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Home » Herbalism » Herbal Bath and Skincare Recipes » Lotion Bars » Dandelion Lotion Bars: Homemade Skin Soothing Recipe

Dandelion Lotion Bars: Homemade Skin Soothing Recipe

May contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please see my privacy policy and affiliate disclosure.

Originally published on March 31, 2022. Last updated on August 22, 2022

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These dandelion lotion bars are a wonderful and compact way to moisturize and heal your skin naturally. Dandelions are an easy to forage wild-growing perennial herb, that works wonderfully as a beneficial remedy for the skin. Moisturize and soothe a wide variety of dry skin issues with these non-greasy DIY dandelion lotion bars!

Dandelion lotion bars made with a honeycomb, bee, and flower mold, on a wooden cutting board with fresh dandelions surrounding. Green block on the top with white lettering reads homemade dandelion lotion bars.


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Healing Dandelion Lotion Bars

When dandelions pop their sunny heads up, I am always so excited about all of the healing energy they bring to my life!

A great way to utilize their benefits is to make these skin soothing dandelion lotion bars.

Dandelion Benefits for the Skin

All parts of dandelions are edible and medicinal, and most importantly for this recipe, they are very healing for the skin.

Dandelions have powerful medicinal benefits, they are pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory. These lotion bars work amazingly well to soothe and moisturize dry, itchy, cracked, or inflamed skin.

Top view of a foraging basked half filled with fresh picked dandelions.

Foraging dandelions

Forage and Wilt Dandelion Flowers

The first step to making any herbal lotion bar is to make a fresh foraged infused oil as a base.

To make dandelion infused oil, forage fresh dandelions from your yard, garden, or an unsprayed place away from pet waste or heavy foot traffic.

To make an infused oil with fresh dandelions, they first need to be wilted overnight to release some of their moisture. They shouldn’t be totally dried as they will likely puff into seed heads!

Once the dandelions are gathered, wilt them on a drying screen or towel for about 24 hours. They will turn from vibrant yellow flowers to wilted petals.

Related: Should You Save Dandelions for the Bees? 6 Things to Consider.

A glass jar filled partway with dried dandelions, and oil pouring into the jar.

Pour oil to cover the dandelions

Make the Dandelion Infused Oil

Fill the jar half full with the dried dandelions and pour in the carrier oil of your choice so they are submerged and the jar is filled.

I like to use a blend of olive, sweet almond, and coconut oil in equal parts for my dandelion oil infusion. It is helpful to melt the coconut oil first before blending.

All of these oils have skin-nourishing qualities that benefit this lotion bar recipe, so use whatever combination works for you.

A glass jar filled with dried dandelions and oil to fill, sitting to infuse

Dandelion infusing in oil

Cover the jar with a lid and let the infused oil sit for a week or so in a dark place out of direct sunlight. Since the dandelions are not completely dry do not let the oil sit for more than about 10 days to avoid mold from forming.

It’s also possible to quickly infuse the oil with a low heat method.

I personally prefer using a dehydrator for fresh herb infusions (such as when making dandelion salve or chickweed salve). They can be set to a low enough temperature and be left to do their thing without ongoing management or spoiling.

To infuse with a dehydrator, I recommend using an Excalibur dehydrator (or a similar box dehydrator with temperature control). Set the temperature to 100 degrees F, and place the wilted dandelions in oil in the dehydrator for 24-48 hours.

Alternatively, you can also do a quick heat infused oil method on the stove, but be sure to not let the oil get too hot.

Finished infused dandelion oil, a vibrant golden oil with dandelions resting at the bottom of the jar.

Infused dandelion oil

Once infused, strain the dandelions out of the oil with a fine-mesh strainer and cheesecloth, squeezing all of the dandelion goodness out with the cloth. This will leave a beautiful golden-colored nourishing oil!

A jar of strained dandelion infused oil, with cheese cloth resting on top.

Strain the infused oil

How to Make Dandelion Lotion Bars

To make healing dandelion lotion bars, melt 1/2 cup of the infused dandelion oil together with 3 ounces of beeswax in a double boiler.

Melting beeswax in a double boiler pot.

