At long last I have figured out an easy beeswax lotion recipe! This has been months in the making, months to think about and months to come up with something easy and worth making over and over again. After using my original easy handmade lotion recipe for three years now and having posted it for all to see, I have received many comments on if you can make the lotion with beeswax. Well, you can, but it’s sort of tricky to do, requires a different set of instructions and I wasn’t thrilled with the result. So I started researching beeswax lotions, all the ones I found either resulted in an almost solid cream or required a dozen different ingredients. Some even called for adding borax to the mix, yuck! I wanted an easy beeswax lotion recipe. It became apparent that I’d have to invent a recipe of my own.
My requirements were, well, that it be easy, that it result in a lotion that you’d want to make again, that it would feel good on the skin and that didn’t require the oils to be mixed with water. Over the years of collecting comments on my original lotion recipe, a couple of people have commented that mixing oils with water results in a lotion with a short shelf life. While I haven’t had a problem with my lotion going bad, at least visibly, I wanted to give you a water free lotion option that was truly all natural.
It became painfully apparent that the ease of clean up after making this beeswax lotion be just as important as the final quality of the lotion. I say this because the first beeswax lotion recipe I read and tried required blending the lotion in a blender. If you’ve ever blended melted beeswax and then gone to clean it up after you’ve fed and changed the screaming baby, you know how terribly awful it is to clean up. It’s almost easier to throw out the blender and buy a new one. I couldn’t in good consciousness, advise you to blend any sort of beeswax lotion, as you’d surely be cursing my name for years to come. This lotion recipe can be mixed, melted, cooled, stirred, and stored all in the same container. Very convenient!
The final lotion consistency is lovely. It’s smooth and has just the right thickness. I keep the jar on my countertop and scoop it out with my fingers, however if you reduce the amount of beeswax by a few tablespoons it will loosen the lotion enough to put into a pump bottle. If you’ve made my other lotion recipe before, you’ll notice that this beeswax lotion is slightly oiler on the skin, but that is to be expected since all the ingredients are either oil or wax. It’s so good for your skin though and the oil dissipates quickly. I even have been using this as a morning facial moisturizer with good results.
Because there isn’t any water in this recipe, it should hold up for quite some time, but for added measure I mixed in some Vitamin E drops for an added preservative. You can get creative with the oil too. Instead of olive oil, try jojoba oil, or almond oil or grape seed oil. Or try a mixture of oils. Coconut oil is so good for the skin. And I used the pastilles version of beeswax from Mountain Rose Herbs as it melts faster.
I think you are going to love this lotion, but let me know what you think, honestly. I’d love to hear of your results.
How to Make an Easy Beeswax Lotion
1 c. olive oil
1/2 c. coconut oil
1/2 c. or beeswax (I prefer the pastilles for easy melting, if using solid beeswax use 2 oz.)
1/2 t. Vitamin E oil (or about 5 capsules cut open and squeezed out) (optional)
20 drops (approximately) essential oil (optional)
Combine olive oil, coconut oil and beeswax pastilles into a pint sized canning jar. Put this jar into a saucepan and fill the saucepan with water until it comes 3/4 of the way up the canning jar, being careful not to get water into the oil mixture. Put on the stove over medium/low heat. Heat and stir occasionally until melted. Let cool to room temperature either by leaving out or quicken the process by putting into the refrigerator. During the cooling process, put a fork into the jar and stir vigorously every 15 minutes or so. Once at room temperature, add in the Vitamin E and essential oil. That’s it. You have lotion!
For free beeswax lotion labels, click here!
My granddaughter and I will be trying this very very soon…I love coconut oil and I think the balance of ingredients you have here will give my skin some great nutrition….our lavender oil from the hillside will drop right in there and create pure bliss!
Do you extract your own lavender oil? If so, how do you do it?
Thanks!
Spending so many hours in the sun and wind now I’m working on the farm (or it could just be ageing) my skin is so dry and brittle. I think I will give it a go! Thanks for all your hard work.
I already make a beeswax and oil cream that I find quite easy. I never thought to make it in the very container you are going to keep it in! How perfectly simple!!! Thanks for a great tip.
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Very Cool! I’ll be giving this recipe a try this weekend. I’m a massage therapist, 54 years old, a late starter. Most of my clientelle are my age and older. Many of my clients, a bit apologetic, comment on the dryness of their skin. I have thought many times over, how I could come up with a healthy, nutritious cream for them to use on a daily basis, and especially over the winter. This just might be the silver bullet. I’m excited. Thanks!
Do you know how many ounces this recipe yields. Thanks so much for posting, I’ve been experimenting with the same thing.
And sorry for the missing question mark.
I’m wondering too if I could add a bit of honey to it. I’ve been on the hunt for lotions/creams that contain bee products. Royal Jelly is too illusive, most of it comes from China, and the RJ is compromised in quality once it makes it to the US. So, I’ve been scheming with the other bee products. If I add honey, I just don’t want the lotion to leave a sticky residue on the skin.
You can also try propolis which is really awesome and won’t be sticky.
