DIY CHOCOLATE ORANGE LOTION BAR
If you’ve ever had your body lotion explode all over your luggage before (trust me, I’ve been there;) you will love this easy and simple recipe to make a delicious smelling lotion bar that will leave your skin well hydrated, super soft and silky.
In case you wonder what a lotion bar is, it’s best described as a solid moisturizer made from butters (cocoa/ shea butter), oils (coconut, jojoba, almond) and waxes (beeswax/candelilla) that doesn’t contain water and is travel- and eco- friendly. Lotion bars are easy to apply by rubbing directly onto your warm skin where they slightly melt and hydrate beautifully.
To make this easy and simple chocolate orange lotion bar recipe, you just have to melt 3 ingredients together, add in Vitamin E-oil and sweet orange essential oil and pour it into molds to let them harden. No fancy equipment required, you can use your kitchen scale and utensils.
You can control and pronounce all the ingredients and source natural and organic ones free from potentially harmful additives and synthetic fragrances, all while saving money and plastic waste.
I love the magical scent of these chocolaty and uplifting sweet orange lotion bars especially for the cold winter season and the deep hydration they provide for my skin.
TIPS TO MAKE THE PERFECT CHOCOLATE ORANGE LOTION BARS
Measure your ingredients by weight rather than in cups and spoons for best results. You can use a simple kitchen scale for this.
You can use either beeswax pellets or a block. If you use a block of beeswax, you will need a sharp knife to coarsely chop it up. I prefer to use beeswax pellets since they are a bit easier to weigh and melt faster.
Cocoa butter comes in two different types as well. You can use both, either deodorized or natural/ non-deodorized cocoa butter. I prefer using natural cocoa butter for this recipe because I love the natural chocolate scent.
If you don’t want to use coconut oil you can substitute it with almond oil or olive oil. I like to use Virgin coconut oil that is cold pressed and unrefined because it’s more beneficial for the skin than refined coconut oil.
Make sure to use an essential oil that is safe for skin and properly dilute it, by mixing it into the lotion base after it has completely melted and before it solidifies. An essential oil dilution rate between 0,5%- 2% (very subtle to stronger scent strength) of the total weight is recommended for body use. Adding too much can cause skin irritations.
Important Safety Note:
Sweet orange essential oil makes the skin more sensitive to sunlight (phototoxicity). Please avoid prolonged sun exposure and sun beds if you have it on your skin.
In case you filled all your molds and still have some liquid lotion bar left, don’t worry! Just let them harden and take them out to reheat your lotion blend later and make a second batch.
If you don’t have a silicon mold or don’t want to use one, you can pour the lotion bars into cupcake liners sitting in a muffin tin.
You can store your lotion bars in a metal tin, box, zip log bag, or soap container in a cold place, out of direct sunlight. The lotion bars will last you for up to one year if stored properly.
Enjoy the creative process of making lotion bars, get creative with different essential oils and different molds depending on the season.
Lotion bars also make a great homemade gift for friends and family!
INGREDIENTS YOU WILL NEED
120 g beeswax
100 g natural cocoa butter
100 g virgin coconut oil
4-6 drops Vitamin E-oil
60 drops sweet orange essential oil
TOOLS YOU WILL NEED
kitchen scale
double boiler
silicone molds
INSTRUCTIONS
Weigh beeswax, cacao butter and coconut oil into a double boiler or heat-resistant bowl (like Pyrex) and place it onto a small saucepan with water.
Gently heat and stir the mixture until all the ingredients are melted and nicely combined. You can use a wooden skewer to stir.
Take your lotion bar base off the stove and stir in Vitamin E oil and sweet orange essential oil. (Please read tips above for proper use of essential oils)
Pour into molds and allow them to cool and harden completely. It will take 1-2 hours at room temperature or 30-60 minutes in the fridge.
Remove from molds and store in a small bag, tin or container in a cool place away from heat and sunlight.
Rub your lotion bar directly onto your warm skin where it will slightly melt and hydrate it beautifully. Enjoy well hydrated skin and the magical scent of chocolate and orange!
DIY CHOCOLATE ORANGE LOTION BAR
by Julia
This easy recipe makes a delicious smelling lotion bar that will leave your skin super soft and silky. It is quickly made by melting beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil, adding in Vitamin E-oil and sweet orange essential oil and pouring it into silicon molds. I love the magical scent of these chocolaty and uplifting sweet orange lotion bars especially for the cold winter season and the deep hydration they provide for my skin.
PREP TIME : 20minutes WAIT TIME : 60-120minutes TOTAL TIME : 80min-140minutes
YIELD : 4 lotion bars of 80g each
INGREDIENTS
120 g beeswax
100 g natural cocoa butter
100 g virgin coconut oil
4-6 drops Vitamin E-oil
60 drops sweet orange essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Weigh beeswax, cacao butter and coconut oil into a double boiler or heat-resistant bowl (like Pyrex) and place it onto a small saucepan with water.
Gently heat and stir the mixture until all the ingredients are melted and nicely combined. You can use a wooden skewer to stir.
Take your lotion bar base off the stove and stir in Vitamin E oil and sweet orange essential oil. (Please read tips above for proper use of essential oils)
Pour into molds and allow them to cool and harden completely.
Remove from molds and store in a small bag, tin or container in a cool place away from heat and sunlight.
Rub your lotion bar directly onto your warm skin where it will slightly melt and hydrate it beautifully. Enjoy well hydrated skin and the magical scent of chocolate and orange!