Homemade Whipped Body Butter Recipe
I confess: I totally used to be the girl with a hundred different drugstore body lotions in my bathroom. Ya know, the ones with “water” listed as the first ingredient followed by a whole bunch of chemicals and preservatives that really have no business being anywhere near your skin.m
But a few years ago I started learning about the importance of using safe, all-natural ingredients on our skin. I was already paying attention to the ingredients I was eating and feeding my family, but I’d never really considered that our bodies absorb what we put on our skin much like they absorb what we put in our mouths.
And so, like everything else if our life (candles, home cleaning products, etc.) I started overhauling our cosmetics and body care products one by one, chucking out the old store-bought stuff and replacing each item with a healthier homemade version.
This homemade whipped body butter was one of the first body care products I learned to make, and I’m proud to say that I have never bought (or used) drugstore body lotion since.
Are store-bought body lotions bad for you?
While not all store-bought lotions are created equally, in general most of them contain some pretty junky ingredients that you should really think twice about slathering on your body or your kids’ bodies.
Some common ingredients found in commercial body lotions include preservatives like parabens (which have been linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues among other things), butylated hydroxyanisole aka. BHA (an endocrine disruptor and known carcinogen) and synthetic fragrances and parfum, which are made up of a whole bunch of chemicals, most notably phthalates (which have been linked to early puberty in girls, reduced sperm count in men and reproductive issues, as well as liver, kidney and lung damage).
Even water, the most seemingly innocent ingredient in commercial body lotion poses a risk.
Pick up almost any store-bought lotion or body butter and take a look at the list of ingredients. More than likely, water (or “aqua”) will be somewhere near the top of the list if not at the very top. Now, on the surface this seems pretty safe and natural. What could be more natural than water, right?
What most consumers don’t know though, is that any product that contains water is susceptible to mold. So in order to combat any mold that might grow on lotions containing water, more preservatives are added to extend the shelf life of the product.
Of course, preservatives like the ones mentioned above are something you probably want to avoid if you’re looking for an all-natural product. And you absolutely should be striving for all-natural products if you are considering slathering them on your skin!
Our skin is the largest organ on our bodies after all, and our pores suck up everything that we put on our skin.
So if you’re concerned about eating organic, all-natural foods, you should definitely be concerned about using all-natural body products as well!
The beauty of this homemade body butter is that, since it only contains healthy oils and no water, it requires no preservatives to keep it from spoiling on the shelf. Plus, the oils are super beneficial for your skin to boot, so you can rest assured that you truly are nourishing your body with this lotion.
How to make homemade body butter
To make your own homemade body butter, all you need to do is add ½ cup of shea butter, ¼ cup of coconut oil and ¼ cup of sweet almond oil to a saucepan and melt over medium heat.
Then add in approximately 30 drops of essential oils (I sometimes like to add a few more drops if I’m going for a little stronger scent) and then mix everything together well.
Here are some of my favourite essential oil combinations for homemade body butter:
Spiced Orange
- 20 drops orange
- 5 drops cinnamon
- 5 drops clove
Soothing Lavender
- 20 drops lavender
- 10 drops frankincense
Warm Gingerbread
- 15 drops ginger
- 5 drops cinnamon
- 5 drops nutmeg
- 5 drops clove
Sweet Creamsicle
- 15 drops orange
- 5 drops ylang ylang
- 10 drops vanilla
You can use whatever essential oils you like if you would prefer a different scent, but be sure to do your research first when choosing which oils to use.
I use Plant Therapy essential oils since they’re high quality, pure essential oils that are also very affordable. But you can use whichever quality brand you like best.
Also, steer clear of cold pressed lemon and lime oils as they are phytotoxic and can cause chemical burns on the skin if exposed to sunlight.
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How to “whip” your homemade body butter
Once you’ve added your essential oils and mixed all ingredients together well, transfer to a mixing bowl and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
* If you don’t have time to leave it in the fridge overnight, you can pop it in the freezer for an hour or two (max) and it should be solid enough to whip up.
After your body butter has chilled and solidified, use a hand beater to whip it into a silky butter.
You could also use a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment if you like.
Transfer to a storage jar (I like using half-pint Mason jars for my homemade body butter), then pop the lid on, add a pretty label and you’re done!
* You can get my printable Whipped Body Butter labels from the “Printable Labels” section of my Free Resource Library.
What’s the shelf life of homemade body butter?
I don’t know the exact shelf life of this body butter as it’s never lasted on my shelf for more than about 3 months before I’ve used it all up, but if you keep it in a cool, dark place (like in a cupboard), it should last at least 3 months and probably much longer.
If you want to be extra safe, you can store this lotion in the fridge. Just be careful nobody mistakes it for icing or whipped cream! (It seriously looks good enough to eat, and while technically the ingredients are all-natural and safe for consumption, it doesn’t actually taste as good as it looks! So be forewarned if you’ve got kids or a husband who is likely to dip a finger in and have a taste… Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything ?
Keep in mind that, because it’s made of oil and doesn’t contain any added ingredients, it is susceptible to melting if left out in the heat (just as coconut oil turns from a solid into a liquid when heated). So do try to keep it at room temperature or below if possible.
This body butter also makes a fantastic gift and can be whipped up (pun totally intended) at the last minute if needed.
So the next time you need a quick, easy and inexpensive gift for anyone in your life (yes, I have made this for the men in my life too… I call it “Bro Butter”;), look no further than this recipe for homemade body butter!
