Dry skin can hit at the most inconvenient times. You don’t have to reach for a toxin-filled lotion to get supple skin, though. My DIY Lotion Bar With Essential Oils is a power-packed moisturizer that’s sure to get your skin looking good in no time! The best part? It’s all-natural and free of toxins that make dry skin worse. This lotion bar is going to be your favorite secret weapon!
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Why You Should Avoid Storebought Lotion
Most store-bought lotions include artificial fragrances, which draw consumers in because everyone wants to smell great. These synthetic fragrances wreak havoc on your body, specifically the reproductive system. (1) Many people find that certain scents trigger migraines or allergic reactions, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg! Countless elements fall under the fragrance label, and many of them are known carcinogens. (2) This recipe uses essential oils to create fantastic fragrance blends that benefit your body and pose no health risks.
Artificial fragrances aren’t the only toxin in store-bought lotions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA recently issued a ruling that officially bans the use of triclocarban, triclosan, and 17 other dangerous chemicals in hand and body washes. (3) These products have been marketed as more effective than good old-fashioned soap and water, and consumers have been misled into purchasing them. And, what most people don’t realize, is that these chemicals are in most antibacterial lotions and body care products!
“Consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water,” Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) said. “In fact, some data suggests that antibacterial ingredients may do more harm than good over the long-term.”
Antibacterial product manufacturers had until 2017 to comply with the new law by removing all products from the market that violate this ruling or remove antibacterial active ingredients. But this still isn’t enough to keep us safe. Triclosan is still in countless other products like deodorants, antiperspirants, body spray, and toothpaste.
Antibacterial products kill ALL the bacteria on your hands, including the GOOD bacteria you need for healthy skin and a properly functioning immune system.
The Best Natural Ingredients for Homemade Lotion
Using essential oils in your DIY lotion will soothe dry skin and be used for antimicrobial action. EOs allow you to get creative with personalizing your cream.
- Lavender is a staple essential oil for relaxation and smells heavenly.
- Tea Tree helps with skin rashes and fungal infections.
- Orange is uplifting and energizing.
- Oregano has an intense antibiotic action.
- Rosemary helps balance blood pressure.
Keep in mind that certain citrus oils are photosensitizing and can cause your skin to burn or develop sunspots. Access a list of photosensitizing oils when using them topically.
When making your DIY lotion bar and other skincare products, you can choose from various healthy oils to include in your products. Of course, this includes essential oils but also carrier oils.
Raw organic coconut oil is excellent for its anti-fungal and antibacterial properties, jojoba oil penetrates the skin for intense hydration, and vitamin E is terrific for its skin repairing ability.
Beeswax: Beeswax is a great natural moisturizer. It’s a humectant, which means it attracts moisture to the skin. Many people rave about the light honey scent that beeswax brings to my DIYs, and I have to agree! Adding beeswax to products can also make them waterproof. If you are allergic to beeswax, try Candelilla Wax or Bayberry Wax.
Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are fantastic because they help the essential oils disperse evenly. You have some great options when it comes to this ingredient. You can use fractioned coconut, jojoba, avocado, grapeseed, or sweet almond oil. All are lovely choices, and no matter what allergies you have, there’s one that’s right for you.
Kokum Butter: A must-have ingredient when making deodorant, sunscreen, or lotion bar. Kokum butter is rich in fatty acids that can help keep skin supple. It creates a firm lotion and moisturizes the skin beautifully.
Shea Butter: This butter is my absolute favorite! It creates an instant glow on the skin. Shea butter has anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect for soothing the skin. (4) I find that products including shea butter seem to have a long-lasting moisturizing effect.
Mango Butter: Mango butter comes from mango seeds, not the actual fruit. Shea butter and mango butter are generally compared to each other, but something that makes mango butter stand out is that it can help protect from the sun’s UV rays. (5)
Mama Z’s Oil Base: This oil base is a mixture of moisturizing components I came up with while pregnant. I wanted something deeply hydrating that would help keep my skin supple. This base did the trick! I love using it in many DIYs to increase the skin’s elasticity and add extra moisture.