I made body lotions with honey and milk and it wasn’t sticky at all… so I would say go for it!
A lot of soaping companies sell honey powder, which doesn’t leave a sticky residue, but gives you the benefits of natural honey! I put a bit of honey powder in my mineral make up collection, and have had no problems with stickiness.
I’ve been wanting to make something like this! So thrilled to see this recipe. Can’t wait to try it. Love that I have all the ingredients on hand.
I am a new beekeeper who has been looking for a lotion recipe that I can use some bee’s wax in. This looks perfect! Would you have any idea of the weight of the 1/2c of beeswax that you used?
Thank-you so much!
Heather, I don’t have the weight handy, but I’ll weigh it when I get the chance.
Hi! I was also wondering if you could tell me the weight of the 1/2 cup beeswax. I purchase my beewax from a local beekeeper and they give it to me in 1 pound blocks. Thanks!
I grated a 1 oz. bar of beeswax with a cheese grater and it gave me just about 1/2 cup! I also mashed it down a little to compensate for the extra air. It’s not exact but hopefully it will give someone a starting point.
1/2 a cup is equal to 4 oz.
A 1/2 cup of beeswax is not equal to 4oz.
However, I found that if I freeze my beeswax for a few hours then put n inside a couple layers of plastic bags, then smash it with a hammer, that it breaks down into much easier to manage chunks and pieces. Then I took them and squeezed them into the 1/2 cup.
Hope this works for other people!
Four fluid ounces are in a half-cup, but a half cup does not weigh four ounces.
Actually, I believe it is. “A pint’s a pound the world around”… meaning 16 oz in a pint = 1 pound.
This is so freaking awesome! I used almond oil instead of olive and I put a little cocoa butter in it and it came out fabulous!!
Brittney, so glad to hear it! I love that.. ‘freaking awesome!’
)
I also add 1 to 2 ounces of shea butter to mine…I have yet to try anything with cocoa butter…i might have to try though…thanks for the tip
I tried it! Since I didn’t have quite enough beeswax, I added cocoa butter and shea butter to fill the measuring cup. I only made 1/2 a batch and poured them into 1/4-pint mason jars. Filled 2 very nicely. My cream goes on greasy; I had to wipe my hands with a towel after a few minutes to get rid of the extra grease. BUT, hours later, my hands are tremendously soft! Way nicer than store bought cream.
Great to hear Pamelyn! It is a little greasy but I think if you had had enough beeswax it would have been less greasy. Shea butter I know is somewhat oily feeling compared to beeswax. Glad to hear that your hands are so soft now!
I love your Beeswax Lotion! I have made it with the same amount of beeswax and also made it with 1/2 the amount. Both are great! One is a cream and the other a lotion that comes out well with a pump. I have given it to friends with eczema and for friends’ babies with rashes. I call it “Healing Balm”. But, I have a question: Does it ever have a gritty feel to it? (Like maybe the wax hardened into little balls.) Thanks! Chris
(I’m not sure I put this comment in the right place! Sorry!)
Chris, every once in a while, when I am putting it on, I find some balls of something, but they always rub in well..
Can’t wait to try this recipe. I’ve wanted to make your lotion for a while now, but haven’t ordered the emulsifying wax. Now it looks like I won’t have to! I tried your lip balm recipe and LOVE it! Thanks for sharing all you do!
Made this today and I think it will be a favorite. In fact, I plan on looking for attractive 1/2 pint jars and giving it as Christmas gifts. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent, thanks, i am going to try it! I just spent the day showing one of my Indian (from India) relatives how to make her own lotion, healing balm and lip balm. Reading on your site started all my potion madness…I love it. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve got a bunch of beeswax from a wild bees nest that had to be removed from someones attic – they only realised they had the nest when honey started dripping through the light fittings! it is clean wax, except its all mashed up and mixed with honey residue. can i use this? im desperate to find a use for it!
Penelope,
You can use that wax as honey is also very good for your skin, nourishing and softening. I’m thinking you may have to add extra wax to compensate for the honey, depending on how honey saturated it is. Also as an fyi, you can separate the two by just melting them in a double boiler – I believe the wax goes to the bottom and the honey floats on top, but it could be the other way…never can remember!
Regards,
Denise
Hey Carol, thank you so much for this post, I was fiddleling around with beeswax and could’nt get it right. now it worked perfectly! I posted the recipe om my blog in Dutch with credits and link to you ofcourse
thanks for sharing!
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Out of curiousity, have you figured out about how much it costs pint like you did with the other lotion?
*per* pint…oops:)
i am so psyched to try this. i LOVE your other recipe, with one exception: on my body it’s fab, but it seems to dry out my hands a bit. I’ve only made two jars of it thus far and have been trying diff oils each time, but someone thought maybe the emulsifying wax was causing the issue. so, next time our co-op does a MRH order, I’ll be getting these ingreds. Thanks!