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Help! My body butter is greasy!
I’ve had a few comments/messages about this body butter recipe being a bit oily or greasy. Unfortunately a little greasiness is par for the course when using a body butter that is 100% oil based. It’s good for our bodies, but can sometimes be a little too much.
If you’re finding that your body butter is too greasy, try adding one tablespoon of arrowroot powder. I’ve had multiple comments and messages about this working great, and have done research on other recipes and found that many people recommend adding around one tablespoon of arrowroot powder to similar recipes to cut the greasiness.
I’ve never personally tried using arrowroot powder (although I think I might have to give it a try now!) But this is definitely the easiest and most natural way I’ve seen to cut the greasiness of this body butter recipe.
Help! My body butter is melting!
Once again, this is the nature of a 100% oil-based product: If it gets too warm, it will probably melt (or at least soften).
If you live somewhere very warm or it’s the height of summer, you might want to store your whipped body butter in the fridge.
If your body butter is still quite melty or soft even in cooler temps, you may want to try reducing the amount of shea butter by half and instead use 1/4 cup shea butter and 1/4 cup cocoa butter. The cocoa butter is harder than the shea butter, so it will help to keep it more solid.
Don’t Forget Your FREE Printable Labels!
You can grab my free printable whipped body butter labels from the “labels” section of my Free Resource Library!
You’ll also get access to a library of free resources to help you on your handmade, homemade, homestead journey, including eBooks, guides, checklists, cheat sheets, templates and labels to help you live a more homemade, sustainable life!
*** Access my FREE Resource Library right here! ***
Looking for more all-natural body products and homemade gift ideas? Try these:
- Quick & Easy DIY Bath Salts W/Essential Oils
- Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe
- DIY Hair Pomade With Rosemary Essential Oil
- All-Natural Homemade Toothpaste Recipe
- DIY Dandelion Healing Salve
- Homemade Soy Candles with Essential Oils
Or check out this video tutorial on 3 easy, all-natural homemade Christmas gifts you can make in your kitchen (including this body butter recipe!):
Homemade Whipped Body Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup Shea Butter
- ¼ cup Coconut Oil
- ¼ cup Sweet Almond Oil
- 30 drops Essential Oils
Instructions
- Melt the shea butter, coconut oil and sweet almond oil in a saucepan or double boiler over medium heat.
- Add essential oils and stir to mix well.
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and place in fridge to let cool. Allow mixture to cool completely until the oils solidify (I usually leave mine in the fridge overnight... You can place it in the freezer to cool quicker, but be sure to set a timer so you don't forget about it and let it freeze!)
- Once mixture is completely cooled, use a hand beater or stand mixer to whip the mixture.
- Spoon into a clean Mason jar and seal with a lid (you can reuse an old lid for this).
- Add a pretty label and/or tie a piece of twine around the lid to dress it up (You can grab the printable labels I use from my Free Resource Library) and you've got a beautiful homemade gift (for yourself or someone else!)
P.S. Want all the skin nourishing goodness of homemade body butter but don’t have time to make your own? Hard lotion bars from MadeOn skin care are made with beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter, and when I’m out of homemade body butter, these lotion bars are my favourite way to moisturize dry, cracked hands during the harsh winter months or after a long day digging in the garden. Readers of The House & Homestead (that’s you!) get 15% off MadeOn’s signature Bee Silk hard lotion bars, plus you also get 15% off all other MadeOn products too, including their BeeCool Muscle Balm, peppermint Foot Rub Lotion Stick, Simply Soothing rash cream and more! Use code HOUSEHOMESTEAD at checkout to get your discount:)
Wishing you homemade, homegrown, homestead happiness 🙂
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'Tis the season! And if you didn't start planning as soon as Christmas was over last year, you may be feeling the pressures of the holidays right about now. Between ever-soaring prices and the mental load of keeping track of it all, this magical time of year, can sometimes feel, not so magical.
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As homesteaders, winter offers us a reprieve from the busy seasons; A time to rest, relax and recharge until next spring. But after a while, we can become restless and cabin fever can start to set in.
Folks like us tend to like to stay productive, even while living slow, intentional lives. We like to feel like we accomplished something every day, whether that means tackling a new project, learning a new skill, preparing a new recipe or simply reading and acquiring some new information that will serve us down the road.
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🧶 Projects & ideas to help you keep busy and stay productive this season
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But the best part is that if you subscribe by the end of December you’ll also get a FREE one-year subscription to gift to someone else.
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As homesteaders, we spend the better part of our year preparing for winter. Now that it’s here, how will you spend it??
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live according to the rhythms of nature, and
in truth it’s a much needed time of rest for all
human beings, whether they spend their days
at home working the land or in the city working
in a cubicle.
On the other hand, slowing down and
settling in can lose its lustre after a while.
Cabin fever can start to set in by January or
February and we may find ourselves restlessly
waiting for spring.
But there is a happy medium that we can
find between boredom and busy-ness that, in
many ways, only winter can offer us. Because
even though our gardens may be lying dormant
and the trees may be bare and the hens may
not be laying and the wild critters may all be hibernating, there is still life and activity all
around us, even in the depths of winter.
In my latest issue of Modern Homesteading
Magazine, we’re highlighting some of the ways
that we can keep entertained and productive
and continue learning and adding new skills to
our repertoire during the winter months while
still taking time to slow down from our usual
pace and celebrate all that we’ve achieved over
the past year.
