:59 am

Shari–Yes, I use it often. It works great.

My sister found your lotion bar recipes and sent the link to me. I made the Everyman’s Lotion Bar and I am very pleased with it. Next I’m going to try the Luxury Lotion Bars. Thank you for sharing.

I love the look of your lotion bars… what do you use for molds?

Tomato Ladyon 01/27/2011 at 10:43 am

Becky–For the round ones pictured I used teacups–just poured a small amount into several teacups with a rounded inside shape. The star I poured into a cookie cutter held down firmly until it cooled enough that it wouldn’t pour out the bottom. Hope this helps!

I stumbled upon your blog a couple of weeks ago. Have been popping in every few days. I was looking at your lotion bars the other day and thought, hmmm, I might like to try and make these. Then, while grocery shopping yesterday, I bought the Birds & Blooms magazine (I haven’t bought one in a looong time) while browsing through it last night, what do I come across?….your lotion bars! It seems inevitable, I will be making these soon…I am going to start saving my fruit cups this week! Thanks for all the great ideas and info on here. So glad I stumbled onto it!

Can’t wait to try this! I have been experimenting with lotion recipes and I am really aprehensive about using water because of the bacteria/fungus/mold issues. Not to mention the emulsifyer problems. I don’t want to use emulsifying wax because of its “issues”, so I tried beeswax with borax. Then I read about all the bad issues with borax. So much for that. This will be perfect! One question, are the measurements in weight or volume? thanks!

Tomato Ladyon 02/26/2011 at 7:35 am

kat–I hope you like them. I’m with you about liquid lotion. Lots of “issues.” Lotion bars are very forgiving. You can use either weight or volume here, not as fussy as with soap making. I often do half a cup each, just make sure if you use volume that everything is melted volume.

wendopolison 03/02/2011 at 4:23 pm

Made the everyman lotion bars the other night, added some tea tree essential oil with the olive oil and poured them into old tin jello molds. They turned out great! I want to try the remilled Ivory soap next. Great website, btw.

i have a question do you wet the bar when you use it or how does it work?

Tomato Ladyon 03/03/2011 at 1:17 pm

lisa–No, you don’t wet the bar. Just rub the bar as is on your hands (or elbows, or whatever) and then rub it in. I just used one of mine after washing garden dirt off them and it gets rid of that dry feeling right away.

Tomato Ladyon 03/03/2011 at 6:54 pm

KallyLyn–Both good reads. You can’t go wrong either way! Thank you!

Thanks! I have the roughest and driest heels in town. I use vaseline and socks but would love to try this bar.
THANKS!!!!

When I received my March issue of Birds & Blooms and saw your “live hreen, save green” article about Garden Bars, I couldn’t wait to try this. After searching my local grocery stores for coconut oil with not luck, I called Whole Foods Market and, sure enough, they had plenty. The local craft store had the beeswax. I made two batches. One I mixed the olive oil with Thyme and the other with lavender flowers. After two weeks I put some lemon essential oil with the thyme and lavender essential oil with the lavender mixture. It was a little messy at first but the end result was grand. Today I finished mixing everything and tried it out. Oh what a wonderful feeling….Thanks Daisy, what a great way to smooth these rough hands of mine.

Tomato Ladyon 03/12/2011 at 6:40 pm

Sandy–You’re very welcome! I’m glad it turned out well. I use mine constantly.

Tomato Ladyon 03/22/2011 at 6:57 pm

Hi Lorrie–Here goes:
1. I should, but I don’t always remember. When I do remember, I use an empty tin can.
2. I have found the best way is to wipe it out with a towel while it’s still soft. (Then you can use the cloth to polish your furniture). If it has hardened already, you can put it back in the warm water bath for a few seconds.
3. I like those little plastic sleeves you can buy in the candy aisle of the craft store or favor bags from the party section, when I want to dress them up. Tie them closed with a bit of ribbon or raffia or twine. I’ve also used sandwich bags in a pinch.
If your bars are super melty, check that you are using enough beeswax. Some people who have had trouble with releasing the bars from the molds or melty bars have found that they weren’t using equal parts of beeswax to the other oils. They should pop out of the molds easily and you should be able to handle them without it getting all over you without a little effort.
Thank you, Lorrie, and I hope you enjoy them!

Linda Kayloron 03/23/2011 at 7:11 am

Tomato Ladyon 03/23/2011 at 12:42 pm

Linda Kaylor–I would check first in the international foods section of the supermarket. If not there, I’ve seen it at Wal-Mart (Lou Ana brand), too. If you have an Asian or Mid-Eastern grocery store, they are almost certain to have it. I think it’s neat you got to try one out at WW. Thanks for letting me know!

can anyone tell me how much essential oils to add to the garden bar (birds & blooms march 2011) 1/2 cup olive, coconut and beesway recipe

Tomato Ladyon 04/05/2011 at 2:59 pm

barbara–Depending on how strong you want the fragrance to be, you can add 1/2 to 1 tsp eo for that amount. Feel free to experiment to get it just how you like it.

Greetings All!
As with all the other commenters, I have to tell you that I love your website!! I have been reading and curious about this stuff for years and this is the first easy and accessible resource I have found so thank you!! :0)
I did try making the simple lotion bars the other day and I am pretty sure my ratios were off…. too much coconut oil. I guess I got a little heavy handed because it smelled soo good! :0) Is it possible to melt down the bit that I have and add more beeswax to it?
Thank you in advance!!

Tomato Ladyon 04/12/2011 at 7:17 am

Maryann Landis–Yes, I think that’s probably the best approach. Thank you for your kind words. We really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy the (reconstituted) bars!

I just made the lotion bars that were in the march Birds and Blooms magazine. They are wonderful! Thanks so much for sahring this recipe.

These look wonderful and I can’t wait to try them! I also wanted to mention that when I used to make batik fabric the cheapest way to buy pure beeswax for melting and drawing was to buy the wax toilet rings at the hardware store. I’ll be checking them out to see if they will work for this too!

i made these tonite and used beeswax, olive oil infused with loose peppermint and vegtable oil and then added some peppermint eo.. i used mini pie tins.. i love it but seems a little sticky.. did i do something wrong.. sandy i would love to buy a bar from you.. with the thyme and lemon oil.. please let me know.. thanks.. i love to try new recipes.. keep them coming..

Tomato Ladyon 05/22/2011 at 11:34 am

amy–If you are having problems with stickiness, a possible issue would be insufficient beeswax in proportion to the oils. The goal is equal proportions of each of the three main ingredients, so if you have a scale, weigh them to be sure. If you’ve already made them up and want to re-melt and try again, I would add in a little more beeswax, a little at a time, cooling and testing the result after each addition, until you have the desired consistency. The peppermint infused oil sounds amazing.

Tomato Ladyon 06/02/2011 at 7:22 am

Faith–If you’re allergic to avocados, I’d stay away from the oil, too. The good news is you can substitute any “liquid-at-room-temperature” oil for the avocado. Try olive oil, it’s easy to find. Hope you love your new town!

I’m new to crafting so this may be a silly question but when you say “one part” for beeswax and liquid oils, are you measuring them by weight, volume, etc..?

Tomato Ladyon 06/28/2011 at 5:14 am

maoza–The most precise way is to use weight. It’s acceptable to use volume in a pinch, particularly for small amounts and with products such as beeswax prills or grains where there’s less air space taken up in a dry measure. If you melt the beeswax first before you measure (which is somewhat tough because beeswax is notoriously hard to clean from containers), then the volume measurement is going to be more accurate. All in all, if you have a scale or can borrow one, it is best, otherwise, a dry volume measure is pretty close. Hope I didn’t confuse you!

