DIY lotion bars...

diy


Today I want to share with you some easy DIY lotion bars that are great for taking on the go and keeping hands, nails and cuticles soft and supple this winter.  I love these because I can customize them with whatever oils and additives I want to and since they're not liquid they travel super well and no worries about leaking! Plus they're all natural which means no gross chemicals on my hands. Super important for me right now especially since I'm pregnant! These are dead easy to make and just a little bit goes a LONG way.  So what do you need to make your own? Besides about thirty minutes of your time you'll need the following:

Equal amounts of a butter (I'm using Shea Butter in mine but you can use cocoa, mango or whatever you like), beeswax ( I prefer the pellets but again you can choose the bars or flakes if you like), and an oil of your choice (I LOVE using avocado oil for these but I chose olive this time).  If you like you can add scents or other fun additives. I chose to add some essential oils* and some coffee grounds and cinnamon to mine but that's totally optional.  You'll also need a double boiler OR a small pan and a GLASS measuring cup as well as some silicon molds.  You can pick up molds super cheap at IKEA or your local dollar store sometimes. I use silicon ice cube trays ;) 

From there it's super easy.   Measure out your ingredients. For this batch I used 1oz each beeswax pellets, shea butter, and olive oil.  Melt them in your double burner over a low heat OR you can put them in a glass measuring cup in a pot of water. Keep the heat low so that you don't overheat it or burn anything. Once it's all melted you can remove from the heat and add essential oils or fragrance.  Add your additional additives like cinnamon, dried flowers, coffee grounds, or whatever you like to the molds BEFORE you add the melted mix. Stir in the oils or fragrance, pour into molds and refrigerate for about an hour. Then pop them out and you're done! Easy peasy.  I store my extras in the fridge and pop one in my purse for on the go! Just be sure to pop it in a little metal container or wrap in plastic so it doesn't get all over your other items!

*When using essential oils PLEASE be mindful of the amount you use and the safety concerns that accompany each oil.  Lavender, Helichrysum, and Copaiba would be wonderful picks for nails. I used Coffee, Cocoa and Vanilla essential oils in mine and added 10 drops of each oil to the oil mix to keep the dilution safe for regular use. :)

Did you know...

did you know
...you should never clip your nails by putting the clippers at the center of your nail bed?  When you put the clippers at the center of your nail, you're putting unnecessary stress on the apex (stress point) of your nail and you can actually cause your nail to crack down the center! Ouch!  When clipping, always use several short clips, moving side to side.  And never peel off a nail which is "mostly" clipped or you'll risk a serious hangnail!  Which clippers are right for you? Let's take a look:

For fingernails, a standard, curved pair of clippers is all you need.  Don't be tempted by fancy slanted clippers or or "one click" clippers.  You should also avoid nail scissors as these weaken the structure of the nail and are difficult to use properly. If you prefer, you may opt for a pair with a rubberized coating for better grip but remember, clippers are only good for six months to a year. Just like scissors or knives, they get too dull after awhile and need to be replaced.  

For toenails you're going to have two acceptable options.  Both are standard clippers but you'll notice one has a straight cutting edge where the other has a curved cutting edge.  Either is fine for clipping, I prefer the straight edge since it's easier to slide under the nail.  Remember when cutting toenails that they should always be clipped straight across and with slightly rounded (think DULL not actual round) edges.  This is the best way to prevent in-growns.  Again, you can opt for rubberized clippers for better grip.  How often should you clip toe nails? This varies from person to person but the safest and most acceptable length is just to the end of your toe or slightly below.  Too short and you'll risk infections, too long and you can actually damage the nail, the matrix, OR your entire foot!  Yikes! 

Thanks for following!!


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