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Let’s dive into crafting our very own dandelion lotion bars, a delightful way to harness the potential soothing properties of dandelions for our skin. These bars are not only a treat for dry, itchy, or inflamed skin but also a joy to make, blending the art of wildcrafting with the craft of natural skincare.

I’ve always been drawn to the simple wonders of nature, and dandelions are among my favorites. To many, they might just be weeds, but to me, they’re a key ingredient in my natural skincare recipes, like these dandelion lotion bars. As someone who loves to forage and embrace the principles of bioregional herbalism, using dandelions is a way to make the most of what’s right in my backyard.

These dandelion lotion bars are easy to love. They’re firm but melt softly on your skin, offering deep moisture with every use. This recipe is close to my heart, a way to bring the freshness of early spring into everyday self-care. It’s about taking something simple and overlooked and turning it into something truly special for your skin.

In this guide, I’m excited to walk you through how to make these dandelion lotion bars. It’s a straightforward, rewarding process that brings a bit of nature’s magic into your daily routine.

THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS AND THEIR BENEFITS

Making dandelion lotion bars is like mixing a potion of nature’s best. Each ingredient not only brings its unique properties but also harmonizes with the others to create something truly special for your skin. Here’s what you’ll need and why each ingredient matters:

Dandelion Infused Oil: The Star Player – Our foraged dandelions come into play here. Infusing these in a carrier oil, like sweet almond, olive, or coconut oil, extracts their skin-soothing properties. Dandelions are believed to be soothing for irritated skin and may support skin health.
Beeswax: The Binder – Beeswax doesn’t just hold our lotion bars together; it also adds a protective layer to your skin, helping to lock in moisture and the goodness of our other ingredients.
Shea or Cocoa Butter: The Moisturizer – Both shea and cocoa butter are fantastic for the skin. They’re rich, moisturizing, and can help with dry skin, making them a perfect addition to our lotion bars. They also give the bars a creamy texture that feels luxurious on the skin.
Essential Oils: The Scent – A few drops of your favorite essential oils can add a lovely fragrance to your lotion bars. Lavender or chamomile are great choices for their calming properties, but feel free to use what you love or leave them out for a more natural scent.

Foraging and Preparing Dandelion

First, embark on a little adventure to gather fresh dandelions. Look for these sunny treasures in your garden, yard, or a clean, unsprayed area. Remember, we want them away from places frequented by pets or heavy foot traffic. Once you’ve collected your dandelions, let them wilt for about 24 hours on a drying screen or towel. This step is crucial as it helps to reduce moisture without drying them out completely, which would cause them to turn into seed heads.

CRAFTING THE DANDELION INFUSED OIL

After your dandelions have sufficiently wilted, it’s time to create your infused oil.

Fill a jar halfway with the wilted flowers and cover them with a carrier oil of your choice. I find a blend of olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils works wonders, but feel free to use whatever combination you prefer. These oils are chosen for their skin-nourishing properties, making them perfect for our lotion bars.
Seal the jar and let it sit in a sunny spot for two weeks, shaking the jar gently every couple of days. You can read more about using the solar infusion method here: The Amazing Power of the Sun to Infuse Herbs
After two weeks, strain the dandelion flowers from the oil. Pour the oil through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean jar.

MAKING THE LOTION BARS

Now, for the exciting part – making the lotion bars! You’ll need:

1/2 cup of your dandelion infused oil
3 ounces of beeswax
4 ounces of shea butter or cocoa butter (your choice)
15-30 drops of essential oil (see suggestions below)

Combine the beeswax and infused oil in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can easily create one by placing a smaller pot or bowl over a larger pot with simmering water. Once the beeswax and oil are fully melted and combined, stir in the shea butter or cocoa butter and heat until it’s completely dissolved. Add 15-30 drops of your chosen essential oil and stir well to incorporate it evenly.

Then, pour the mixture into silicone molds of your choice. The silicone molds are great because they come in various fun designs and make it easy to pop out the lotion bars once they’re set.

Let the bars cool and solidify, which should take a few hours. Once they’re ready, gently remove them from the molds and store them in tins or any container you like. This recipe should yield about six 2-ounce lotion bars.

Suggestions For Essential Oils:

Here are some suggestions for essential oils to use, depending on your desired fragrance and perceived benefits:

Lavender: Relaxing and calming, good for all skin types.
Sweet orange: Uplifting and invigorating, good for all skin types.
Tea tree: Cleansing and purifying, good for oily or acne-prone skin. (Note: tea tree oil can be irritating to some people, so do a patch test on a small area of your skin before using it liberally.)
Peppermint: Invigorating and cooling, good for all skin types.
Chamomile: Soothing and calming, good for dry or sensitive skin.

USING YOUR DANDELION LOTION BARS

To use, simply glide the lotion bar over your skin wherever needed. They’re especially lovely when your skin is still warm from a bath or shower, allowing the bars to melt slightly and absorb into your skin, leaving it silky smooth and moisturized. These bars are compact, travel-friendly, and hold up well in warm weather.

Embrace the joy of creating these dandelion lotion bars, a beautiful way to connect with nature and care for your skin with the gifts it offers us. Enjoy the process and the product, knowing you’re nurturing your skin with something made by your own hands.

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