Could I use sweet almond oil, coconut oil and beeswax instead of avocado oil, Shea butter, and beeswax?

Tomato Ladyon 07/28/2011 at 8:50 am

Elisabeth–Sounds good! I think that would be fine!

How about coconut oil, jojoba oil and bees wax?

Tomato Ladyon 08/01/2011 at 5:50 pm

tammy–I would worry a little about the coconut oil which has a lower melting point than either shortening or shea butter. It would probably be fine as long as you kept the finished product below about 72 degrees F, but after that coconut oil starts to melt. If you really want to use the coconut oil, you might try experimenting with a higher proportion of beeswax, but I’ve never tried this combo so you will be in new territory for me. Good luck.

I live way out in the country and I was wondering where I could purchase beeswax? Is there an online store you recommend?
Thanks, Kris

Tomato Ladyon 08/07/2011 at 1:38 pm

Kris B.–Online, try putting “buy beeswax in (your state/province)” to find a reasonably local seller (you may even be surprised to find a beekeeper nearby you could buy from directly). Or, try by region. In the US northwest glorybeefoods.com. Dadant (dadant.com) is in IL, and kissmybees.com is in FL. Good luck!

HI! I was looking at recipes and ideas for lotion bars…or to put into push-up tubes, and I run into yours! I love your email newsletters!! I may try these very soon, you are awesome and inspiring.

I just stumbled on your site and am unable to leave! I have been looking for a crochet rosary pattern ( found a great one here!) and then saw your recipes for the lotion bars (also been looking for). Thank you so much. I think I found my fave sight! I look forward to returning often. I’m so excited to try the Rosary pattern and lotion bar. An amazing site!

Tomato Ladyon 08/19/2011 at 9:15 pm

Rachelle c–Thanks, Rachelle! Glad you’re here! Hope both projects work out, let us know if you have any questions.

Wow! I just found your site while looking for an answer to my lotion bar problem. My total batch is 27 oz. Consists of 80z beeswax, 5oz each shea and sal butter, and 9 oz frac coconut oil and rice bran oil (oils measured in measuring cup). My bars are somewhat tacky. Do I need to cut back 1 oz on the butters and use an extra oz in oil? Please help!!!

Tomato Ladyon 08/29/2011 at 6:55 pm

Karon–You need one third of your ingredients to be beeswax, so I would add two more ounces wax and one more ounce liquid oil–like the rice bran or any other liquid oil. Remelt, cool, and check to see it this solves the problem. Even though you subbed some of the liquid oil with solid oil, it doesn’t provide the firmness the wax provides. If it still isn’t firm enough, add a little more wax, but two more ounces should do the trick.

Thank you for your quick reply. I should have gone into more detail. The bars are very hard. It’s the rub off that is somewhat tacky. I’m looking for a little more “glide”. Will cutting back on the butter and adding more oil help? We’ve been selling for years and original formula was even: 9 oz wax weighed, 9 oz butter weighed, 9 oz measured oils. Bars were great! We lost our beeswax supplier (oils by nature) and tried 2 different supplies but bars were very tacky. Dropped from 9 to 8 oz wax and increased butters 1 oz and that helped somewhat. We have to have 27 oz for a batch since we use muffin pan for 12. I just can’t figure out what in the formula causes the stickiness other than too much beeswax. The old company must have had a blend of beeswax and something because that formula sure changed! Do you think subbing oil for butter will help with more glide? Thank You for any help!!!

Tomato Ladyon 08/30/2011 at 10:13 am

Karon–Can you contact anyone from your old wax supplier and ask them if there was anything different about their beeswax, as you suspect? I can’t imagine what caused the difference. I’m sorry I can’t be of any more help. You may have to keep experimenting with small batches until you find the magic recipe!

Thank you. I will do some experimenting.

how do you know what price to sell these bars for ?I just started my buisness and i’m not really sure what to do.

Tomato Ladyon 09/06/2011 at 9:30 pm

What else can be used in stead of vegtable shortining to go along with the olive oil and bees wax.Also correct me if i’m wrong but if you add more bees wax the harder the body bar will be.And the less you use the bar will be softer. Is this right? I also wanted to let you know i love your site and thanks so much for all the post and answering my questions so fast.Thanks for being their to help me with my new buisness ideas with all your receipes.GOD BLESS

Tomato Ladyon 09/07/2011 at 3:12 pm

Pam–You can use any solid-at-room temperature fat, such as shea butter, avocado butter, and the like. Yes, more beeswax means harder bars, less, softer bars. Thank you and you are WELCOME, Pam! Hope you are blessed in your venture. Are you going to have a website?

I hope to have a web site soon but i’m new at this and not to computer savy.I hope to have one real soon.I’am in the process of looking for some round tins for my body bars but no luck as of yet.Is it ok to keep the body bars in the fridge until they are ready yo be pkged and sold?I need to find a site that has tutorials on pkging and labeling also .How would i ship these bars if i have an order come in for them.THANKS FOR ALL YOUR ANSWERS

Tomato Ladyon 09/07/2011 at 9:06 pm

Pam–For packaging, you might try http://www.specialtybottle.com, soap supplies businesses, and other similar sellers. The bars should be fine at room temp, but for longer storage the fridge would probably keep the ingredients and essential oils more potent. For a clearinghouse of great craft business ideas and information, go to http://www.oneprettything.com and click on “Crafty Business Resources” in the right hand column. If you go the Etsy route, http://www.everythingetsy.com is a website that has lots of information on etsy-specific selling. Both sites have info on presenting your wares for sale and shipping, too. Keep us posted! You can also feel free to contact us at littlehousemail.gmail.com, if there’s anything else we can do to help.

I HOPE I DON’T BOTHER YOU WITH ALL MY QUESTIONS BUT YOU ARE THE FIRST I HAVE FOUND THAT ACTUALLY ANSWER QUEST.HOW DO YOU LABEL YOUR PRODUCTS AND HOW MUCH INFO IS REQUIRED TO BE PUT ON THE PRODUCTS.WHERE CAN I FIND CONTAINERS TO PUT MY BARS IN.WHAT CAN BE DDED TO THE BARS TO MAKE THEM DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS.ALSO IF VEGETABLE SHORTENING IS USED IS THERE A CHANCE THAT IT WILL MOLD.THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME

Tomato Ladyon 09/08/2011 at 3:26 pm

HI IT’S ME AGAIN WITH ANOTHER QUESTION .I’M FIXING TO MAKE THE LOTION BARS AND I’M A LITTLE STUMPED YOUR RECEIPE SAID 1 PART SHORTENING AND 1PART IF EACH INGREDIENT .WHAT IS ONE PART OR WHAT DOES THIS MEAN AND HOW MUCH OF 1 PART.THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND ANSWERS.

Tomato Ladyon 09/10/2011 at 9:42 pm

Pam–One part is one measure of “something.” One ounce, one pound, one tablespoon, one gallon, one . . . well, you get the idea. Using “parts” tells you the proportions of ingredients in relation to each other. Since skin care products like this are best made using weight, let’s use weight as an example, say if you wanted about a pound of end product, you would use 5 ounces solid fat (like shortening or shea butter), 5 ounces of beeswax, and 5 ounces of liquid fat (like olive oil). You would have a yield of 15 ounces (one ounce short of a pound), perhaps more with a dab of essential oil in there.

