DIY Exfoliating Lotion Bar Recipe for Smooth Skin

Transform Your Skin with this Exfoliating Lotion Bar Recipe!

I am thrilled to share my favorite recipe for an exfoliating lotion bar! If there’s one product I could recommend for combating dry skin during the winter months, it’s this incredible copycat Lush buffy bar. This bar is a powerhouse—it exfoliates, moisturizes, and leaves your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated. Not to mention, it has a delightful fragrance that lingers after use!

This buffy bar has been a game changer for me, particularly in addressing those pesky little red bumps on the back of my arms. While it may sound unusual, allow me to explain how it works:

Use it in the shower: That’s right, this lotion bar is designed for use while you’re showering.
After completing your usual routine—washing your hair, soaping up, shaving, etc.—you’ll want to incorporate this lotion bar just before you finish your shower.
Ever wondered why it’s called a buffy bar? It’s because it gently buffs your skin. This means it not only exfoliates but also deeply moisturizes.
While still in the shower with wet skin, glide the buffy bar over your body. You can apply it all over or focus specifically on dry, bumpy areas—totally your choice!
As you rub the buffy bar on your skin, the tiny exfoliating particles from the rice, almonds, and adzuki beans work to smooth and polish your skin. The gentle nature of the butters ensures that even the most sensitive skin types can benefit.
The rich butters in the bar nourish and soften your skin, leaving it feeling incredibly silky smooth.
After you’ve finished, simply rinse off and lightly pat your skin dry with a fluffy towel.
Your skin will be left feeling smooth, soft, and deeply hydrated!

Crafting Your Own Lush Buffy Bars at Home

Yield: 5 buffy bars

Step 1: Prepare Your Exfoliants

Begin by using a coffee or spice grinder to finely grind the following ingredients:

1/2 cup white rice
1/2 cup unsalted, raw almonds
1/2 cup adzuki beans

Grind them into a fairly fine powder. Aim for a consistency that still retains a slight grit—this will ensure effective exfoliation without being overly abrasive. This mixture will help slough away dry, rough skin and smooth out any bumps.

Step 2: Prepare the Butters

In a separate heat-safe bowl or measuring cup, combine the following butters:

1.5 cups cocoa butter
3/4 cup shea butter

Substitutions:

If you prefer not to use cocoa butter, you can substitute kokum butter, which has similar hardness and melting points, making it an excellent one-for-one replacement.
If shea butter isn’t your favorite, consider using mango butter instead.

Step 3: Melt the Butters

To melt the butters, place the heat-safe glass bowl or measuring cup in a saucepan filled with simmering water over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until everything is fully melted.

Step 4: Cool the Mixture

Allow the melted butters to cool for 1-2 minutes.

Step 5: Add Essential Oils

Incorporate the following essential oils into your mixture:

40 drops lemon essential oil
40 drops lavender essential oil

Step 6: Combine with Exfoliants

Add the previously ground rice, almonds, and adzuki beans to the melted butters.

Step 7: Mix Thoroughly

Ensure that all the ingredients are mixed evenly. Tip: If you notice the exfoliant particles sinking to the bottom, your mixture is still too warm. Keep mixing until it cools enough to suspend the particles but remains pourable.

Step 8: Pour Into Molds

Use silicone molds to shape your buffy bars. I recommend square molds, approximately 2.5 inches on each side, which conveniently fit into Lush tins.

Step 9: Let They Solidify

Allow your bars to solidify completely before removing them from the molds.

How to Use Your Buffy Bars

Shower as you typically would.
At the end of your shower, while your skin is still wet, gently rub the buffy bar over your skin to exfoliate and smooth. Focus on areas prone to dryness, like your elbows or the back of your arms.
Massage the butters into your skin.
Rinse off just enough to remove any exfoliant, but not so much that you wash away all the nourishing butters.
Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

Caution: The butters can make your shower floor slippery, so consider wiping it down after use to prevent any accidents.

Storage:

I store my buffy bars in Lush tins, which help keep them dry and protected.
If you don’t use them frequently, it’s best to store your lotion bar outside the shower to maintain its integrity. If you keep it in the shower, ensure it’s in a closed container away from direct water exposure to prevent it from melting away.

Where to Source Your Supplies

This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on certain links and make a purchase, I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Coffee & spice grinder (find it here)
White rice – easily available in grocery stores.
Almonds – look for unsalted, raw almonds in the baking aisle or bulk sections of grocery stores.
Adzuki beans – can be found in some grocery stores or purchased online.
Cocoa butter (find here) or substitute with kokum butter (find here).
Shea butter (find here) or replace with mango butter (find here).
Lemon essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Silicone molds (2.5 inches each) for shaping your bars.
Lush tins for storing the lotion bars – available at Lush stores.

Join Our Community!

Connect with us on Facebook and Pinterest. Don’t forget to sign up for our email newsletter for more great tips and recipes!

Please note that the products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding any medical concerns, and never disregard professional advice based on something you’ve read here.

Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links. Clicking on these links and making purchases may result in a small commission for me, at no additional cost to you.