The Most Beautiful DIY Rose Lotion Bars You Can Make [Recipe + Labels]

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Today, I am excited to share with you a recipe for a heavenly rose-scented lotion bar that will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and nourished.

Lotion bars are an amazing alternative to traditional lotions and creams as they are solid at room temperature, making them easy to use and perfect for travel.

They provide a protective barrier for the skin, locking in moisture, without leaving any greasy residue. This recipe is made with all-natural ingredients and is free of harsh chemicals and preservatives.

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS DIY ROSE LOTION BAR

♥ Moisturizing and packed with skin healing properties.

♥ Simple to make. Suitable for total beginners.

♥ These bars have a long shelf life. 

♥ The lotion bars look beautiful, perfect for self-care and also make great gifts.

♥ Suitable for sensitive skin.

♥ Being homemade, you know they are free of harmful chemicals and unnecessary additives.

 

ROSE LOTION BAR RECIPE

This recipe makes 5 homemade lotion bars. Recipe is for 9 oz. (255 g) , each bar weighs approximately 1.7 oz. (50 g). 

 

Ingredients:

♥ 40% | 3.6 oz. | 102 g – Cocoa butter (deodorized)

♥ 30% | 2.7 oz. | 76.5 g – Jojoba Oil 

♥ 24% | 2.16 oz. | 61.2 g – White beeswax

♥ 5% | 0.45 oz. | 12.7 g – BTMS-50 (emulsifier)

♥ 0.5% | 0.045 oz. | 1.3 g (approx. 20 drops) – Vitamin E

♥ 0.5% | 0.045 oz. | 1.3 g (approx. 20 drops) – Rose Fragrance oil (or essential oils)

♥ Dried rose petals

♥ Pink mica powder

Other supplies:

♥ Silicone rose mold

♥ Heat resistant bowl or stainless steel double boiler pot for melting chocolate

 

COCOA BUTTER

Cocoa butter, derived from the cocoa bean, is a highly beneficial ingredient for skincare because of its unique fat composition.

High in stearic acid, it is a hard and occlusive butter that becomes brittle at room temperature but melts quickly at body temperature, allowing it to penetrate the skin easily.

Not only does it moisturize and soften the skin, but it also creates a protective barrier on the surface, preventing moisture loss and promoting hydration and elasticity. This makes it an effective ingredient in preventing stretch marks and providing relief for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Cocoa butter vs deodorized cocoa butter

Cocoa butter has a distinct, rich chocolate aroma that some people find appealing while others don’t. The scent is hard to mask with fragrance or essential oils, but cocoa scent goes very well with rose scent making it more sensual.

If you dislike cocoa butter scent or worry you might not like it, you can get deodorized cocoa butter. It has all the occlusive and moisturizing properties but only a mild scent.

JOJOBA OIL

Despite its name, jojoba oil is actually a wax ester that closely resembles the natural oils produced by our own skin. This makes it a universally beloved ingredient that is well-tolerated by all skin types.

Jojoba oil is also packed with antioxidants, such as vitamins A and E, and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential components of the skin’s barrier. These nutrients help to protect the skin from environmental damage and promote overall skin health.

Additionally, it has a light, non-greasy texture and is virtually scent-free. It is also non-comedogenic, meaning that it won’t clog your pores.

BEESWAX

Beeswax is the hardest ingredient in this recipe and it is what will keep the rose lotion solid. It’s a fantastic ingredient for skin in winter. It acts as a protectant to the skin and helps to shield the skin from harsh winter conditions, while its ability to seal in moisture is particularly beneficial for preventing dryness and irritation during the colder months.

When making this rose lotion bar recipe, I recommend using white beeswax to achieve a visually striking white lotion bar that can be colored pink with mica powder. Using yellow beeswax will result in darker bars, and when mixed with pink mica powder, it will result in a more orange hue.

My friend loved how these rose butter bars looked and asked for a vegan version. I made her some using Candelilla wax (plant-based wax alternative) which is dark yellow in color.

In the photo below you can see how my lotion bars came out. As you see they have a more yellow-orange color than pink. But still beautiful.

 

Substituting beeswax with Candelilla wax (vegan option)

If like my friend you prefer your lotion bars vegan or just want to make a rose lotion bar without beeswax, you can replace beeswax with Candelilla wax. Like I mentioned above, the roses will have a more yellow-orange hue as Candellila wax is yellow.

Candelilla wax is a lot harder than beeswax, so you will need to use less of it. I suggest to modify the recipe like so: 50% Cocoa butter, 30% Jojoba oil, 14% Candelilla wax, 5% BTMS-50, 0.5% Vitamin E, 0.5% fragrance.

BTMS-50

BTMS-50 is a popular and well-loved ingredient for hair conditioners and lotions. However, it can also be used in lotion bar recipes to create a luxurious, silky skin feel. It acts as a conditioning agent and helps to reduce greasiness while giving a unique feel to the product.

It is especially beneficial to use lotion bars with BTMS-50 after shower when the skin is damp, as it emulsifies oils on the skin making it creamy and leading to better absorption.

How to substitute BTMS-50

I highly recommend using BTMS-50 in your lotion bar. But if you cannot get your hands on it, simply replace it by adding equal amounts of cocoa butter and beeswax. So if the recipe calls for 12 g of BTMS-50, replace it with 6 g of cocoa butter and 6 g of beeswax.