Oh, this is so perfect! I can add this to my soap line!

Hi i need some help and ideas and receipes for melt and pour soap for men.Also some receipes and ideas for melt and pour some for removing greese and oil and dirt from your hands .and a hunters soap.Thanks so much

Tomato Ladyon 09/13/2011 at 6:20 am

Pam–I’m stumped this time–never made melt and pour. Try a search on melt and pour recipes for men and I bet you will turn up some good ones. I imagine you can use the same scrubbing ingredients lye soapers use for scrubbing soaps, like coffee grounds, powdered pumice, crushed nut shells, oatmeal, and I’ve had a good result with poppy seeds-very scrubby.

Hi, i found this website by chance and i find its contents really fascinating. Its amazing that questions are answered here for real.
I want to start experimenting on making my own soap and moisturising cream bars and i’m hoping you could help me with tips and recipes. I’m very familiar with essential oils and i have some collections too. I use them mainly for massage purposes.
Pls can you help?
I hope to hear from you asap.
Thanks

Hi! I really liked your article and am going to try making the lotion bars… I am currently shopping on Amazon for my ingredients and have a question about beeswax… Do you use refined or unrefined? I can’t find much info on the 2 except that unrefined has more nutrients but particles and refined lasts longer.. I’ve been telling my 10y old daughter for the last year that we would make our own lotions and soaps, and she is going to be so excited! Thanks for your info and help!!

Tomato Ladyon 09/20/2011 at 7:19 am

Pamela–Thanks! I use beeswax that is yellow–either from my own hive or from an online supplier. Here is an explanation of the different types. I love the light honey scent of the yellow and don’t find the color to be a minus as far as the appearance of the finished product is concerned. Hope you and your daughter enjoy your new projects!

Tomato Ladyon 09/20/2011 at 7:23 am

Sophia–The soap recipes on our site are found if you look under our header and scroll over “Crafts” then down to “Lye Soaping.” Next, for our other skin care, go one over to “DIY” and down to “Body Care Products.” We also love Kathy Miller’s Soap site: http://www.millersoap.com. Let me know if you have any more questions! Best of luck!

Hi! I saw that Pam was looking for soap recipes for men. I don’t know if you use fragrance oils, but wholesalesuppliesplus.com has all kinds of soap scents for men. You can add pumice powder or even corn meal to your soap. I’ve never made melt and pour soap, but I think you just add the ingredients after the soap is melted, then pour into molds as usual. I would add the oil first, mix well, then the abrasive. Someday I’m going to get brave enough to add rope to my man soap. That would be cool!

Hi, Tomato Lady! I just had to share the good news that I found a local beekeeper who sells beeswax for $3.00 per pound. Using some of my money from the soaps that I have sold (You helped me with the recipe!) I am going to buy some beeswax and start making lotion bars as well. Thank you so much! Once again, awesome site!

Well, I got the beeswax tonight. It was VERY unrefined, to say the least. Dead bees, brown spots, wierd smell, very YUCK. I started cleaning it tonight, and to make a very, very long story short, I got a piece clean enough to make a prototype lotion bar. Cleaning will resume at a later date. (We won’t mention the pan mess.) anyway, I am in love! I added a drop of vanilla fragrance oil. MMMMM. The lotion reminds me of Bag Balm. I might get some rose smelly to put in it, and call it Goat Milker’s Hand Salve or something. Oh, the possibilities are endless!

Tomato Ladyon 09/21/2011 at 6:06 am

Deb–Yes, been there. Isn’t it fun, though, when you get that first bit of clean, yellow wax? Such a delight. You remind me, I have pics of beeswax refining that I need to turn into a post. Glad it’s working out so cool for you. Love it!

Finished the refining process today, and have my first lotion bars done. Orange vanilla! And yes, it was worth the trouble. It felt good to put the chunks of wax in the container, all clean and ready to use!

From August 1st-I am going to try the beeswax, jojoba, coconut oil combination for Christmas gifts. If the bar is too soft can I remelt and add more beeswax?

Good morning from Texas. I just wanted to tell you that I am happy I visited here and read through the comments. I am not planning to make these for sale, though I may make some for gifts. I AM SO impressed with the way you go about answering the questions from others. It is very apparent, to me, that you have a kind and generous soul. May God bless you.

Tomato Ladyon 10/20/2011 at 8:16 am

Colleen–Thank you so much. It may seem like more than it is, but since these questions come in over a period of time, it is very doable to answer them. I really love our readers. They feel like an extension of family. Many blessings to you.

I am so excited to have found this website! I’ve bought some lotion bars before and love them, but how much more fun to make my own!!!! Can I use coconut oil for them? It is my favorite oil!

Tomato Ladyon 10/21/2011 at 6:28 am

Sarah–Glad you found us, too! I would say, about the coconut oil, yes, you can use it. I haven’t made any using coconut oil myself yet, but I think they would be just fine. The only thing that I would think about is that, since coconut oil has a lower melting temperature than the shortening or shea butter used in these recipes, that it might get a little softer at temperatures above 70 degrees or so, but otherwise would be a lovely oil to use. (I’m assuming you mean for it to substitute for the solid-at-room-temperature oils. If you mean to substitute it for the liquid oils, I would say then ignore this advice). If I’m being clear as mud, let me know.

Julie Wallson 10/26/2011 at 1:50 pm

Tomato Ladyon 10/26/2011 at 3:15 pm

Julie Walls–A little green coloring would be fine. Too much, of course, and you could end up with green hands. (Halloween IS around the corner, BUT. . . )
I use essential oils because I’m all green and crunchy, but if you have nothing against fragrance oils, the recipe would work with them just the same.
I should have specified I meant for the sum of all oils, but I don’t think you will have a problem with the extra E. If the bars are a little tacky, though, that might be the reason, but again, I doubt it will be a problem.
Ah, the mess. The worst offender for me is beeswax, with hardens the most. I try to use a tin can to melt my beeswax in, and then just dedicate that can as my beeswax can to save for next time. Definitely scrape and then wipe out your containers, etc., before washing in the sink or dishwasher. Not good for drains. If you wipe your containers on an old cleaning rag, you can use it to polish your furniture later! Good luck! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Hey, great idea. I’m vegan though so can’t use beeswax. What can I use instead?

Tomato Ladyon 10/27/2011 at 7:45 am

I am new to all of this, so when you said vegetable shortening and vegetable oil – what is the best to use? I know different oils have different smells and textues (like being to heavy). Also, when melting this do I need to use an old pot or are you able to clean up a good pot? Any info would help, I’m newbie ; )

Tomato Ladyon 10/28/2011 at 7:25 am

Rhonda–Hi and welcome! This is meant to be easy and no-fuss–you can use whatever you have on hand or you can get at the supermarket. For shortening, Crisco or a store brand is fine. A vegetable oil blend, canola or (my favorite) olive oil, light or ev, either one. The beeswax is the only thing that is really tough to get out of a container. Once it is blended with the oils it is much easier to clean out of things. For melting beeswax by itself, try using an old tin can set in a water bath. Once you use it you can recycle it or save it for the next time you melt beeswax. Wipe out the pan you use to melt everything together after you’ve finished using an old cleaning rag or paper towels. You can rub the excess on wood furniture or your skin, of course. Once the pan is all wiped out you can wash it with hot water and use it as before. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Julie Wallson 10/29/2011 at 7:55 am

Hi just found your site! (Thanks to Tip Junkie! ) I am allergic to bees so I can not use Bees wax. Can you tell me if you sell these lotion bars with the other Candelilla wax? in them. I have a lot of things going on and can not do another crafty project BUT my hands are so dry and hurting! Can you help me out? Thanks, Pat

Tomato Ladyon 11/13/2011 at 6:50 am

I am trying to make solid lotion bars for the first time. I am having difficulty with the smell. I am using 1 part yellow beeswax, 1 part unscented cocoa butter, and 1 part oil. I am up to 180 drops of 2 different scents but to me they still just smell only like beeswax. Do I simply need to add more fragrance???

