How To Make A Cocoa Lotion Bar

Does the cold weather and dry central heating play havoc with your skin? Us too! We find this time of year our skin gets really dry, but help is on the way! We've put together a quick and simple recipe for a Cocoa Lotion Bar to solve all your winter skin woes. Even better, it makes the perfect homemade Christmas gift.

What Is A Lotion Bar?

They are simply a solid bar of moisturiser that melts on contact with your skin, meaning you can quickly grab one at any time to rub over your skin and add that all important layer of moisture. Hopping out the shower - pick it up and rub it all over to seal in moisture. Finished the washing up - keep one by the sink and rub it over dry hands. Heading out for the day and your hands are feeling sore from too much sanitiser - pop a chunk in a tin and slip it in your bag for on-the-go moisture. 

Another reason to love a lotion bar is that they are so sustainable - no packaging needed! Reuse an old jam jar to keep them in or wrap them in a beeswax wrap. 

Ingredients:

• 24g beeswax | 6% 
• 160g cocoa butter | 40%
• 80g coconut oil | 20%
• 40g shea butter | 10%
• 40g mango butter | 10%
• 40g sweet almond oil | 10%
• 12g vitamin E oil | 3% 
• 4g sweet orange essential oil | 1%

Method:

1. Measure out all your ingredients.
2. In a bowl over warm water gently melt together the solid butters, beeswax and coconut oil.
3. Remove from the heat and add the sweet almond oil.
4. Allow the mixture to cool a little and then add the vitamin E oil and the sweet orange essential oil (or any other essential oil of your choosing).
5. Pour into a silicone mould and allow to set.
6. Store in a recycled jar, tupperware, beeswax wrap or anything else you can reuse.

Please note this recipe was created with the UK winter weather in mind. If you are in a much colder or hotter country then the proportions of the recipe will need to be adjusted - particularly the beeswax which helps it to hold its shape.

Can I substitute the beeswax for candelilla wax in this recipe?

Yes, you can use candelilla wax as a substitute for beeswax. However, it does create a slightly different effect in the finished product. Using the beeswax in the lotion bar creates a soft and smooth texture with a creamy after feel. Whereas the candelilla wax makes the lotion bar slightly more solid.

We tested two different amounts of candelilla wax in the lotion bar recipe:

• 19g Candelilla wax | 4.81%
• 24g Candelilla wax | 6%

If you use 19g of candelilla wax it will create a softer, easier to spread, lotion bar. However, this could soften too much if left in a warm place.

Alternatively, you can use 24g candelilla wax, which makes a more solid and stable bar. However this bar does have a more waxy skin feel when compared to both the beeswax and the 19g candelilla recipe.