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.
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!
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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Did you know you can now buy pumpkin spice ramen noodles, pumpkin spice Pringles, pumpkin spice macaroni and cheese, pumpkin spice sausages and even pumpkin spice dog treats?
It’s not exactly a stretch to say that we’ve taken the whole pumpkin spice craze a little bit too far.
But our obsession with pumpkin spice speaks to something much deeper than the flavour itself. (Let’s be honest, pumpkin spice ramen noodles sound gag-worthy).
The reason we tend to love pumpkin spice so much is because it triggers feelings of comfort and nostalgia; Memories of days spent with family at the pumpkin patch or around the Thanksgiving table. In short, pumpkin spice triggers our emotions as much as it tantalizes our taste buds.
But let’s be real, pumpkin spice Pringles ain’t it.
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Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to grab the recipe or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/homemade-pumpkin-spice-syrup/
#pumpkinspice #psl #pumpkinspicelatte #fallvibes #fromscratch
I’ve been feeling pulled to slow down and retreat into my home lately; To turn off the news and social media and focus on the tangible things like lighting the wood stove, preserving the mountains of food still coming out of the garden, and slowly stirring a pot of soup as it cooks on the stovetop.
With everything that’s going on in the world right now, I know I’m not the only one feeling pulled toward hearth and home. This is a heavy time for all of us. No one person is meant to bear the weight of the world on their shoulders, but I've heard from so many people lately who say that's exactly how they've been feeling.
If you read my post from a few days ago, you know I’ve been feeling like that too, but luckily, I've learned how to soothe my soul in difficult times.
And so that's what I've been doing lately...
I've been focusing on the tangible things that I can control, like cooking meals and preserving food.
I've been lingering a little longer in the morning, taking time to sit by the river or sip my coffee in front of the wood stove before hurrying on with my day.
And I've been making a conscious effort to turn off the noise of the outside world and give my family and my own emotional health my full attention.
If you've also been feeling that pull to turn off all of the noise and immerse yourself in more nourishing, productive activities, I want to tell you about a collection of resources that will help you do just that.
The Simple Living Collective’s Autumn Issue includes seasonal guides, tutorials, e-books, recipes and more to help you slow down and reconnect with what matters this season.
* Learn how to forage for healing herbs and how to make your own natural medicine
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And much more.
If this sounds like it’s exactly what you're in need of right now, check out the Simple Living Collective and get the Autumn Issue for just $25. But this issue is only available until tomorrow, so don't wait…
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to grab it now before it disappears 🍁
If you’ve ever grown peppers, you know they take FOREVER and a day to grow from seed.
Peppers are one of the earliest crops that we start from seed, usually in January or February. Usually by August the sweet peppers and bell peppers have finally grown a few peppers each, and it’s around this time that I ask myself why I bother with growing peppers in the first place. That is until I inspect the jalapeño plants and find them LOADED with little green spicy peppers!
Our jalapeño plants are about as prolific as our tomato or zucchini plants, so all of the waiting for these pepper plants to mature and produce is totally worth it. But as with all high yield plants, the problem becomes what to do with them all!
While I do use a fair amount of jalapeños to make homemade salsa, I’m always left with more than I need. And personally, I don’t like fresh jalapeños. I prefer them pickled. And if I’m going to pickle them, I may as well ferment them and make them both tastier AND healthier while preserving them to eat throughout the year,
Fermented jalapeños have actually become one of my favourite ferments, and probably my favourite way to enjoy jalapeños too! Plus, they’re so incredibly easy to make. All you need are jalapeños, some water and salt. (A few jars and some @masontops pickle pebbles help too 😉)
As for how to use them, try adding fermented #jalapeños to homemade nachos, tacos, chilli, pizza, salads, burgers and anything else you can think of that could benefit from a little spicy heat (and a healthy dose of probiotics;)
Or, if you really like heat, just grab a fork and eat some straight out of the jar! (Maybe keep a glass of milk on hand to cool your mouth down… just in case;)
If you don’t have ay jalapeños but have other hot peppers (or any type of peppers), just sub them for the jalapeños. This recipe can be used to #ferment any type of peppers:)
If you’ve got an abundance of peppers on hand and need a quick, easy, healthy and DELICIOUS way to preserve them, I’ve got you covered!
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/fermented-jalapenos/ for the recipe!
#fermentation #fermentedfoods #wildfermentation
I laid in bed the other night and couldn’t sleep.
I know that probably doesn’t sound out of the ordinary, especially considering the collective stress we’ve all been through over the past year and a half. But if I’m being totally honest, I’ve done a pretty good job of not letting it get to me.
