Moisturizing Body Balm

This recipe was submitted to us by one of our Facebook friends, Kristi Robinson. This is what she says about this recipe:

“I make a body balm that is great for dry hands/feet year round. I make a large batch to share with others, so this recipe should be scaled down to fit personal needs. Melt 2 oz. coconut oil, 2 oz. shea butter, and 2 oz. beeswax in double boiler. I add in 5 drops vitamin E oil, 20 drops lavender essential oil,  and 20 drops patchouli essential oil after the first ingredients are all melted. Then pour it into twist-up tubes (0.5 oz.–2 oz. size) .”

If you are wanting to give this away to friends and family this holiday season, feel free to follow Kristi’s recipe above. Or, if you would rather just make a little bit for yourself and a couple other people, we scaled down the original recipe and included it below.

• Servings: 3 small lotion sticks
• Time: 10 minutes active; 10 minutes inactive
• Difficulty: Easy
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Ingredients:

• 1/2 Tbsp. (6 g) Coconut Oil
• 2 tsp. (9 g) Shea Butter
• 1 Tbsp. (5 g) Beeswax
• 3 drops Vitamin E Oil
• 5–8 drops essential oil (we used 1 drop myrrh, 1 drop patchouli, and 5 drops lavender)
• 3 Small Deodorant Containers

Instructions:

1. Melt the coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax in a double boiler over low heat. Note: you can create a double boiler by placing the oils and beeswax in a heat-proof glass dish, then placing the dish in a pan filled with an inch of water.
2. Once completely melted, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes. Stir in vitamin E oil and essential oils.
3. Transfer liquid to deodorant containers, and allow to cool completely.
4. To use, twist up and rub on skin as needed.

Note: the easiest way to clean up is to wipe as much of the oil/beeswax as possible off all dishes with paper towels before washing with hot, soapy water. Feel free to rub the leftover lotion on your skin before cleaning up!

If you want a larger lotion stick, just double the recipe and put it in a full-sized deodorant container.

Soothing Lavender Lotion

Help your kids sleep at night by massaging a little bit of this soothing lavender lotion on their feet. This lotion is so smooth and smells amazing—you may even be tempted to just apply it to yourself!

• Servings: Yield=8 oz. (240 ml)
• Time: 15–20 minutes active
• Difficulty: Moderate
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Ingredients & Supplies:

• 1 Tbsp. (14 g) Shea Butter*
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. (7 g) Beeswax Pellets
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. (18 g) Coconut Oil
• 5 Tbsp. (75 ml) Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) Jojoba Oil
• 3/4 cup + 1 Tbsp. (195 ml) distilled water
• 25 drops lavender essential oil
• 8 oz. Purple Plastic Bottle with Black Pump Top

Instructions:

1. In a double boiler, melt shea butter and beeswax pellets over low heat. Once melted, add coconut oil, and continue heating until almost melted. Remove from heat, and stir until everything finishes melting.
2. Stir in fractionated coconut oil and jojoba oil.
3. Heat distilled water until warm.
4. Using a hand mixer, start beating water and slowly add the oil mixture while continuing to beat. Keep beating for a couple minutes. As you blend, you will hear a change and feel the lotion thicken. Let stand for a few minutes. If lotion separates during this time, continue to blend it again for a couple more minutes. If it doesn’t separate, then it has emulsified properly.
5. Mix in lavender essential oil.
6. Pour lotion into a plastic bag. Snip off a corner of the bag, and squeeze the lotion into the 8 oz. bottle with pump top.
7. To use, pump a little into your hand, and massage into the skin as needed.

*Shea butter contains latex. If you are allergic to latex, substitute 1/4 oz. Cocoa Butter and 1/4 oz. Coconut Oil for the shea butter in this recipe.