Lotion bars are one of my favorite natural beauty recipes to make. They are a simple way to moisturize and nourish the skin and they can be easily customized for a variety of uses. This variation is one of my favorites, especially for after athletic training or on sore muscles. I don’t use it during pregnancy, but it is great at other times. I also make a diluted version by using half as much Menthol and Essential Oil and omitting the Arnica oil for use on the kids when they get growing pains.
Lotion Bar Recipe
These natural pain relief lotion bars smell excellent and work wonders on sore or tired muscles!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter
- 1/3 cup beeswax
- 1 tablespoon Menthol Crystals
- 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 1/2 tespoonArnica Oil (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a quart size glass mason jar and carefully place this jar in a small saucepan of water on the stove.
- Turn the burner on and bring water to a low simmer. Stir ingredients constantly until they are melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the menthol crystals and stir until dissolved.
- Add essential oils and arnica oil (optional) and stir until mixed.
- Carefully pour into molds or whatever you will be allowing the lotion bars to harden in. I used these silicon loaf molds, though any mold would work.
- Allow the lotion bars to cool completely before attempting to pop out of molds. These could be made in different shaped molds or made in a square baking pan and then cut into actual bars.
How to Use:
Store in a cool or dry place for up to six months (I’ve even had some last as long as a year).
To apply to skin: hold bar in hand and carefully rub on dry skin. The heat of the skin will transfer some of the lotion bar to the skin. I store my lotion bars on a small plate on my dresser and bathroom counter. Add more or less menthol for a more or less potent bar.
Don’t Want To Make Them?
If you want to use lotion bars but don’t have the time/ingredients to make them yourself, I found a great small business, Made On, that makes all kinds of lotion bars, soaps, natural baby products and hair products that are up to my standards. Their website is HardLotion.com and they have agreed to give Wellness Mama readers a 15% discount on all orders with the code “wellnessmama” at this link. (Note: Affiliate link… the price is discounted for you and I get a small commission to support my blog!)
Have you ever made lotion bars? What did you add to yours? Share below!
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How many bars (using the mold you recommend) does this recipe make? I’m trying to figure out the cost of enough ingredients to fill all the sections of the mold (12 bars).
It makes about six, depending on how thick you pour them…
I absolutely love making lotion bars, and this sounds yummy! I recently made some with tea tree and peppermint. My husband, daughter, and friends all went gaga over them. Thanks so much for the post. Much love…
I have made lotion bars with coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax with essential oil. I found the bars would get hairy N dusty so the next batch I added more beeswax and put it in new deodorant containers. Works great. I have also made an anti bug balm using coconut, shea, grapeseed oil and citronella.
I do the same with the bug bomb but I also add geranium Mosquitoes don’t like that either. I also make soap with geranium and citronella. My husband is allergic to mosquitoes and a union laborer. They used to tear him up in the summer
Can something be substituted for the menthol crystals? And where would one find such a thing?
Eucalyptus oil can be subbed, and both are available by clicking on the links in the ingredients above…
Would you use 1 Tbsp Eucalyptus in place of menthol cyrstals, or another measurement? Thanks.
How many drops of eucalyptus oil should be used?
Ask any local pharmacy, they have it behind the counter &just costs pennies.
Can coconut oil have a friend that’s allergic.
I am allergic to practically everything from a reaction to formaldehyde. Coconut oil does not bother me.
In Magnesium Miracle I recall reading growing pains are actually a sign of magnesium difficency. I don’t own the book, so I can’t verify it…
Also can be a vitamin D deficiency.
Can I ask why you don’t use them while pregnant? Just curious what ingredient is not good for pregnancy (I use arnica oil for bruises & while not currently pregnant always good to have info about these things!).
Depending on the source, Peppermint, menthol and arnica are all counter-indicated during pregnancy (even topically) since they have the potential to cause contractions…
I had no idea, learned something new!
why do you think those substances cause contractions?
Peppermint will not cause contractions, but it does effect milk production and supply.
And Peppermint can also turn a baby. So if the baby is breech you want to use Peppermint oil.
But if the babies not breach you want to avoid LOL
These look awesome!
how wonderful! I had an awful tension headache last night. this would have been heavenly!
Oooh, that sounds lovely. I’ve never ventured into making my own beauty products (besides rubbing oil all over my face!) My muscles could definitely use one of these right about now!