I have been following your blog for a while and have tried a few of your recipes. I have to tell you they are fantastic!! My skin gets a lot of sun and wind exposure and I want to avoid looking like a leather couch. Your creations have inspired me to try make many more of my own cosmetics. Just wanted to tell you to keep up the good work. If you want to see why I would get so much sun and wind check out my blog http://www.mostlybymotorcycle.com
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I love your recipe but I have been using cocoa butter and olive oil in equal parts as a lotion for my daughter. But I was wondering what I could use as an emulsifier? Without buying an emulsifying wax? We need a really thick cream for dry skin and eczema.
I use beeswax and coconut oil 3:1 ratio, (3oz oil to 1oz wax) as a chapstick in a tube and it doesn’t need emulsifying wax at all because there is no water in the recipe. The lotion recipe above is 6:1 ratio and doesn’t have water, so you don’t need emulsifying wax. The emulsifying wax is what makes water and oil blend and not seperate.
Really good recipe…My husband has DVT and is on anticoagulants, I have our organic diet (including what he absorbs) down to a science so I used corn oil instead of olive oil in his and all was fine. I added about a tblspn of aloe vera gel and a small squirt of local honey. For eo’s I used rosemary and a couple drops of lavender and made up the rest in a sandalwood fragrance. Instead of using a fork to stir, I just put the lid on it and shook it vigorously every 15 minutes.
This was my first go at it and it did not solidify at room temperature, or thicken to the consistency in your pic, but it’s thick and pourable so I was able to refill a recycled 4oz lotion bottle that has a flip top and this is working just perfect for him. I love it too as it leaves my hands and feet super soft. Its a little oily when applying, but it absorbs in the skin well. This is a keeper recipe for us.
My husband is going to stop by our organic market to see if they have emulsifying wax today so I can whip up your other hand lotion to compare which one we will like the most. Thanks so much (love your blog) and please stop by anytime for sewing tips and sewing tutorials or just to say hi.
Glad I stumbled upon your site..I made this lotion yesterday and loved it! I enjoy making my own products especially when the recipe is really easy to follow.
I used lavender oil and apricot oil instead of the olive oil. A little greasy at first, but once absorbed in my skin felt amazing and so soft.
I tried this and used a stick blender instead of the fork and substituted almond oil for the olive oil and I love it! Thanks so much for this recipe!
I just came across your website today, and was excited to finally see a Natural Lotion recipe made without water. I am definitely going to make this up this week, but I think I will try using Grapeseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, or Rice Bran Oil, as these three oils are lighter, and absorb into the skin pretty quick. Thank you for this recipe, and many blessings to you.
I made it with sunflower oil and didn’t like it as much…I just made up a batch with grapeseed oil that is in the fridge cooling down…I am hoping I like it since that oil is cheaper than olive oil
I just made this lotion and it’s extremely thick. I would call it a creme and not a lotion. I substituted oils and used a combination of olive, sunflower and grapeseed oils equals parts to make up 1 cup. I did this as sunflower and grapeseed oils are lighter hoping to make the lotion lighter. It’s still very thick and it’s quite greasy. I’d call this good for someone who has very dry, rough and tough hands. It doesn’t absorb into my skin. This would be a good lotion for a gardener, construction worker or a lawn care worker, farmer etc. But not for us ladies who work inside the home or in the office etc. I’m not saying it’s bad lotion it’s just not what I consider a lotion for me or my children. But for my husband yes he’s a lawncare worker. I wouldn’t make it again just not the type of lotion for me I want one that is absorbed into the skin and doesn’t sit on top of the skin all greasy and waxy feeling. Thank you.
I used the recipe as written and mine absorbs rather quickly. I haven’t had great luck with sunflower oil though–maybe that was the problem?
I made this and I found a new use for it. I didn’t put any fragrance in it. I use it on my wood cutting board and wood kitchen spoons. It works great!
Beeswax clean up is easy. Here’s how- Baking soda and dish detergent paste on a sponge. Or heat and wipe with a paper towel. I make all sorts of products and have a cleaing business. That’s what I use for soap scum, glue dust, etc. It sandblasts through like nothing other except for toxic chemicals that I won’t use. Thanks for your recipes!
Worked out just beautifully! Worked wonders on my eczema too! Thank you for the recipe:)
Kim – I’m so glad to hear it!!
Today I made my third batch of Hand lotion since June 2011. I gave so many little containers away and they all want more. I have experimented, starting with Olive oil, then Avocado oil, today I used Apricot oil. It says good for fine lines. I found the Avocado oil great, not to oily. I hope the Apricot oil will be just as great. Since June I have not used any other face cream but the handlotion recipe and my skin feels good. Thank you so much for sharing all your recipes. My next try will definately include the bees wax cream. can’t wait!!!
How did you find the apricot oil? I’m thinking of making some this week.
You’ll have to tell us how the apricot oil works…. I’d love the added fine line reducing
I absolutely love this lotion recipe, but one day, I decided to do an experiment. Instead of using 1/2 cup of the coconut oil, I used 1/4 cup of coconut oil and 1/4 cup of Mango Butter, and instead of using the Olive Oil I used Avocado Oil. Then I added a bit of Mango fragrance oil, and it turned out wonderful. It smelled so good, and my hands feel so good. I am so glad that I found this recipe. It is totally awesome.