Tomato Ladyon 11/14/2011 at 9:00 pm

brooke–How much oil, etc. is in one part? How much you use will depend on what you are using to scent the bars and the total volume of wax/oil/butter. I use essential oils and usually about 1-2 tsp. does the trick for around 12 oz of lotion bars. If you are using fragrance oil, I don’t have any experience with them, but I imagine the ratios would be similar. Follow your nose.

Bec Clarkeon 11/20/2011 at 2:51 pm

Oh my goodness I never realised they were so easy. I make soap and this sounds so much easier.
I have all the ingredients and then some. I am going to try some this week.
I assume that Coconut Oil can be used as my shortening as it is solid at room temp??

Tomato Ladyon 11/20/2011 at 6:26 pm

Bec Clarke–Yes! lots easier than soap! If you live in a cool climate it will probably be fine. Just remember that coconut oil starts to liquify at around 72 degrees so it may be a little softer than the shortening. You can use a solid fat like shea butter which has a much higher melt temp if you want to sub for the shortening in warmer weather.

Tomato Ladyon 11/21/2011 at 10:59 pm

Emma–Not tried lard, but I say go for it. I’m a big fan of experimentation with this stuff. Never know until you try!

Tomato Ladyon 11/28/2011 at 7:41 pm

Ellie–Hi! I’ve never tried Lush so I can’t compare, but here’s my take on the feel of the bars in this recipe: They are oilier (and remain so for longer than) your typical liquid lotion (Vaseline Intensive Care, Curel, etc.). They just have a different feel. I tend to apply it when I have a few minutes to lounge around–I can’t put it on my feet and then walk around the house immediately, for example. The oily feel does go away after a few minutes, though. If you alter the proportions it will be a harder bar, take a bit more elbow grease to get it on your skin, and probably be less oily–although I’ve never experimented with that myself. Some people add in a little something powdery to cut the oily feel, like cornstarch. Some people try using soy wax in place of beeswax (and up the proportion of wax as you suggested) for less oil without sacrificing ease of use (soy wax has a lower melting temp than beeswax). Hope this helps, and enjoy!

Girl you blow me away with your knowledge! I agree you are a true blessing to those of us who are less “skilled” in these matters. I will attempt to make my lotion bars this weekend for Christmas gifts, all our gifts we give will be homemade this year. Recycled shirts into scarves, old water vase gems turned into fridge magnets using scrap book paper, homemade vanilla extract….I’m so excited!!!!!

Hi, this has been an experience reading all the comments. I love it! I stumbled on you site when I was looking for a solid lotion. I used your ratio :1part solid-shea, 1 part liquid-coconut &, avocado oils with jojoba, 1 part beeswax. A few drops of immortelle & lavendar essentio oils, together, all of these heal and contain natural perservatives. If in a hurry, buy molds and small tins at Michaels Craft Store, the Party Barn or any place that sells tins for wedding or shower favors! Buy address labels and list all your ingredients! Ladies read up on the ingredients and add whatever oil suits you needs! I am making mine to sell at a Christmas Fair. Good luck and have fun! Mery Christmas

Tomato Ladyon 12/07/2011 at 9:10 am

Sharon–Thank you, and thanks for the advice! Like your recipe. Hope the fair is a success.

For the “Everymans Lotion Bar” Recipe, how much of each ingredient would I need to use in order to make 4 or 5 bars? Thanks!

Tomato Ladyon 12/08/2011 at 5:42 pm

Alicia-An easy way to make four almost half-cup bars is to use 1/2 cup (4 oz.) each of oil, shortening, and beeswax. You could easily get five slightly smaller bars from this size batch as well. Good luck!

Hi there. Just made the lotion bars. I used sweet almond oil, beeswax and shea butter with a combo of different essential oils. My question is what can I add, if anything, to make the bars a bit more colorful. As for myself, I am not concerned about the color, but I am making these as gifts for Christmas and would like them to be a little “prettier”. Thanks for the info.

Tomato Ladyon 12/10/2011 at 6:16 pm

Chris–You can use colorants designed for soapmaking, found at soapmaking suppliers like Brambleberry. I would also feel confident using food coloring, especially a dab of the concentrated cake icing coloring–the paste kind.

Chris, you could take a rose design made of metal or hard plastic and press it in the top of the soap before it is completely hard. Just an idea…use any design you like.

Ginny,
I am trying to get the ingredients together to make lotion bars for my daughter…34, with 4 kids from 15 to 2 and she has hashimotos, gerd, and fibromyalgis…so far. I am wanting to know if you a mixture ratio of the essential oils to make the bars, say 4 0z. of the main ingredients.
Also, where would I go to get the best oils aromatic…??? I live near Tulsa, OK.

I’m intrigued by the Ford Escort version. I have some nice olive oil at the moment, but I only have butter-flavor shortening. I’m not willing to smell like butter, but I also have not yet gone into the kitchen and sniffed it, so maybe I’m borrowing trouble. I was only given a tiny bit of shea butter for Christmas, so I think my first bar is going to be correspondingly tiny. Until I can find a good source for it, I’ll be picking up some plain shortening at the grocery, because I got a good supply of beeswax, and I desperately need a lotion bar. Thanks for the recipe!

This is wonderful! We live in the desert and could really use this! Found you on Pinterest.

I have 100% soy wax for candle making. Will this be a suitable replacement for bees wax ?

Tomato Ladyon 01/02/2012 at 7:44 am

Michelle–Yes, although I’ve never tried it personally, I understand it is a fine substitution for beeswax.

Soy wax can be skin safe or not, check your source. It will make a much softer bar, more of a salve unless you mix it with a harder wax such as bees or candelia

Tomato Ladyon 02/07/2012 at 1:53 pm

Liz Slater–This article may help answer your question: http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/MailbagMonday/f/Keep-Soapmaking-Oils-Fresh.htm
The more superfatted the soap, the shorter the shelf life of the soap. It also will depend on the type of oil used to superfat–some oils have longer shelf lives than others. Coconut oil is a good place to start–it’s an overall good soaping oil that contains lots of lauric acid, a saturated fat.

Could you use this for a bath soap?

Tomato Ladyon 02/09/2012 at 2:40 pm

sue–Nope, just lotion. They won’t soap up. You have to mix oils with lye/water solution to make soap.

Made the cadillac version today! So excited to be putting natural things on my skin!! Thanks so much!!!:)

Thanks for the recipe! How many drops of essential oil do you normally use?

Tomato Ladyon 02/12/2012 at 2:07 pm

julie–Oh, it varies. I’d say 6-10, depending on the oil. Experiment around and see what you prefer. And you’re welcome!

