Making my first lotion bar, a little guidance?

[Tegan]

Ok, so I'm looking to make my first batch of lotion bars with the oils and butters I have on hand. I'm all for figuring it out on my own, but if you could tell me (out of what I have) what would be good to use and what to avoid (and why) I'll take it from there figuring out what and how much. I'm not looking for recipes, just some knowledge. I've done individual searches for each of my butters and oils, but I haven't turned up much on if they work well or not (or I really suck at searching LOL).

Olive Oil
Coconut Oil (76 degree)
Palm Oil
Avacado Oil
Avacado Butter
Illipe Butter
Mango Butter
Kokum Butter
Castor Oil

I also have Lard and Beef Tallow on hand, but I'm assuming they would make a really nasty lotion bar (correct me if I'm wrong hehe).

And of course I have beeswax.

 

[PrairieCraft]

Ooh, you have a lot of good stuff. The basic recipe for lotion bars is 1/3 soft oil 1/3 hard oil and 1/3 wax. I've played around with the percentages a little lower the wax and upping the hard oils for better glide but it's a good place to start. It would be fun to make really small batches to try each of your butters out in combination with the same soft oil to compare.

Whatever you end up doing please share how you like them. The only ones I've made have been grape seed oil with shea and beeswax, and almond oil, cocoa butter and beeswax. I liked the shea better.

 

[debbism]

First up....you have all fabulous oils and butters.

Mango is great in larger amounts but i don't see why you can't add some of the other butters, if not all. Avocado Butter and oil should be in smaller quantities since it can get greasy.

I would also pick up a little cornstarch or arrowroot or other starch in case your bars feel too oily. they cut the greasiness of lotion bars and add extra emolliency and silkiness....cornstarch will disperse a tiny bit better than arrowroot though but both are great - usually about a teaspoon per 12 oz of lotion bar.

 

[Sunny]

PC gave you some good advice. As far as the cornstarch, I tried that one time. All it did was leave grit on hands. Never again!

 

[debbism]

Could it be the type of cornstarch used? I never had an issue with either the cornstarch or arrowroot - as long as I use organic.

 

[MychelleC]

I love coconut oil and kokum butter in my lotion bars. I like a mix of heavy and light oils, so I use avocado and fractionated coconut as well. I love beeswax, but if you have any candelilla give that a try. I find my candelilla bars have so much more glide (and they can be sold as vegan). You have some yummy ingredients to play with - make several and pick your favorite!

 

[Tegan]

Thanks all! I just wanted to make sure none of my oils were super nasty in a lotion bar hehe.

 

[fiddletree]

Mine is equal weights coconut oil, sweet almond oil, cocoa butter, beeswax (plus either a vanilla been infused in the melted oils, or 15 drops of EO). I love love love love it. I tried about 10 different recipes before settling on this one.

 

[Ruthie]

Mine is equal weights coconut oil, sweet almond oil, cocoa butter, beeswax (plus either a vanilla been infused in the melted oils, or 15 drops of EO). I love love love love it. I tried about 10 different recipes before settling on this one.

Resurrecting this old post. I'm just doing research, but from what I have read, I didn't expect to see a recipe call for this much beeswax. Any comments?

 

[shunt2011]

I use almost exact amount as well but generally go lower on the beeswax as I like them a bit softer. I also use either arrowroot or isopropyl myristate to help with the greasiness. Give it a try you will love them.

 

[Mark the Box Guy]

I've only done one, and it was 1:1:1 beeswax, CO, and cocoa butter. It turned out fine.

 

[kharmon320]

I would think it would be fine using above recipe since the beeswax is only 1/4 of the total. If it doesn't work you can always melt and add more ingredients. Very forgiving medium.

 

[Sammi_552]

I made lotion 'rocks' :lolno:

LOL, me too!

It's great for chapped lips though.

There was no "gliding" it on my skin. It was more of a drag, bump, bump, bump. Would ya look at that. Is there anything on my skin? :shock:

 

[jean1C]

I did 1:1:1 last week, but they were still soft the second day(weather?). I stuck them in the freezer and viola....came out of the molds great-and still holding up a week later. I also used a bit of cornstarch to help with the greasiness...ALSO copying the LUSH massage bars, I added adzuki beans(from Whole Foods Store) to the bottom of the mold before I poured...Have yet to use them or give them to my "testing" panel of friends, but they look cool! and feel pretty good too.

 

[Pepsi Girl]

OK Jean1C being the meat and potato girl that I am I had no idea what adzuki beans are. So I looked it up and guess what it's a bean!!! So did you actually put whole hard beans in your lotion bars and if you did, Why? I'm not being mean or funny I'm really wondering! Thanks

 

[Nevada]

http://www.lushusa.com/Wiccy-Magic-Muscles/00253,en_US,pd.html?start=17&cgid=massage-bars

http://www.lushusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Lush-Site/en_US/Lushopedia-Start?iid=10020

for search LUSH site click here

Maybe I'll make a few Bars and "barter" with the Local Masseuse
Roy

OK Jean1C being the meat and potato girl that I am I had no idea what adzuki beans are. So I looked it up and guess what it's a bean!!! So did you actually put whole hard beans in your lotion bars and if you did, Why? I'm not being mean or funny I'm really wondering! Thanks

 

[jean1C]

OK Jean1C being the meat and potato girl that I am I had no idea what adzuki beans are. So I looked it up and guess what it's a bean!!! So did you actually put whole hard beans in your lotion bars and if you did, Why? I'm not being mean or funny I'm really wondering! Thanks

LOL! Because I saw them in a massage bar that LUSH was selling for some obnoxious price.(10.95 - see link) They have the effect of creating a textured surface..yes I used them whole. I put them in the bottom of the mold and poured the lotion mixture over them.
http://www.lushusa.com/Wiccy-Magic-Muscles/00253,en_US,pd.html?start=8&q=massage

 

[jean1C]

Sorry, I see that Nevada has already posted the link.
I did find these things (adzuki) in bulk at a local Whole foods store. BTW, I had no idea what they were before either.

 

[Pepsi Girl]

ok I watched the video. But I still do really get it because she didn't really massage with it. However having said that it did look neat!!

 

[kazmi]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but I'm really curious as to what lotion bars are used for. Based on the name I assume they are moisterizing but do you wash with them?