Lavender Lotion Bars | Healthy Homemade Series Part 3

Soothe dry summer skin with a homemade lotion bar infused with the calming properties of lavender oil.

All-natural beauty often starts in the kitchen and what you put on your body is as important as what you put in it so I've invited some friends to share their favorite healthy homemade beauty products with you over the next couple weeks to show you just how easy it is to make your own personal care products from scratch.  Please welcome Shaina from Food For My Family today with her recipe for homemade lavender lotion bars.

Summer, with its sandaled feet and sun-kissed cheeks can do a number on your skin. The combination sun exposure (even with mineral sunscreen coverage) and chlorinated pools or beach days in the saltwater surf can leave your skin feeling itchy and dry.

While I am a self-professed failure at lotion application in the everyday sense, I do like to keep some on hand for particularly dry spots and protection from the elements and to soothe the effects of those same elements. Lotion bars are my favorite type to cart around. They're easy to pop into a container and store in a purse or on shelf in the bathroom, and they're easy for small and large hands alike to apply. My kids rub theirs on bug bites and dry heels, and there's no worry about drippy creams sliding between their small fingers and onto the floor and rugs.

Lavender has multiple skin benefits, ranging from anti-bacterial properties to soothing and calming properties. It has antioxidant activity, which can help reduce UV damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays, and it's believed to be good for burns and bug bites, both of which occur in the summer.

As with any essential oil, mix a drop with a tablespoon of water and apple to a small area of your skin to check for sensitivities before using it in a product. If you end up being sensitive, try a different essential oil or opt for an unscented lotion bar. You'll still benefit from the hydration properties of the bar without any essential oils.

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Yield: Makes (3) 2-ounce bars.

Homemade Lavender Lotions Bars

A homemade lotion bar infused with lavender oil.

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Ingredients

• 2 ounces beeswax
• 2 ounces coconut oil
• 2 ounces shea butter or cocoa butter
• 10-20 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter just until they turn to liquid. Immediately remove from the heat.
2. Stir in the essential oil and pour into 2-ounce silicone molds. Set aside until cool.
3. Unmold the bars and store in a cool, dry place. To use, rub over skin and then rub in as you would your daily lotion.
4. Notes: You can increase the ratio of beeswax to shea butter and coconut oil to make a firmer bar for hotter temperatures.

Notes

Notes: You can increase the ratio of beeswax to shea butter and coconut oil to make a firmer bar for hotter temperatures.

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More homemade beauty from Shaina:

• Rosemary Mint Shaving Cream
• Lip Balm and Lip Gloss

Shaina Olmanson is the cook, freelance writer, and photographer behind Food for My Family, which was named one of the top ten Top 100 Mom Food Blogs by Babble.com in 2010, 2011, and 2012. She is the author of Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine, and lives in Minneapolis, MN with her husband and their four kids. Cooking with them drives her desire to inspire other families to create their own family food cultures and do the same.

Don’t miss the other homemade beauty recipes in the series:

• Part 1: Homemade Skin Cream
• Part 2: Chocolate Oatmeal Face Mask
• Part 4: Rosemary Avocado Coconut Oil Hair Mask

Sylvie

Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.