We have bees, so my bees wax is in chunks. I looked up the conversion of weight to volume here: http://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/weight-to-volume Four ounces of bees wax is equal to 0.498757 US cup measures or, in other words, a half cup.
Hi all and good morning to you all… I have a suggestion for those that are having to wipe their hands after applying the lotion. Add 2 tsp of cornstarch to the recipe when you add the Vit E oil and it will cut the greasy feeling and feel super silky. Enjoy!
Wow Wyld, I can’t wait to try your suggestions! Thanks!
Just made this last night- using the cornstarch (about 3 tsp)- worked great!! Thanks!
I made mine today and its very loose and greasy, but absorbs into my skin after a while. I like it though, but wish it was thicker. Is it too late for me to add the cornstarch since the lotion is already made?
tameka, you can remelt it and add the cornstarch. Add a tad more beeswax too to tighten it up.
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Now I know why so many recipes have Vitamin E, which is an allergen, so I think I can leave it out.
Here’s a trick for measuring a volume (cup, 1/2 cup, etc.) of any solid item, learned from my aunt. Say you want 1/2 cup of the solid and have a 2 cup measuring cup. Add 1 and 1/2 cups of water to the measuring cup, put in pieces of the solid and push them under water. When the water level reaches 2 cups when the pieces are under water, you have 1/2 cup of the solid.
Great job! Thanks!
I’m planning on making some pump bottles of this recipe for Christmas presents!
Thank you so much for the recipe.
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i am so incredibly grateful to you.
thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.
we tried this yesterday (using calendula oil) and my daughter, who has severe ezcema, LOVES it.
i just blogged about it – i am THAT excited!
This recipe looks great, but I have a quick question. Do you know of any substitutes for the coconut oil? I’m horribly allergic to coconuts (which makes finding any kind of bath/body products a nightmare). I’ve been making my own body products for a few years now but have yet to find a lotion recipe that I’m truly satisfied with. Thanks for the great post!
Try Palm Oil – it’s solid like the coconut oil and equally as good. Otherwise, just use another liquid oil and add the cornstarch from a suggestion above.
OH NO!!!! I just received my order of emulsifying wax to make more of the original lotion!! I would have loved to use this receipt instead after reading a little bit more about emulsifying wax!!! I am too frugal not to use up my new order before starting something new…but I can’t wait to get started!!!
Thank you so much for your post, it gave me the confidence to try something I have always wanted to do – and I’m really happy about the results! YAY! Check out my notes:
http://lifesjewelsonstring.blogspot.com/2011/11/hand-made-hand-cream-review-and-how-to.html
Thank you for the recipe! I make my own herbal salves for my massage office and I have been using candelilla wax because it is vegan. I also love to put castor oil in everything…it is so thick! For the wax, I use 1oz by weight per 1 cup by volume of oil.
i am so glad i found your blog!! we have bees, make our own candles and sell raw honey, have goats and chickens, and a big garden here in NY. i am definitely going to make this lotion as a christmas gift! thank you for the idea!
I’m going to give this as a Christmas gift! What is the shelf life?
I have had it last at least 3 and a half months…I have never had it go bad, but that’s the longest I have had it before it got used up
Thanks for your recipe. You made it so easy, mixing it all in the jar. I love it, and find that the oil feel dissipates quickly. I introduced it to my darling dil and she loves it too, she shared it on her blog and I plan to do the same. I used to make my lotions back in my teenage years haha–that was in the 70′s! Still have the books of potions, and a potpourri I made then!
Hi! I am new here and I want to thank you for posting this recipe (well, all of them!) I was making my own lotions, hand creams (I have dermatitis), facial wash, moisturizers and tonics, etc., back in the 90′s but I lost all of my recipes! I remembered the basic ingredients but not the proportions, and I have been searching for someone who uses them too! And you are the one!! All of my daughters are getting homemade creams/lotions this year for Christmas. I cant wait to get started again! Thank you!
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As I was skimming through the replies I noticed a few people talk about how much this recipe makes, but I didn’t read over any good answers (I was skimming
)
I’d like to try this out for Christmas for all the moms and grandmas in my family- it sounds splendid!!
Thanks again for your post.
I got roughly a pint of semi-solid cream ( I would describe it as a ‘butter’ or a cream, not a lotion)
I made this with grapeseed oil. It turned out incredibly greasy, and it does not absorb well at all. Feels like I took Crisco and rubbed it into my hands :/
It’s great for my elbows, knees and feet though. Very moisturizing, and great for tough dry skin. And who cares if your feet, knees and elbows are greasy? Foot cream is usually greasy anyways.
The greenish color of the grapeseed oil made the end result a light minty green, and it was perfect for making it a mint scented cream for Christmas.
Will definitely be using this as a gift for Christmas (with a homemade foot soak too!
), but will most certainly label it as foot cream, not a hand lotion.