And the best part is, until the end of December, all new subscribers to the magazine also get a FREE one-year subscription to gift to someone else, which makes a great holiday gift!
Click the link in my bio to subscribe or visit: https://modernhomesteadingmagazine.com/subscribe/
I don't know about where you're from, but around here the Christmas decorations have been on store shelves since August and the first carton of eggnog I saw at the grocery store was in September!
I'm all for celebrating the season, but I think it loses something when it becomes Christmas all year long (or at least when it spans 2 or even 3 seasons!)
I like waiting until December to decorate and put on Christmas tunes, and I definitely won't take my first sip of eggnog until the advent calendar comes out!
That being said, when it is time for Christmas, I enjoy savouring every bit of the holiday season, and that means that when it comes to eggnog, store-bought just won't do. Instead, I whip up my own homemade eggnog, which is way tastier in my opinion, and has less added and unnecessary ingredients, thickeners, etc. It's just eggs, sugar, milk and cream, some liquor if you choose, and a little nutmeg and a cinnamon stick to garnish!
It's also super quick and easy to make yourself.
Grab the full recipe via the ink in my bio @anna.sakawsky or visit https://thehouseandhomestead.com/old-fashioned-homemade-eggnog-recipe/
Do you like to start celebrating Christmas as early as possible or do you prefer to wait until December like me?
Let me know in the comments 👇
What’s in your bug out bag??
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If the concept of a bug out bag is new to you, have a watch through this video and check out this article on 15 Emergency Preparedness Items You Need to Have Packed and Ready to Go: https://thehouseandhomestead.com/15-emergency-preparedness-items-you-need-packed-ready-to-go/
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I’d also love to hear from you!
Do you keep a bug out bag packed?
What do you keep in it?
What types of emergency situations are you preparing for in your area?
Let me know in the comments 👇
#emergencypreparedness #preparedness #prepping #bugoutbag
Do you have what you need on hand to take care of yourself and your family in the event of a worst case scenario?
With everything going on in the world these days, we’re getting more and more serious about equipping ourselves with the tools, supplies and skills needed to handle emergency situations if the need arises.
Between growing nuclear tensions, the ongoing threat of pandemics, cyber attacks and a looming energy crisis, medical staff and supply shortages, and general “everyday” medical, financial and other miscellaneous emergencies, we’d all be wise to be prepared BEFORE the next emergency happens.
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The fact is, gardening and homesteading comes with an inevitable amount of failure every year, and some years are going to be worse than others.
In the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, Mike Fitzgerald of @omnivore.culture gets vulnerable and shares his own homesteading struggles, and the insights he gained from a rough year in the garden.
“I held in my heart an overwhelming level of optimism for the 2022 growing season… I couldn’t have been more wrong and could not have possibly prepared for what awaited me in the upcoming months that paved the way into summer,” he begins.
To read the full story, click the link in my bio @anna.sakawsky or go to modernhomesteadingmagazine.com to subscribe or log in and read the latest issue 🍁
(Quote in the reel by Mike Fitzgerald, “Rolling With the Punches,” Modern Homesteading Magazine | Issue 29 | Fall 2022).
#homesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #selfreliance #gardenersofinstagram #humanswhogrowfood #modernhomesteading
The world is changing faster than ever.
We’ve barely had time to adapt to the “new normal” and still things are continuing to shift, change, and in some cases spiral more each day.
From rising inflation and persistent supply chain issues, to a looming recession and food shortages that are expected to get worse after a very tough farming year, to a war on European soil and the threat of cyber attacks and (God forbid) a nuclear attack, to the future of digital IDs and increasingly pervasive government control over every aspect of our lives, it’s no wonder more people are looking for ways to escape the matrix and “opt out” of the system.
I consider myself an optimistic realist: I hope for the best and I live fully and freely in the moment, but I prepare for the future accordingly based on what I can see unfolding in our world. And honestly, I find this “sweet spot” to be incredibly empowering.
This is why I do what I do and why I share it with you on a regular basis; I WANT TO EMPOWER YOU TOO!
That’s why I created The Society of Self-Reliance: A private membership that connects you with the resources, support and community you need to reclaim your independence and become more self-reliant in every aspect of your life.
From growing and preserving your own food to crafting and using herbal medicine to life skills like how to manage it all and stay calm in stressful situations, how to prepare for emergency situations and much more, if you’re ready to learn invaluable skills that will help you take control of your family’s food security, health and wellbeing, time, finances, and ultimately over your own future, The Society of Self-Reliance was created for you!
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be reopening the Society doors for a limited time starting next week, and wanted to give you the heads up NOW so that you can get on the waitlist and make sure you don’t miss out when enrollment opens.
To learn more or get on the waitlist, click the link in my bio @anna.sakawsky or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/society
#homesteading #selfreliance #livefreeordie
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Bring everything to a boil and then simmer and reduce. Strain into a bottle or Mason jar and store in the fridge for up to a week or so.
Add a tablespoon or 2 of this syrup to your coffee or homemade latte for a better quality, better tasting PSL for a fraction of the cost of what you’d pay at a coffee shop.
You can also add this syrup to homemade kombucha, or drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, French toast or even ice cream!
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#pumpkinspice #psl #homemadetastesbetter #falldrinks
Do you dream of escaping the rat race and starting a homestead far from the chaos of the modern world?
