Christmas lotion bars are rich and soothing for winter skin issues. They offer increased moisture for rough, chapped skin on heels or elbows that are prone to cracking in the dry winter air. This recipe adds the soothing action of myrrh and frankincense resin infused in sweet almond oil for increased benefits and just a little more effort.
Christmas lotion bars are perfect to add to a Christmas spa basket that includes Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh bath bombs or salve. You can put these lotion bars into molds or use push up tubes for a professional presentation. I like to add a few lip balm tubes as I’m pouring them to use in my purse for relief of chapped lips and winter dryness.
Make these Christmas lotion bars in 3 steps
The actual hands on time to make these exotic three kings lotion bars is under an hour, but there are a few steps so allow at least 2 days to complete the project.
First infuse sweet almond oil with Frankincense and Myrrh resin
Hands on time: 5 minutes; Total time overnight.
Resins are difficult to infuse in oil without using some heat. I put my frankincense and myrrh resin in a heat-safe, glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in the bottom of a slow cooker or your Instant Pot turned on the slow cooker setting. (Never use the pressure setting for this.) Cover the measuring cup with plastic wrap or a lid to keep water from getting into your oil, from the condensed steam on the lid. Add water to the pot liner so that it comes half way up the side of the glass measuring cup. Cover the Pot with a lid. Turn the heat on to the high setting. Leave it to simmer over night or for at least 8 hours. Half way through the process stir the resin and oil mixture. The resin will not melt but some of the resin will infuse into the oil and the oil will develop a light scent of frankincense and myrrh. Cover the glass measuring cup and continue simmering for the remaining time.
Remove the measuring cup from the slow cooker. The cup will be hot so proceed with caution. Allow the resin infused oil to cool. Pour off the oil, measuring 1/4 cup for this project.
Step two: In a second glass measuring cup — Mix the lotion bar ingredients
Hands on time: 20 minutes; Total time: 20 minutes
Make a double boiler using a glass measuring cup following the directions here. Add 1/4 cup infused oil, 1/4 cup cocoa butter, and 1/4 cup beeswax (48 grams) to another glass measuring cup. Add water to the pot. Simmer over medium heat until the beeswax melts. Stir to fully mix the 3 ingredients. Remove from heat.
Add essential oils and mica colorant. Stir to fully blend.
Step three: Pour lotion bars into molds, push up tubes, or lip balms
Hands on time 5 minutes. Total time: 3 hours
As you are pouring the lotion bar, the “batter” may solidify and get stuck on the pour spout of the glass measuring cup. If this happens, melt it again by setting it back in the pan of hot water. (Alternatively you could microwave the glass jar for 20 seconds to remelt the lotion.) Continue pouring until all of the lotion bar is in the prepared molds.
Allow the lotion bars to cool naturally at room temperature. This may take several hours. Lotion added to a push up tube or lip balm will harden faster than the lotion bars put into molds.
Christmas Lotion Bars for a Luxury Gift that’s Richly Moisturizing
- Prep Time: 2 days
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 48 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 x 1 ounce bars 1x
- Category: Lotion bars
- Method: Salve making
Description
Make these rich Christmas lotion bars for a gift that’s fit for a queen. Yields 6 lotion bars or push up tubes.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons myrrh resin tears
- 2 tablespoons frankincense resin tears
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
- 1/4 cup cocoa butter
- 1/4 cup beeswax (48 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon gold mica (lip safe and eye safe)
- 50 drops frankincense essential oil
- 50 drops myrrh essential oil
- 20 drops balsam fir essential oil
Equipment:
- 2 x 1 cup glass measuring cup (heat-safe)
- Slow cooker or Instant Pot
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Silicone spatula
- Silicone molds or push up tubes
- Appropriate packaging for your molds
- Labels
Instructions
First infuse sweet almond oil with Frankincense and Myrrh resin
Resins are difficult to infuse in oil without using some heat. Put frankincense and myrrh resin tears in a heat-safe, glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in the bottom of a slow cooker or your Instant Pot turned on the slow cooker setting. (Never use the pressure setting for this.) Cover the measuring cup with plastic wrap or a lid to keep water from getting into your oil, from the condensed steam on the lid. Add water to the pot liner so that it comes half way up the side of the glass measuring cup. Cover the Pot with a lid. Turn the heat on to the high setting. Leave it to simmer over night or for at least 8 hours. Half way through the process stir the resin and oil mixture. The resin will not melt but some of the resin will infuse into the oil and the oil will develop a light scent of frankincense and myrrh. Cover the glass measuring cup and continue simmering for the remaining time.
Remove the measuring cup from the slow cooker. The cup will be hot so proceed with caution. Allow the resin infused oil to cool. Pour off the oil, measuring 1/4 cup for this project.
Step two: In a second glass measuring cup — Mix the lotion bar ingredients
Make a double boiler using a glass measuring cup following the directions here. Add 1/4 cup infused oil, 1/4 cup cocoa butter, and 1/4 cup beeswax (48 grams) to another glass measuring cup. Add water to the pot. Simmer over medium heat until the beeswax melts. Stir to fully mix the 3 ingredients. Remove from heat.
Add essential oils and mica colorant. Stir to fully blend.
Step three: Pour lotion bars into molds, push up tubes, or lip balms
Allow the lotion bars to cool naturally at room temperature. This may take several hours. Lotion added to a push up tube or lip balm will harden faster than the lotion bars put into molds.
Notes
As you are pouring the lotion bar “batter” may solidify and get stuck on the pour spout of the glass measuring cup. If this happens, melt it again by setting it back in the pan of hot water. (Alternatively you could microwave the glass jar for 20 seconds to remelt the lotion.)
Lotion bars for dogs
Christmas lotion bars also makes a healing paw wax for dogs. While many paw waxes are served in tins of salve, individual paw wax patties are more hygienic and keep the lotion bars clean and microbe free. I used a silicone paw mold like this. For small lotion bars like these use a silicone mold spray to ensure that the lotion bars separate cleanly from the mold.
To package:
Wrap each paw shaped lotion bar in plastic wrap. Use a heat gun to create a professional finish for each lotion bar.
If you are making paw wax for cats, omit the essential oils and gold mica in this recipe. The infused herbal oil is safe for cats.
More Lotion Bars
Lotion bars are one of the simplest DIY herbal products you can make at home. A simple lotion bar has only 3 ingredients plus any herbs and essential oils you want to add. Try some of these lotion bar variations when you are looking for help for dry, inflamed, winter skin. Get a lotion bar on hand for dry skin issues year round for every family member.
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Where did you get those tins? I am having a hard time finding non-screwtop, just plain slip top containers.
Mountain Rose Herbs carries them.
Where did you buy the bumblebee mold?
Thanks! Nancy
Brambleberry Soap supplies: https://www.brambleberry.com/shop-by-product/molds/silicone/6-cavity-guest-bee-silicone-mold/V000719.html (no affiliation)