I used to have really bad anxiety, and I made a conscious effort to learn how to manage it in (mostly) healthy, natural ways. I practice a lot of gratitude every day, and overall I’ve learned to deal with stress, anxiety and negative thoughts pretty well.
Lately though, I’ve been feeling the weight of it all. Aside from dealing with personal issues like our ongoing infertility/pregnancy loss journey and the every day stresses we all face, the bigger things have been feeling bigger and heavier lately; The mandates, the politics, the pushback, the arguments and attacks online, the divisiveness, and the seemingly never-ending pandemic that every single one of us is still dealing with in some capacity.
I’ve been seeing more and more calls to “choose a side.” I’ve witnessed my own close friends on both sides of the debate hurling insults at each other, defending their ground, and refusing to listen to each other’s valid points and concerns.
I’ve even witnessed a widening crack in the homesteading community, despite the fact that so many of our core values and beliefs align and are unique to us.
Despite the division, I would still argue that ALL of us have much more in common than not, and to see the divide continuing to deepen has started to get under my skin lately.
(Continued in comments…)
🍁 There's something almost magical about the changing of the seasons, and especially the transition from summer to fall.
For us homesteaders, summers are often chaotic and offer lots of projects and distractions to keep us busy, but fall beckons us to slow down and focus on what we want out of this life and what sort of changes and transitions we need to make to get to where we ultimately want to be.
This latest issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine reflects this spirit of change and honours the many transitions that this season brings.
From transitioning our homes and gardens for the fall and winter to transitioning our kids back to school, we're covering a wide range of topics to help you to make the most of this season before we transition to the next.
And speaking of changes and transitions, I'm very excited to announce a brand new format and vision for Modern Homesteading Magazine.
As we celebrate two years in publication and 24 monthly issues on topics ranging from organic gardening to herbal medicine to raising livestock to fermentation and just about everything in between, the time has come for the magazine to expand, diversify and transition from a monthly publication to a seasonal one.
This will also be the last issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine that we're offering for free.
If you're already a paid member, nothing will change and you'll continue to enjoy full access to our entire library of past, present and future issues.
If you're not a member yet but you'd like to continue to receive each new issue and get full access to our entire library of past issues, you can still do so for the super low introductory rate of just $7.99/year.
A huge thanks to @planttherapy for sponsoring yet another issue!
Plant Therapy's fall collection is out now, along with their vast selection of essential oils, home and body care products, CBD oils and more! Shop now and get 10% off site-wide when you use code HOMESTEAD at checkout.
I hope you enjoy everything that this issue has to offer, and that it inspires you to make the most of the season.
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to become a member or subscribe and read your first issue for free!
Fun fact: The word “ferment” comes from the Latin word “fervere,” which means “to boil.”
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Get all of these recipes and learn all about the wonderful world of fermentation while you still can by subscribing to Modern Homesteading Magazine. Right now you can subscribe for free and you’ll still get the weekend to read through this issue before the Fall issue drops next Monday.
Or, if you want unlimited access to this issue, along with every other issue of the magazine, you can still become a member for the super low introductory rate of just $7.99/year!
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to subscribe for free or become a member and get unlimited access to our entire library of issues packed with helpful information, resources and exclusive recipes!
#modernhomesteading #homesteading #fermenting #fermentedfoods #fermentation #sauerkraut #kimchi
I’ve been keeping a secret…
For the past two years I’ve worked hard to bring you monthly issues of Modern Homesteading Magazine.
Over the course of the past 24 issues, we’ve covered everything from gardening to canning, sourdough bread to backyard chickens, home dairy to herbal medicine, permaculture to fermentation and EVERYTHING in between.
But it’s time for the magazine to step into some bigger shoes, which means we’re transitioning from a monthly publication focused on one specific topic per issue to a seasonal publication which will focus on multiple seasonally-themed topics per issue.
This also means that each issue will be packed with even more great content tailored for homesteaders from all walks of life.
Since the August issue was a week late due to some personal and family issues, and since this next issue is packed with even more great content, it will be coming to you in a few days from now.
That being said, it will also be the last issue you’ll be able to read free of charge. So, if you STILL haven’t subscribed, head on over and click the link in my bio or go to thehouseandhomestead.com/magazine to subscribe for free and you’ll still get to read the August issue (all about fermentation) as well as the Fall 2021 issue (when it comes out) ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Membership prices to access our entire library of issues will also be increasing soon so now’s a great time to lock in at the super low introductory price of just $7.99/year. That gets you full access to every single issue, past, present and future, including the ability to download, save and print each one.