It’s no surprise that in this day and age, more and more people are ready to leave it all behind and move to a property in the country where they can grow their own food, live a simpler life and become more self-sufficient and less dependent on “the system.” But as romantic as it sounds, it’s definitely easier said than done.
In the latest issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, I sat down with Ann Accetta-Scott of @afarmgirlinthemaking to talk all about what people need to know about buying and selling a homestead property.
Ann and her husband Justin recently moved from their two-acre homestead outside of Seattle, Washington to a 40-acre homestead in rural Tennessee. Ann and I sat down to talk about the realities of buying and selling a homestead, moving across the country to pursue your homesteading dream, what to look for when you’re searching for your next property, pitfalls to avoid (if you can!), and what you can do if you’re not ready or in a position to make your move just yet.
Whether you’re looking to purchase your first homestead or trying to sell an existing homestead and upgrade to a bigger property, Ann had some great insights to share that can save you time, stress and money when you’re ready to make your move.
Check out the full interview in the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine: link in bio @anna.sakawsky or visit www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com to subscribe, login to the library (if you’re already a subscriber) or view a sample of the current issue!
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This is why people don’t trust our medical system!!!
I very rarely go on a rant about current events but this has me feeling really fired up…
My husband and I each got an Amber Alert on our phones the other night along with millions of other British Columbians, informing us of a child abduction in Vancouver. It made the suspect sound like a dangerous kidnapper and said “do not approach. Call 911.”
As it turns out, it was the mother of the child (a 3-year-old boy), who had refused medical treatment without getting a second opinion and follow up blood tests, so the Ministry of Child and Family Services was called, she was arrested and her son was taken from her and was administered medical treatment in the hospital without consent and without a guardian present.
There’s a lot more to this story than I’m able to share in this video or this caption, so I’ll post some links below where you can hear directly from the mom what happened, and check out other IG accounts that have been in direct contact with her and the father. But the point is this was a GROSS misuse of our Amber Alert system, a GROSS abuse of power (turns out the boy wasn’t sick in the end anyway), and has now traumatized this family for life.
Doctors are not gods and as mothers we do not co-parent with the government!!!
This hits close to home for me because I too have been through the medical system and had my concerns dismissed, was misdiagnosed and given wrong information, and was treated with obvious contempt when I got a second opinion.
In this day and age of rampant medical coercion and the erosion of bodily autonomy over our own bodies and over those of our children, this story highlights the dangers of the very slippery slope we’re on.
As parents who only have the best interests of our children at heart, this could happen to any one of us. We can’t let this be normalized. Remember “first they came for (fill in the blank), and I said nothing. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Check out my stories for the full video that the mom, Wiloh made explaining the details of what happened or check out the comments for links to learn more & support this family.
I’ve hesitated about posting this reel over and over because I know I’ll probably get backlash, hate and vitriol from some people in return. But I wouldn’t be being true to myself if I didn’t speak the truth that’s on my heart and mind…
If you haven’t noticed, there are currently thousands of Canadians sharing their stories and using the hashtag #trudeaumustgo on their social media posts right now in response to the divisive rhetoric and actions of our prime minister over the past few months. But our media has downplayed the issue and has attributed most of the hashtags to “bot” accounts and foreigners trying to influence our politics.
In response, real Canadians are making videos and sharing their stories to show that we are not bots, but real people who have been negatively affected by the words and actions of our leaders, particularly our leader at the top.
I used to consider myself a lifelong leftist and have supported the liberal government and Trudeau over the years, but after what I’ve witnessed over the past few months; After how he has spoken about Canadians who have made a different medical choice or who have protested mandates (which have done nothing to stop the spread of you-know-what anyway); After the hate and division that has trickled down from the top and infiltrated our communities, I can no longer stand silently by.
While I am 💉, a few months ago when I voiced my support for those who stood up against mandates and against the division being pushed on us by our leadership, I suddenly found myself among what our prime minister called the “small fringe minority” of citizens with “unacceptable views.”
I lost followers, friends and even a couple family members. I was told I’d been “radicalized,” although my views have never changed.
So today I’m adding my voice to the chorus of real, everyday Canadians who are taking a stand against tyranny and division in this country. As the saying goes, if we do not stand for something, we’ll fall for anything. I stand for freedom & autonomy, and against division & tyranny.
#trudeaumustgo
(Special thanks to fellow 🇨🇦 homesteader @meggarlandd for inspiring me & giving me the courage to post this:)
Hi,
I live in a warm humid climate (South Africa) and the risk of melt is high, so I’m suggesting a “butter bell” to keep it solid yet soft. It works well with my kitchen butter so should work here too.
How do you keep the Shea and Cocoa butter from getting grainy in the made product?
Hello,
How can you make an unscented body butter? Thanks, Joan
Hi Joan,
Just omit the essential oils and it will be unscented:)
Hi Anna,
I am going to attempt to make the body butter. I purchased the organic raw shea butter but it smells so bad. Is there a substitute that can be used instead?
That’s odd. I’ve never noticed a bad or unpleasant smell. You could substitute it with cocoa butter however cocoa butter is much harder at room temperature. That might not be a bad thing though as the body butter might stay firmer at higher temperatures.
Another option is mango butter. I haven’t tried it but it’s a bit softer than coca butter and can be substituted for shea butter.
