Over decades I have been using shop bought body lotions, but the waste free options are very limited and since I am trying to avoid plastic packaging as much as possible, I have been left with no option other than using pure coconut oil which I buy in bulk at The Manly Food Co-op. It works a treat, but is sometimes a bit too oily and I don’t always want to smell of coconut. 🙂 That’s when I looked around for other options and found out about body bars, they are basically body lotion in solid form and are easy to apply.

So this is my first try based on a few recipes I found on the internet and adapted to my needs. One thing upfront, it is still rather greasy and melts when it gets too warm which can be fixed by adding more beeswax to it.

What you need:

Equal parts of

• Beeswax, grated
• Shea butter
• Coconut oil

A few drops essential oil of your choice. I chose frangipani, but it could be anything you like.

Fill all ingredients apart from the essential oil into a glass jar and put in a pan with hot water until they melt. The beeswax needs the highest temperature to melt, so you might need to heat up the pot. Just ensure the bottom does not get too hot, so your glass jar does not explode. The other option is to use a double boiler (a water bath with a bowl on top that does not touch the water), but I find the glass jar option easier as you can just reuse the jar for future projects without having to clean several items.

Heat it all up until everything melts and dissolves. Stir constantly. Ensure there are no little pieces left. Let cool a little before adding the essential oil, then fill into moulds. This could be muffin silicone moulds or whatever you have handy, I used moulds from chocolates I had been gifted ages ago. If you pour the mixture into plastic, ensure it is not too hot as it might melt the plastic otherwise. Pop into the freezer for an hour or so until set and it is ready to use.

I store my beauty bars in a jar in the fridge, especially over summer, but if you live in a cooler region, you can store them outside.

To apply, just rub into your skin. Enjoy! 🙂