45 replies to this topic

[Leni]

Melt in a double boiler - hardest to softest - EXCEPT for the shea butter which is more prone to get grainy if too hot.

4 oz beeswax - once melted add
4 oz cocoa butter - once melted add
2 oz mango butter - once melted add
2 oz of jojoba oil (reserving an additional 2 oz to mix my mica)
once melted add
4 oz of shea butter - once melted add
2 oz of Jojoba oil (with mica colorant)

Remove from heat- I pour this into a glass measuring cup for easy of pour - stir in

4 teaspoons of selected fragrance oil

Pour into containers 7/8 full (as they cool they will dimple in the center) makes 14 tubes (1.5 oz approximately. When containers cool and dimple - zap remainder in measuring cup for 20 seconds in microwave and top off containers (making nearly a bubble on top) and allow it to cool - takes about 1/2 hour. These are solid but melt on contact with your skin.

[StinkyDancer]

Melt in a double boiler - hardest to softest - EXCEPT for the shea butter which is more prone to get grainy if too hot.

4 oz beeswax - once melted add
4 oz cocoa butter - once melted add
2 oz mango butter - once melted add
2 oz of jojoba oil (reserving an additional 2 oz to mix my mica)
once melted add
4 oz of shea butter - once melted add
2 oz of Jojoba oil (with mica colorant)

Remove from heat- I pour this into a glass measuring cup for easy of pour - stir in

4 teaspoons of selected fragrance oil

Pour into containers 7/8 full (as they cool they will dimple in the center) makes 14 tubes (1.5 oz approximately. When containers cool and dimple - zap remainder in measuring cup for 20 seconds in microwave and top off containers (making nearly a bubble on top) and allow it to cool - takes about 1/2 hour. These are solid but melt on contact with your skin.

I have to say I just say this but this is almost exact to my lotion bar recipe and anyone who has tried it adores it. Anyone looking for a "drier" almost immediately soak in for a lotion bar has to use this one.
It gets rid of my kids eczema patches and my DH's dry feet. It's awesome!
Works great with castor for a glossy lip balm- without for a regular lip balm too.
If you add a little of this and that and take out the Beeswax- it's a great whipped butter too.
I just love all these ingredients and use them in everything. LOL
Nice of you to share this.

[StinkyDancer]

Ok I jumbled 2 thoughts in one sentence....just talking about these ingredients makes me giddy.

[Coconut]

Hi,
I'm new to this website and new at making lotion bars. I currently use a pre-made base, but do not like the smell of the cocoa butter. The ingredients are different than the ones posted here and I wondered if I should try to follow your recipe and make mine from scratch. The base that I buy has: beeswax, grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, cocoa butter and vit e.
I do not know the percentages of each ingredient.
Also, I do not know how much fragrance oil to use and I followed the suggestion on another site and they came out very greasy. The next ones were great - but you couldn't smell anything but the cocoa butter.
Thank you for your help.

[Leni]

There are different types of cocoa butter so that can make a difference. The refined and deodorized that WSP carries (as opposed to the natural which they also have) has barely any scent of its own and easy to cover with your FO or EO.

Leni

[Coconut]

Thank you. So, do you like the mango butter and the jojoba oil better than sweet almond or grapeseed oil? I see that WSP has the jojoba oil, but what about the colorant? How much FO/EO per recipe? (I have been melting only about 4 oz of base at a time). This way I can experiment without messing up too much of my base.

[Babs]

Just have to add here that I use Leni's recipe for lotion bars and lip balm (same recipe adapted) and they are incredible. They saved my feet! I haven't been to the podiatrist in 2 years (used to go every 3 months!).

