Lotion bars. Have you heard of, or used them ethnic beauties? While they look like a bar of soap, they're actually lotion in solid form, that can be rubbed onto your skin. Some people use lotion bars all over their body. Others use them just for dry skin areas.

Lotion Bar Ingredients

It is said that these soothing bars had their beginnings in the pioneer days. Made from natural oils, butters and waxes and often infused with dried plant or herbal infused oils. Once they cooled and hardened, they were then stored and used as skin lotions and moisturizers. Imagine all of the custom products you can create with this one simple product.

Lotion bars allow you to create specifically to treat challenged skin types. Calendula or lavender to help relieve irritated skin. Or ... lip balms, which are actually mini lotion bars. The key to making lotion bars is to avoid introducing any type of moisture or you're going to see bacteria.

Lotion Bar Recipes for Great Looking Skin

One thing to remember is that as the temperature drops outside, the humidity also drops. This makes the air drier. On the other side of this, is the indoor heat doing its own damage by drying out your skin and hair. Lotion bars can actually help your skin retain its full moisture during these seasonal changes.

Here are two recipes:

Basic Lotion Bar

1 cup of coconut oil
1 cup Shea or Cocoa butter
1 cup of natural beeswax
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Combine all of the ingredients into a heatproof container and place it on the stove top in a pan of water. Allow the mixture to heat slowly so that the ingredients are melted. (this is also known as a water bath) Stir slowly.

Pour into soap molds or a greased loaf or square cake pan. Allow it to cool until solid. Flip from the molds and cut into bars. You can use your mixture to make lip balms or deodorant.

Dry Skin Lotion Bar

1/4 cup of cocoa butter
2 tablespoons of avocado oil
2 tablespoons of oil (Get creative: infused with dried lavender, chamomile or calendula)
2 tablespoons of beeswax

Combine all of the ingredients in a heat proof container. Place the container on the stove top in a pan of water. Allow the mixture to heat slowly so that the mixture is melted. (this is also known as a water bath) Stir slowly.

Pour into soap molds or a greased loaf or square cake pan. Allow it to cool until solid. Flip from the molds and cut into bars or sticks.

Where and How to Use Lotion Bars

When it's all said and done, you can use lotion bars just about anywhere. It will all depend on your skin and what your challenge is. Did you know that you can toss a small section of a lotion bar in your bath tub for a moisturizing bath? It's like having scented bath oils. You can also use them in foot baths.

When creating your lotion bars, create different shapes and sizes. Use tins and wrapping paper for unique gift ideas as well as storage containers.

Give yourself the gift of a new way to moisturize your skin. Lotion bars make it fun. That's it for this week.

Juliette's Website

Nyraju Skin Care