I’ve purchased what I need to try your “Cadillac” version. I’m hoping to give it as a gift. What I need to know is how time intensive is it? My son has an abbreviated pre-school day, so I have about 3 hours or less at home alone each day. Is that enough time to get it all set and cleaned up, as well, or should I wait until I have no other agenda? I also had to purchase my beeswax and shea butter in large blocks (the shea butter is in a tub, actually.) I’ve read most people are grating the solid items with a cheese grater. Is this the best way to go about it, or are the blocks easily chopped up before melting? And one other question/suggestion: as a big fan of Alton Brown and Good Eats, one thing I’ve seen him do when he’s melting on low heat or simply keeping something warm is to set a heating pad on high in a bowl with the smaller bowl on top. Would this be sufficient heat to melt the beeswax and shea butter without the shea going grainy on me? I know the beeswax has a higher melting point, so maybe I would have to melt it separately and add it to the lower-heat mixture. I apologize for bombarding you with questions, but I’m really excited to try this out! Thanks!

argh! I also meant to ask if the Vitamin E is meant as a preservative or additional emollient/oil? I wasn’t able to find it in the IU you mentioned. Could/should it be left out?

Tomato Ladyon 02/13/2012 at 11:39 am

Tiffany–It’s a really fast project. In 3 hours you could make up a batch and still have time for a cup of tea and a nice nap! Solid beeswax blocks are quite hard, as in, Miss Peaco*ck in the kitchen with a block of beeswax hard. Plus, it has to get pretty hot before it melts, so the smaller the pieces the better–shredding will help with that (just don’t shred your knuckles). You can also put it in a bag and tap it with a hammer (take it outside on a solid surface if you do that) which would give you smaller chunks. I don’t think a heating pad will get it hot enough, but definitely melt the wax first, then you can probably even remove it from the heat and then add the shea butter. You can always put it back on the heat if it isn’t melting completely. The vit. E is a dual purpose ingredient, but feel free to leave it out–I often do. You don’t have to use the exact amount in the recipe–just a squirt of whatever. And don’t apologize! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask ’em. Let me know how it turns out!

im excited to try this!! i love love love making things. i found u on pinterest!! im going to definantly do the cadillac version (as i own one 😉 ) and im going to add patchouli, mabey do a batch with nag champa too. thanks for all the info. im sure i will have questions when i get started. also love the colorful way u have with words… reads nice

I found your garden bar recipe in Birds and Bloom. I made it yesterday, using the small fruit cups and it is beautiful. However, the bars are white – can I use food coloring or will it rub off on your hands. Also, how do I clean my pots and bowls to get the beeswax, coconut oil off.
Thanks
Martha

Tomato Ladyon 02/21/2012 at 9:44 am

Martha–A small bit of coloring would be unlikely to color your skin. As for cleaning the bowls, I try to wipe it off while it’s still warm with a dry rag, or rewarm them a bit until soft. It should come off easily then. Once the visible stuff is off, just wash normally with hot, soapy water. Hope you enjoy your bars!

I’ve tried coloring these and failed miserably. Anyone do so successfully?

I need to know if I melt 1 pound of Beeswax, how many bars of lotion will that yeild? Also, when measuring the other ingredients, how many cups of Crisco and oil do I use for 1 pound of Beeswax? Thank You!

Tomato Ladyon 03/02/2012 at 10:38 pm

Cindy–You need to use equal parts of each, so for one pound of beeswax, use one pound of solid fat and one pound of liquid fat=so 3 pounds total. The number of bars you get will depend on the size of the bars. First determine the volume of the bars and divide that into three pounds. If you have a scale, weigh the Crisco and oil and use one pound of each.

How do you feel about olive oil for the “oil” part? Any side effects I haven’t thought of, like an odd scent? I have extra virgin on hand with a 2-year distant expiration date. in addition to the beeswax, the other ingredient would be shea butter. Thanks for the recipe.

Tomato Ladyon 03/03/2012 at 6:57 am

Rachael–Sounds like a good bar. Just smell the olive oil you have–I’ve gotten the odd bottle that smelled a little weird. If it smells good to you, you’ll probably like it in a bar, especially once it’s diluted with the other ingredients.

Tomato Ladyon 03/06/2012 at 6:46 am

Sara–You can sub coconut oil for shortening, but bear in mind that it does have a lower melting point so your bars may have a softer consistency in warmer temps. Making a small batch like you intend will probably let you know whether you want to make any more like it with the coconut oil as the weather warms up. You can use the sweet almond oil in place of the veg oil–sounds nice! Skin care/soaping supply places will sell cosmetic glitter–I’m not familiar with the edible stuff. If it’s easier to find I don’t see the harm in trying it in your sample. Good luck!

Hello~ I am new to all of this and your recipe looks easy to try….. My question is how much is a part? I know its a silly question but I have no clue what it is….. Thank you so much…
Rachael

Tomato Ladyon 03/10/2012 at 10:41 am

Rachael–A part can be anything you want depending on the amount you want to end up with. It’s just a way of showing the relationship of one ingredient to another. Say you want to end up with 12 oz finished product. Use 4 oz shortening, 4 oz oil, and 4 oz beeswax. Equal parts of each ingredient. HTH!

If I don’t have a double boiler can I use my crockpot?

Tomato Ladyon 03/10/2012 at 8:59 pm

Karen–Yes, but I don’t have a double boiler either. I just put a little pan inside a bigger pan with a little water in the big pan. Works great!

I made the lotion bars once and they were white. A friend suggested using a wax crayon so I did. I used 1/2 crayon and I have beautiful lavendar bars. It melted nicely.

Can you tell me where to find the ingredients in the Luxury Lotion Bar? Online would be best for me but stores would work.

I like brambleberry but I think TL likes essentialwholesale

I’m interested in using your recepie to make a salt scrub bar for travel. Any suggestions? I’m worried that the salt will sink to the bottom as it cools, or that I would wind up with a very solid cake. I guess I can just re-melt it if it dosen’t work the first time around!

Tomato Ladyon 03/24/2012 at 3:40 pm

ce-do–I’m not familiar with putting salt into a lotion bar. I have heard about salt scrubs (not in bar form) and in soap made with salt. This recipe makes a bar for moisturizing/conditioning, and is not water-soluble.

Tomato Ladyon 03/25/2012 at 4:23 pm

Stacey–Problems with it being too melty usually mean too little wax. Try remelting a portion of the batch and adding a small amount of beeswax. Did you weigh your ingredients?

On the ingredients for the “LUXURY LOTION BARS”, is that cost-effective to make vs. buying? Compraed to say Burt’s Bees, etc?

Tomato Ladyon 03/30/2012 at 6:02 am

nancy–I’ve never costed it out, but I imagine as with most things, it depends on the quantity made and the thriftiness of the ingredient purchase. Using home-hive beeswax, local beekeeper wax, or finding good sales, etc. will impact the final cost.

Dunno. I haven’t priced it out.

For me, it’s less about the cost and more about controlling ingredients. It’s hard to find a lotion with NO aromatics, and almost impossible to find a lotion bar that is truly unscented. I am a singer with severe allergies and making my own bars is the only way to go for me! However, these are really dirt cheap to make.

Do you think that you could put ground almonds and rice in this to create an exfoliating bar like lush’s Buffy bar?

Tomato Ladyon 04/02/2012 at 7:16 am

Allie–I’d never heard of the buffy bar before, so I had to look it up. I was surprised to see it was a lotion bar used in the shower or bath, never tried that before. It seems like it would be roughly the same thing (no pun intended) but as I’ve never tried it, I can’t say for sure. If you give it a go, please let me know how it went. If your homemade one worked, it would definitely be a lot cheaper than the lush product at $12 for a 3.3 oz. bar. Yikes!

Can the luxury bars be frozen? I want them to last till Christmas and my refrigerator space is limited…

Tomato Ladyon 04/11/2012 at 9:07 pm

Karen–Hm. I don’t see why not. Just put a label on so nobody takes a big bite out of them!

