Melissa Norris of MelissaKNorris.com gave an excellent tutorial on Facebook Live, showing how to make lotion bars in less than 15 minutes.
With just 3 ingredients and a few pieces of kitchen equipment, you can be ready to go with your upcoming Christmas gift giving.
Watch the video below for a quick tutorial, and scroll down to read answers to questions Melissa addressed in the video.
A summary of Question and Answers that came up in the video:
What kinds of molds do you use and where can you buy them?
Molds can be made from silicone, like Melissa shows in the video. I love the plastic oval mold that she recycled from a product that came in the perfect sized oval plastic. Ice cube trays work well, as do soap or chocolate molds. You can check out Michael’s, Hobby Lobby or Amazon… or look in your craft/kitchen/toy box.
Would a tincture work as well as an oil?
A tincture has alcohol, so it wouldn’t work. Same goes with vanilla or almond extract. You could, however, make your own herbal oil first and use that but make sure it does not contain water or the ingredients will separate.
Where do get the pot that is used as a double boiler?
You can use any pot that’s larger than a Pyrex or similar glass measuring container. Just make sure that the Pyrex is taller than the pot, or at least is situated in such a way that water can’t get into the Pyrex mixture.
During the summer my coconut oil becomes a liquid. So should I be concerned about this melting?
Nope. It may be a slightly softer bar, and if that’s a problem, just add a bit more beeswax during the warmer months.
What do you wrap them in for gifts?
I have a Pinterest Board full of ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/hardlotion/wrap-it-up/
How do you carry them?
Melissa’s answer: I have a little tin I use in my purse, otherwise a sandwich bag, little Tupperware containers work, you can even just fold it up in some parchment or wax paper if need be. You can also use Altoid mint tins.
Are they greasy and do they stain clothes?
For some skin types they may feel greasy initially but not for most. It often just takes some absorbing into the skin and then the hands feel great.
How do you clean the Pyrex?
It’s best to wipe everything out while it’s piping hot (with a paper towel). Then wash in hot, soapy water. If the lotion dries before you have a chance to clean it up, simply reheat and melt in order to wipe up and clean. Melissa had the great idea to use up any leftover residue on her feet and then slipping them into socks for the night.
How do you put them into a lip balm tube?
Use a medicine dropper.
I hope you enjoyed the video as much as I did. Melissa also has the recipe in her book on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2g7k6Zh
Another favorite book all about essential oil safety is a must-read for the serious handcrafted skin product maker. It’s written by Robert Tisserand and takes a book chunk of space on my book shelf. Essential Oil Safety http://amzn.to/2g8W6Cw
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