Big, exciting changes are coming this fall! Be sure to subscribe and/or become a member now and be the first to know when the brand new Fall 2021 issue drops in just a few days!
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to subscribe or become a member now :)
Fall is just around the corner, and that means so is cold and flu season.
This is the time of year when I like to mix up a big batch of elderberry syrup to help support our immunity and keep us healthy throughout the fall and winter.
If you've never made your own elderberry syrup, it's SUPER easy. All you need are some dried elderberries (or fresh if you've got 'em), honey, and a few other herbs and spices.
OR you can make things even easier on yourself and grab a dump-and-go Elderberry Syrup Mix kit from @farmhouseteas!
Whether you opt for plain ol' dried elderberries or the Elderberry Syrup Mix, right now you can buy one and get one for 20% off, plus get free shipping over $59 anywhere in the U.S.
Stock up on elderberries now and use code IMMUNE821 at checkout to get your discount!
Link in bio @thehouseandhomestead to order your dried elderberries and get your discount, and/or to get my full recipe for homemade elderberry syrup (or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/homemade-elderberry-syrup-recipe)
Happy fall y’all 🍁
Not a bad start to our carrot harvest if you ask me!
One of the things I love about growing food at home is that we get to try all sorts of varieties that we would never find in a grocery store, like these deep purple carrots from @westcoastseeds.
There are so many interesting heirlooms (and hybrids!) out there that just aren’t grown for commercial sale.
What’s your favourite vegetable that you’ve grown that you can’t find anywhere else?
Got plums???
This plum jelly is a super easy way to use up any plums you have WITHOUT having to pit them.
(This is obviously especially useful if you have a clingstone variety, because let me tell you from experience, it is NOT worth your time to try to pit those babies!)
But since all you need for this jelly is to extract the juice from your plums, you don’t need to worry about removing the pits. Just toss ‘em in the pot whole!
This plum jelly is also spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Perfect for fall -it basically tastes like what cozy feels like!
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Happy anniversary to the love of my life @thehumblehandyman
Over our 7 years of marriage and 10 years together, we’ve experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows.
We’ve travelled the world together. We’ve accomplished countless goals together. We’ve learned to grow food and live a more sustainable life, not because we have to, but because it feels right in every fiber of our being.
We’ve created a beautiful baby girl together, and said goodbye to 4 angel babies. We’ve yet to meet our rainbow baby, but I feel in my heart that there’s a soul out there who’s meant to live his earthly life with us. I’m not ready to stop trying.
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I know we’re only 7 years in, but I can already picture us 20, 30, 40 years from now, giving the younger kids some simple life advice on how to make a marriage work:
#1: Communicate. About everything. Share your wildest dreams and your darkest secrets. Share a bank account! A strong marriage is based on absolute trust. Communication is necessary for trust to exist.
#2: Work toward common goals. Get on the same page about what you want out of life, and if you disagree on some things, find middle ground. Marriage is about compromise, but we also only get one chance to do this life and I don’t know about you, but I’ve got lots I wanna do and I wanna do it next to the person I love most.
#3: Laugh. Cry. Comfort each other. Share all of the raw human emotions with each other. Celebrate what it means to be spiritual beings having a human experience, together.
This is what’s worked for us so far anyway, and I can say for a fact that we’re stronger together and as individuals for it.
Thank you for being the best husband and father Evelyn and I could ask for. And thanks for knowing how to build and fix just about everything. Many of our projects would never get off the ground or our bills would be much higher if I wasn’t married to @thehumblehandyman, and for that I’m eternally grateful 😘
When you grow your own food at home, you tend to end up with the very GOOD problem of having too much fresh food ready all at once.
This is definitely the case in our house right now, which means our canner has taken up permanent residence on our stovetop and I've been admittedly pulling some late nights trying to get everything preserved.
Tomato sauce is a top priority for us when it comes to canning because it's such a staple on our pantry shelves. From pizza and pasta sauce to soups, stews and casseroles, we use tomato sauce for so much of our home cooking, and for this reason, having a good, basic tomato sauce on hand is an absolute MUST!
The recipe I'm sharing with you today includes instructions on how to can homemade tomato sauce with a water bath canner or a pressure canner (because tomatoes go both ways;) so you always have the makings of a delicious meal on hand!
Click the link in my bio @thehouseandhomestead or go to https://thehouseandhomestead.com/how-to-can-homemade-tomato-sauce/ to get the full recipe and canning instructions:)
What's your favourite way to use tomato sauce at home??
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:)
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!
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.