solid body lotion Body lotion cupcakes

Create your own body bars using a simple base and your choice of essential oils.

My body lotion cupcakes – yes, you heard me right! – are gorgeous to make for yourself or as gifts, and take no time at all.

Makes 3-4 large bars

30g (½ cup) grated beeswax 65g (½ cup) cocoa butter 125ml (½ cup) coconut oil (refined for no coconut scent)

25 drops essential oils of your

choice (try rosemary, vetiver and jasmine, or a woody or floral combo)

You’ll also need some silicone moulds in your preferred shape or paper cupcake liners.

Melt the beeswax over a low heat in a bain-marie or double boiler (a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of boiling water). Once the wax is melted, still over the heat, melt in the cocoa butter. Once the cocoa butter is melted, melt in the coconut oil, stirring well.

Remove from the heat and stir in the essential oils. Pour the mixture into your chosen moulds.

Wait patiently for them to harden – this will take about 1 hour at room temperature, or you could hurry things along in the fridge.

Images and recipes from Low Tox Life by Alexx Stuart (Murdoch Books), $35. DIY Body oil Fractionated coconut oil or olive oil are both toxin-free options. You could also add argan, rosehip or avocado oils to the mix, and personalise them with 3 drops per 20ml of grapefruit, geranium, cypress, rosemary or juniper essential oils.