Hi I thought this would be an awesome christmas gift this year. I followed the recipe, the first time I weighed the beeswax, then melted with the coconut and olive oil. (I couldn’t find the pastilles so I cut off 4 oz from a slab). The lotion set up more as a solid consistency, like a ‘butter’. hmmm.. so the second batch, I first melted the beeswax, and then added it as 4 oz VOLUME (as in 1/2 cup) to the other ingredients. Same result! I really wanted more of a lotion, as I had a lovely antique bottle I planned to use.. what am I doing wrong?
BTW, aside from the texture, the recipe is *awesome*. It reminds me of another cream made by a company that shall remain nameless, but rhymes with Kurt’s Knees! *wink-wink*
Catherine, you didn’t do anything wrong, this is a rather thick lotion. Too thick for a pump bottle, unless you want to reduce the amount of beeswax. My other hand lotion recipe might be great in your antique bottle though!
Thanks, think I will try that next…
i love this lotion
i have excema that seems to be caused by commercial skin products and i cant even moisturise with oil on its own as i still get itchy. this cream is the best thing i have ever tried for my skin. i am giving some to my mum to try for christmas.
I just tried this tonight. So simple to make! Thanks for posting.
Do you think I could substitute the olive oil for mineral oil??
Don’t know why you would want to. Mineral oil is a byproduct of crude oil extraction. So if you’re trying to make a healthy alternative for your skin, you would be defeating the purpose.
nice to have a ratio for a soft salve or butter.
but technically lotion needs water otherwise it is just oil/wax that sits on the skin. great for protection but does not absorb, as lotion does.
great photos!
I agree, I made both and they are terrific, but they do not hydrate, any ideas?
balm/salve is oil + wax = does not not hydrate, just protective
lotion is oil + water = hydrates
hth!
depending on the oil, it will absorb into the skin and hydrate. Adding water to anything only destroys shelf life.
You do not need to hydrate your skin. It is hydrated from within. The lotion described here is *perfect*, however as a protective and natural skin softening *barrier* to keep the hydration *within* where it belongs!
Great explaination! A lot (most even) consumers think the topical product is “moisturizing” their skin – because that is what marketing experts tell them. In reality, most topical products sit on top of the skin and don’t even absorb into the upper most layers. I’m having a terrible time with dry, itchy skin this winter — because I am not drinking enough water. I love my new balm (I don’t consider this to be a lotion) but it works best after a bath because my skin is rehydrated from the water which does absorb into the upper layers — then the balm keeps it there instead of allowing it to evaporate.
Yes, exactly what recently happened to me… I actually thought I was getting some sort of skin “condition”, and saw my doctor, who “prescribed” an extra 2 liters of water to drink daily! That plus using this lotion/balm has made an incredible difference! I love it, and it’s so very easy to make!
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Your recipe is awesome…. i made it today and really like it. I was just wondering what else i can do to make is a little more thicker. I’m really excited about making more and sharing with my friends & family.
Judy, glad to hear you like the lotion. To make it thicker, I’d add some more beeswax.
Thank you….that’s just what i did and it’s wonderful!!!!!!!! Wooohoooooo……i’m ready to get busy. Thanks again for such a great lotion. No more buying from the stores
I’ve made this recipe, but using half grape seed oil and half olive oil, a couple of times. My hubby works outside with his hands exposed to all weather, and I also put a large jar of this in his stocking.
I’m now making some for my Mom and my two sisters. I’m so glad I found this recipe. Easy and really rich! I’m a potter so my hands take a beating, and they need the moisture. Thanks!
I make home made body care products and I was very happy to find this recipe, I wanted a lotion recipe without the water. Am definetally going to be trying this! Thanks for doing the experimenting for me
I make a very basic moisturizer for my son who has eczema. Melt in a sauce pan over low heat 1 cup quality olive oil with one ounce quality bees wax. When completely melted pour in clean dry jars and use when cooled off. This simple recipe with only 2 ingredients has never irritated my sons skin even when having a bad out break. We have been using this for years as an alternative to the doctors recommending vaseline. I make large batches and have never had any go bad. For skin problems I think the key here is only two ingredients and quick and easy to make with long storage life.
I’ve made this one time so far and have distributed it to family and friends. I thought people would say it’s too oily, but the response about how healing this lotion is is more than I anticipated! I find that the people I know prefer using it specifically on excessively dry, chapped, or damaged skin, with noticeable healing effects almost immediately or within 24 hours. At the time I made it I only had about 2/3 of the amount of coconut oil needed, so I topped the cup off with unrefined sesame seed oil. I also only used half the olive oil and used almond oil for the other half. Finally, I dropped some sweet orange e.o. and clove e.o. for a gentle fragrance. People love this stuff! Thank you so much!
Just wanted to know which is better to use, essential oils, or fragrance oil when making lotions, or does it matter?? I find fragrance oils to be cheaper, but which do you think is better?
fragrance oils are cheap because they’re fake and synthetic and cause skin irritations and cancer. essential oils are pure and made from real life plants and oils.