Melting the beeswax in a makeshift double boiler

If you don’t own a double boiler, it’s easy to create a makeshift one by putting a small bowl or glass Pyrex measuring cup over a pot with about an inch of simmering water.

Heat on medium-low heat until all of the oil and beeswax are melted together and completely liquefied, which takes about 10 minutes. Then add 4 ounces of shea butter and stir until it has dissolved.

Melted wax and oils being poured into pink silicone molds.

Pour into the silicone molds

Once everything has fully melted, pour the mixture into silicone molds.

I like using silicone molds because there are some great designs out there, and they keep the integrity of the design when you remove them.

Dried and hardened lotion bars in the silicone mold, with one out showing the design on the lotion bar.

Gently remove lotion bars from the mold

Once the mixture has hardened completely and is cool to the touch, remove the lotion bars from the molds. Usually around an hour of cooling time is sufficient.

If necessary, dipping the mold side in warm water will help loosen them just enough to get them out easily and in one piece.

Depending on the size of the mold you use, this recipe makes about 6 lotion bars.

Dandelion lotion bars, out of the molds.

Dandelion lotion bars fresh out of molds

How to Use Dandelion Lotion Bars

Glide these lotion bars all over your skin whenever you have dryness, rashes, or redness. The benefits of dandelion will give needed healing and care.

Finished dandelion lotion bars, close up on a wooden cutting board.

Finished dandelion lotion bars, ready to use

A lovely time to use these lotion bars is when your skin is warm right out of a bath or shower. They are silky smooth, non-greasy, natural, and will soak right into your skin.

Finished dandelion lotion bars on a wood cutting board surrounded by fresh dandelions.

Dandelion lotion bars

One of the best things about lotion bars is that they travel well and hold up in hot weather keeping their shape.

Store them in tins and keep them in your bag, in the kitchen, or in the bathroom. Keep one wherever you need to access it regularly!

More Dandelion Recipes

  • Dandelion Soap Recipe
  • Dandelion Salve Recipe
  • Infused Dandelion Vinegar
  • Dandelion Mead Recipe
  • 50+ Dandelion Recipes

If you love lotion bars, try these calendula lotion bars or these rose lotion bars!

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5 from 4 votes

Dandelion Lotion Bars

These DIY dandelion lotion bars are a non-greasy, compact, and soothing way to naturally moisturize and heal a variety of dry skin issues.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 30 minutes
Infusing Time 7 days
Total Time 40 minutes
Yield 6 2 ounce lotion bars
Cost $10
Author Colleen @ Grow Forage Cook Ferment

Equipment

  • Pint Mason Jar
  • Dehydrator
  • Fine Mesh Sieve
  • Cheesecloth
  • Small Glass Measuring Cup
  • Small Saucepan
  • Wooden or Bamboo Skewer
  • Silicone Mold or honeycomb and bee mold

Ingredients

Dandelion Infused Oil

  • 1/2 cup foraged dandelions
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
  • 1/4 cup sweet almond oil

Dandelion Lotion Bars

  • 1/2 cup dandelion infused oil
  • 3 oz beeswax pastilles
  • 4 oz shea butter

Instructions

Dandelion Infused Oil

  • Wilt fresh dandelions on a drying screen for 24 hours, without letting them puff into seed.
  • Combine wilted dandelions with olive, coconut, and sweet almond oils in a jar. Cover with a lid and shake to blend.
  • Cover the jar with a lid and let the infused oil sit for a week or so in a dark place out of direct sunlight. (See notes for other infusion methods).

Dandelion Lotion Bars

  • Strain the dandelion flowers from the oil infusion with a fine mesh sieve. If the coconut oil has solidified in the infusion, put the jar in a pan of warm water to gently melt the oil prior to straining.
  • Use a double boiler, or a makeshift double boiler by putting a smaller pan, bowl, or glass measuring cup in a larger pan that has an inch or two of water in it, and bring the water to a simmer.
  • Measure out 1/2 cup of the dandelion infused oil, reserving the rest for other uses.
  • Put the oil and beeswax in the double boiler and heat until they are completely melted together. A wooden skewer works perfectly to stir.
  • Stir in the shea butter until it is completely liquefied. Remove the pan from the heat.
  • Quickly pour the liquid into the silicone molds, before it begins to solidify.
  • Let the lotion bars cool and solidify fully, it will take several hours. Once set and cooled, pop the lotion bars out of the molds and store in tins or other containers.

