How to Make Cocoa Butter Body Bars

Natural body bars

Cocoa butter is fat that has been removed from cocoa beans. This natural moisturizer has been used for hundreds of years to keep skin feeling moist and smooth. Cocoa butter melts at body temperature, so it is easily absorbed into the skin. You can make your own cocoa butter body bars with a few ingredients and these simple instructions. Make gifts for your friends, or keep the benefits of these nourishing bars to yourself.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup cocoa butter 1 cup shea butter 1 cup sweet almond oil 2 cups beeswax pellets 1/2 cup jojoba oil 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 tsp. essential oil Double boiler Soap molds Storage container

Instructions

1. Mix together the cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil and beeswax pellets in the top of a double boiler. Add water to the bottom portion of the boiler. Place the pan with the butter mixture on top of the base pan and heat on medium while stirring until the butter mixture melts together. Make sure all of the beeswax pellets have melted. Remove the double boiler from the heat and let the butter mixture cool for 2 minutes.

2. Stir in the jojoba oil and the coconut oil until they are blended with the butter mixture. Stir slowly to allow the oils to fully meld with the butters and beeswax.

3. Add whatever essential oil you prefer, but the fragrance should work well together with coconut, since this is the prevalent fragrance of the butter and oil mixture. Lavender, jasmine or vanilla essential oils create a pleasant aroma when blended in your cocoa butter body bars. You can also choose not to add essential oils if you prefer the light scent of coconut.

4. Pour the mixture into soap molds while it is warm. You do not want your body bars to set up in your boiler pan. If you do not have soap molds, use a baking pan and cut the bars into squares as they begin to harden.

5. Let the body bars cool completely before you wrap them as gifts or seal them for personal use. You can store them in the freezer or in a cool room until you need them. The bars will warm as you hold them in your hands.

Tips & Warnings

• Find soap-making molds, oils and supplies at aromatherapy retailers online (see Resources).

• Beeswax pellets may combust if placed in a microwave or over direct heat.

Resources

• Soaper Supplies