Hi Judy, Fragrance oils are cheaper because they are totally synthetic. Not good for you at all, but a chemical fragrance. For anything you use on your skin you need essential oils (sometimes called pure oils) because they are extracted from plants and have nothing in them but the oil from the plant. Each plant has different properties, so helps with different conditions. Some essential oils can be dangerous as well so look into it well. Be especially careful if you are pregnant. I would recommend you buy or borrow a simple book about aromatherapy. It’s fantastic to use the amazing products that nature provides us.
Hey Linda!!!!! Thank you so much for the info…..I was leaning towards the essentials oils anyways so thank you for that. I will do be doing some research on aromatherapy.
Not all fragrance oils are synthetic.Some better companies offer essential oil blends and all natural fragrances.Vanilla is a great all natural choice.When you use essential oils be mindful of their medicinal properties.Rosemary is one I can think of right off hand. It is a blood thinner and in large amounts could affect people with high blood pressure.Also using essential oils while you are pregnant or nursing could be problematic.Be careful and of course have fun!
Hi, I have a question
can I add vanilla for scent or does it have to be an essential oil? Will it shorten the life span or will the alcohol damage the lotion?
thanx
Anna, I have no idea what would happen if you added vanilla! You can buy vanilla essential oil but it is very expensive. They put alcohol in store bought lotion, so I don’t think it would hurt…anyone else have any experience with this?
Thank you
I’m very exited to try your recipe. I’ll let you know how it goes.
I added grapefruit essential oil to my beeswax lotion, but all I can smell is beeswax… I added some more, but it was still the same. The mixture has also settled down to a greeny yellow and the oil doesn’t seem to dissipate at all when applied to the skin. What might have gone wrong? Is there any way I can get rid of the overpowering smell of beeswax?
Leanne, I recently added essential oil to my beeswax lotion, about 24 drops. I can still smell the beeswax, but it doesn’t overpower the oil. I like the smell of beeswax, so it doesn’t bother me. The lotion sometimes takes a few minutes to soak in, but I find it leaves my hands softer than other lotions.
I made your lotion pretty much exactly as you instructed (minus the Vitamin E) and absolutely love it! This is the best lotion I’ve ever used. I put it on my dry, scaly legs in the morning after my shower, and the skin was STILL soft and smooth when I went to bed at night!
I love your labels how do I make them myself?
Anna, I’m a designer by trade, I create the labels using Illustrator.
No wonder they are so beautiful
thank so much for sharing your trade. You don’t see that every day. And thank you for every thing on your site. It’s all amazing. I been downloading the free herbal course and e books. There’s so much to learn. I’m so excited 
Thanx again
My husband has been reading your blog and tonight made your lotion, and already loves it. Our 8 year old daughter has a dry, very itchy scalp. Can you recommend a home made recipe for that. She has very long hair and doesn’t want it to look greasy. I’ve read about heating up olive oil and applying that. Have you tried anything like that on your kids? Thanks,
Kristen
Napa, Ca
Hi Kristen, I’m glad to hear your husband loves the lotion! I wish I had a solution for your daughter’s scalp. I know a lot of other people suffer from that, but fortunately we don’t so I haven’t done much research on it. Good to hear from a local! Good luck on your search for a solution for her.
Thanks again for this recipe. It did actually work on my daughter’s scalp. My husband has severe psorisis and is loving this lotion. It really helps soothe his skin. We are making it using the wax from our own bees. (Hubby is a beekeeper). Another plus is that we really like the coconut scent.
I just read about how great shea butter is for hair and scalp. I use it it in my lip balms and lotion bars….so nourishing! Here is a link describing the benefits for hair and scalp.
http://www.dailyglow.com/articles/197/hair-care-treatments/shea-butter-for-hair-and-scalp.html
Hope it helps!
try adding tea tree oil. I had a very dry, itchy scalp and NOTHING I used worked. I put a few drops of tea tree oil into a travel sized body shop shampoo I had on hand (just to see if it would work) and after ONE use, my scalp was completely clear.
Kristen:
Try stop using shampoo. Check it out on the “net”. Alot of people are finding that shampoo is not necessary as it is stripping your hair of oil everytime you wash it. I am trying it out myself and so far so good. I have extremely dry skin all over and have had all my life.
I just made my first batch and it’s amazing!!!! Highly recommend it and now I have easy spur of the moment gifts too! Thanks so much!
I just wanted to say THANK YOU! I have tried and failed before this amazingly SIMPLE recipe!! It’s gorgeous, non greasy, absorbent, and silky smooth…I added lemon essential oil for that fresh pick me up smell.
xx
I absolutely ADORE this website…sooooo glad to have found you
I have enjoyed finding this site, the lovely recipe and all the comments!
My question is whether the coconut oil is the solid variety or have you used “fractionated” coconut oil? Fractionated is not solid at room temp. Has this been tried? I’m anxious to know for my own concoction! Thank you!
I’ve been using the solid coconut oil Laurie.
Well, that was not only an easy process, but with terrifically splendid results! I love this recipe (it truly feels luxurious on my skin!)and am looking forward to “tinkering” with the ingredients and essential oil combinations…thank you for sharing it with us!
