Lotion Bars are in the tins at the front right of the photo
As a home business, I sell handmade soaps and bath products. It is a nice job for me as it is very seasonal. I get lots of orders starting now until Christmas. Then it tapers off and I sell the occasional bar or two of soap until the fall comes again. This week I need to make a big batch of soap as I'm just about out of everything. I do have plenty of lotion bars in stock so I won't have to make those. This is a recipe for a lotion bar that I make. Those with dry cracked hands or heels really like it. I like to put it on my dry heels and then sleep with cotton socks on. Mr. P has one by his bed for when he is fencing. Putting in fence really tears his hands up and this is the only thing that helps his hands. It really is simple to make with only a few ingredients.
Here's what you'll need:
Heavy glass measuring cup
microwave or double boiler
scale to weigh the oils and lotion bars with
plastic dixie cups or plastic molds
*metal tins to store the lotion bar in
Lotion Bar ingredients and where to find them:
1 part Grapeseed Oil (grocery store or Ross or Marshalls)
1 part Shea Butter (possibly a health food store or craft store OR online)
1 part Beeswax (local person who sells honey or craft store)
1/2 t. essential oil (health food store, craft store, online)
I shred the beeswax as it will melt faster that way. (Be careful...the beeswax is so hard that it is easy to shred you hand instead....ask me how I know.) I put all of my ingredients (except the essential oil) into a glass jar in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds at a time until they are all melted. Then I stir in the essential oil and pour into the dixie cups. I put a dixie cup on my scales and pour so that each bar is about the same size. For the tins above that is between 1/2 and 3/4 of an ounce. You can then pop the dixie cups into the freezer and then they pop right out of the dixie cups. It takes about 5 minutes or so for them to solidify enough to pop out. If you just leave them on the counter it may take an hour or so for them to cool, depending on the temperature in your house. These last for an amazingly long time. They are also great little gifts for teachers, secret pals, stocking stuffers, etc.
*note: if your tins have straight smooth sides, then you can pour directly into them and the lotion bar will slide out once it is cool. My tins have a tiny groove so I have to mold them in the dixie cups first.
Edited to Add: I purchased my tins online. They were on clearance. There are a number of places online to purchase them. Also, last year these cost me around 75 cents each to make. However, I anticipate that they will cost more than that now, as all of the oils I use have had significant price increases since then. If you would like to make a product that is more like lotion, then click on Greenock Farms on the sidebar. My friend there made a really wonderful all natural lotion and has the recipe on her blog. I think she calls it deep winter balm or something like that.
Thanks for sharing this, it sounds very easy once you find all the ingredients. BTW, thanks also for sharing where to find them. I plan to try this for Christmas gifts. About what does it cost to make a batch?
Marilyn
Thank you for posting the recipe. Homesteading chores and heating with wood, not to mention washing laundry by hand, really takes a toll on the skin! I am looking forward to making this for us.
Thanks for sharing your recipe for lotion bars! I started selling handmade soap last year and this year I've been trying out lotion bar recipes and hope to sell some this fall. One I tried is equal parts shea butter, cocoa butter and beeswax. The least expensive place I've found to buy the tins so far is at www.specialtybottle.com.
Your craft table looks inviting with the quilt covering - I love it!
~Michelle
I am a Christian mom homeschooling my 3 children while enjoying our life in the country. I enjoy reading, sewing, smocking, canning, making soap, cheese, and bread and just about any other homesteading craft.
Lotion Bars are in the tins at the front right of the photo
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• Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Marilyn