Lotion Bars, Belly Balms

Since I've found myself a little low on my belly balm, I thought I would go ahead a few recipes. I find that I like using the oils themselves without adding the water/aloe vera to make an emulsion, especially in the winter when my skin is so dry. At first, I didn't like how the oil just sat on my skin for so long and felt heavy, but now I like it quite well cause my skin isn't dry any longer and washing my hands so often, I don't have to use a lotion every time.

A basic Belly Balm/Lotion Bar

2 oz Coconut Oil
1 oz Cocoa Butter
1 oz Sweet Almond Oil

Weigh all the oils and put into a heat safe bowl or container. I use a measuring cup and put it into a water bath. You can use a double boiler, which is the better way. Microwave if you want, but you have a greater chance to overheat the oils, which you don't want. I only melt the oils until there are small chunks of the cocoa butter left. The warm oils should melt the remaining chunks, you can always put it back on for a few minutes. Cocoa Butter has a tendancy to crystalize, so I melt low and slow. If you wanted to add fragrance oils or essential oils now is the time. I like my lotion unscented. Pour into a container.

The one I've been using has beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, olive oil, sweet almond, jojoba, some borage oil and vitamin E oil with a touch of Allantoin powder for healing. Couldn't really tell you the proportions cause I change it every time. I basically make it like a lip balm percentage. I like my lotion bar/belly balm not stiff enough to mold, which is why I pour into containers, so I add more liquid oils or cut down on the stiff oils. This is my preference and I like to experiment. Too bad I'm not too good at taking notes.