I just finished making both this and the regular lotion recipes. The regular lotion recipe was seriously the easiest thing I’ve ever done! I hope it sets!!! The beeswax lotion is fantastic!!! Thanks so much for all your hard work
I am planning on making this in the morning…. do you think I can substitute shea butter for coconut oil? I live in a small town, and happen to have left over shea from another project, haven’t been able to find coconut oil locally yet….
What a great recipe!! I was wondering what the shelf like is?
~PA
How can I make the lotion more creamy?? I notice when i use the shea butter the lotion is harder and doesn’t feel much like lotion. Do I need to try a different oil. I find it to be the same with coconut oil & palm oil, but not as hard.
It’s pretty creamy when you use the ingredients listed. Both shea butter and palm oil harden when at room temperature which is then making your lotion harder.
Thank you so much for this recipe. It is similar to one I use for lip balm(which I also use as a cuticle cream
), so I know my skin will just love it! Next I want to try the lotion… 
Oh and…I was wondering about the ‘green mess’…or the ‘green colour’ that some folks mentioned. I think that has largely to do with the olive oil that you use. I may be wrong though…
Can anyone tell me what the self life of this lotion is? Does it need to be kept cool to preserve it?
I ordered the ingredients online and made this lotion after discovering your blog and this recipe!
Thank-you so much! It rocks!!!
I I work with polymer clays a lot and cook a lot and live in a dry climate and my hands were starting to take a beating.
This lotion is rich and hearty and exactly what my hands needed.
By the way, beeswax smells SO AMAZING. Like honey but not exactly. Glad I had an excuse to buy some!
Also, I love that this lotion is so…real. With ingredients I understand and can pronounce. It’s just lovely and I appreciate you sharing the recipe.
Oh, one note, I did sub in some almond oil for half the oilve oil.
Thanks again!!!
I’m so excited to try out this lotion! I’ve been looking at a few different ones and this one looks like a winner. I maining want to make some for my two girls (1 and 3) do you think this lotion is ok for little ones?
Anna, yes this lotion would be great for your little ones. I use it on my 1 year old daughter everyday!
Thank you! I’m so excited yo try it. Make some today
wish me luck!
I made your lotion and it is just lovely. I made it just as you said, adding 20 drops of lavender essential oil. The lavender combined with the scent of the coconut oil was very appealing. I also added 3 tsp of cornstarch, as one of your readers commented which cut the oiliness. It goes on a little greasy, but quickly soaks in and leaves your skin very silky. I made 7 containers and gave them to friends, who all raved about it. The only suggestion I would make is that you use an olive oil that is clear or yellow. The oil I used had a greenish color, so my lotion had that tint as well. Otherwise, it was fabulous. I also made your chapstick, which I also love. I really enjoy your blog and so look forward to your posts and photos!
I made a batch and really love it, but yes it is a bit greasy. I was thinking of adding a little bit of borax to the next batch, that should help it soak in.
thanks for sharing so freely!! Be Blessed!
Yikes! No borax! Try increasing the beeswax to 6 ounces (or 3/4 cup) and replacing the water with aloe gel (fresh or store-bought- organic, if you want). Borax is yucky. Most likely doing those two things would make the lotion less greasy [or hopefully not greasy,] but still here are some alternatives to borax… Organic Xanthan Gum [derived from corn] is an emulsifier and thickening agent you may be able to find in your grocery store, local health food store, or certainly online. Stearic acid is a natural substance used as a binding/ thickening agent, be certain you get the kind derived from vegetables. Lecithin [liquid or powder, organic] is derived from soy beans and is also an emulsifier and thickening agent, among other things.
Also, to the honey-adding person… you should be able to add a teaspoon of honey, with this particular recipe [up to 20 ounces], and have it turn out great. Another honey supplement would be to boil some [organic] honey chamomile tea or honey flavored tea that would blend well with the coconut oil, and use that INSTEAD of the water.
By the way, I love your site! It’s such great info!!! Keep ‘em coming!
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Wow! I am in love. I just made a half-batch of this as all I had was an 8 ounce jam jar, plus I didn’t want a huge amount and then possibly not love it. I was too impatient to order pastilles and my health food store had a block of beeswax, so I carefully shaved off bits of it and measured by weight. I used lemongrass essential oil, only about 8 drops since I already loved the smell of the lotion before the drops went in and didn’t want to cover it up entirely. Besides being wonderful natural ingredients, you hardly need any at all! I love the texture as well. I really can’t say enough about how happy I am that this is so easy and so lovely. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!
My lotion is cooling as I type this. I’ve been using it off of the fork, and I LOVE IT! Thank yoU!
I am waiting for mine to cool at the moment… I used bees wax, olive oil, mineral oil, castor oil, almond extract and ten 400 iu vitamin E capsules… I can’t wait to use it… My mom and aunts have used castor oil massaged over the joints to relieve aches for many years… I used olive oil when I was a teenager as a suntan oil… I have used mineral oil in lotions that were too thick to thin them down… I just love the smell of the almond extract… And I can never get too much vitamin E as dry as my skin is… I use a lot of lotion… Thanks for all of your hard work and sharing all of your creations with us!