There are two types of Shea Butter – Refined and Unrefined. The unrefined has a strong odor that is difficult to mask, the refined only has a slight odor…
can i use baby oil instead of almond oil
Personally, I have only ever made homemade skincare products with natural oils, because the entire draw for me in making them is avoiding unnatural additives. Baby oil is petroleum-based. I would recommend substituting the almond oil for another natural oil such as apricot kernel seed oil, fractionated coconut, or even olive oil. There are many options!
Is it possible to substitute the shea butter for vasaline or something?
The only thing I’d consider substituting the shea butter with would be another butter of similar consistency, such as mango butter. I would not sub with vaseline.
Hi! Once whipped will it remain the same texture? Or will it harden again?
It should remain the same texture once all of the ingredients are emulsified.
Hi,
Can I add honey to recipe? And soy milk or oil?
You could try adding a little honey, but I’m not sure how it would affect the finished product (ie. if it would be sticky, etc.) I’d start with just a small amount first to try it out.
I wouldn’t add soy milk as I’d think it could spoil. As for oil, it already contains oil, so if you’re thinking of adding another type of oil I would simply substitute it for the sweet almond oil that’s already in this recipe, rather than adding extra oil as this could affect the consistency of the finished product.
I’ve tried whipping it for almost five minutes and it remains clumpy. I used the solid shea butter and the exact coconut oil in your recipe, Is that right? Thanks
Hi Kelly,
Some clumps are normal. The more you whip it the smoother it should get.
Can you substitute almond oil?
You can substitute any liquid oil for the almond oil. Olive oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil or avocado oil are all good options. I get most of my carrier oils from Plant Therapy. I believe they carry all of the oils mentionedhere (except maybe olive oil): Plant Therapy Carrier Oils (affiliate link)
This recipe is exactly what I’ve been looking for! My mom used to lather us in cocoa and shea butter daily as kids and I was looking for an easy way to whip it up into an easier consistency to apply for my own kids.
When I measure the Shea butter should it be solid or liquid? The butters I have are in solid blocks that we break a little piece off at a time to use. I know breaking little pieces into a 1/4 cup will get me some air pockets and compromise the measurement.
I usually measure it out when it’s still solid. I just sort of smoosh it into the cup. It doesn’t need to be exact, just close:)
Hi I made a few batches of the lotion for my family and friends. It came out very oily and greasy. I was wondering what I did wrong. I used, cocoa butter as well to cut down the greasiness and oil. It did cut out the greasiness but when you applied it, it just turned to oil. Is there anything to make the body butter more whipped?
Hi Amber,
You may want to try this suggestion from the blog to cut greasiness “If you’re finding that your body butter is too greasy, try adding one tablespoon of arrowroot powder. I’ve had multiple comments and messages about this working great, and have done research on other recipes and found that many people recommend adding around one tablespoon of arrowroot powder to similar recipes to cut the greasiness.”
Okay I see. I don’t have any arrowroot powder. What is similar to the arrowroot powder that I can use?
Hi Amber, you could give cornstarch a try. Anna hasn’t used it but another reader suggested that it will work as a substitute for the arrowroot powder.
If it’s greasy it could be one or all of your ingredients were not that fresh when you’ve bought them.
Make sure to buy them from a busy shop/store as they keep selling them and always replace them with fresh one.
What benefits does it have for the skin and what skin type is the body butter best for say for instance my skin is hyper sensitive can i use this recipe still?
Hi Zandre,
One of benefits of this body butter is that there are no chemicals or preservatives in it which can cause irritation in some individuals. So, in general, it should be good for sensitive skin unless you are sensitive to any of the ingredients (shea butter, coconut oil, sweet almond oil or arrowroot powder if you choose to use it). So if you feel you are not sensitive to these ingredients, then the next step would be to make some and test it on a small area to be sure you will be fine.
This recipe is a great way to moisturize dry skin without all the harmful chemicals in many of the products available today. And I find that I am much more confident of products I have made myself since I know exactly what ingredients were used. I cannot always tell what store bought products are actually using as they use generalized words like “natural fragrances” often on their labels.
hi! what if we don’t have almond oil? is it possible to use more coconut oil instead or possibly use olive oil as a substitute?
Hi Raia,
It’s best to use a liquid oil in place of the almond oil to maintain the right consistency. If you do opt for more coconut oil, use fractionated coconut oil as it’s in liquid form. Oilive oil will work too, or grapeseed oil or apricot oil… Pretty much any other type of liquid oil.
Hi there, thanks for the recipe and label resources! Do you have weight equivalencies for the measurements of each ingredient? Thanks!
Hi Mikala,
Sorry, we don’t have weight equivalencies for these. Anna used volume measurements for this recipe.
You can google a conversion chart to get metric volume measurements for this if that will help. Unfortunately, this recipe hasn’t been tested using weighted measurements.
I made this exact recipe but it feels really greasy. Not sure if I did something wrong. I think it could be the kind of shea butter I used. It was really yellow therefore, making my body butter really yellow as oppose to white as in the picture. I’ll try the recipe again next time with a better quality shea butter.
Of I don’t have coconut oil is it possible to just double up on the shea butter?
Hi Mikala,
If you read through the previous comments there are a few recommendations / tips for eliminating the coconut oil; however, Anna has not tried any of them so you would need to experiment with quantities.
