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This three-ingredient Lotion Bar Recipe makes incredible and moisturizing DIY lotion bars. They are so easy to make and can be prepared in only 10 minutes!

These homemade lotion bars will make you feel like you’re at a fancy spa. But instead of spending tons of money, you can make them in your own kitchen in about 15 minutes.

What Are Hard Lotion Bars?

Ohhh, my friend, you haven’t lived until you have used a hard lotion bar. It looks like a bar of soap but contains ingredients that are nourishing and moisturizing to your skin.

It is not soap so you wouldn’t bring it into the shower or bath, but you can put it on right after showering.

How Do You Use a Hard Lotion Bar?

The best part is how easy they are to use and store! You simply rub the lotion bar on your skin until the heat from your skin warms the bar up and releases the moisturizer.

How Do You Store Them?

Anything air-tight will work. Old mint tins, squat mason jars, or even a ziploc bag will work. Coconut oil is liquid at 76 degrees F or above, so keep them out of direct sunlight and in a cool dry place for best results. You can also gift it to someone in a pretty homemade DIY fabric gift bag.

How Long Do Lotion Bars Last?

If stored properly (see above) they should last for five-plus years. The lotion bar may develop a harder coating from the wax but they are still perfectly safe to use.

Helpful Lotion Bar Recipe Supply List

Many of these same ingredients and supplies can be used in our Homemade Chapstick recipe and Natural Homemade Deodorant.

ingredients for a lotion bar recipe - coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and a bar of beeswax

How to Make This Lotion Bar Recipe – Step by Step

  1.  Place 2 cups of water in a medium-sized pan fitted with a double boiler. Place beeswax in the double boiler and allow it to fully melt.
  2. Add the coconut oil and sweet almond oil, and stir gently until the coconut oil is melted.
  3. Using an oven mitt, remove the double boiler from the pan and wipe the water off of the bottom of the boiler. Pour the melted mixture into your molds, and allow it to set for a few hours, or overnight.

Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

  • Having a double-boiled dedicated to just wax crafts means you don’t have to spend a ton of time cleaning it in-between recipes. You could also use a mason jar in a pot of simmering water.
  • Vegans can use carnauba wax in lieu of beeswax.
  • If you have a coconut allergy you can sub in shea butter.
  • If you have a nut allergy you can sub in olive or avocado oil for the sweet almond.
  • Using an empty deodorant tube makes it super easy to apply this lotion bar recipe and makes it kid-friendly for them to apply themselves.

Variations

Want a scented lotion bar? Add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oils in step 2 with the sweet almond oil. Please note, I don’t sell essential oils or anything but I do use them myself around the house.

  • Lavender is a calming scent that many people love, but not great for males to use long-term.
  • Bergamot is great for when you want to chill out.
  • A mixture of peppermint and eucalyptus smells clean and can be very energizing.
  • You could even add a sleepy blend of oils (this is the one I use) for a night-time lotion bar recipe.
  • Want something that smells like the holidays? Try a holiday seasonal blend.

These bars smell so clean and natural even without essential oils, and they work amazingly well. They have become one of my most requested handmade holiday gifts from friends and family.

5 from 55 ratings

Lotion Bar Recipe {Homemade Hard Lotion Bar}

Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
a lotion bar in the shape of honeycomb on a grey cloth with wax and other lotion bars on a white board
This three-ingredient Lotion Bar Recipe makes incredible and moisturizing DIY lotion bars.

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Note: by "equal parts" for the ingredients, it would mean you use the same measurements of all the ingredients. Let's say you want to use 1/3 cup of beeswax, you'd then want to use 1/3 cup of the almond oil and the coconut oil. This allows you to use scale the recipe up to your preferred amount for your molds.
  • Place 2 cups of water in a medium-sized pan fitted with a double boiler. Place beeswax in the double boiler and allow it to fully melt.
  • Add the coconut oil and sweet almond oil, and stir gently (with a spoon dedicated solely to beeswax crafts) until the coconut oil is melted.
  • Using an oven mitt, remove the double boiler from the pan and wipe the water off of the bottom of the boiler. Pour the melted mixture into your molds, and allow to set for a few hours, or overnight.

