Friday, February 15, 2008

Making Lotion Bars

I made lavender lotion bars tonight. I thought I'd share the process through pictures. I love to make these bars. I went through many batches before I got the right combination of beeswax, shea butter, and oils so they'd look and feel like I wanted them to.

First things first - gather all the supplies. A scale is a must for weighing everything, pyrex measuring cup, beeswax, shea butter, jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, Vitamin E, and lavender essential oil.

I always start by weighing the beeswax and shea butter.


Then I put the beeswax and shea butter in the microwave and melt at 1 minute intervals. While that is melting I weigh the oils. It usually takes about 3 minutes for the wax and butter to completely melt.


When the beeswax and shea butter are all melted I add the oils. This helps to cool the wax and shea down a little so they are not too hot to add the essential oil and pour in the molds. The temps need to be a little cooler so the properties and scent of the essential oils don't burn off.


After the beeswax, shea butter, and oils are combined it's time to add the lavender essential oil.

When the essential oil is mixed in it's time to pour in the molds. I use a Milky Way soap mold for my large lotion bars. I just got a smaller mold with the cutest bee on it - these bars will be in my Etsy shop soon. They'll be the perfect size for carrying in your purse and will come in smaller tins.



The bars will sit overnight to harden and in the morning I'll pop them out of the mold and put in tins!


5 comments:

Darlene said...

I'm so glad you posted this. I wanted to ask you how you made your goodies but then I thought that wouldn't be proper :)

It's so much fun to visit and see what changes you've made on your blog.

Kay-The Rustic Cottage said...

Darlene - I never mind people asking me how I make things. I would never have learned if I had not asked lots of questions!

I love it when you visit my blog!

Aunt Jenny said...

How fun to see step by step how you make the lotion bars. I love that!! Do you have a good source to buy soap molds? I usually have just cut bars when I have made soap, but think at some point in the future I would like to mold some.
I love your new banner! I am so uncoordinated when it comes to making changes or adding anything to my blog. When I try I always screw it up royal so I just leave it alone now. I would love to add links to my friend's blogs and havn't figured even that out yet!!

Anonymous said...

Hi! I think your photo tutorial about the lotion bars was really well done. Excellent photos and instruction.

I did find my title...Entirely Miss Reverend Lady Laura the Ingenious of Biggleswade by Biscuit

This was too funny to me because I just posted my favorite biscuit recipe on my blog this week!

I read your blog often. I enjoy it very much; therefore, I am adding you to my list of blogs I enjoy on my blog. I also put your addy in my most recent post to recommend your site.

I invite you for a visit!
God bless!
Laura of Harvest Lane
happy at home

Andylynne said...

Wow those are beautiful, and I bet they smell wonderful. What a wonderful talent you have.