Anna – I made a very large batch of the body butter because I needed about 50 gifts. I used 5# of shame butter and adjusted all the other ingredients accordingly. I mixed the batch very well and placed in the frig overnight. I didn’t get to it the next day; I got to it about 48 hours later. When I mixed it, the top part mixed very nicely but the bottom portion of it was solid that it did not mix with the mixer. I’m not sure if this affected the rest of the batch – It might have been a little too thin.
The bottom of the bowl that did not mix, can I heat and cool again and try to mix?
Hi Eileen,
Yes, you can absolutely reheat and then cool and mix again. I have found that sometimes as I try to mix it as I get further down to the bottom of the bowl it seems quite hard/solid, but usually I just persevere with the hand mixer and eventually it does blend up. Let me know how it goes!
Is there a substitute for the coconut oil?
Hi Marty,
You can try substituting cocoa butter, or lard for the coconut oil. Anna has not tried either of these options so you would need to experiment a bit to determine the quantity required to achieve the desired consistency.
Keeping the proportions constant, I made a 2X batch of this body butter. It came out perfect. Thanks for sharing!
That is wonderful, Michele! Enjoy!! 🙂
I have read that cornstarch can be substituted for arrowroot 1:!
That is true, Ann. Cornstarch and arrowroot powder can be swapped at a 1:1 ratio when using in food recipes. Although, I assume that the same properties would apply here for this topical cream.
So, if you only have cornstarch, then I would try that and see how that works for you.
My daughter is allergic to coconut. Is there an alternative oil with a similar consistency you would recommend?
I can’t think of anything else that would really work well in place of coconut oil, so I would probably increase the shea butter by another 1/4 cup and see what the consistency is like. If it’s too thick then add another tablespoon of liquid oil until the consistency is right.
Babassu oil is what I use in place of coconut oil. It’s hypoallergenic!
Hi there, thank you for this recipe. I’m just wondering, could you use jojoba oil instead of sweet almond? Thanks
Hello!
How much beeswax should I add in if I use this recipe to make body butter and I decided to include beeswax?
Thank you!
Hi Anaise,
If you add beeswax you will get a lotion bar that you can pour into molds – I don’t think it will whip up well. If that is your goal then just swap either the almond oil or the shea butter for beeswax.
When I make lotion bars, I use equal parts coconut oil, an infused oil and beeswax. Then I melt it down in a double boiler and mix in any essential oils you wish just before pouring into your molds. You can buy silicone molds for small soaps that work really well but the easiest is to use small canning rings (canning lids have 2 pieces, the flat lid and the screw on ring) placed on parchment paper. They solidify quickly and are easy to pop out of the mold. I store extras lotion bars in a canning jar with a piece of wax paper or parchment between each bar.
Hey i did exactly like your recipe and left it over night, and its hard as is it ment to be like that as its hard to mix it with a hand mixer
Yes that’s normal. It takes a minute to get the hand beater going but once it does it will whip it up nicely. Just gently press the hand beater into it and it should start to break up and start whipping. (This is why it’s important to whip it up after and not just leave it as it can end up being too hard and solid otherwise).
Ok i did do that didnt really whip up as nice as i thought it would stil bit clumpy
And kept all getting stuck in the mixer
Hi Alicia,
So sorry to hear you’re having trouble! I’m assuming you followed the recipe instructions as they were written and use all of the same ingredients, amounts, etc. So my guess would be that maybe it’s too cold?? You might want to let it warm up just a bit before whipping. And keep whipping until it does soften up and start to whip. This can sometimes take a minute and it can seem like it’s too hard at first. But otherwise I’m not sure why it would be behaving this way unless there’s a problem with the ingredient you used. Double check the recipe if you haven’t yet and maybe try letting it warm up just a touch before whipping. It might still have a few small clumps but that will melt as soon as you rub it on your skin.
How much does this make once whipped? I want to make sure I have enough storage for it. 🙂
Hi Nichole,
This recipe makes about one cup (or about one 8oz jar).
Hello,
If I wanted to use Mango butter and Shea Butter together how would i change the amount of ingredients? Also, if I wanted to add Arrowroot powder how much would i use?
Thankyou!
I would keep the ratio of 1/2 cup of the more solid butters (ie. shea and mango butters) so I would probably do 1/4 cup mango butter and 1/4 cup shea butter.
If I didn’t whip this could I use the mixture in a pump like normal lotion?
Hi Jessica,
Unfortunately, if not whipped, this recipe will be clumpy and thick. I doubt it would work in a lotion dispenser. But whipping it up does make it softer and smoother. Otherwise it is quite hard and solid at room temperature or colder.
Could you add food coloring to make it colorful or would it be harmful to your skin?
It wouldn’t be harmful to your skin, but it’s possible it could stain skin depending on how much you use.
What is the shelf life of this cream. Want to make as a favour for a wedding shower in January
Hi Allanna,
It should last at least 3 months if kept in a cool dark place like a cupboard. Anna has never had it last longer than 3 months because she uses it up by then but it should last at least that long.
If you want them for a January event, then I would probably make it a couple weeks ahead of the event or if you want, you can make it a month ahead and store in the fridge (with a label that it is not food- just to be safe). Your main objective would be keeping it cool enough so it won’t melt but I wouldn’t make it too far ahead since it has no preservatives so it won’t last forever.
I use mica powder to color mine 😉
Where do you get your products from? Especially the Shea Butter?
