Ever thought of making your own skin cream? It’s easier than you think and you only need a couple of ingredients that are available from many sources online. Let’s see how to make a skin healing body butter!
What is Body Butter?
Body butter is thicker than lotion, because it is made with hard and soft oils with no water or other liquid. This means it takes longer to absorb into your skin, but it’s very moisturizing and softens even those tougher, very dry spots like the knees, elbows, and feet. Just give it a few minutes and enjoy a healthier skin.
Cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter are all interchangeable in this recipe. You can also vary the liquid oils or use a couple different ones. (The general ratio is 3 parts butters or hard oils and 1 part liquid oils.) Feel free to substitute or play with different proportions.
How Long will Body Butter Last?
Stored away from moisture and light this homemade body butter should last at least six months. Using a spoon or spatula to dip rather than your fingers will extend the life of the body butter.
Body Butter Ingredients
- 1 cup shea butter
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup liquid oil (like almond, jojoba, avocado or olive)
- optional: 10-30 drops of essential oils of choice (lavender, ylang ylang, tea tree)
- optional: replace some of the liquid oil with natural glycerin
Body Butter Instructions
Make a double boiler set-up: add 1 inch water to a pot and find a stainless steel bowl that fits over it.
Combine the butter and coconut oil in the bowl.
Heat the water with medium heat and let ingredients melt slowly.
Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Add liquid oils and essential oils. (Some people like to add the essential oils later after the first whipping and whip a little more to incorporate.)
Move to fridge and let cool until the mixture turns opaque and has hardened on the edges, but still somewhat soft. (see picture below)
Use a hand mixer to whip for a couple of minutes until fluffy.
Return to the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
Store in a glass jar with a lid and use as you would regular lotion or body butter. In hotter weather (about 75 degrees) the body butter will soften (because coconut oil liquifies at 75 degrees). If you use the skin butter in the summer temperatures you can put it in the fridge. Or, only make it for the winter months when the skin needs more hydration. Enjoy!