Notes

Vegans can use carnauba wax in lieu of beeswax.
If you have a coconut allergy you can sub in shea butter.
Using an empty deodorant tube makes it super easy to apply this lotion bar recipe and makes it kid-friendly for them to apply themselves.

Additional Info

Course: DIY
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!

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About Sarah

Helping you serve up budget-friendly sustainable recipes with a side of balanced living.
Come for the food. Stay for the snark.

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306 Comments

  1. I’ve made these but with shea butter in place of the almond butter. I might try it next time with either almond oil or grapeseed oil. They work great!

  2. Do you sell these, or maybe a trial size of these? I’d be interested in trying some out before making my own batch.

    1. Nope, the idea hadn’t even crossed my mind. I know Burts Bees sells something similar and you could probably try that out prior to making any.

      If it makes you feel confident in these, I know everyone I gifted them too loved them. My boss even texted me over the Christmas break to say how much she loved them!

  3. I made these for my daughter’s wedding favors, they were a hit! We used grapeseed oil instead of the almond oil. So easy and yet so beneficial!
    Sandi5 stars

    1. That is awesome! I’ve heard great things about grapeseed oil, but used what I had on hand (almond oil). So glad that they were well received. Thanks so much for letting me know – you made my day!

    2. Actually, grapeseed oil is even healthier than olive oil. It has a higher flash point and is great for frying. It is such a light oil that our chicken fried steak isn’t nearly as greasy as when cooked with others oils, such as vegetable oil or Crisco. I hope you’ll give it a try!
      I plan on making lotion bars for gifts this Christmas. Thanks for the idea!

    1. Gina absolutely! You’re looking for an oil that would provide lots of moisture. Avocado oil, or cocoa butter might work well. Wait, is cocoa butter from a nut?

      Jojoba oil could work as well. Do you have a Trader Joes nearby? That is hands down the cheapest place I’ve seen jojoba oil.

      Additionally, grapeseed oil (which I wouldn’t eat, but is great for external stuff) or olive oil would be lovely!

  4. I made these and they are awesome! Where did you find the almond oil? I looked a few places that didn’t have it and ended up at a health food store where it was REALLY expensive! I’m going to an Amish hardware store today to see if they carry it.5 stars

    1. So glad to hear you liked them!

      I bought the almond oil that I used on Amazon, but my grocery store carries it as well. It’s usually in the section of the grocery store where the healthier foods are (if your store has that section). If they don’t have that section, you’ll find it closer to the olive oils than you will say vegetable oil. The brand my store carries is Spectrum.

    2. Almond oil should either be with spices or with oil… check around, it could be hiding. I get it at some farmer’s market-type stores here in AZ.

    3. Try Bulk Apothecary for all the ingredients listed here, and more. I love their products and they have the best prices anywhere!!

  5. I make these also (with whatever ingredients I have laying around), but pour them into empty deodorant containers. That way, my 3 year old son can apply it himself. It’s fun for him and helps me keep his eczema at bay. Thanks for posting your idea! The star mold is cute 🙂5 stars

    1. I know, that is ingenious. I just happen to have an empty deodorant container on hand. I can’t wait to fill it up. Thanks for the tip.

    2. One part would be if you use 1/4 cup of something, you’d use 1/4 cup of the other ingredients. It’s basically using equal measurements.

    1. my daughter in-law gave me a small bar if this and i absolutely love it. i put on hands just before bed. i am 56 and it made my hands look 20 years younger and sooooo soft.in just few nights using it. . i now applying to elbows and heel of my feet.. i almost gone so she sent me this page so i off on w/e to buy all the stuff i need. plan on making lot to give to friends as i no they will love it also…. thanks so much 🙂5 stars

      1. Find a local beekeeper. That’s the best way to get wax. Not all of them keep it for themselves. I am a beekeeper and melt down my own wax for Chapstick and lotion