Great question Lacey,
I have gotten my Shea Butter from two different places. I have gotten it from Amazon, but I also got some from my local store – kind of a less expensive Whole Foods store here in my area (although Whole Foods carries it also). I try to wait until there is a sale in natural remedies and health section and then get what I can at that time. But Amazon is a good alternative if you can’t wait.
Hi Lacey,
This is the Shea butter I use right here.
do you have a printable recipe for the for the whipped body butter
Hi Tawana,
Yes, you can print the recipe card at the end of this post. If you look in the top left corner you should see a little printer icon.
I can’t wait to try this! Was wondering if you think I could sub Avocado oil I’m for the almond oil…? The former is so good for again skin!
I think it would be a worthy substitute for the almond oil as they are of a similar consistency. But, I would recommend that you use a good unrefined, cold pressed avocado oil, for the best results.
I would love to hear how it works for you!
I think it worked out great! Except I couldn’t get past the Shea butter smell – maybe I need a stronger oil for scent. Did and arrowroot for the oiliness, but the recipe was amazing. Thank you!
Beautiful essential oil combinations.
We use a similar recipe ~ we also add cocoa butter as well (we find it holds the body butter quite well as it has a much higher melting point).
This would be such a beautiful mothers day gift!
Thank you for the great post
You are so right! It makes a great Mother’s Day gift!
I may have to try some with cocoa butter to compare. Thanks!
I’ve tried whipping it for almost five minutes and it remains clumpy. I used the solid shea butter and the exact coconut oil in your recipe, Is that right? Thanks
very wonderful blog thanks for this posting.
Hi, must I whip it with an electric mixer, or can I just blend it by hand?
It’s much easier with an electric mixer but you could whip it by hand if that’s your only option.
Should I add the arrowroot powder before or after I put in the fridge?
Hi Keeley,
I would add the arrowroot powder before you put it in the fridge. It will combine better when the product is soft.
Would this work with 1/4 cup shea butter 1/4 cup avocado butter 1/4 cup coconut oil 1/4 cup almond oil?
I’ve never heard of avocado butter… If you meant avocado oil, then I would say no as the final product will be very soft and greasy. But if you’re talking about a more solid butter, then it might work, depending on the consistency of the avocado butter.
Aloha.
I made the body butter yesterday. It came out nice. But when applies it melts very fast and is oily and doesn’t soak in well. Wondering if I did something wrong
I added 1/2 cacao and 1/2 Shea butter and I added a few extra drops of essential oil.
Hi Angelina,
Since the body butter is all oil-based, it does tend to melt fast in the heat. I take it from your greeting that you’re in Hawaii?? Forgive me if my assumption is wrong! In either case, I would store it in the fridge if you live somewhere hot as it will melt faster in high temps. I haven’t had a problem with it soaking in, although I do find that if my skin is quite dry it can take a little longer to fully soak in so I give it a few minutes. (I liken this to watering dry soil… All of the water sort of pools on top until the soil moistens and starts to absorb it).
If you’re finding it too oily, you can add in some arrowroot powder. I haven’t tried this myself, but have had others suggest that as a remedy for the oiliness and have looked it up and found that if you add about one tablespoon of arrowroot powder that should be enough to cut the greasiness.
Hello!
I made mine with African cocoa butter and virgin coconut oil and peppermint oil. Smells delish, but 2 things: 1. I notice it doesn’t stay soft, it gets hard while in the cupboard, although once you put it on your skin it melts immediately. However this makes it difficult to scoop out
2. Also, I noticed it kinda sits ontop of my skin. Its not softening my rough spots.
Should I add a carrier oil?
Hi Margarita,
Yes I would add a liquid carrier oil. Cocoa butter especially an be quite hard (shea butter is naturally a bit softer), plus the coconut oil is also solid at room temperature, so adding in a liquid oil like sweet almond oil or even olive oil will help to soften it up.
I made this twice and it came out perfect. I used grape seed oil as my liquid oil as that is what I had. I wish I could post pictures here to brag on your recipe! So now I want to make labels. I found that page but how do I know which Avery labels to buy and such? Please.
Hi Rhoda!
I use Avery brand 2.5″ labels. I also design my labels with their online software so they are formatted to fit the labels (or you can also design your own!). Here is the link to the labels I use:)
If I wanted to add color to it, what ingredients do you recommend?
Hi Dominique,
There are lots of artificial dyes on the market, but I like to steer clear of artificial products whenever I can. You can add natural colour with flowers and spices (ie. turmeric for yellow/gold, hibiscus flowers for pink, butterfly pea flowers for blue, etc.) I don’t add colour to my body butters so I haven’t personally tried this method, but I found a great instructional video on adding natural colours to homemade body butter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mQHs1Na71Y
I hope this helps!
Can I sub the coconut oil for sunflower? Coconut oil is rated a 4 on the comedogenic scale …
The only issue I see with this is that coconut oil is solid at room temperature whereas sunflower oil is not, so it could affect the consistency of your body butter and make it too soft. You could try to cut down the oil by about half (so only add 1/8 cup) and increase the shea butter by 1/8 cup to balance it out and see how that works.
I’ve been making body butter for sum time and absolutely love it. However, haven’t figured out how to keep it creamy, so that it doesn’t solidify hard… Thank u ?
