Homemade Lotion Bar Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best carrier oil for lotion bars? ›

1 ounce of Jojoba Carrier Oil. We are using Jojoba OIl in this recipe because it doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy or oily, and it is a very stable oil that won't go rancid.

A small (1 oz)bar can last about 2 weeks if used daily. One big benefit is that as you continually use it, your skin will become so soft, you rarely need to re-apply. As far as shelf life goes, the lotion has a 1-2 year shelf life, although it may experience some ingredient separation if left out in the heat.

Lotion bars take the best all natural ingredients like vegetable oils, butters, and essential oils and pack them into a small bar. Because they are in a solid form and contain no water, lotion bars don't need to be packaged in large plastic bottles, yet still provide the same skin benefits.

Lotion bars contain no water, so they need no preserving. Instead, they are filled with solid at room temp butters, a few oils, and some beeswax (or candelilla wax for my vegan friends). The mixture is melted together and poured into a soap mold, or silicon muffin tray.

Texturizers such as arrowroot powder, cornstarch and clays are great for absorbing excess oil and cutting down on the greasiness of bar products.

Greasiness: To make it even less greasy, increase amount of mango butter and decrease grape seed oil accordingly. Eg. 3 parts mango butter and 1 part grape seed oil. Also, decrease the beeswax a little to adjust the firmness of the bars.

Grapeseed oil makes for a fantastic carrier oil as it's mild but moisturizing, helping to fade scars, tighten skin and prevent sun damage. It's also lightweight and penetrates the skin quickly, so it can help further the absorption quality of other oils.

Basically all you have to do is heat the lotion bar until it melts, add more oil, and cool it again. I've tried this a few times and the mixture has always stayed emulsified. A re-used glass jar is a good vessel for heating.

A quick and simple DIY project, these honey lotion bars make a beautiful gift. In a large pot or double boiler, melt beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil together until combined. Remove from heat, stir in honey and almond extract or oil and mix to combine.

Tubes are a great way to package lotion bars, especially for formulations you don't want to get on your hands, such as the warming muscle balm recipe. Lotion bar tubes come in plastic twist-up options, as well as paperboard push-ups in a variety of sizes.

How much fragrance oil to add to lotion bars? ›

Fragrance - You can fragrance lotions bars using both fragrance oils and essential oils. The typical usage rate for both is about 2% of the total lotion bar recipe but double check IFRA guidelines to make sure you comply.

The magic ingredient in these lotion bars is emulsifying wax. It allows the water on your skin and the butters and oil in the bars to create an instant lotion that keeps your skin soft all day long!

To store, wrap bars in parchment paper and place away from sunlight and water. These lotion bars should last approximately 3 months but can last up to a year if not used.

Body lotion bars are more concentrated than their pump and liquid counterparts. Unlike many traditional lotions, bars usually don't contain fillers and additives. The concise ingredient lists usually boast power-packed butters, nutrient-rich oils, essential oils, and most don't contain water.

Lotion bars do not contain water and are far more concentrated than traditional liquid lotions. Because they do not contain water, lotion bars do not require preservatives and are shelf stable for at least 6 months.