Notes

  • Since the dandelions are not completely dry do not let the oil sit for more than about 10 days to avoid mold from forming.
  • To infuse with a dehydrator, I recommend using an Excalibur dehydrator (or a similar box dehydrator with temperature control). Set the temperature to 100 degrees F, and place the wilted dandelions in oil in the dehydrator for 24-48 hours.
  • Alternatively, you can also do a quick heat infused oil method on the stove, but be sure to not let the oil get too hot.
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Becky says

    December 20, 2022 at 1:01 pm

    Made them last night, following recipe exactly but they didn’t solidify, have a rather runny consistency. Thinking of remelting it but should I add more of beeswax or shea butter or both? Not sure how much so may have to repeat it few times, hope that won’t affect anything?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      December 20, 2022 at 5:31 pm

      Hi Becky, it sounds like you probably didn’t add enough beeswax, or added too much oil. It shouldn’t be runny at all. I would try adding more beeswax and see how it goes!

      Reply
  2. Lisa Henderson says

    July 6, 2022 at 12:37 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Colleen,
    We made these with our Sprouts! We have a nature-immersive, outdoor preschool (mixed ages 3-6) on a farm in MA called Sprouts Farm and Forest Kindergarten. The children gathered dandelions and dried them overnight on a screen. We infused organic olive oil for about a week and then melted the beeswax they grated (a gift from a Sprout family’s grandpa who is a beekeeper) and shea butter over our firepit, poured the mixture into silicone molds (hearts and stars) and let them sit to harden. They loved every step!! I’d love to share pictures. Thank you! Hopefully now an annual experience🌼

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      July 7, 2022 at 11:50 am

      Hi, Lisa! Thanks for sharing! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and found a new spring tradition!

      Reply
  3. Patty says

    May 15, 2022 at 12:58 pm

    this isn’t much different than the dandelion salve. Can you use the salve as a soap and vice versa? I want to make the salve but the soap sounds interesting also.

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      May 18, 2022 at 11:45 am

      Hi Patty. I’m a little confused by what you mean by using the salve as soap?

      Reply
  4. Patricia Habbyshaw says

    April 29, 2022 at 5:50 am

    Hi What kind of Shea Butter. Refined or un-refined ? I’m finding all kinds of Shea Butter on line !
    Thank You
    Patti

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      May 2, 2022 at 9:35 am

      I use refined shea butter because it has no odor.

      Reply
  5. Amanda says

    April 27, 2022 at 9:51 am

    I have unrefined shea butter can I use that instead of refined? This is my first time making it so I wanted to double check.

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      May 2, 2022 at 9:36 am

      Yes, you can. I only suggest refined because it has no odor.

      Reply
  6. Jessica says

    April 4, 2022 at 6:42 pm

    Thank you for sharing this! I have a LEVO machine and can’t wait to use it for this! <3

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      April 5, 2022 at 8:10 am

      You’re welcome. Enjoy.

      Reply
  7. Sky Wilde says

    April 4, 2022 at 4:53 pm

    5 stars
    Would adding an essential oil (for fragrance) to the recipe be acceptable?

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      April 5, 2022 at 8:16 am

      For sure!

      Reply
  8. Korin says

    April 3, 2022 at 8:18 am

    Hi. I’m interested in making these sometime and my husband is wondering how long the shelf life is for the bars? Thanks :)

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      April 4, 2022 at 9:50 am

      They can last a year a longer in a cool, dry place.

      Reply
  9. Shoshona Magill says

    April 3, 2022 at 5:58 am

    Do put the jar of oil/dandelions in the dehydrator (removing all your screens first?) Where did purchase the bee themed moulds?

    Reply
  10. Angi says

    April 3, 2022 at 2:41 am

    Is there a vegan alternative to the beeswax that you would recommend? Maybe soy? They look so lovely!

    Reply
    • Grow Forage Cook Ferment says

      April 4, 2022 at 9:52 am

      Soy, candelilla, and sustainably-harvested carnauba are all popular vegan alternatives.

      Reply

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