LOVE your recipe! My mother-in-law bought me a Burt’s Bee’s version a while back and when I ran out, I realized it was cheaper to make my own. I just LOVE the Cadillac version; I have dry skin and it makes my hands feel wonderful! I can’t wait to make it as gifts 🙂 I put in vanilla and chai essential oils—smells heavenly! For those who are interested, http://www.thesage.com is a great place to get really top quality essential oils for pretty cheap. The chai is a special blend they make; its all natural and smells just like the tea! They also have great prices on shea butter, etc. With your recipe and her supplies, I’ll be well supplied with moisturized, healthy skin for a long time! Thanks again!

I recently made a bar lotion using beeswax, shea butter and Vit E. The recipe I used didn’t use equal amounts and the bars are REALLY hard! Do you think if I did it again with equal amount of beeswax and shea butter it would be a little softer? Also, I did it in the crock pot with a crock pot liner – no mess!

Tomato Ladyon 04/26/2012 at 7:11 am

Brenda–That proportion always works for me. Did the recipe you used have a larger proportion of beeswax? That’s what makes it harder.

Yes, it did. Thanks!

I’ve been wanting to make these so badly and now have Mother’s Day as an excuse (you know, with an “experiment” bar to keep for myself of course). To make them more convenient to carry around, I was thinking of pouring the mixture into a low, wide tub with a lid on it instead of a mold. Is the solidified bar soft enough to be warmed up by rubbing your fingers on it? Or would you recommend I adjust the proportions somehow?

Rachel–I think it would work. I often sort of carve off a bit with my nail anyway and you could use it like that if it were in a tin. If you did want it softer, just reduce the proportion of beeswax a little and that will do it.

Hi, I think I have had some trouble with the consistency being too hard because I measured the beeswax when melted, in a half cup measuring cup. Then added 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup coconut oil. It came out too hard for my liking, so I re-melted and added 1/2 cup more olive oil. Still seemed too hard, so I added another half cup coconut oil. It seemed perfect, but it isn’t solid enough to travel. And when I made homemade pizzas which require a very hot oven, my extra supply in the kitchen cabinets became funny. I tried again last night to remedy the problem, by re-melting everything and adding another half cup of melted beeswax. I don’t know if I have fixed this yet or not. At this stage, the bars are quite solid, and when I hold one to melt some off in my hand, it becomes very sticky and unpleasant for a few minutes, then after working it around on my hands, it melts then after a few minutes it absorbs beautifully. I adore how my hands feel afterward!

Should the beeswax be melted prior to measuring, or grated and measured dry?I

Melissa–The easiest way to do this is to measure everything using weight. That way, not only do you not have to melt anything because you’re worried about air spaces taking up room but not weight, but everything is always going to be in the proper 1:1:1 proportion. I don’t know why yours didn’t turn out the first time, but I’m glad you seem to have got it fixed in the end!

Lightbulb moment! Weighing then would have fixed it! I just realized, even though I thought I was measuring them the same, I wasn’t. My shortening (coconut oil), wasn’t melted! Duh! That would make the difference! I will make a new, small batch later. Weighing the ingredients. I bet it will be perfect! Thanks so much!

Tanya Leavitton 07/03/2012 at 4:32 pm

AWESOME! I got some bees wax from my mom from when she had the little buzzy bugs. I made some up and cant wait to try it. Thanks for sharing with me.

You’re gonna have to be more specific about that “1 part” thing.

jilly–One part can be anything, one half cup, one cup, one tablespoon. Just use the same measure per part. For example, lotion bars require equal parts of each ingredient (except the optional essential oil). So, for 12 ounces total ingredients, use 4 ounces each of the wax, liquid oil, and solid-at-room-temperature oil.

Quick question: when you say “equal” parts, how do you measure liquid to equal beeswax and crisco? By ounces, by weight?

Weight.

mrsdress–You can make any size batch you prefer. For a small sample batch, try 2 oz. each beeswax, shea butter, and almond oil. This will make one big bar or a couple small ones so you can see how it well you like them.

I just made up two sample batches of these, using equal parts beeswax, grapeseed oil and shea butter, with a little essential oil for scent. I used volume rather than weight so my bars might be a little more oily/buttery than they should be, but they did harden up very quickly, so I am not too worried about it. I am taking the samples to coworkers and friends for “testing” and if they approve, then I plan on making a LOT to include in boxes of favors for a baby shower. It was surprisingly easy and I hope that they turn out okay when used!

Hi! I’m really looking forward to making this, but I have some questions 🙂 Does the shea butter need to be raw or unrefined or…I don’t know, regular? I just googled “Where to buy shea butter” and got all sorts of different “kinds”! Where would I find avocado oil and beeswax? Thank you!

Tiffany–I’d go with the unrefined. It has more of what is good about shea butter still intact. You can find everything in the recipe from most online soapmaking suppliers, plus you can get beeswax from local beekeepers or from hobby stores. Have fun!

I love the idea of making these for Christmas. Do you have any suggestions for packaging? I would prefer to make bars but cant think of a good way that the recipients could keep these bars with them (i.e. in their purse).

Melissa Y.–I usually put them in small cellophane confectioner’s bags found in the candy aisle of the hobby store and tie them with ribbon or sisal. For gifting them with long-term storage containers, you could save altoids boxes and cover them with washi tape or buy specialty metal boxes (they come in different shapes) from cosmetics/soaping suppliers. Other suggestions welcomed!

I found that they sometimes get sticky in cellophane (I’m in South Arkansas ). I use cotton drawstring bags I found online, and I stamp them with my custom stamp. Mine are round with a pawprint on top.

Liz Slater–Cute!

Hi Daisy/All,
Does anyone know if either of these recipes would work to make lotion candles? I was thinking that, if you have to mold the lotion anyway, why not put into jars with wicks and use for home fragrance and skin care at the same time? Thank you and love the site/book!
Christy

Christy–I’ve never heard of lotion candles! I’m very behind the times, I guess. I wish I could help!

Hi Daisy ~ a lotion candle is a candle that, when heated, you can use the warm wax as lotion. I’m going to give it a try this weekend. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Christy

Christy–Interesting! Looking forward to hearing how it turns out!

Can you be a little more specific regarding the drops of essential oil? I have used my own spices but they need a little more fragrance. Also, can we use extracts for cakes, etc in place of the oil? (It is 89% acholol, so not sure.) I found that a childs crayon makes them in beautiful colors. One crayon is enough.

I tried the cute plastic soap molds from the store and they melted when I poured my wax in. How long should the lotion mixture be allowed to cool before filling the molds? Also, the directions on beeswax say to heat to 175% and thats pretty hot. Thanks for any input.

The recipe I use calls for 1/2 cup 0live oil. My question is: How long before the olive begins to smell rancid?

Martha Buck–I’ve had some for as long as a year before they were used up and they were fine then. Beyond that I don’t have any experience.

MB–I pour mine in immediately or it starts to cool and isn’t pourable. Could be the molds. Some plastic is more heat-resistant than others.

MB–I’ve never tried crayon colors or extract. Essential oils have a much greater concentration than extracts, so you don’t need very much. For one and a half cups of lotion bars, I might use 1/2 to 1 tsp of essential oil.

Can’t wait to try this. Have no idea where to buy shea butter but will see if I can find it.

To find shea butter, check your local whole foods supermarket. Mine is 20 minutes away but worth the drive when I’m in the creative mood. It sells the unrefined shea from Ghana.

