Cocoa Ginger Lotion Bars

Cocoa Ginger Lotion Bars: a sweet and spicy solid lotion bar recipe for moisturizing or massage.

This time of year my skin always seems to find a way of getting dried out. Between chilly winter air outside and heated air inside, it’s easy to become parched. While drinking plenty of water and indulging in extra healthy fats (hello guacamole!) is my first and favorite strategy for battling dry skin, having a great lotion bar handy helps a lot too.

The warm, stimulating scent of ginger helps mellow out the naturally sweet aromas of vanilla and cocoa butter – giving these lotion bars an exotic and sophisticated aroma. If ginger is not your favorite smell, try replacing the essential oil with something equally unexpected, like cardamom, rose, or cherry. These also smell wonderful when left un-scented.

This simple lotion bar recipe starts out with a great big helping of cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is highly moisturizing, and a great choice for coating and nourishing dry skin. A blend of apricot and virgin coconut oil helps bring down the intensity of this recipe with their light textures. A little beeswax helps to bind the bars together and to keep them from being too soft.

If you prefer to use something plant-based, try substituting the beeswax in your lotion bars for 1/2 ounce (15 g) candelilla wax instead. During warm weather, or in especially warm climates, you may want to increase the ratio of wax a little bit or store the bars in a refrigerator between uses.

Cocoa Ginger Lotion Bars
Makes four 4-ounce lotion bars

Ingredients

• 2 ounces (60 g) cocoa butter
• 1 ounce (30 g) virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 ounce (15 g) apricot kernel oil
• 3/4 ounce (23 g) beeswax
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.65 ml) ginger essential oil
• 1/8 teaspoon (0.65 ml) organic vanilla select co2 extract

Directions

1. Combine cocoa butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in a heatproof container or double boiler. Heat on stovetop (using double boiler) or in the microwave using short, 30-second bursts.
2. When oils and waxes are melted, add apricot oil and stir together.
3. Add essential oils last. Stir well, then pour into molds.
4. Pop molds into the freezer and chill until fully hardened (about 15 minutes). Gently tap bars out of mold and store in cool place until use.

Usage & Packaging

• To use, warm lotion bar between your palms, then rub onto arms, legs, and torso. The lotion will melt slowly when massaged into the skin.
• Lotion bars should be packaged in tins, jars, or bags when not in use. Our Small Cello Bags would be perfect for packaging these bars.

Shelf Life & Stability: Please note that the formulations featured here on The Natural Beauty Workshop have not been challenge tested for stability or shelf life, and may not be suitable for commercial use as-is. For more information on shelf life, stability, and working with preservatives, check out the following article from our Information Library.