Chocolate Peppermint Lip Balm/Lotion Bar
Today, I want to share one of my favorite body care products recipes! Years ago, I stumbled upon a recipe for lip balm/lotion bars* and I had to try it out. I loved it so much, I decided to make a batch for my family and friends for Christmas.
Let's just say gift funds were a bit tight that year, so I officially declared to my loved ones that this was going to be a "Homemade Gifts Only" Christmas. Much to my delight, everyone was thrilled with the idea!
*In case you are wondering "What is a lotion bar?", it's simply lotion in solid form. When you rub the bar on your skin, the heat of your body allows the lotion to spread.
Why I love this recipe:
1. It's simple. Only 4 ingredients (yay!!!!).
2. It's completely edible and contains 100% natural ingredients, so I don't have to worry about my kids eating it. Have you read the ingredient labels on other lip balms? Eek!
3. It smells AH-mazing. Men and women will enjoy the delicious scent and the pleasing tingle from the peppermint oil. True story - I gave this as a gift my son's kindergarten teacher and she raved it but only had one complaint... her husband stole it from her because he loved it so much. I gave her another container! Ha!
4. It's multipurpose. It's fantastic as a lip balm, but also can be used as lotion.
5. It WORKS. My hands get absolutely wrecked during the farming season and this the only product that heals my poor abused skin. I put it on every night.
6. It's a great way for me to use the beeswax I collect from our beehives each year!
What You Will Need
3 oz or 1/3 cup beeswax, in chunks or pastilles
3 oz or 1/3 cup cocoa butter
3 oz or 1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tsp peppermint essential oil
Scale for weighing the ingredients. If you don't have a kitchen scale, you can use measuring cups, but it's a little tricky because the beeswax and cocoa butter are hard. You'll have to find a way to chop them into small pieces so your measurements will be somewhat accurate.
Containers for the lotion bar/lip balm. If you are making lotion bars, look for candy molds at the craft store or you can pour into muffin tins. Lip balm can be poured into tubes, pots or tins.
A pint sized mason jar (or similar glass jar). You will melt the ingredients right in the jar.
Saucepan. For heating the mixture.
Method
1. Measure the beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil. Put them in the mason jar.
2. Put the mason jar inside a saucepan filled with a few inches of water. Turn heat on to begin warming the water, which will melt the mixture in the mason jar. Heat the beeswax, cocoa butter and coconut oil until melted. Stir with a bamboo skewer or Popsicle stick (something you can throw out or compost when you are done). While you are waiting, set out some paper on the counter (to protect surfaces from spills) and arrange your containers.
3. When completely melted, remove the mason jar from the heat. Stir in the 2 tsp of peppermint oil.
4. Quickly (and carefully!) pour the hot mixture into your waiting containers. The mixture will begin to harden up almost immediately. Use caution - hot wax will burn your skin!
5. If the mixture begins to harden in the jar before you use all of it, simply place it back in the saucepan of hot water to melt again.
6. Allow the balm to set up for about an hour before using. Any leftover balm can stay in the mason jar, covered with a lid. Simply store in your cupboard. Next time you need to refill your balm containers, just reheat and pour!
Want a printable recipe? Click on the button to download and print a copy!
Presentation
I pour the mixture into 3 different containers:
1. Lip balm tubes
2. Round lip balm tins
3. Muffin tins, to make bars ( I pop them in the freezer for a few minutes and they come out of the muffin tins easy as pie). The lotions bars fit nicely into the round tins as well, but can be removed and rubbed over the whole body, like a bar of soap.
You could have all sorts of fun giving this lotion/balm as gifts. The options for molds and containers are endless. If you are crafty like a fox, I'm sure you could figure out some way to decoupage some pretty fabric or paper onto the container. Get wild and crazy.
Enjoy the recipe and let me know how you like it! I love to hear your comments!
-Lori