Essential Oils: This is an optional ingredient but highly recommended. You can use any essential oils I suggested above or create your own blend. The lotion bar is great on its own, but adding essential oils takes it to another level.
Make a Homemade Lotion Bar With Essential Oils
When making your DIY lotion bar, be aware that it is a very thick base that does not melt very easily. I recommend using a double boiler or a quart-size mason jar as the inside of your double boiler so you don’t ruin your dishes.
Be sure to add essential oils only after melting the base oils together to avoid overheating them.
To reheat this mixture, you can place it on a gas stove after everything is turned off, outside in the sun, or in a room with a space heater. You will lose some of the benefits of the raw ingredients by heating your salve too quickly or overheating it.
- 1 cup yellow beeswax*
- ⅓ cup kokum butter
- ⅓ cup virgin (organic) unrefined shea butter
- ⅓ cup mango butter
- ½ cup Mama Z’s Oil Base
- 1 cup carrier oil**
- Essential oils*** (optional when making lotion bars)
- Supplies:
- Double boiler or glass jar
- Wide mouth mason jar
- Empty deodorant,salve, or balm container for storage
- Use a double boiler, or make one by setting a glass jar or measuring cup in a medium pot with 1-2 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil, turn down to medium-high, and add the beeswax, kokum butter, shea butter, and mango butter to the double boiler.
- Melt the ingredients thoroughly and remove them from heat immediately.
- After 5-10 minutes, add Mama Z's Oil Base before it starts to solidify.
- Store the base salve mixture in quart or pint wide mouth mason jars.
- To make a lotion bar – mix in 5 drops of essential oils per 1 ounce of the warmed base salve and fill up an empty deodorant, salve, or balm container.
**No matter what allergies you may have, there's a carrier oil that's right for you. You can use any or a combination of these: Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond.
***Christmas Blend – Fir needle (Balsam fir, Douglas fir, white fir), peppermint, and vanilla absolute
Deep Breathing Blend – Cardamom, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree
Focus Blend – Cedarwood, frankincense, sandalwood, and vetiver
Goodbye Allergy Blend – Lavender, lemon, and peppermint
Healthy Digestion Blend – Anise, caraway, fennel, ginger, lemon, tarragon
Holy Anointing Blend – cassia, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh
Immune Boosting Blend – Cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, rosemary, orange, and lemon
Happy Blend – Orange, lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, and vanilla absolute
Sleepy Time Blend – Roman chamomile, lavender, and vetiver
***Here are some of our favorite blends that work great in this highly diluted formula. Remember, certain citrus oils are photosensitizing and can cause your skin to burn or develop sunspots.
- Christmas Blend – Fir needle (Balsam fir, Douglas fir, white fir), peppermint, and vanilla absolute
- Deep Breathing Blend – Cardamom, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, tea tree
- Focus Blend – Cedarwood, frankincense, sandalwood, and vetiver
- Goodbye Allergy Blend – Lavender, lemon, and peppermint
- Healthy Digestion Blend – Anise, caraway, fennel, ginger, lemon, tarragon
- Holy Anointing Blend – cassia, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh
- Immune Boosting Blend – Cinnamon, clove, eucalyptus, rosemary, orange, and lemon
- Happy Blend – Orange, lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, and vanilla absolute
- Sleepy Time Blend – Roman chamomile, lavender, and vetiver
Step One: Add Ingredients to Jar
Fill a medium saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and place a double boiler inside or put a glass jar inside to act as a double boiler. Bring the water to a boil and turn to medium/medium-high. Add the beeswax, kokum butter, shea butter, and mango butter to the double boiler. Melt the ingredients together and immediately remove them from heat.
Step Two: Add Oil Base
After 5-10 minutes, before the mixture solidifies add Mama Z’s Oil Base and carrier oil to the jar. Store the mixture in a glass jar.
Step Three: Make a Lotion Bar
To make a DIY lotion bar, mix 5 drops of essential oils per 1 ounce of the warmed base salve. Pour into an empty deodorant container.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16466537/
- https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ClassificationsAlphaOrder.pdf
- http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm517478.htm
- http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/journal/paperinfo.aspx?journalid=118&doi=10.11648/j.ajls.20140205.18
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23458392/