[Coconut]

Do you use any colorant in the jojoba oil?
I read the discussion about cornstarch and I see that it is in the base I use. It sure didn't help when I made some with way too much EO and ended up with greasy bars!
I do like the idea of vit e in them. I had used some lotion bars from one of those home-party-companies and it didn't have vit e - wow did it go rancid! also, it didn't seem to help heal my hands like these ones do. I sew, and everytime I work for a while with any fabric, my hands crack open. These bars really help. I'm not sure which ingredients are working so well, and that's why I don't want to stray too far from the base I have. Mine does seem to be heavy on the oils and light on the butters. Any thoughts on that?
Thanks.

[sudz]

Is it just me..because I love the smell of cocoa butter..... lol..

[Leni]

You will note that the recipe above has a measurement for FO (it would be about 1/3 that for EO's).

I use jojoba oil due to its extremely long shelf life, as well as its ability to be absorbed into the skin.

Leni

[Coconut]

Is it just me..because I love the smell of cocoa butter..... lol..

I know it seems strange - but I do not like chocolate - so I guess that's why I don't like the smell of the cocoa butter.

[Coconut]

You will note that the recipe above has a measurement for FO (it would be about 1/3 that for EO's).

I use jojoba oil due to its extremely long shelf life, as well as its ability to be absorbed into the skin.

Leni

Oh, great info!
I had only heard of using sweet almond oil before - but I like the idea of a longer shelf life.
What do you think about grapeseed oil?
Thanks.

[Leni]

I haven't tried grapeseed oil. From what I know of it, it absorbs very easily and is a light oil. I preferred working with the jojoba as it is a bit heavier and I market these for special need dry areas.

Leni

[cranberry cove]

I do not have any jojoba oil and would really like to make these (since it looks like we will be snowed in tomorrow!). Is there any tips for substituting oils? I am trying to find somehwere that says Here are the lightweiight oils, here are the medium oils and here are the heavy oils, along wiht their shelf lives. I am finding all kind of research for what the oils are helpful for, but not comparing weights. ANyone have anything like this??

This recipe got RAVE reveiws, so many I shoudl just wait for the jojoba.

Misty

[Leni]

Misty,

As mentioned, I used jojoba due to its long shelf life as well as it's wonderful properties. I have made lotion bars with other oils in the past. Give us a list of oils you have on hand, and perhaps we can give you some input as to how well they would work.

Leni

[Coconut]

I can't believe it's been a year since I started making lotion bars (from a base)!
Now, I make them from scratch....and after alot of different variations on recipes, I've got one that I really like.
It's pretty close to Leni's recipe - maybe I should have started with that one to begin with - why change what is already perfect - LOL!

Anyhow...I've learned so much in this past year and wanted to thank everyone on the forum that has been so helpful and generous with their advice!

[Petra]

I can't believe it's been a year since I started making lotion bars (from a base)!
Now, I make them from scratch....and after alot of different variations on recipes, I've got one that I really like.
It's pretty close to Leni's recipe - maybe I should have started with that one to begin with - why change what is already perfect - LOL!

Anyhow...I've learned so much in this past year and wanted to thank everyone on the forum that has been so helpful and generous with their advice!

yes, but just think how much you have learned in getting there the way you did...
Petra

[timelesspresents]

yes, but just think how much you have learned in getting there the way you did...
Petra

Agreed. Experience is the best teacher....and it's fun....

[Coconut]

yes, but just think how much you have learned in getting there the way you did...
Petra

So true! And I had the perfect excuse to get lots of foot rubs while testing the product!

A special Thank-you to Petra for always answering my questions on infusing oils and other guidance in helping me create a great lotion bar!

Same with soap.....learning and creating my own recipe was so much fun. I look back on my notes from all my batches and I'm glad for all the experimenting and education along the way. Yeah, I did start with a "tried and true" recipe (Ela's luxury oils) from this forum....but, I've tweaked it to make it my own creation. Now I have something that's unique that I can be proud of.
Everyone should aspire to be creative in their endeavors!

[anonymoususer.cleveland]

So lotion bars are for the feet?

I never heard of them before.

Just being curious while reading...

Thanks, Will