I’ve always enjoyed finding ways to make my own health and beauty products. I’m a big fan of natural and holistic practices and my beauty regimen shouldn’t be any different. One luxurious way to indulge is by treating my skin with this nourishing body butter. The best part? It’s super easy to whip up a batch at home, customized to my preferences, and free from any harmful additives. A fellow crafty bird lent me this recipe and it’s amazing. Shout out to Keyra Ulrich for sharing. Hoping to convince her to lend some more of her craftiness and literary skills for a guest blog soon. Let me walk you through the simple steps to create this decadent body butter so you can experience the feeling of soft, smooth, and utterly pampered skin.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Shea Butter
- 1 cup Cocoa Butter
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
- Optional: Essential oils
- Optional: coloring
Supplies
- Hand or Standing Mixer
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Wooden or Silicone Spoons
- Bowls
- Containers
Instructions:
Gather all your ingredients and ensure they are at room temperature. This will make them easier to work with. There are several types of butter all with similar and differing benefits. Base your decision on budget and preference. I’ve added a link to several in case you want to experiment like I do. I linked to Era of Nature products for ease of navigation and even have a chart that compares the butters at the bottom. You can swap out the butters depending on skin benefits. Shea butter is what most people start with. It’s great for Eczema, dry and cracked skin and scarring. Cocoa butter is more popular and tends to be easily available most places. It’s good for stretch marks, deep moisture and improves elasticity. Mango butter helps with fine lines, dry skin, radiance and suppleness. Contrary to the name, Mango butter doesn’t really has a scent to it since it derives from the seed not the pulp or juice of the mango. So if you aren’t a fan of the nutty or chocolate scents that Shea and Cocoa butter give off, you may prefer this one. One last one I will mention is Kokum Butter. This has all the same benefits of cocoa butter but again without the smell. So if you aren’t partial to the smell of cocoa butter or are in need of a light scented version, you may lean on this one too.
In a double boiler or a heatproof bowl placed over a pot of simmering water, melt the shea butter and cocoa butter together. Stir occasionally until mixed and well combined. Remove from heat and add sweet almond oil together. Stir again until combined.
Once everything is melted and combined, allow it to cool for about 30 minutes at room temperature. You want the mixture to start to solidify around the edges but still be soft in the middle. I sometimes put it in the fridge to speed this part up.
Once it has solidified, it’s time to add scent and color. This is entirely personal preference and optional. Add will want to add as much or as little as you desire to get the scent and hue that works for you.
Adding essential oils is the best and most potent way to get fragrance in your butter. These oils are plant-based and have been used for thousands of years to help promote healing. Not only do they come in a variety of scents and endless combos, but they also have many different benefits from stress relief to skin rash relief. Adding to your body butter you get two benefits – smell and absorption! The scent will linger throughout the day while the oil works its magic on ailments such as muscle aches, skin rashes, anxiety, and many more. For this batch, I chose a blend of lilacs and lilies to celebrate spring’s arrival.
Using Mica powder as a colorant is a typical go-to product. Mica is a fine powder and is used in all types of cosmetics. However, you can opt for other natural products, like Paprika, Indigo powder, and parsley powder to name a few. Mica powder is a natural mineral in the same family as quartz. There are natural and synthetic versions, however, the only difference is one is grown in a lab. The lab version is still made from natural ingredients, just yields a higher purity and smoother texture. This results in bolder and more consistent colors. Personally, I skip the coloring. I’m way past my barhopping, rave days. So, I don’t need the shimmer or extra ingredient on my skin.
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, whip the cooled mixture until it becomes light and fluffy. This may take several minutes, so be patient. The result should resemble whipped cream in texture. Depending on where you live or the temperature of your house, you may need to put the bowl in an ice bath or pop in the freezer for a bit.
Once the mixture is whipped to perfection, transfer it to clean, airtight jars or containers. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to get every last bit of goodness. I prefer to use glass or aluminum containers. Both can be recycled indefinitely whereas plastic can only be recycled a few times before it ends up in a landfill for good. I like to do my part in keeping our planet healthy too! Allow your body butter to set at room temperature for a few hours or overnight until it reaches a creamy, spreadable consistency.
Your homemade body butter is now ready to use! Apply it generously to your skin, especially after bathing or showering, to lock in moisture and leave your skin feeling silky, smooth, and hydrated. A little goes a long way!
Making body butter at home is not only a fun DIY project, but it also allows you to treat your skin to the purest and most nourishing ingredients. With just a few simple steps, you can create a luxurious product that rivals those found in high-end spas. So go ahead, indulge in some self-care, and pamper your skin with this decadent homemade body butter. Your skin will thank you for it!
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