Ever since I made my first basic lotion bars, I’ve been experimenting with fun variations and natural scents. Lotion bars are wonderful because they are used on dry skin and are a concentrated lotion that leaves skin feeling like silk.
Along the way, there have been Pain Relief Lotion Bars and End the Eczema Lotion Bars. I’ve made lotion bars to keep the bugs away and homemade deodorant bars.
Moroccan Oils Lotion Bar Recipe
At first, I just made these in silicon molds (and I still love making them this way) but once I discovered that I could make them in empty deodorant containers and that this would make application easier, I’ve been making them as gifts.
These Moroccan oils lotion bars combine so many of my favorite ingredients:
- Shea Butter to soften and protect skin
- Coconut Oil to nourish skin (I get it at a discount here)
- Beeswax to form a protective barrier on skin and make the lotion bars last longer
- Optional: Argan Oil to hydrate skin (also good for getting rid of stretch marks) It is expensive but amazing for skin. I use one drop per day to moisturize my face
- Bronze Mica Powder for color (also optional) This adds a faint shimmer to the skin
I used these empty white deodorant tubes to make these lotion bars in but there are more decorative ones available if you are planning to give them as gifts. If I give them as gifts in these tubes, I usually glue a piece of burlap around them and tie with twine for a natural look.
Bronzing Lotion Bar Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup shea butter (measured solid)
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup beeswax pellets
- 1 TBSP argan oil
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)
- 10 drops basil essential oil (optional)
- 10 drops orange essential oil (optional)
- 10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
- 5 drops neroli essential oil (optional)
- 5 drops chamomile essential oil (optional)
- 5 drops fennel essential oil (optional)
- 1 TBSP bronze mica powder (or more)
Instructions
- In a double boiler, melt the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax.
- Add the argan oil and essential oils, if using, stirring well to incorporate.
- Stir in the bronze mica powder.
- Quickly pour the mixture into empty deodorant containers or molds.
- Apply to dry skin as needed.
Notes
What are your favorite essential oils to use?
To answer your question; I have so many favourites and have bought essential oils all over the world. I love Jasmine, Hyacinth, Orange, Patchouli (reminds me of my errant hippy days) and of course Ylang Ylang.
Currently my local oils provider has a Christmas blend that smells like caramel/egg nog.
Hi Katie,
I am constantly learning so much from you blog and truly appreciate all the help you have given me in raising my seven children to be as happy and healthy as I can.
I have tried to buy your new recipe book but amazon says that there is a problem and it can’t ship overseas. I live in Australia and I would love to get your book as I already use many of your recipes frequently and it would be much simpler to have it all in the one book.
Is there any way that I can buy the book? I am prepared to pay postage as I know that it will be something very beneficial for my family.
Yours with a shared love for what in wholesome and good.
Nadia
We are working on getting this set up 🙂 I’ll keep you posted…
Hey there!
Great idea, thank you so much for sharing.
I was just wondering if the lotion will stain clothing? How long do you usually wait before getting dressed after using the lotion?
Thanks very much and greetings from Switzerland
I haven’t had a problem with that… I wait about 5 minutes.
You are inspiring! I have learned so much.
I’m allergic to shea butter. Can cocoa butter (or some other substitute) be used, and if so, is the amount equal?
Yes and yes 🙂
I just wanted to let you know that you are inspiring me to DIY more of my personal products. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Hi Katie! I’m so excited to find your site! My neighbor introduced me to the Weston A. Price Foundation a few months ago, and ever since then, I’ve been trying harder to eliminate poisons from my diet and plan to raise my future children on a natural diet from the start. I am a sixteen-year-old girl and very skinny. My body doesn’t, therefore, produce a lot of estrogen, and my period is unpredictable as a result. I used to never know when it was coming, and it was extremely heavy. I bled all over a chair once–straight through a maxi pad (sorry for slight graphic, but I need help!). Since then, I have been taking birth control (for that reason only 🙂 ) Do you know an alternate way to increase my hormone levels to keep my cycles in check? Thank you so much. I’d really appreciate an answer. I’m also planning on ordering some cod liver oil from your recommended site as soon as I have the money! I applied for my first job and have an interview tomorrow, so if it goes well, I should have that soon! I’m looking forward for the next lazy day I have to dive deeper into your blog. Thank you so much for what you do!
Dear Lillian,
I too have had this problem. It wasn’t a lack of estrogen, but an overabundance. I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Have your doctor check you for this. There are several genomes of this condition. The classic is overweight, balding, facial hair etc. I had none of those things. Extremely thin, no hair loss, no facial hair until I was older. I didn’t even get a period until I was almost 18. I was 45 when they diagnosed me for this and had many issues along the way before discovering this condition. Read up on it and see if your doctor can test you. Simple blood test or clinical symptoms. Go to a good endo or gyno for help with this. Go prepared for your visit. Print out information from reliable websites such as NIH etc., so the doctor will believe what you’ve researched. Don’t suffer from this your whole life as I did.
Hi Lillian-talk to your gynecologist about black cohosh, chaste berry and dong quai, singly or in combination. All are plant based estranols (mimic estrogen in the body) and have been used for centuries by native American and Chinese women to regulate cycles, mediate the affects of menopause and increase fertility. If you are already on the pill, I wouldn’t take any of them without first discussing with your doctor.
Good luck!
So I love the idea of the lotion bars, but haven’t made them yet. I’ve held off so far because my son has very bad contact dermatitis with coconut. I already make our detergent and use an organic olive oil based soap. I also use pure organic food grade grape seed oil and essential oils for his eczema, but would like to try one of your recipes. Any suggestions on an alternative to coconut oil?
Olive oil, almond oil, jajoba, etc just reduce the amount by 1/3
Hi there,
Interesting about making your various lotion bars. Do you or any of your readers have a suggestion for Psoriasis of the skin? (i.e. not the psoriatic arthritis kind).
Thank you. 😉
I’m wondering how does one know how much bronze powder to use. Do you have any input on how to determine how much to use for certain results?
I am so Enjoying your post, one reason for the difference in some Items you make & make sound Really Great like This Bronzing SoapType Lotion Bar. I have made very similar body butter’s to what you made. However I’m a Every Yr Fan of Subless products & can’t wait to try this Lotion Bar, Especially with Argan Oil in which is in my Cart on next order. They Call Argan Oil “Liquid Gold” The two Main Ingredients in All these Anti-Aging, Wrinkle Recovery products that Everyone is in Competition to Sale the Two main ingredients in ANTI-AGING, ETC ARE THE ARGAN OIL & HYDRAULIC ACID In which I’m sure you already know. I’ve been researching to make my own. Again Thanks and I do plan to try this bronzed Lotion Bar. Best Wishes Always!