VITAMIN E

I like to include Vitamin E oil in my oil-based formulations due to its powerful antioxidant and anti-aging properties.

It is well known for its ability to extend the shelf life of oils, allowing me to enjoy them for a longer period of time.

Additionally, it helps to protect the skin from environmental stressors and promotes a youthful appearance.

FRAGRANCE OILS OR ESSENTIAL OILS

To give your homemade lotion bar a beautiful scent, you need to add either fragrance oil or essential oils.

If you want your DIY lotion bars to be fully natural, then opt for essential oils. If you want a cheaper option opt – for a fragrance oil.

If you decided to go with a fragrance oil, I recommend this rose fragrance oil for a long-lasting floral rose scent. If you prefer a different floral scent, I recommend peony fragrance oil.

If you prefer essential oils, for rose scent I recommend getting a Rose absolute essential oil blend in jojoba oil. It is diluted in jojoba oil because rose essential oil is very expensive and strong on its own. 

Let’s get started and make our own homemade rose lotion bars!

Yield: 5 lotion bars

Rose Solid Lotion Bar Recipe

Print

Pamper your skin with these beautiful and nourishing homemade lotion bars. Perfect for soothing and softening dry winter skin, this rose lotion bar recipe is a must-try. Add a touch of romance with a rose-shaped mold and a fragrant rose essential oil or fragrance. Make it a special Valentine's Day or anniversary gift with included printable labels for easy gifting. Try the recipe now!

Cook Time 40 minutes

Additional Time 1 day

Total Time 1 day 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 40% | 3.6 oz | 102 g - Cocoa butter (deodorized)
• 30% | 2.7 oz | 76.5 g - Jojoba Oil 
• 24% | 2.16 oz | 61.2 g - White beeswax
• 5% | 0.45 oz | 12.7 g - BTMS-50 (emulsifier)
• 0.5% | 0.045 oz | 1.3 g (approx. 20 drops) - Vitamin E
• 0.5% | 0.045 oz | 1.3 g (approx. 20 drops) - Rose Fragrance oil (or essential oils)
• Dried rose petals
• Pink mica powder

Instructions

1. Melt beeswax, BTMS-50, and cocoa butter in a double boiler over low heat. Once the ingredients are fully melted, set a timer and continue to heat them for another 15 minutes. * A common mistake is to assume that butters and waxes are fully melted when we don’t see any solid parts in the pan. However, ingredients have invisible crystals that need to melt too. If removed from the heat too early, it will result in a grainy lotion bar. To ensure that ingredients are fully melted, wait till the oils are clear with no solid particles and then heat them for another 15 min. This is called “tempering” and is a practice used to make chocolate.
2. While you wait for everything to melt, prepare your silicone mold. Take a couple of dried rose petals, crush them between fingers and sprinkle over your mold cavities.
3. Once the ingredients are fully melted, stir in jojoba oil and continue heating until the mixture is clear and free of any cloudiness.
4. Remove the melted oils from the heat and allow it to cool for 3 minutes, continue to stir while it cools. Then add fragrance oil (or essential oils) and vitamin E and mix well.
5. Pour the mixture into the silicone mold. I filled 2 cavities.
6. Mix in a pinch of pink mica powder to the remaining mixture and stir well. Pour this into the remaining cavities in the silicone mold. This will create pink-colored rose lotion bars. Reheat briefly if oils start solidifying.
7. After pouring the mixture into the mold, immediately place the tray in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to set and become opaque. Then transfer it to the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
8. Remove from the fridge, allow to reach room temperature overnight. Then remove from trays. Your rose cocoa butter lotion bars are ready to use!

ROSE LOTION BAR LABELS

Want to gift your homemade lotion bars to a friend or family member?

Make them more presentable with a free rose lotion bar label. I’ve packed mine in small cellophane bags and attached the label with a twine.

The size of each label is 2.3 in (6 cm).

You can print your free lotion bar labels here:

>>> ROSE LOTION BAR LABELS <<<

FAQ

HOW DO LOTION BARS WORK?

Lotion bars are solid moisturizers that typically consist of a combination of butters, oils, and waxes. They work by providing hydration to the skin through the ingredients they contain.

When applied to the skin, the body heat melts the bar, allowing the oils and butters to be absorbed by the skin, providing hydration and nourishment.

Lotion bars can be used all over the body, including areas that are prone to dryness, such as elbows, heels, and hands.

HOW DO YOU USE A LOTION BAR?

Using a lotion bar is easy and convenient. To use, hold the bar in the palm of your hand and allow your body heat to melt the bar slightly. Then, rub the bar onto the skin, focusing on areas that are prone to dryness such as elbows, heels, and hands. The bar will melt as you rub it on your skin, allowing the oils and butters to be absorbed, providing hydration and nourishment. Once you have applied the lotion bar, you can massage the remaining oils and butters into your skin.

Lotion bar can be used both, on a dry skin or on a slightly damp skin after the shower.

SHELF LIFE & STORAGE OF A LOTION BAR

The shelf life of your homemade rose lotion bar will depend on the shelf life of the ingredients used.

For example, if your cocoa butter expires in 1 year, beeswax in 2 years and jojoba oil in 9 months, then the shelf life of your butter bars is 9 months. That said, all ingredients in my recipe have a long shelf life, so if all your ingredients are freshly bought, your bars should last you for at least 1 year.

To extend the shelf life, store your lotion bars in a dry, cool place, away from the sun and moisture.