I made this yesterday with ylang ylang and tangerine essential oils. Oh, my. Those fragrances combined with the subtle odor of the beeswax is downright decadent. And it was so easy! The lotion is a little oilier at first than I’m accustomed to, but absorbs quickly. This definitely goes into my “make again” file.
Thank you so much for this…I had a recipe where I had to use water and after a while it’s well lets just say yucky…
This is a great recipe, I can’t wait to try it! I have never made a lotion and I was scared of how fast water/oil lotions go rancid (4-6 weeks). Beeswax lotion, awesome! I would like to put it in a pump bottle and I was wondering exactly how much teaspoons I would take off of beeswax like you mentioned?
Also, without the lotion pump involved:
Just to double check, 1/2 cup beeswax is 2 oz?
So if I want to start with half a batch I would use 1 oz following your recipe?
Thanks so much!
Give it a try Stacey, with the 1oz of beeswax. I haven’t made it to go in a pump bottle before…should try that! Let me know how it goes.
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I substituted 1/4 c jojoba oil and 1/4 c avocado oil for 1/2 c of the olive oil and added 2 tsp arrowroot. At first I was disappointed because it still seemed way to oily. I have since discovered that I was using WAY too much! It only takes about a nickel-sized dab or less on each hand. My hands are so soft now! THANKS for sharing this and the chapstick recipe too!!!
I just extremely love this recipe. It is so wonderful, but once again, I wanted to experiment a little bit with it. So I made a batch with a few changes, and it came up being very light and non greasy. I used 7 oz. of Grapeseed Oil, 1 oz. of Jojoba Oil, 2 oz. Coconut Oil, 2 oz. of Mango Butter, 2 oz. of Cocoa Butter, and 2 oz. of Beeswax. I could not hardly wait for it to cool down to try it out, but when I did, I was very happy with the result. It felt very smooth and did not feel greasy at all. Like I said before I love this recipe.
I love your recipes and the lotion is amazing. I like this one better than the other. The only problem I have with it is that it is kind of oily and I wish the color was more white than yellow. Any suggestions?
I have also wanted to figure out how much the actual recipe makes because I want to now how to divide it. How much is there? thanks!
What would happen if I used all olive oil instead of adding the coconut oil?
I hate to cook so I have resisted putting my collection of essential oils to use in making cosmetics…but your beautiful website got me inspired! I didn’t want a lotion or cream that used water…so this recipe looks perfect. I did want to comment however on one thing you said in your post: “While I haven’t had a problem with my lotion going bad, at least visibly”. You cannot see strep, staph, MRSA or many viruses. By the time a cosmetic has gone bad enough to see the results — you have been spreading these potentially fatal bacteria all over your skin. Please take shelf life and safe preservation seriously, either when making your own or buying products from others. Fear of synthetic preservatives has created a climate where so many people think the real danger is in the preservative — in reality the REAL danger is in not formulating a product to have a safe shelf life, either by testing and adding an appropriate preservative in the lowest effective concentration or by formulating a product to be self-preserved (achieved a number of ways; pH, the use of essential oils, even glycerin); or refridgerating the product like any other item made with primarily food ingredients. But the only way to know for certain your product is safe, is to have the ingredients AND the finished product tested in a lab.
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I added a photo of my beeswax cream (mine really was more of a cream than a lotion). It turned out GREAT!
http://sueapitolikes.com/2012/homemade-beeswax-cream/
I was wondering what size of coconut oil I should use because the coconut oils at http://www.mountainroseherbs.com are larger portions than I need. I especially don’t want to spend $19.00 on something that I’m not going to use for 3 months. What should I do!
We get our coconut oil at Trader Joes or Whole Foods. We put some melted in the dogs food to help with winter itchy coat — he is so shiny! It is a jar no larger than a jar of peanut butter.
Gaby, I’ve bought coconut oil at Whole Foods before in small jars. Look for it there!
Hi Just starting out on making my own lotions, can you please forgive my ignorance and advise the measurements of the ingredients in english weights please Thankyou your web site is great
c is ????
t is ????
c = cup
t = teaspoon
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I made this recipe today using Apricot Oil instead of Olive oil and omitted the vitamin E. I also added 1 tsp. of cornstarch. This is the best lotion I’ve ever had!!! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe. I have been making my own lotions and creams for years, but wanted to get away from using water as it shortens the shelf life. This is absolutely perfect!
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Is there any way that I can ommit the coconut oil or instead of coconut oil use coconut flakes?
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Thank you for the awesome lotion recipe! I made this last night (with jojoba oil instead of olive oil) and it’s seriously the best lotion I’ve ever used in my life — perfect for a super-dry Colorado winter! I used patchouli and lemon essential oils, which are a very nice combination with the beeswax.
For the person above who wanted to know how much this makes — my guesstimate is 13 to 14 ounces. I filled three 4-ounce containers and had another ounce or two left.
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