It’s mosquito season again, which means it’s time to make a new DIY batch of buzz-off lotion bars!
I don’t know about the rest of the country, but around here it’s starting to get seriously hot and humid. That means the buzzing outdoor annoyances are coming out in full force. I spend a lot of my time outside in the garden or tending to the yard, so I really need something to help me stay pest free.
To keep myself free from those buzzing buggers, I made these lovely, natural (and KidSafe®) buzz-off lotion bars using Plant Therapy’s Shield Me Synergy.
DIY KidSafe Buzz-Off Lotion Bars
What you’ll need:
- 2.5 oz Beeswax
- 2.5 oz Shea Butter
- 2 oz Mango Butter
- 0.5 oz Almond Oil
- 4 drops Vitamin E
- 100 drops KidSafe Shield Me Synergy
What you’ll do:
Melt beeswax, butters, and almond oil together in a double boiler. Once melted, stir in your KidSafe Shield Me Synergy and vitamin E. Pour into mold and let dry.
Enjoy the outdoors, pest-free!
I loved this recipe! I chose cocoa butter instead of shea butter. If I made it again, I would reduce the cocoa butter for a softer lotion, but that’s my personal preference. I don’t own a double boiler, so I used a heat-safe bowl over a pot of hot water. We poured some into 2oz glass jars and some into ice cube and gelatin molds. 😉 They were a hit with the kids and it made enough that it lasted all summer plus some for us.
I also changed up the essential oils and made allergy lotion bars with Sneezy Stop, focus bars with Vetiver, etc.
Thank you for this, I will definitely be trying this, my four year old daughter is bug magnet, especially red ants! She loves her essential oil lotions at night and she is going to be so excited to try a lotion bar.
For use on adults would you increase the amount of EO? Also, would this work to pour into empty deodorant tubes? I want to have something to use while out where it won’t be on my hands.
Increasing the dilution is not needed. Yes, it would work in tubes. 🙂
I made these at the beginning of summer and they were great! My kids asked for the “bug bar” every time we went outside. The only thing I found was that they didn’t go on as smoothly as I would have liked. My husband used some on his sasquatch arms and the bar was handed back to me with fur!
Next time, use a little less beeswax or add some more liquid carrier oil. 🙂
This looks like a great substitute for traditional soap. Can’t wait to try it!
That’s great, Rachel! Hope you love it!
Yay! Thank you for this recipe! I can’t wait to make it.
Hope you love it, Kelly! Thanks for your comment!
When you say oz of the beeswax and butter do you mean weight or volume? And if volume, do you know the weight of those amounts? I’m not sure how to measure wax or butters by volume.
Beeswax, believe it or not, is measured the same both volume and weight. So 1oz weight is 1oz volume. But the butters are measured by weight, too. 🙂
I can’t wait to try this! I’m always looking for ways of naturally keeping the bugs away. I think putting it in a deodorant container would be the easiest way of storing and applying. I’m also wondering about switching up the butters and oils to use what I have on hand. Could fractionated coconut oil be substituted for almond oil?
Yes, you can substitute the carrier oil if you’d prefer.
We will be camping in bear country in Montana/Wyoming next month. I’m hearing mixed things about essential oils attracting bears. My husband thinks we shouldn’t risk it, we should just use some DEET while we are camping. Has anybody come across anything authoritative about bears and Eos?
I have not, but perhaps someone can chime in!
This is a great recipe! We did almond oil in one bath and joboba in the other. Both turned out great.
Wonderful feedback Lisa! Thank you.
I made this recipe in small deodorant containers to make lotion sticks for ease of application and to keep from getting on my hands. It works great!
Glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I’m wondering if there is a reason for the small amount of almond oil used in relation to the amount of butters and beeswax.
I am going to try this we have so many bugs! I want to put it into a lotion stick instead of a mold. I think that would make it easier for traveling.
We love that idea Karrie! A lotion stick would be incredibly convenient.
How many does this recipe make and at what size?
Could this be made with different butters. I do not have mango butter.
You could swap the mango for a different butter, but you may have to play with the amount of beeswax you use. If you use a hard butter like cocoa, you would need less.
How do you know the hardness of the butters?
Can you swap mango butter for extra shar butter?
Give it a try and let us know how it turns out 🙂
Can I follow this recipe and use another synergy? I want to use Skin Soother for my eczema plus the hydrating butters.
Absolutely! Skin Soother would be a great choice.
I made these yesterday and they turned out so nicely! Thanks for the recipe!! Now, what’s the best way to clean the double boiler from the waxy residue? 😀
I guess Insect Shield would work the same for adults?
Do you just rub the bars on your skin before going outside?
Yep! That’s how we use them. 🙂
Will these repel ticks?
These are helpful with many different kinds of outdoor annoyances. You may find this blog post helpfuL: http://tisserandinstitute.org/tick-talk-2/ to make an informed decision. 🙂
Sounds great! What are you using for a mold? Something commercially made for this or something on hand in the home?
I used little bug molds from a local craft store. 🙂 Any silicon mold will work!
I cannot wait to try this!!
Be sure to let us know what you think!