I’m excited to share this exfoliating lotion bar recipe—my favorite solution for dry winter skin. If I could keep only one product for rough, flaky skin, this copycat Lush Buffy bar would be it.
This in-shower lotion bar exfoliates, moisturizes, softens, and smells wonderful. It also helps reduce those small red bumps that sometimes appear on the backs of the arms.
How it works:
- You use the lotion bar in the shower. After washing, shaving, and rinsing, use the bar while your skin is still wet.
- It’s called a “buffy” bar because it gently buffs away dead skin while delivering moisturizing butters.
- Rub the bar over wet skin—everywhere or just on dry, bumpy areas. Ground rice, almonds, and adzuki beans provide gentle physical exfoliation while the butters keep the formula mild enough for sensitive skin.
- The nourishing butters leave skin soft and silky. Rinse lightly and pat dry with a soft towel.
- Result: smoother, softer, deeply moisturized skin.
How to make Lush Buffy Bars at home
Yield: 5 buffy bars
Step 1: Grind the exfoliants
Measure ingredients before grinding:
- 1/2 cup white rice
- 1/2 cup unsalted raw almonds
- 1/2 cup adzuki beans
Use a coffee or spice grinder to grind to a fairly fine powder. Aim for a slight grit—enough to exfoliate but not so rough it irritates. This mixture gently sloughs away dry skin and smooths bumps.
Step 2: Prepare the butters
- 1.5 cups cocoa butter
- 3/4 cup shea butter
Substitutions: replace cocoa butter with kokum butter 1:1, or replace shea butter with mango butter if preferred.
Step 3: Melt the butters
Place a heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl in a saucepan of simmering water (double boiler method). Stir occasionally and heat until fully melted.
Step 4: Cool slightly
Let the melted butters cool for 1–2 minutes so they are still fluid but not too hot.
Step 5: Add essential oils
Add:
- 40 drops lemon essential oil
- 40 drops lavender essential oil
Stir well to distribute the scent evenly.
Step 6: Add ground exfoliants
Stir the ground rice, almonds, and adzuki beans into the warm butter and oil mixture.
Step 7: Mix thoroughly
Ensure the exfoliant particles are evenly suspended in the butter. If the particles sink, the mixture is too warm—continue stirring until they stay suspended. Don’t let the mixture cool too much; it must remain pourable for molds.
Step 8: Pour into molds
Pour the mixture into silicone molds. I used square silicone molds with 2.5″ x 2.5″ x 1″ cavities, which fit nicely in Lush tins for storage, but any shape or size will work.
Step 9: Let bars solidify
Allow the bars to harden and dry completely before removing from the molds. Once solid, store them in tins or airtight containers.
How to use
- Shower as usual.
- At the end of the shower, while skin is still wet, gently rub the buffy bar over the skin to exfoliate. It works well all over and is especially helpful on elbows and the backs of arms.
- Massage the butters into your skin.
- Rinse briefly—just enough to wash away excess exfoliant but not so long that all the butters are removed.
- Pat dry with a soft towel.
Caution: The butters can make the shower floor slippery. Wipe the floor after showering to prevent slips.
Storage
- Store bars dry in tins or airtight containers. Lush tins are a convenient size and keep bars dry between uses.
- If you use the bars infrequently, store them outside the shower. If stored in the shower, keep them in a closed container away from direct water spray to avoid melting.
Supplies
Basic supplies you’ll need: coffee or spice grinder, white rice, unsalted raw almonds, adzuki beans, cocoa butter (or kokum butter), shea butter (or mango butter), lemon and lavender essential oils, silicone molds, and storage tins. Ingredients like rice and almonds are available at grocery stores; specialty items can be purchased from suppliers that sell natural cosmetic ingredients.
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Please note: Products mentioned here have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical concerns.
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