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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

Coconut oil
Double-boiler
Sweet Almond Oil
Cosmetics-grade beeswax
Silicone baking mold
Or a cutesy soap mold like thisor this.
An old spoon that you can dedicate to just use with beeswax

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

How to Make This Lotion Bar Recipe – Step by Step

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 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 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.

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