Ya, it depends where you store it and what the temperature is too. If it’s colder it will solidify and if it’s warmer it will melt a bit. (If it’s hot it could melt completely). Just like coconut oil. But that’s the way when we’re working with more natural ingredients! The whipping does incorporate air so I find it keeps it a little lighter and fluffier:)
Hello, thank you for sharing! I wanted to note that orange essential oil is phototoxic and typically isn’t recommended for leave-on products. It’s wonderful in products like soap, where most of it is rinsed off.
Hope you have a great 2022!
Hi Tiffany!
While some citrus oils like lemon, lime, grapefruit and Bergamot oils are phototoxic, sweet orange and mandarin oils are not and are actually safe for topical use.
You can find more information on which citrus oils are considered phototoxic and which ones are deemed safe here and here
Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you for your feedback, Anna. Unfortunately, many people aren’t aware of the difference between sweet orange/mandarin and regular orange essential oil. It may be helpful to make that distinction, as you reference orange essential oil, not sweet orange or mandarin. Hope this helps. Thanks again for the great ideas!
What can I use to cut the greasy ness down?
I don’t know that there’s much you can do to cut the initial greasiness down as that’s the nature of the oils/butter used in this recipe. However I find that it’s only really greasy when you first slather it on. Your skin absorbs it very quickly and the greasiness tends to disappear pretty fast.
arrowroot powder works well to eliminate the greasy feeling.
Good call. I’ve heard of people using arrowroot but I haven’t tried it yet myself. Thanks for the tip!
Does this leave your skin greasy? Seems like it would :/
Actually, surprisingly no. It’s a bit greasy immediately after you put it on, but your skin really absorbs the it well.
Arrowroot works wonders to cut down on the greasy feel but you are correct. Your skin does absorb the butter well. Plus its overall a better option for your skin.
I haven’t tried using the arrowroot for this but that is a great tip and worth a try! Thanks!
How can I whip it if the mixture is completely hardened?
It can be a little tough to get going but I use an electric hand mixer and I just push into it (gently) until it starts to whip up and eventually it all starts to whip together.
Is there an alternative to using a hand beater or stand mixer please? I’m in isolation at the moment and have neither of those 🙁
You can just say try to mix by hand with whatever you’ve got. You might not get quite the same “whipped” effect, but it will still blend.
Hey, how long does the product last, expiration date wise?
Hi Margeux,
I’ve had body butter last for a good couple years at least. It really doesn’t ever go “bad” as there’s no water in this product, just oils. The water is what can make moisturizer go bad. But it can start to sort of congeal after a long time. It can also melt if left in a warm place, which doesn’t affect the shelf life, but it could cause ingredients to separate a bit when it solidifies again. If you’re worried about it you could always keep your body butter in the fridge and it will last pretty much indefinitely.
Anna
Can we add arrow root powder to cut grease feel ,to body butter?
Andrea Rose
You can certainly give it a try! I’ve never used arrowroot powder in my body products so I’d be interested to know how it works!
What the 3 essential oils used for the body butter ? I couldn’t hear in the video
I don’t want to seem like an oaf but what IS body butter? Do you use it like hand lotion? a moisturizer for your face?
Ah yes! I guess that would have been a good point to cover!
Body butter is like lotion, but unlike lotion, there’s no water in it. It’s all oil/butter based. So no water, which means no preservatives and an extra rich, moisturizing end product that incredibly nourishing for the skin. But since there’s no water or tucks ingredients to stretch it out, real body butter bought from the store can be very expensive, which is all the more reason to make your own:)
How much does this recipe make?
Hi Molly!
This recipe will make roughly one cup, or an 8oz jar. I like to use the short, wide, half-pint Mason jars, although a tall, slim, jam jar would work too.
can i substitute the almond oil for avacado oil? the almond oil is more expensive and hard to find in a large quantity since i’m doubling the recipe and making 4 16 oz jars as gifts.
Yes, you can substitute any liquid oil for any other liquid oil. Some are better or worse for your skin, but avocado oil actually has lots of benefits for skin so it’s a great substitute for the sweet almond oil!
Hi… can’t wait to make this. Just wondering though do I have to add anything extra or can I stop at the Almond Oil?
Hi Sandi,
If you mean do you need to add essential oils, then no, you absolutely can just add your coconut oil, shea butter and almond oil and omit the essential oils. Let me know how it turns out!
Hi do you have advice for making bath melts with colour and nice fresh scent please?
Hi Rose,
I haven’t actually made bath melts before. I don’t usually use any dyes or colouring in my products, but when I have for bath items I’ve just used food colouring. I’m not sure if this would work for bath melts.
For scent I recommend using essential oils. I use Plant Therapy essential oils as I find them to be of very high quality and all-natural while still being very affordable. Here’s a link to check them out: https://bit.ly/2WldQl1 (affiliate link).
I do have recipes for homemade bath salts with essential oils: https://thehouseandhomestead.com/diy-bath-salts-with-essential-oils/
As well as homemade sugar scrub with essential oils: https://thehouseandhomestead.com/peppermint-sugar-scrub/
I hope this helps!
Anna
What’s the formula needed to fill a 10 oz jar?
This recipe makes roughly an 8oz jar, so I would just stick to the recipe and it will fit in a 10 oz jar. You could add a little bit more of each ingredient or of just the shea butter if you want to bulk it up just a bit.
Hi,
Should the coconut oil be liquid or solid coconut oil?
Thanks
Hi Brianna,
The coconut oil should be solid. Liquid would probably make the body butter too liquid/soft.