I’m a huge fan of coconut oil and its many uses. At our house, we use it in everything from cooking to toothpaste.
These coconut oil lotion bar sticks are my most recent DIY project with coconut oil and I’ll be making a few more batches to have on hand for Christmas gifts.
What are Lotion Bars?
Lotion bars are simple-to-make bars that are made to be used on the skin when it is dry. Unlike soap, they aren’t made to be used for cleansing or on wet skin, but are a great way to moisturize and nourish skin after bathing or showering.
They are often made with ingredients like:
Where to get Coconut Oil Lotion Bar Ingredients & Supplies:
Like my original lotion bars, these are meant to be used on dry skin. They are even more simple to make with only two ingredients: coconut oil and beeswax.
I’ve ordered this coconut oil and beeswax pastilles with two-day shipping when I’m in a hurry to get the ingredients.
I made these in empty reusable plastic tubes for easy use and application. These are the tubes I used but there are some other less-expensive options that look like regular deodorant tubes:
- White empty deodorant tubes – pack of five (2.5 oz)
- Clear empty deodorant tubes – pack of five (2.5 oz)
- Black deodorant tubes – pack of five (2.5 oz)
- Red and green tubes – pack of 16 (2 oz)
Coconut Oil Lotion Bar Stick Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup beeswax pastilles (measure dry)
- 2/3 cup coconut oil
- essential oils of choice (I use 15-20 drops of peppermint, lavender or citrus oils)
What to Do:
- Melt beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler or in a glass bowl on top of a small saucepan of boiling water.
- When melted, remove from heat and stir in essential oils if using.
- Carefully pour into empty plastic tubes.
- Let harden completely before using or moving them. They can be carefully moved into the refrigerator to speed up this process.
- Store at room temp (below 85 degrees) and use as needed on dry skin.
Note: This will make 5-6 lotion bar tubes depending on the ingredients used.
If you want to add other skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter, here are some of my other favorite lotion bar recipes:
- Basic Lotion bars with shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax
- Baby Balm lotion bars
- Hypoallergenic lotion bars recipe
- Shea butter lotion bar stick
- Eczema Relief Lotion Bars
Have you made skin care products before? What did you make?
Hello! I am so excited to try making these but I have one quick question – can you use the same recipe with silicone molds or will it be too soft?? Or do these have to be stored in containers? Thank you in advance!
It will work in silicone molds too
Do you have to use beeswax pastilles ot can you use raw beeswax?
Are these greasy like other lotion bars?
Could this also be used to make a lip balm?
Hello, thinking of sending these in the mail as a gift, do you think it would hold up okay in the mail (not melt}? Thanks so much!
Just curious if adding more beeswax to this will “harden” it a bit more, so the empty sticks are unnecessary?
Thank you so much for this recipe !
I was very short on ingredients and desperately wanted to make lipstick. Used this recipe with red clay and vitamin e oil and it came out wonderful 🙂
How do you get them not to cave in on top or have a hole indent I’m having a lot of trouble with that
What else can I use instead of beeswax?
You can use Candellilla wax if looking for a vegan option. But it’s harder than bee wax, so use only half the amount.
Hi there! Love your site and handy information. One thing I thought you might be interested in. My first encounter with a lotion bar (thought it was a great idea for those that have to travel by plane a LOT), was one bought (for way too much) at a local market while we were visiting Charleston, S.C. I have tried many, many, since and none have lived up to the effectiveness and how well it sinks in (we used it while driving back and within minutes after applying….no greasy residue on the steering wheel!!). So, looking at the ingredients of most lotion bars, they match what you have on your site. The difference in the one from Charleston? Babbasu oil! I am now going to use your methods and measurements, but their recipe to make bars for guests to our wedding (BTW since it is on the beach in May….making your sun tan oil and some other recipes for the gift baskets I am placing in the rooms:) Also am ordering ingredients to make the eczema bar for my mother in law. Sweet woman is in her mid 80’s and having the worst of it ever…lasting months (I doubt I would get much traction with a dietary change with her, but am including a print out of your article with it:)
Hi! I am so eager to try these. Someone else also asked but I did not see an answer – can you give a weight for the beeswax? I have a block of it, not pastilles. Thank you!
It should be about 5.5 ounces from what I remember…
I will try it an see how it goes.
Hi,I love the recipes here but after heating and pouring in the plastic tubes,will the contents react with the plastic tubes or cause melting of the tube to an extent as plastic contains BPA which is an endocrine dstruptor.WPlease help as i want to make them all but i am worried abt the use of plastic tubes
Good question- I’ve researched this and from what I can tell it shouldn’t, since it isn’t at a high temperature, but I’m looking into some compostable (and BPA free) tubes and will update if I can find them
can you make this recipe for a lotion bar in a mold rather than the tubes? or if i use an old deodorant tube, how do you use it?
Hello. I have contact dermatitis on my hands and it gets so bad some days that I cannot bear it. I get out of the shower and my hands are bright white where the skin buildup is. Is very annoying. Could you possibly send me some lotion or something for it or recommend a product that is actually going to help it?
Thank you,
RALPH
Make these lotion bars, or any other lotion bars on this site, it should help!
I made these yesterday and I love the consistency. I used peppermint oil–but unfortunately, it didn’t mask the smell of the beeswax. I’d like to melt again (if possible) and somehow mask the beeswax without changing the consistency. HELP! Any suggestions for me?
Just remelt it the same way you made it the first time and add more essential oil. Get white beeswax if you hate the delicious smell of natural beeswax.
I am so excited to make these. I will be traveling to Europe for weeks with only a carry on bag. This lotion bar will be one less liquid to deal with when flying and will be easy to apply when on the go. Thank you!!
When I got beeswax for making chapstick, I got all the stuff I needed on Amazon.com.
any tips for cleaning this up? the bowls and any spills? It seems impossible to eliminate
I was wondering, if you make a blunder, can re-melt your ingredients and salvage the lotion. It seems I have added too much beeswax and not enough essential oils. Would re-melting ruin it; would it hurt the essential oils?
Thanks so much for your help!
jen
It should be fine since you aren’t boiling it.