It wasn’t long after my dad started his beekeeping hobby that I began to demand honey, pollen, and beeswax.

But for a good reason: so I could start experimenting with homemade products, including (but not limited to) lotion, lip scrub, and candles.

You can sense his hard work (and irritation with me in this photo – sorry Dad!), especially since I’ve rejected the suburban way of life to live my car-free, vegetarian, urban life. But I still ask for his bee products – as well as crops from the Long-Hancher CSA since our Dads reap huge veggie bounties (and are now BFF, too)!

Since only one of these experiments has consistently worked well (and is more interesting than lip scrub), I decided to share my lotion recipe and process. Because the internet loves Pinterest fails.

But mostly because the level of ease and satisfaction of this are inversely proportional, and that’s the best recipe.

DIY Beeswax Lotion Recipe

Here’s what you’ll need:

Supplies

• Bees! (and in the absence of bees, ~1/2 TBSP unpacked beeswax)
• 2 heaping scoops of Shea Butter (~1-2 cups)
• 1 scoop Coconut Oil (~1/2c)
• Quick pour of Grapeseed Oil (~1/4c)
• Splash of Vitamin E oil (~1/2tsp)
• Essential oils. Most recipes call for 20 drops, but unless it’s peppermint, I find them all to be dull and go overboard here when possible)
• Double boiler (google results here or get a saucepan and heat-resistant mixing bowl)
• Cute container (obviously.)

Method

1. In your new homemade double boiler, melt the beeswax, shea butter, & coconut oil (med-high heat), occasionally mixing (if needed) to break up the shea butter.

Note: They melt at different temperatures, so don’t be surprised if there are chunks of shea butter in your otherwise lovely oil.

2. Once everything melts, transfer the mixing bowl to a countertop (and use an oven mitt or something to protect your counters) and let the mixture come to room temperature, for about 20-30 minutes. As it cools, add in the grapeseed oil, vitamin E oil, and go nuts with dashes of essential oils.

3. Put mixing bowl with your oils into the fridge for 60-120 minutes until it congeals (hint: color goes from cloudy to opaque).

4. In the mixing bowl, whisk the lotion for 2-4 minutes until you have mixed up any remaining chunks as well as get the desired consistency.

Note: this will be slightly more liquid than the final lotion.

5. Transfer to a fancy container (with an air-tight lid if possible).

Add a handwritten note and some twine so you’ll look like a professional!

I’ve played around with different consistencies, and all you have to do is alter the shea butter amount to make the lotion firmer or more creamy, depending on your preference. Enjoy that baby smooth skin!

Enjoy that baby smooth skin!

Readers, do you have any DIY beeswax tips? Tell us in the comments.

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Lauren P. Long, CFP® is a Director of Wealth Advisory for Threshold Group, a multi-family wealth management office with a focus on Impact Investing. She frequently volunteers as a mentor, team leader, and to further social impact. View all posts by Lauren Long