There is something extra gratifying in crafting and using your own nourishing, luxurious homemade skincare products. I also love checking out the recipes of others. I was watching a video of someone who had poured their body butter into a heart-shaped mold, she was holding up the final product when my teenage son walked by, and he did a double take. I nonchalantly said, "It's body butter" which caused him to exclaim, "Ewww! who would want to put butter on their skin?!"
So, let's clear the air. Body butter, despite its misleading name, doesn't involve slathering dairy-derived butter on your skin, but rather a blend of plant-derived oils that create a final product with the consistency of butter.
Lotions and creams have a water portion, so when made at home, you should use a preservative to prevent mold growth. Butters do not include water, so when you blend for home use, you do not need to use a preservative. Lotions, creams, and butters are all great options for nourishing and moisturizing your skin, but personally, I think butters are the easiest to make at home. Depending on which oils you use in your recipe, you can create a butter that is ideal for a variety of uses, such as soothing, softening, hydrating, anti-aging, reduction of scars or stretch marks, make-up remover, and hair care.
A Quick Introduction to Carrier Oils and Butters
Baobab Seed Oil (Adansonia digitata) has a silky texture with a nutty scent. This oil absorbs quickly and is very moisturizing, ideal for mature, dry, and/or rough skin. Those who have chronic skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis may want to consider baobab oil as it soothes inflamed or irritated skin. Baobab is great for bringing moisture and shine to your hair.
Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao) is a superb moisturizer that has a mildly chocolate aroma. It contains vitamin E which is an antioxidant that helps to support the skin's elasticity and may reduce fine lines. Cocoa butter is ideal to add to recipes for luxurious body butters and moisturizing lip balms.
Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera) is a versatile skincare staple. There are some debates about its occlusive (pore-clogging) potential, nevertheless, it blends very well with other oils, particularly for sensitive skin. Coconut oil not only restores deep hydration and soothes dryness and itchiness but also proves beneficial for inflammatory skin conditions like acne and eczema. Additionally, it is moisturizing to hair and scalps, offering a holistic solution for a range of skincare and haircare needs.
Hemp Seed Oil (Cannabis sativa) is an amazing oil that offers moisturizing, pain relief, and skin purification. It is a pale green oil with a nutty aroma. You can use hemp seed oil facial cleansing recipes, moisturizer recipes, and muscle rub recipes. Despite being a slightly heavier oil, it does not clog pores; rather, it works to reduce pore size while providing relief from blackheads and acne. Its anti-inflammatory properties offer a soothing effect for conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Hemp seed oil is also an excellent ingredient in hair and scalp formulations.
Jojoba Oil (Simoondsia chinensis) is actually a wax rather than an oil. With a composition closely resembling our natural skin oil, jojoba is easily absorbed and does not clog the pores, making it ideal for acne-prone skin. Jojoba oil also offers luxurious hydration and packs anti-inflammatory benefits, making it an excellent choice for post-sun formulations.
Mango Kernel Butter (Mangifera indica) is a luxurious moisturizing butter with a nutty aroma. Enriched with antioxidants and vitamins, it offers support for softening and soothing chronically dry skin as well as improving the suppleness of mature skin. Use a little mango butter in your formulations to restore dry, damaged skin.
Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) is a thick, luxurious, nourishing butter that melts easily at room temperature. It is packed full of antioxidants and vitamins, allowing it to be skin-nourishing for all skin types. Shea butter is a good substitute for coconut oil or mango butter.
Recipe Ideas
Basic Body Butter
2 oz mango butter
2 oz olive oil or jojoba oil
1 oz cranberry seed oil or avocado oil
Gently melt the mango butter in a double boiler, and once melted, add the other oils
Stir very well to blend all of the oils
For a more whipped consistency, you can cool the blend in the refrigerator until it starts to solidify
Take it out and use a hand mixer, fork, or whisk to whip it until it is decadent
Scoop into small, clean glass jars. Be sure to label your butter
Nourishing Body Butter
1 oz shea butter
2 tsp jojoba oil
Optional: 5-6 drops of skin-nourishing essential oils, such as 2 drops of patchouli, 1 drop of myrrh, 1 drop of lavender lavender, and 1 drop of cedarwood
Gently melt the shea butter in a double boiler, and add in the jojoba
Remove from heat
While stirring, add in the optional essential oils
Pour into a clean 2 oz glass jar and allow to cool. Be sure to label your butter
Pain Away Butter
2 oz trauma oil (St John's wort, arnica, and calendula-infused oil) or hemp seed oil
2 oz mango butter
1 oz kombo butter
1 oz beeswax
up to 30 drops of analgesic essential oils, such as 12 drops of patchouli, 8 drops of copaiba balsam, and 5 drops of black pepper
Gently melt the beeswax in a double boiler, once melted add the butters to be melted
Add in the trauma oil, mix well, and remove from the heat
While stirring, add in the optional essential oils
Pour into a clean glass jar and allow to cool. Be sure to label your butter
Herb Infused Butter
3 oz infused carrier oil (ie olive, avocado, or jojoba infused with your favorite herb: calendula, plantain, licorice root, etc)
2 oz shea butter
2 oz mango butter
2 oz cocoa butter
1 tsp raspberry seed oil
Put the butters in a double boiler over low heat and gently melt
Once melted add the herb-infused oil and raspberry seed oil, mix well
Put in the refrigerator until it starts to solidify
Take it out and whip it with a hand mixer, fork, or whisk until smooth and fluffy
Your butter should have a light and fluffy consistency
Scoop your butter into a clean glass jar. Be sure to label your butter
Hair Butter
2 oz baobab seed oil (optional, infuse the oil with rosemary and lavender)
2 oz shea butter
2 oz mango butter
1 tsp vitamin E oil (optional)
10-15 drops of rosemary essential oil
Put the butters in a double boiler over low heat and gently melt
Add in the baobab oil, stir well, and remove from the heat
Add in the optional vitamin E oil and rosemary essential oil, stir to blend well
Put in the refrigerator until it starts to solidify
Take it out and whip it with a hand mixer, fork, or whisk until the desired consistency reached
Scoop your hair butter into a clean glass jar. Be sure to label it
Tips
Creating your own sumptuous body butter takes a little experimenting to find your sweet spot/recipe, a few gentle nuances can make all the difference in texture.
Don’t Overwhip: When it comes to whipping your cooled ingredients, less is often more. For cocoa butter, about 20 seconds should do the trick. As for shea butter or mango butter, a 30-second is all it takes. Keep it brief for that perfect, decadent consistency.
Outside temperature can have some effect on your outcomes.
Cocoa butter tends to yield a denser body butter, on the flip side, shea butter and mango butter offer a softer final product.
For a truly fluffy body butter, use coconut oil and shea butter for a delightfully fluffy product.
Sometimes, homemade body butter can be a bit on the greasy side. Arrowroot powder (flour/starch) can be added in as a thickener, and "de-greaser". If you are unable to find arrowroot powder, tapioca starch or cornstarch are good substitutes. Add in the powder at the same time as the essential oil. Use 2 tsp of powder per cup of oil and butter.
Crafting your nourishing body butter is like whipping up a little magic in your kitchen. I encourage you to start experimenting with different ingredients and techniques to find the perfect homemade butter that brings you delightful, nourishing skincare.
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