Lotion Bars are very convenient and simple to make using all natural ingredients. You can also get creative and add color or shimmer to them to create a nice effect on your skin. Combined with the fact that they are easy to use, you end up with a solid block of pure nutrients you can apply at home or on-the-go to keep your skin happy and healthy.
Here is our recipe tutorial on how to make your own lotion bars:
What is a Lotion Bar?
A lotion bar is a solid moisturizer. It resembles a bar of soap but is packed with nutrients that can be applied directly to the skin. A lotion bar remains solid at room temperature or below. When applied to the skin, your body temperature causes it to melt slightly which applies a light layer of the moisturizer that is then absorbed.
Even though the name implies a lotion (which contain a high percentage of water) it is actually more of a body butter in a bar, commonly containing a variety of nutrient rich butters, oils and waxes. This makes for a more concentrated moisturizer than a lotion requiring less that needs to be applied to moisturize the skin.
Lotion bars have the added benefit of creating less of an environmental footprint as they do not require a plastic bottle or other synthetic material to store and/or dispense them.
Kokum Butter
In this recipe the base ingredient I chose to use is Kokum Butter. This is a popular butter due to its naturally solid texture and long list of benefits for the skin.
Kokum is a vegan, hard butter that contains nutrients and antioxidants which help nourish and repair damaged, cracked skin. It is naturally flaky and brittle when at room temperature making it popular for its stability. Once it comes into contact with your skin it melts and absorbs easily leaving it feeling soft and moist without a greasy residue.
It is derived from the Garcinia Indica tree, native to India. This butter is extracted and mechanically refined without the use of chemicals or additives. It is a white or off-white color and has a mild to nonexistent odor.
Kokum Butter Shimmer Body Bars (Lotion Bars) Recipe
Ingredients:
- 125 grams Kokum Butter
- 9 grams Jojoba Oil
- 12 grams Beeswax
- 3 grams essential oil of choice
- 4.7 grams of gold mica
How to Make:
- Put Kokum Butter, Jojoba Oil, and Beeswax in a heat proof glass container
- Heat it on low in a double boiler, stir the ingredients occasionally while being heated
- Once fully melted, remove from the heat and allow it to cool until it resembles honey. Stir it while it is cooling
- Mix in your essential oil and gold mica until combined
- Pour into silicone molds of choice and place in the fridge until completely solid (about 1-2 hours)
- Remove from the fridge and pop them out. Store in a sealed container of choice
Use: Lotion bars can be used after a shower or bath, dry off and glide the lotion bar on your skin, let the moisturizer soak in.
I hope you find this helpful in making your own lotion bars! Let me know if you have questions or feedback by leaving a comment below.