Creating Your Own Whipped Body Butter
Last week, we explored crafting lip balm. Today, we focus on whipped body butter—a deep moisturizer used to soften and revitalize dry, cracked, or rough skin.
In this article, we explore the potential dangers of chemicals found in store-bought whipped body butter and the advantages of formulating your own. An all-natural recipe is provided.
Unmasking the Perils of Conventional Body Butter
Some of the potentially harmful chemicals lurking in some commercial body butters are:
Silicones
Artificial Fragrances
Artificial Dye
Parabens
You can avoid these harmful chemicals and protect your health from potential risks associated with long-term exposure by making your own whipped body butter.
Benefits of Making Your Own Whipped Body Butter
By incorporating natural whipped body butter into your skincare routine, you gain several benefits, including saving money.
Natural ingredients used in homemade body butter are often more affordable when purchased in bulk, and you can reuse containers to reduce costs.
You can also personalize your body butter to better suit your own preferences and skin care needs.
DIY Whipped Body Butter Recipe
Below is a recipe that harnesses the power of natural ingredients to promote skin health, including:
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial activity make it a great treatment for skin disorders.
Shea Butter
Cacao Butter
*Essential Oil
A Word on Ingredient Quality
Choose organic ingredients whenever possible, and when choosing oils, select products that are 100 percent pure, cold-pressed, and unrefined.
Recipe: Whipped Body Butter
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup shea butter
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup cacao butter
- 1/3 cup jojoba oil
- 15–30 drops of your favorite essential oilǂ (I enjoy 2 drops rosemary and 15 drops vanilla essential oil)
Instruction:
- In a glass bowl, combine shea butter, coconut oil, cacao butter, and jojoba oil.
- Melt the mixture over medium-low heat using a double boiler, stirring until well combined. If you don’t have a double boiler, use the glass bowl and a large pot as a substitute. The glass bowl should fit comfortably over the top of the pot, almost like a lid, but with enough space between the bottom of the glass bowl and the pot to ensure steam can flow between them. Place water in the bottom of the pot, place the glass bowl containing the ingredients on top of the pot, and simmer until the water steams.
- Once all ingredients are melted and thoroughly combined, remove from heat.
- Allow to cool to the touch, mixing occasionally with a hand blender.
- Place the bowl in the refrigerator until the mixture begins to harden but is still somewhat soft.
- Remove from the refrigerator and whip with a hand blender until the body butter reaches a creamy consistency.
- Add essential oils and mix again with a hand blender.
- Transfer the mixture to a clean, airtight, glass container and store in a cool location. If lotion melts due to heat exposure, place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes and then blend with a hand blender until creamy.
- To apply, place a small amount on your finger and gently massage into the skin.
Contraindications and Precautions
*Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under the age of 2, and anyone consuming prescription medications should consult their health care providers before using essential oils. Lavender essential oil can cause skin irritation. Nausea, vomiting, headache and chills have been reported in some people after inhaling or absorbing lavender through the skin. People with high blood pressure or epilepsy should avoid rosemary essential oil.
Final Thoughts
Crafting your own body butter benefits your health, finances, and the environment. Remember to personalize the formulation to cater to your specific needs because you’re worth it!
This is the last article in this series.