I'm going to show step-by-step instructions for how to make a beeswax body butter, and you can use this same method for making a solid perfume and lip balm.
Beeswax is the star of the show in all three beauty recipes and it's easier than baking a cake.
Before you start: Choose cute containers
Start by finding the right container to pour these marvelous little potions into. You can order fancy containers online or take time to hunt down some interesting containers at thrift stores. But consider what you might already have on hand — recycled baby food jars, tiny mint tin or candy tins, sample glass for jam or honey or empty skin care jars. If you look around you'll be amazed at how many cool little containers you'll find. Here's what I've collected with just a quick rummage through the house.
Short Mason jars, wide-mouth condiment jars, short pickle jars, fancy little mustard jars or larger mint tins are nice for the body butter. I prefer glass or tin but plastic will work if you wait until the ingredients cool slightly before pouring, so you don't melt the container. Don't forget to make one smaller body butter for your purse.
Beeswax body butter recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/8 cup palm oil
- 1/8 cup cocoa butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2-1/2 ounces beeswax
- 1/2 teaspoon essential oil (see notes below)
- 1/2 teaspoon or 1 gel tablet vitamin E oil
Directions:
I used lavender essential oil because I love its soothing and calming properties, but depending on my mood, I've also used sweet orange, lemon, almond or peppermint oil. Every oil has its own beneficial properties, which you can research to help you decide which to use.
- Tea tree oil is healing for burns, wounds and infections.
- Citronella is a great insect repellent.
- Eucalyptus would help with congestion or headaches.
- Chamomile is good for PMS. Can I get an amen?
- Calendula is great for diaper rash and dry skin.
and the list is endless…
There are any number of sources on the internet to buy the beeswax, palm oil and cocoa butter but you can also get them at any natural food store, such as Whole Foods or even Trader Joe's. If you don't happen to have a beeswax factory in your backyard like I do, just buy a small 100 percent beeswax candle. You may even be lucky enough to score one at the dollar store.
So let's get cookin!
1. Create a double boiler out of a pan filled with water and a Mason jar.
2. Start heating the ingredients.
Put all ingredients except the essential oil and vitamin E into the Mason jar and heat on medium until melted. I melted my beeswax in a separate container since it had some "bee particles" in it from my hives, which I wanted to strain out. If you're using purchased beeswax, that's already been done for you.
3. Remove mixture from heat and add the remaining ingredients.
Once everything is nicely melted, remove from heat and add the essential oil and vitamin E oil. Pour into your container and you're done. Let it cool. Seriously was that not the easiest thing ever?
And this is the point where you're probably asking yourself, "Why didn't I try this sooner?"
While you're pondering that question and letting your fabulous new lotion cool, try the lip balm and perfume recipes. You can use the same Mason jar if you want — no need to rinse.
Lip balm recipe made from beeswax
Ingredients:
- 4 ounces beeswax
- 7 ounces coconut oil
- 1-1/2 tablespoons essential oil (I used lemongrass but refer to above for ideas)
Directions:
Melt all ingredients and pour into containers. Dunzo! Now we're on a roll...
Beeswax solid perfume recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons beeswax
- 2 tablespoons jojoba oil (got mine at Trader Joe's) or olive oil or coconut oil. Basically you just need a "carrier" oil to carry all the good smelling stuff.
- 30 drops of each of 3 essential oils of choice. If using 2 oils, you can do 45 drops of each.
For this recipe it's all about the scent. I stood in the essential oil aisle at my local natural food store and opened several tester vials and smelled different combinations together. Then I decided based on how they made me feel. Weird I know…but it worked and I found my happy place.
I ended up with gardenia, jasmine and lavender because they all made me really cheerful. They also smelled really yummy together.
Directions:
Heat the beeswax and jojoba oil together in the double boiler. Once melted remove from heat and add essential oils. Pour immediately into your tins or jars. It should be set within five minutes! Rub a little on your neck and wrists and now you're ready to conquer the world! Cheerfully and calmly...
How to make the shown labels
Now all you need to do is add a pretty label and you have some really amazing skin care products that also make really cool gifts. If making in big batches, simply double or triple the ingredients and use bigger jars or a glass bowl to heat in.
I made my cute little labels in a Word document using text boxes and fancy fonts. Then I printed them on sticker paper and cut them out with scissors. Like icing on a cake.
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