Lotion bars are healthy for the skin and easy to use instead of regular lotion and this recipe for plantain, lavender and calendula lotion bar uses the best skin care herbs.
Skin Care Herbs
These three herbs were chosen for their exceptional skin care properties.
Plantain (Plantago major) also called white man’s footprint, grows everywhere. This amazing “weed” can handle many things. It takes the sting away from a sting or a bite almost instantly. It has drawing properties that help remove splinters and venom. It is an anti-inflammatory that helps with many different skin issues. FYI, this is not the banana looking thing you see in the supermarket.
Calendula. Also known as Pot Marigold, don’t confuse this with Tagetes spp, the plant most often known as marigold. This plant is easily grown from seed, in a container or a garden. This too is a wonderful herb for skin issues and infections. I love this with lavender for burns.
Lavender. Its skin healing properties include soothing for burns and bug bites. It is a powerful disinfectant and antibacterial, plus lavender’s calming and sedative scent cannot be beaten.
Related article: Eleven Herbs to Grow in a Skin Care Garden
I may receive a commission if you purchase something mentioned in this post.
Healing Oils
Coconut Oil is terrific for skin care and can solve plenty of skin issues. It can soothe bug bites, help with any rashes, get rid of flaky skin, easily remove any eye makeup, soften wrinkles, protect you from sun damage, and it can keep your tan in place for longer.
Coconut oil can heal the skin faster because it has medium chain fatty acids. It will quickly absorb into the skin where it will then be used for nutrition and energy. This process provides your skin with all the energy that it will need to heal and maintain itself.
Sunflower Oil is extremely high in vitamin E, which helps protect your skin cells from harmful UV rays that come from the sun and other environmental stressors. It also has emollient properties that help the skin retain its moisture.
Plantain, Lavender & Calendula Lotion Bar Recipe
Ingredients: Makes 3 small bars
- 1-ounce of lavender and calendula infused sunflower oil
- 1-ounce of coconut oil
- 1-ounce of beeswax pastilles
- 2 drops EO (optional)
Directions to make an herb-infused oil
Weight 1-ounce of unscented oil (almond, sunflower, apricot kernel) and pour it into a double boiler. Add 1 tablespoon each of dried lavender and calendula flowers. Heat on low until the oil just begins to simmer, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on it and simmer approximately 10 minutes.
Use a strainer to separate the oil from the herbs. Push out as much oil as possible and discard the herbs. If needed, add sunflower oil to bring the weight back to 1-ounce.
Prepare the molds
You have several options, depending on the batch size.
- Lightly grease a small loaf pan with the oil you used for infusing
- Use soap making or baking silicone molds
- Use cupcake paper and baking tins
Make the lotion bars
Add the herb-infused oil, coconut oil, and beeswax back into the double boiler and heat on low until the ingredients are completely melted. Add the essential oil if you are using it.
Pour the hot oils into the prepared molds and allow the bars to cool completely. You can place them in the refrigerator for faster cooling. Allow the bars to set for 12 to 24 hours before using.
After they are set, pop the bars out of the molds and wrap in paper. Place in a sealed container. Depending on the time of year and your climate, you can store the bars at room temperature or keep them in the refrigerator. Lotion bars will last for one year.
This recipe is inspired by the book The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Growing, Preserving, and Using Herbs by Amy K. Fewel.
I love her down to earth approach to using herbs around the homestead every day.
You don’t need two hundred different herbs in your garden for four different
ailments—you’ll never use them all. I’ll teach you what to grow in your garden and
which wild herbs to forage. And, when necessary, there are a lot of great options
from which you can outsource herbs instead of growing them yourself. Amy Fewel
- How to grow herbs and find wild herbs in nature.
- Drying and storing herbs, and then using them to make tinctures, teas, syrups, salves and beauty products.
- Using herbs in the home and barn for chickens and other animals.
- Cooking with herbs.
- The herbal medicine cabinet.
If you are looking for an overall herb book, one to give you ideas for growing, storing, and using herbs – this will be a welcome addition to your herbal library.
Note: I was given a digital copy of Amy’s book to review and try a recipe or two. I’ve used it as a reference many times in the past few months!
[…] Plantain, Lavender & Calendula Lotion Bars […]