I’m a natural skin care product addict.
In college, my bathroom was filled with dozens of hair products, skin products and make-up that were likely filled with hundreds of chemicals.
Natural Alternatives…
Since switching to natural options, I still have dozens of personal care products in my bathroom (much to my husband’s frustration) but now they are packaged in glass jars and contain ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, honey and other edible and natural ingredients.
Lotion bars are typically some of my favorites and they are much easier to use than regular lotion, but I started making them in plastic deodorant containers, which makes them even easier to apply.
In the fall, I love using shea butter lotion, because it naturally protects skin from dry, cool weather and is said to help the skin naturally produce collagen. In many places, it is a revered remedy for keeping skin looking young and it really does make skin “softer than a baby’s bottom”
I love adding in my favorite essential oils to make this an all-over skin nourishing remedy. I don’t personally use it on my face, since my face tends to have plenty of natural oils, but I know many women who love to use shea butter on the face, and this would be an easy way to apply it.
Where to Get Ingredients…
- I buy shea butter in bulk (from here).
- I order these beeswax pastilles in bulk and use them in many recipes.
- I get coconut oil in five-gallon buckets (from here).
- I’ve used several different types of plastic tubes for this recipe. These are the ones in the picture, but I’ve also used these white containers and these clear ones with good results.
Shea Butter Lotion Bar Stick Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons raw organic shea butter
- 1 tablespoon unrefined coconut oil– solid at room temp (can use extra shea butter if allergic to coconut)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil OR castor oil
- 2 teaspoons beeswax
- 20+ drops of essential oil of choice (optional) I used chamomile, geranium and orange
What to Do:
- Slowly melt all ingredients, except essential oils, down in a double boiler or sturdy glass bowl over a small pan of boiling water. (TIP: I found an old double boiler at a thrift store that I use for skin products only).
- Remove from heat and add essential oils.
- Pour in to lotion bar tube.
- Let cool for several hours or overnight. I put mine in the fridge to speed the cooling process.
Note: This recipe makes enough for one 4-ounce lotion bar tube. For a firmer lotion bar stick, use more beeswax. For a smoother lotion bar stick, use less beeswax and more coconut oil or olive oil.
Other DIY Natural Skin Care Products:
Here are a few of my other favorite skin care recipes made from natural ingredients…
- Original Lotion Bars
- Lotion Bar Sticks
- Pain Relief Lotion Bars
- Sensitive Skin Lotion Bars
- Bronzing Lotion Bars
- Eczema Relief Lotion Bars
- Sunscreen Lotion bars
- Bug Off Lotion Bars
- Magnesium Body Butter
- Whipped Body Butter
Ever made your own skin care products? What did you make?
Hello, I was wondering; can the beeswax be omitted completely, with no replacement? Or does some other wax have to be used to get the finished product as you’ve made?
If you are putting it in a stick like this, it can, it will just be smoother and less solid that with the beeswax. It will work, but you’d want to be careful to keep it away from heat.
How can I make a body butter with this recipe?
Hi Katie! I love/use a lot of your beauty recipes- thank you!! 🙂 I have a question though….when I use shea butter (twice now), my essential oils just don’t ever mask the shea butter smell, even after re-melting and adding more. From what I read, the smell is natural (and ok) but it kinda bugs me. Any tips?? I found the same with cocoa butter…..Maybe I just need to use coconut oil more, but I was trying to get away from it. Thanks!
You can also use mango butter, alvacado butter, kokum butter, or purchase refined shea butter, it has less scent. 🙂
Hello,
I’m wondering what the beeswax can be replaced with as I am vegan. Any ideas?
Candalill wax is plant derivative, and has a great texture. Also there are soy waxes 🙂 Hope that helps 🙂
Cristy
That helps alot. Thank you Cristy!
Can you use this as a hair pomade as well?
Hi! yes you could, just omit wax:) I make a loc butter raw unrefined coco butter, shea butter, hemp seed oil and vitamin e. Use on scalp, hair, face, body. ..:)
Hello Katie,I am from Indonesia.I really love your web and your amazing natural skin care recipes.all about home made! But sometimes it difficults to find some ingredients.I try to replace it with my country’s tropical plant/herb..do you mind someday create some recipes with tropical herb / plant for people here ? Thankyou
I recently started using cocoa butter from Sunfood. I just roll the block onto my skin after a shower. My boys say I smell like chocolate. Happy Nesting.
I’m new to making my own skin care range, I’ve just made some lotion (I don’t think I added enough essential oil though) and from the company I bought the beeswax and oils, on a whim I bought honey powder. I have no idea how to use it or in what quantities, could you help me please!! I love everything about your website and am introducing as much as I can for a better lifestyle.
x
Hi Katie! Listening to the Wellness Family Summit as I type and loving it!! 🙂 I love all your recipes and tried making this one last night in a reused Primal Pit Paste container. Well, I don’t know why I didn’t think this through….I poured it in the container and it just went straight through it and poured all over the counter. Did I miss a step somehow? Or did I just use a bad container?
My wife uses coconut oil straight up as a moisturizer. She doesn’t use sunscreen and does not burn even in the hot AZ sun. It doesn’t work that well for me, but I’m not as religious about applying it as she is. I will say that her face looks younger since she has been using it. She has a cute little ceramic bowl that she keeps it in on our bathroom. She will usually apply it twice a day. I use it two to three times per week.