Homemade Body Butter Recipe
I made my first batch of body butter today. I think my life has changed forever. Delightful, decadent and easy, I have wanted to try making it for a long time. I was convinced that it would be difficult and not work the way I wanted. Boy, was I wrong.
I love creamy body butters. Living in a climate that gets quite cold and dry in the winter, they are a must in my house. But two things have always bothered me. They can be quite expensive and also, full of ingredients that are less than desirable for your skin and health.
We often forget that our skin is the largest organ on our body and absorbs what we put on it. If you are using lotions and body butters with chemicals in them (fragrances, preservatives, color additives, etc.) be aware that your skin absorbs the chemicals, too. Not exactly desirable. I often just use almond oil on my skin after a shower but sometimes I want something a little more decadent. Body butters, made with pure oils and essential oils for fragrance are just the thing.
I called my friend Jen Vertanen, who writes the blog, “The Wholehearted Life”, knowing that she has spent years playing with recipes for home made soaps and lotions and asked her opinion on ingredients. She told me to use 75% solid to 25% liquid oil. Sounded easy enough.
I measured out shea butter (I use this shea butter: organic raw shea butter
I wanted to use rosemary as one of my scents. I didn’t have any rosemary essential oil so I added fresh rosemary as the oils were cooling. I also stirred in the almond oil at this point. Once the oil was cool, I strained out the rosemary, added peppermint (just a few drops, it is strong) and sweet orange essential oils and tried to whip the butter as instructed in other body recipes that I had researched. Nothing happened. I was about to give up and just let the oil harden when I had an idea.
I placed the oil mixture outside (it’s cold…it’s Minnesota) and let it partially set up. At that point, I tried whipping it again in the kitchen aid mixer and, success! A beautiful body butter, so simple to make, smelling delicious and with a texture that was like clouds of silk.
*Because of the popularity of this recipe on pinterest, I am getting many, many questions that are more suited for an expert. This is a raw food site, this was my first attempt at body butter, it worked better than I could have hoped for and if you make this recipe as stated, it will work great for you too!! I am sorry but I can’t answer the technical questions. Cheers!*
IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR BODY BUTTER WHIPPING: you probably rushed this step. It needs to be cooled significantly….like in the picture.
I have to admit, I am pretty excited at how easy it is to make. I used sweet orange, lemon and lavender in my second batch. Heavenly. You can just use the basic recipe and add your favorite essential oils. Just make sure they are skin friendly!
A few people have asked about jars. I use these: Weck Jars
TIPS: PLEASE READ!
- You can use what ever oils you wish, just make sure you keep the ratio 75% solid to 25% liquid. SO IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO ANY OF THE ABOVE LISTED OILS, JUST REPLACE THEM WITH AN OIL THAT YOU ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO. Just make sure you replace a solid for a solid and a liquid for a liquid.
- The chilling step is crucial. If you don’t chill it properly, it won’t whip or stay whipped. About 20 minutes in the freezer usually does the trick for this batch. Make sure you scrape down the sides before mixing.
- Since this recipe does not contain any water, it will not mold. You should keep in a cool place but it does not have to be refrigerated.
- I do not know the exact shelf life but I know it will keep at least a few months, plus.
- The body butter melts as it goes on and gets a little oily but absorbs beautifully, quickly and leaves your skin very soft.
- You can order the shea butter here: Raw Shea Butter
You can order the coconut oil here: Coconut Oil
You can order the almond oil here: Almond Oil
You can order the Weck Jars here: Weck Jars
Alternatively, coconut oil and almond oil are quite easy to locate at your local coop, Whole Foods or health food store.
- This recipe has been tested many times. If you don’t follow the recipe, you will not get the same results.
- Many people ask for exact amounts of essential oils. I start with at least 20 drops of what ever oil I want to use and just increase slowly until I am happy with how it smells. So…be free! Use your own creativity here.
Body Butter
MAKES 2 1/2 to 3 CUPS WHIPPED BUTTER
- 1 cup organic raw shea butter
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (solid)
- 1/2 cup almond oil (liquid)
- Melt shea butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
- Stir in almond oil and essential oils of your choosing.*
- Place oil mixture in freezer or outside to chill.
- Wait until oils start to partially solidify (see photo) then whip until a butter-like consistency is achieved.
- Place in clean, glass jar and enjoy! A little goes a long way.
*Not all essential oils are skin friendly or child friendly. Please do your research before adding.
mei mei ho wrote on September 12, 2013
I have just recently took a risk. I do not like coconut oil, so my ingredients are these:
1cup Shea Butter
1/2 cup Grapeseed Oil
1/2 cup Olive Oil (not full)
I did not melt them but beat them using a blender. It was late night so I was manually mixing them. I know Olive Oil is very watery, so I did not put in full 1/2 cup. The outcome is very watery but on the next day, it is alittle harden. I can dig it and once apply on the skin, it melted. It just need few minutes to absorb into the skin. My question is, since no coconut oil in it, my outcome will not become as creamy as yours? Plus, I cannot find any supplier to sell cocoa butter, so I am abit stress. Thanks
Susan wrote on September 12, 2013
When ever you make substitutions, it will affect the final product. Cheers!
Char wrote on September 11, 2013
Trying to make this now. How do I correctly measure a cup of something solid? To my mind, cup measures are for liquids and 1 cup is approximately 8 fluid ounces.. Is there an equivalent weight measure (e.g. grams or ounces ?) I would find this very useful. I am in the UK and cup measures are unusual here.
Susan wrote on September 11, 2013
You can melt it and measure it. 🙂
Ashley wrote on September 8, 2013
Hi! If this is a repeat question I am sorry. Should I use a separate kitchen utensils, pans, and mixer for beauty products?
Michelle wrote on September 6, 2013
To those who are confused about coconut oil in it’s liquid state vs solid state. Just put it in the refrigerator, let it solidify and then measure out the amount you need. I live in Alaska, so coconut oil is ALWAYS solid. 🙂
I use strictly coconut oil for my body lotion and it is heavenly. However, I am going to have to try this recipe…looks amazing!
Chris wrote on August 26, 2013
My skin does not seem to like coconut oil. It is too oily and I think it leaves little red bumps(hives?) on my arms. Is there any substitute for coconut oil? I need something solid to keep the proportions right
Nova wrote on August 12, 2013
I just tried this and it worked well. I added Calendula extract for my eczema. You only need to use a tiny amount as it leaves a bit of a greasy residue (mine did anyway). I also think i cooled mine a bit long before whipping it (I used a hand mixer and it worked well). Next time i’ll whip it a bit earlier.
You can use it under your eyes as an eye cream, as a shaving cream/oil, as a moisturiser, it’s really versatile!
Thanks for the recipe!
devans00 wrote on August 8, 2013
I totally loved this recipe. I made it with organic cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil and Golden Jojoba Oil. The cocoa butter was too hard to do anything with by itself but the mixture melts anytime it touches the skin.
It was hard not to take a bite out of the chocolatey smelling fluff as it was whipped up.
Thanks Susan
Sheri wrote on July 28, 2013
I used Zaskira’s version of this, and its amazing! My husband has psoriasis on his knees, it was crusty and open, not to mention sore.. Its healed over nicely, you can still see where it is, but he says they even feel better.
I am so pleased that something I made helped., where medicated lotions etc did not. So Im going to make more and hope it helps a friends daughter that has it on her head.
Denise wrote on July 19, 2013
The measurements of the shea butter is it solid or liquid and also the coconut oil?