DIY Hard Lotion Bars

I’m super excited to have Jamie from How to Just About Anything guest post for us today!  Read more about her after her awesome DIY Hard Lotion Bars post which we’ve included in the 12 Days of Christmas DIY Blog Hop!  

I remember when I first heard of hard lotion. “Lotion’s not hard. What is this stuff? It sounds ridiculous!” But then I tried it.
 
No mess, no goop and nothing your toddler can smear all over your bedroom wall. No one’s had that happen, right? All in a convenient little bar.  
 
These are perfect to throw in your purse or the diaper bag to whip out whenever you get that itchy, dry skin feeling. I also like keeping one by the sink next to my semi-handmade hand soap to moisturize my hands after I do the dishes or get some cleaning done. I hate using cleaning gloves, and I feel safe not doing so since I make my own cleaners, but it can make my hands dry.
 
Use a mold and these bars look so elegant and chic in a guest bathroom. You can even include it with some diy whipped body butter and this room and linen spray in a little basket left in the guest room. Perfect for welcoming any overnight guests. They’re really so simple to put together, but the results are impressive.  
 
I’ve recently discovered the world of essential oils (Sarah’s note: I get mine here) and they’re super useful, especially with homemade body care products. If you prefer to use herbs though, this is a great way to use an infused oil. Calendula is my go to herb for skin care since it’s great for a plethora of skin issues. I use it along with lavender and plantain to make a salve to help with diaper rashes and eczema.
 
Below are some herbs and essential oils you can use in your lotion bars. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it’s enough to get you started. Even though some of these are good for rashes and broken skin, I can’t recommend rubbing a hard lotion bar on broken skin as it will most likely irritate the area more.  

 Essential Oils For Skin 

• Tea Tree – good for acne, dermatitis, eczema, rashes, sunburn
• Lavender – useful for dry skin, itchy skin, stretch marks, wrinkles
• Frankincense – helps prevent scarring, wrinkles
• Geranium – useful for dry skin, diaper rash, wrinkles
• Helichrysum – reduces scarring, wrinkles
• Myrrh – good for chapped dry skin, stretch marks, wrinkles
• Roman chamomile– useful for dry skin
• Sandalwood – useful for dry skin, wrinkles

Herbs for Skin

• Calendula – useful for eczema, psoriasis, sunburns, burns, inflamed skin
• Plantain – useful for eczema, psoriasis, rashes, damaged skin
• Comfrey– useful for eczema, psoriasis, diaper rash, burns, and sores. 

​If you’re infusing the coconut oil with herbs, see how I do it here.
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Ingredients:
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1. 1 part shea butter (I use 1.5 oz)
2. 1 part beeswax
3. 1 part coconut oil
4. Essential oils of choice (optional)
5. Herbs of choice (optional)
6. Muffin tin with liners or molds (I use one like these)

Instructions:
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1. Add all ingredients, except for essential oils, into a double boiler (I use a glass bowl on top of a sauce pan).
2. Stir occasionally with a metal spoon until everything has melted.
3. Remove from the heat and add your essential oils. I like adding 10 drops per 1 oz.
4. Give this a quick stir and immediately pour into your molds. Let cool at room temperature until solid.
5. For easy removal put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes before popping them out. Don’t leave them in for long though otherwise they’ll split.

​​I like putting these into little organza gift bags to giveaway. These tins are a great way to store the bars as well, especially when toting them around in your purse.
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All of these herbs are also available at Mountain Rose Herbs or the Bulk Herb Store.
Resources:

Practical Herbalism
Modern Essentials
 

About Jamie:   
Jamie writes about diy projects, healthy recipes and natural living on her blog, How To Just About Anything. She attended Grace College for journalism and is currently enrolled in natural health courses. She runs her own bodycare business and is the development director for A’amarna Toothpaste. Come say hi on her Facebook page, follow her on Pinterest, or check out her blog!