Looking for DIY gift ideas? Try this chocolate lotion bar recipe.
As we draw to the end of a very challenging year, a little bit of DIY pampering for you and your loved ones is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit without spending a fortune.
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This homemade chocolate body lotion bar recipe is sure to delight with its creamy texture and delicious scent.
And the best bit?
It’s super easy to make, and it won’t break the purse strings.
What Is a Lotion Bar and Why Bother Using One?
Lotion bars have come into popularity for their nourishing and chemical-free benefits.
Although they look like a bar of soap, they’re actually a solid lotion that melts down as it is applied to the skin through the warmth of your hands.
Lotion bars tend to be thicker than ordinary lotions, which can help super dry skin, making them ideal for the colder months or for those looking for a more effective moisturizing solution.
Lotion bars are 100% natural with no chemical fillers or preservatives and they are great for the environment
as they don’t require any plastic coverings to stay intact.
They’re best applied after a shower while your pores are still open, making them a nourishing and simple step to include in your beauty regime.
Lotion bars can last between 6 and 10 uses, depending on how vigorously it is applied to the body.
Once used for the first time, it is best to keep it in a soap dish to avoid slippery surfaces.
Hot Chocolate Lotion Bar Recipe
Although there are endless scents and flavors to play around with, two of the ingredients I like to add to lotion bars are Shea butter and cocoa butter.
Shea butter is native to West Africa and is the fat extracted from the nut of a shea tree.
It is renowned for its luxurious moisturizing properties but also offers anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal benefits too.
Cocoa butter has long been used to treat severely dry and chapped skin and can even help with more serious conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
The combination of these natural ingredients gives the lotion its moisturizing benefits.
Ingredients
Depending on how many lotion bars you plan to make and their size, use an equal amount of deodorized Shea butter and cocoa butter. Then add:
- 1 tbsp of cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp of your choice of oil (I have used sweet almond oil)
- 10/15 drops of essential oil or fragrance oil
- 1 teaspoon of gold mica powder (optional)
Directions
Place the Shea butter and cocoa butter in a heat-resistant bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (just like you’re melting chocolate!)
Once the butter is melted, add the cocoa powder, mica gold (if you are using it), and essential oil.
Using a spoon, stir together all the ingredients until they are melted and mixed together.
Pour the melted lotion into your choice of mold.
Allow cooling at room temperature or place in the freezer if you’re in a hurry.
Want more beauty recipes? Check out these homemade skin care recipes you can make in no time.
Storing DIY Lotion Bars
Once your lotion bars are cool you can pop them out of the molds and store them at room temperature, unless of course, you live in a hot climate where they could end up melting.
If that’s the case, you can store them in the fridge in a tin or plastic lunch container.
They’ll also keep just fine in some cellophane or beeswax paper and ribbon ready to throw into your Christmas stockings for the festive season.
A quick search on Pinterest will show you endless ways to wrap these little treats to create a truly personalized and thoughtful gift.
Other lotion bar recipes you can make:
- DIY shimmer lotion bar recipe with gold mica
- Lotion bar recipe with no beeswax (vegan style)
- Homemade lotion bar recipes with beeswax
Final Thoughts
Once you build your confidence in making these delightful lotion bars, you can experiment with a range of scents and essential oils to mix it up.
From lavender to peppermint to the sweet scent of rose oil, the sky is the limit. Though, let’s face it, chocolate is always a crowd-pleaser.