Hi, would this work with coconut oil/beeswax/veg oil?
Many thnks

I just found your recipe and I wondered if this would make good lip balm if I put some into small containers. What do you think?

Jen–Yes!

i love lotion bars! I use 1:1:1 shea, coconut oil, beeswax. I add a little tea tree oil to some of mine for my husband’s eczema. If I may make one suggestions: it sounds like measuring by weight is working for your bars, however, your ingredients don’t have the same density. A half cup of olive oil won’t weigh the same as a half cup of beeswax or shea butter. You can measure by volume by placing your solid substance into water and measuring the water level. That will account for air-space as well, since the water will fill the voids.

Thank you for this recipe! It’s just what I was looking for! I love the scent of vanilla. Can you use baking vanilla extract as fragrance or do you have to use an essential oil?

sherri burkett–You can use extract, but I don’t know how strong it would be as I’ve never tried it myself. Can’t hurt it, though.

To combat the “Grainy Shea Butter” melt the shea butter ahead of time and put it in the freezer. and then when you are ready to make whatever product just melt it down again to whatever proportion you need and it wont be grainy. Just a tip I picked up when experimenting with lip balms. Works like a charm

Im just about to start im going to go with coconut oil olive oil and beeswax im thinking I should go with the 1-1-1 ratio for a lotion bar and then make a lip balm just with coconut oil and beeswax 1-1 ratio does this sound right, ive been reading for days and thats my conclusion wish me luck.

I really want to try this, would it work if I added some of my favorite perfume…???

Helen–I’ve never tried adding perfume. If you decide to try it, I’d put some in a small test amount first as perfume is pretty changeable esp. when heated. That said, it might work.

Zinc oxide should work as an SPF. Its what is in Burt’s beeswax lifeguards choice lop balm so it has to be safe. Added bonus, you get a funny pale glow to sport at the beach!

what kind of beeswax to use from craft or candles making. could someone tell me please trying to make them for Christmas and how to measure the block and the lotion.

dee–I use either beeswax from my bees or from the hobby store, online soaping suppliers, or local beekeepers. To find out how to measure how much you need, there are many websites with detailed instructions for how to make candles. How much you will need will depend on what kind of candles you are going to make. Some of the beeswax you will find from soaping suppliers is sold in little beads which are easy to pour and weigh on a scale.

In place of veg oil and shortening could you use coconut instead?

I may try this with Palm Shortening and coconut oil! 😀

Thanks for your recipe, I made 12oz. of these today with 1/2 shea butter 1/2 cocoa butter as 1 part; 1 part coconut oil & 1 part beeswax. They look & feel awesome. I need it after grating all that beeswax 🙂

I really want to try these. In the Cadillac version, do you think it would work to sub almond oil for the avocado oil? I already have shea butter and beeswax, and avocado oil has been impossible to find.

Katie–Sure, that would be just as good!

Can you tell us where to buy Shea butter?
thanks!

Marilyn–Your best bet would be to search “soaping supply” and shop around them to find the supplier you like/is closest to you, etc. I’ve only ever found in online. Good luck!

This is something that I would love to try. But on my quest to get the material needed, I am having trouble finding 1200 IU Vitamin E. Can anybody help me out on where to buy it from?

Cherriea–Don’t worry about the exact amount of IUs–just squeeze a couple of smaller tabs in there and it will be just fine. Amounts don’t have to be perfect. If you get into this more than casually, you can get vitamin e in bulk form (bottles of liquid e) from soaping supply companies.

Walmart generally has pure Vitamin E in the lotion aisle. In my store, it’s about halfway down the aisle on the top shelf, near the “repair” creams. I make very small batches, so I didn’t buy mine from my soap supplier (I use Brambleberry). The other option is to buy the capsules intended for oral use (found in the vitamin aisle) and just pierce the capsule and squeeze it in. This would take several capsules, but it does work.

Thank you for the wonderful recipe. I’d like to assist you in enhancing the healing properties of your blends. If you heat the oil in a pan with the herbs Calendula, Comfrey root, St. Johns Wort and Plantain, it becomes a very powerful, yet wonderfully gentle healing balm. Just strain the herbs out before combining oils & waxes. Blessed Be.

I have been making my own lye soap and lotions for several years now. I won’t use anything else! I am so glad to have found this site. I already love it! I make the Cadillac lotion bars too. Some of the ingredients are different, but the basics are still there. I also make a whipped body butter. My MIL swears by it. She puts it on here eczema and it has helped her more than the expensive prescription medicine the doctor gave her a prescription for.

I just made another 30 minis today – 12 unscented and the rest with peppermint eo. I love the scent of peppermint on a foot product. This is one of the easiest, quickest natural products to make yet is better and a whole lot less expensive than any I’ve store bought. I put this on my feet every night before climbing into bed and in the morning after bathing under my socks. I, too, make whipped body butters in different scents and I never go a day without it. I put it on after drying off and minutes later by the time I’m ready to dress, it’s absorbed. Lip creme and lip scrubs, bath salts, and soaps – it all started six months ago for me and I’m a true weekend and evening addict.

Where is the recipe for the whipped body butter I am hearing about?
I am trying desperately to get your book, but both Barnes and Nobles are out of stock and there are two people ahead of me at the library waiting for a copy! Contracts on your popularity! I love your emails as well as your site! Thank you for sharing with us all!

Melissa–I’m afraid the recipe isn’t on the blog, you’re right, it’s in the book. I’m sorry you’re having trouble getting your hands on a copy! Amazon has it in stock, and also from the publisher: http://www.shopwoodworking.com/little-house-in-the-suburbs-y1010, but those are both online sources. If you ask your local bookstore they can probably order it for you!
Thank you for your kind comments, it really is good of you.

Love reading all recipes and comments. Products made naturally are much, much better for a person than what the stores sell with all the chemicals in them. Thank you and can’t wait to get your book.

I put a little bit of cornstarch in mine to help cut the greasiness. It love it.

I am getting older and have gotten very dry skin. I am interested in making your Luxury Lotion bars BUT….call me stupid, but I do not understand 1 part this and one part that. Is there soem way I could understand it better, like 1/2 cup of this and 1/4 cup of that. I just don’t want to guess and waste my ingredients. Could some one email me and tall me how they break this recipe down….nextmission@aol.com…….thank you!!!!

To Marilyn: I’ve made these with similar recipes and love them. I found Shea butter and other oils at Drug Emporium ( in central Texas).

I also used Shea butter for first batch and then coconut oil for the second and found that the coconut oil liquifies a little quicker when using the lotion bar.

Dawn–Yes! “Part” can mean any measure you choose. You guessed correctly. Thank you and good luck!

I am anxious to try your items, I will be sharing them with my daughters and a adult day care center for the women’s day, its a special bath and pamper day for older women. They enjoy themselves, and makes their days brighter, some have no family so its very special diay for them. If you would have suggestions for fragrance for men I would appreciate any ideas, thanks

Sharon Miller–Peppermint is a fragrance that works for both men and women. Also, for check the essential oil blends offered by some of the soaping suppliers–they always have one or two especially for men. Another consideration for seniors: you might do a little experimentation beforehand with slightly reducing the percentage of beeswax to make a softer bar that, while still firm, goes on a little smoother for the more delicate texture of older skin. What a lovely idea to have a pamper day craft for adult day care. Your thoughtfulness is inspirational.

I buy cocoa butter, almond oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil and shea butter at my local co-op or whole foods market. Bees wax i get at Michaels, but I would assume hobby lobby or Joann Fabrics would carry them too.

