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Homemade beauty products almost always require melting beeswax and fat over a double boiler, so I avoid making them. Until the Instant Pot and its handy Keep Warm button. Could that work for melting fat and beeswax WITHOUT the double boiler? Keep reading to find out!

Instant Pot Hard Lotion Bars

Double boilers and I aren't friends. But then, the Instant Pot... It has this handy little button that says "Keep Warm" -- and it works for melting fat and beeswax WITHOUT the dreaded double boiler! I know I'll never make hard lotion bars without my Instant Pot again!

Course Household & Health
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 13 minutes
Total Time 18 minutes
Author Lindsey Dietz

Ingredients

  • 1 cup cacao butter grated
  • 1 cup beeswax pastilles pellets or grated
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil extra virgin
  • 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil optional
  • 20 drops essential oils choose skin-friendly such as cypress (optional)

Instructions

  1. Begin by grating the cacao butter and beeswax. Grate first, then measure into a 1-cup dry ingredient measuring cup.
  2. Press the "Keep Warm" button on the Instant Pot.
  3. Next, add grated cacao butter, grated beeswax, and olive oil to the Instant Pot.
  4. In 12 to 13 minutes, it's all melted!
  5. Transfer the melted oil/wax mixture to a glass cup with a pouring spout.
  6. Whisk in Vitamin E oil, if using.
  7. Then quickly whisk in 20 drops of essential oils, if using. (I used cypress, and its scent pairs beautifully with the chocolate-smelling cacao butter!)
  8. Pour into molds or a muffin tin.
  9. Set aside to harden or place into the fridge to speed up the hardening time.
  10. Pop out of the molds.
  11. Finally, wrap in parchment and tie with twine to give as a gift, or store in an airtight container.

Recipe Notes

  • I grated my cacao butter and beeswax first. This significantly cut down on the melting time — and my Salad Shooter made it a breeze! If you start with blocks of cacao butter and beeswax, your melt time will be significantly longer.
  • These bars smell and feel ah-mazing without any additional scents, so the use of essential oils is completely up to you. Should you decide to use essential oils, choose a skin-nourishing oil, such as ylang-ylang, cypress, lavender, sandalwood, or frankincense.
  • I chose cypress essential oil, and it pairs beautifully with the chocolate scent of cacao butter! Plus, it's a gender-neutral scent, so the male members of my family won't mind using these hard lotion bars!