DIY Citrus Lotion Bars with Free Printable Labels
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These citrus lotion bars smell amazing and accompany my lemon hand scrub I made a few weeks ago perfectly! They are made with coconut oil, cocoa butter, and sweet orange essential oil with fresh orange zest on top, so it reminds me of chocolate oranges…yum!
I made them using a mini-sized silicone muffin mold because I wanted to use them as more of a hand lotion. You can also make them bigger depending on the mold you use, and they work great for your whole body, not just hands!
I put them in a jar next to my lemon hand scrub, and it’s easy to just pop one out of the jar when I finish the scrub. I find myself reaching for the scrub and lotion bars after I do the dishes and almost everytime I walk in the kitchen. Not to mention they look cute by my kitchen sink!
Until a few years ago I didn’t really understand the whole concept of lotion bars. It’s basically a lotion in a bar form. I just didn’t understand why some people preferred them to lotions or body butter…now I get it!
Don’t get me wrong, lotion and body butters have their advantages too, but lotion bars are convenient and work great for dry skin. You can rub them all over your body, and they work great on elbows, knees, and rough patches.
If you’re thinking about making these lotion bars, you won’t be disappointed. They are super easy to make and are easily customizable (see below).
They also make great gifts. You can stack a few together and tie them with ribbon or twine, put them in a nice tin. You can also pair it with my lemon hand scrub for a nice citrus scented gift and maybe even throw in a nice loofah or other bath care item! They really do make great gifts for just about anyone!
Use the free printable labels below to place on your metal tin or punch a hole in the top of the tag and tie around the lotion bars. I even included blank tags, and tags on how to use the bars, if giving as a gift.
Print Here —->>>> Citrus Lotion Bar Labels
Print the labels on standard 8.5 X 11-inch cardstock or use sticker labels.
*Make sure to store your lotion bars in a cool spot away from moisture.
What you will need
Coconut Oil – The kind that hardens in under 76 degrees F. Can be found at most local stores or on Amazon ( I use this)
Beeswax Pellets – Creates a barrier to seal in moisture ( I use these)
Cocoa Butter – Incredibly moisturizing, provides a nice barrier to skin and has a soft scent of cocoa. (I use this) If you don’t like the scent or want to use something different you could also use shea butter instead (found here)
Sweet Orange Oil – Uplifting scent and mood enhancer. Keep in mind that sweet orange oil is phototoxic meaning it can cause a reaction to the skin when applied topically and exposed to the sun. I haven’t had any problems, but it’s always best to use caution. Please avoid direct exposure to sunlight after it is applied.
If you don’t want to use sweet orange oil, you can use any essential oil you choose. Some other great choices are lavender, rosemary, or geranium.
Orange Zest– (optional) Gives the lotion bar a nice texture and a pretty additive. With the orange zest added your bars should last 1-3 months, without the zest it has a shelf life of 1-2 years. I prefer to make them with the zest and make them more often.
Labels (optional)
You will also need a medium-sized bowl ( I prefer to use one separate than the ones I use for cooking because the butters can be hard to get off the bowl), a measuring cup, stirring spoon, silicone molds ( I use these) for the mini-sized bars.
Citrus Lotion Bars
Fresh Citrus Scented Lotion Bars. Great for gift giving too!
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup beeswax pellets
- 1/3 cup cocoa butter
- 15-20 drops sweet orange essential oil
- orange zest from one medium sized orange (optional)
Instructions
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If you are using orange zest, place it in the bottom of each mold. Be careful not to add too much, just a light sprinkle.
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In a double boiler melt together coconut oil, beeswax pellets, and cocoa butter. You can also melt it in the microwave using a microwave safe bowl, just be sure to check it every 30 seconds or so and stir until melted.
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Add in sweet orange essential oil to the melted butters and pour into your molds. Leave in the molds for approximately 24 hours or until solid.
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To use: Use just like you would lotion or body butter. Also works great on elbows, knees, and rough patches. Store away from moisture in a cool dark area. Will last 1-3 months with fresh orange zest or up to 2 years without.
Have you used lotion bars before?
You can find more DIY beauty recipes in the DIY/Craft Index and by following Simple Mom Review on Pinterest.
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