Daisy, I used Vanilla Sandalwood for a lotion I made for a male nurse. He loved it.

Sounds great. They wash their hands so much I’m sure it really helps.

Deborah, where did you get the Vanilla Sandalwood for the lotion for the male nurse?

I got the Sandalwood Vanilla from http://www.starrvilletyler.com It is close to where I live, but they do mail orders, too.

You can use muffin tins. I have done that. You can also buy soap molds from soap supply companies or use small dishes or even plastic pudding cups, paper drinking cups, etc.

I have had very good luck using silicone molds. At my local Joann’s I found a 24-cavity soft silicone mold that makes small sort of “sunshine” shapes. Silicone molds are easy to unmold and very durable. I love them for lotion bars and for soaps as well!

Zelia — A 24-cavity mold is just what I had in mind. I’ll have to make a trip to Joann’s. Thanks!

I try the recipe with soy wax but it was really very soft. Please help me …… 🙂

Eri–Hm. I’ve never tried it with soy wax personally. The only thing I can think of is to re-melt and add more wax in hopes that once the proportion of wax to oils is greater you may get it to harden more. HTH!

I made the lotion bars with a little bit of lavender (I probably should have used more) but am now feeling silly having difficulty getting the pots clean, scrubbing melted and hardened beeswax and Shea butter isn’t getting me anywhere! Any suggestions?? Thanks!!

Anna–Try popping the pans (if they’re oven safe) into a slightly warm oven for a couple of minutes, remove with a potholder, and wipe the residue off with a soft cloth. Then wash with hot, soapy water. If any of the containers aren’t oven safe, soak in a pan of warm water instead, then toss the water outside to prevent clogging your pipes.

i would use extreme caution before slathering that much soy onto my skin. the concept is great, but lard, which would give you vitamin d, or evoo, or coconut oil, would be far healthier options.

Erin- why is soy bad?

90% of soy ( & corn) grown in the US is genetically modified with Round-up so the crop can be sprayed with it to kill weeds without killing the crop. GM crops are banned in many countries and must carry labels in most because they are known to cause cancer as well as other health problems. It’s difficult enough to get away from eating it, I wouldn’t want to slather it on my skin as well. If you’re making your own beauty products to get away from unwanted chemicals, it’s best to stay organic. Otherwise, you may be putting pesticides like Round-up into your skin.

I want to make some lotion bars, perhaps as gifts, but how do you store them?

audrey–For gifting, I put them in the little cello bags from the party favor or candymaking dept. of the hobby store. Tie with a bit of ribbon or sisal, and that’s all. If you want to avoid plastic, you could also use wax paper bags or find small tins to fit the size of your bars online from soaping type suppliers.

I have muslin bags I purchased on the internet, and have a stamp I use to identify them as mine. I slide the lotion bar in, and unless it gets REALLY warm, the muslin keeps the lotion bar away from everything, but because it breathes, the lotion bar doesn’t get greasy.

Liz–Those sound really nice. Like the stamp, too.

Hey all!! A wonderful source for buying all of these supplies is saffireblue.ca. They are a Canadian soap making and candle making supplier. AWESOME prices and very reasonable shipping rates. I make handcrafted soap and I get all my supplies there! Hope this helps!

I made lotion bars that are very greasy and soft, used bees wax, shea butter, coconut oil , equal parts,and some vitamin e oil ( maybe to much) how can I fix it?

Evelyn–Try adding a bit more beeswax, that may help.

My sister is moving to an African rainforest. It will be very humid and she will not have air conditioning. I’d like to make lotion bars for her as pick-me-ups; do you have any idea whether they would melt or liquify? Are there any changes I should make to make the bars more durable? Thanks!

Rebecca–Maybe a little more beeswax, then put them in containers such as tins in which they can “safely” melt a bit without leaking out. They probably won’t melt inside in the shade, anyway.

Thank you! 🙂

Hello! I LOVE this recipe for the lotion bars, and just made it for a second time. I’m wondering what the best way to get the dried up wax mixture off everything is? Do I just let it harden and scrape it off the best I can? TIA!!!

Laurie–I try and wipe as much as I can while it is still warm, then wash in hot soapy water. Keep the wash water and toss outside rather than letting it go down the drain to harden.

For the every man’s lotion bar could I use coconut oil instead of vegeyable shortening?

Bee–Try it in a small sample. I’d love to know the results if you do it.

Where do I buy bees wax?

Patty–You can buy it online from soaping suppliers and beekeeping equipment suppliers, local beekeepers (find a jar of local honey and see if there’s a phone number or website on the label), and also at hobby stores like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s (in the US). Take your coupon! If ease of use is important, online soaping stores have “prills” or “beads” which are pourable and don’t require chipping away at a block with a knife.

Do you have a recipe for a whipped body butter? I find I want something softer than the lotion bar.

I’ll definitely be giving these a go. My tip for getting rid of beeswax is to use lemon juice. I got beeswax all over my stainless hob which I usually clean with half a Lennon skin. It seemed to just dissolve the beeswax.

yea thanks for the recipe that doesn’t use coconut oil. I am allergic to coconut. Do you know where else I can get avocado oil I looked on amazon the shipping was almost the same price as the oil?

sherig–Well, I get mine from soaping suppliers like Brambleberry and Essential Wholesale or Camden Gray, usually as part of a larger order. You can substitute any other kind of liquid oil, olive oil works great.

If anyone is still looking for avocado oil, I buy mine at Costco.

Could I subscribe to your blog via my email please?
Many thanks.
Suzanne

Hi Suzanne–Thank you for asking about subscribing! Just below the comment box at the end of any of our posts are two check boxes. Check the second of the two, “Notify me of new posts by email.” It’s a little inconspicuous so you have to scroll down to find it. Let me know if you have any issues with the subscription sign up. Thanks! Daisy

tiff–Best by weight, a close second would be nicely packed volume measurements. Enjoy!

very nice! Thanks!

LOVE your website! I am making the lotion bars for Father’s Day gifts for the men at church. It is so hard to find something useful that doesn’t cost a fortune!

Marilyn Groneng–Thank you! We love our readers! I just made a bunch of these myself–I used cocoa butter this time for the solid oil and it smells just like chocolate. It’s all I can do to keep from eating them.

Love your lotion bar recipes and gift ideas for girls.
Thank you for sharing! Checked the second box to notify
me of new posts by email. Thanks Teresa

Teresa Templeton–Thanks Teresa! Be seeing you around the blog!

Love your blog!

I’d love to try your “Cadillac” lotion bar recipe. Unfortunately, I’m allergic to avocados. Are there any alternatives to using the avocado oil?

LaTasha–Yes, you can use just about any “solid-at-room-temperature oil” you prefer. Something like olive or hemp oil or almond oil–whatever you like and know is non-allergenic for you.

Can you substitute soy wax for the beeswax and if so, how much? I hate the smell of the beeswax and want the base of the lotion bar to be as neutral in smell as possible. Thanks!!!!

Michelle–Yes, you can sub soy wax, same amount of soy as beeswax. You can also try candelilla wax, although it isn’t unscented either, but you may prefer its scent to that of the beeswax. I hope you enjoy your bars.

Has anyone tried it with coconut oil? I love coconut oil and would love to use it in this recipe…

Will these melt in the heat of Arizona?

Connie–I don’t have an issue in TN, so I doubt it. Reasonable care (i.e. don’t leave it on the dashboard in July) will ensure it stays solid.