Recipe by Dr Sarah Lantz
This succulent, silky, whipped crème Body Butter, made from everyday kitchen ingredients, is a perfect-all-round moisturiser for everything from elbows to heels, knees, hair and cuticles. Derived from the extracts of seeds, kernels, beans and nuts, body butters provide ideal emollients composed of essential fatty acids, vitamins, proteins, minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols, phytosterols, and tocopherol. These properties provide anti-inflammatory, soothing, moisturising, and antioxidant benefits known to hydrate and smooth skin, repair skin and promote cell regeneration.
Completely edible, this lush body-butter recipe is easy to make and is literally dripping with beneficial benevolent botanicals. Designed to melt into your skin leaving it nourished and hydrated without a greasy finish. Remember, a little body butter goes a long way as your homemade whipped body butter doesn’t have any fillers; it’s all butter, oil and botanical goodness.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup organic shea butter
- 1/2 cup organic cocoa butter (shaved or thinly cut for easier melting)
- 1/2 cup organic coconut oil
- 1/2 cup light organic oil (like almond, jojoba, or olive)
- Optional: 10 drops of organic essential oils of choice or infuse your carrier oils, to begin with.
Note: Cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter are all interchangeable in this recipe. If you only have one or two on hand, feel free to substitute or play with different combinations.
Instructions
- In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine any of the still solid butters and oils and bring to low/medium heat, stir constantly until all ingredients are melted. (Please respect the oils and don’t use a microwave!)
- Remove from heat and let the oils cool slightly.
- Add in any remaining liquid carrier oils and essential oils if using and stir.
- Move the bowl to the fridge and let cool for an hour or until the oils starts to harden around the edges and solidify, but still remain somewhat soft. This will be a consistency similar to a soft wax or softened butter.
- Using a hand mixer, whip your oils until they become light, airy, fluffy and silky in texture. The butter, when ready, should be stiff enough to hold its shape.
- Return your butter to the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set. Then spoon your beautiful butter into glass jars and use as you would a regular body lotion.
- If your home stays above 30 degrees, it may soften and need to be kept in the fridge, but otherwise it will stay beautifully whipped at lower temperatures.
A few whipping tips:
You will need to use a power mixer for this (unless you have superhero arm strength), but either a hand mixer or a stick mixer will work.
If you completely forgot about your mixture and it stayed in the fridge or freezer for far too long, no worries. Just let your mixture sit at room temperature again until it softens to a consistency of butter, then you’re ready to start whipping.
If you are having trouble getting your butter to whip, you might need to blend it a bit, then put back in fridge for 20 minutes or so to get cold and stiff enough. If the mixture won’t whip or stay whipped, you need to chill it longer.
A few organic essential oil smell and flavouring suggestions, although the natural buttery fragrance of the oils can be aromatic enough for many:
- Frankincense and Myrrh
- Vanilla and Cinnamon
- Rose Hip & Rose Otto
- Evening Primrose & Night Blooming Jessamine
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Cacao (infused into the Cacao butter prior)
- Orange or Tangerine
- Eucalyptus and Spearmint
- Bergamot and Grapefruit
- Orange, Cedarwood, and Yang Ylang
- Patchouli and Tangerine
By:
Dr Sarah Lantz (PhD)
Buchi Brew Co. & Sacred Women’s Way
