I've seen a lot of body butter recipes floating around lately, but a lot of them lacked simplicity. Then I found this body butter recipe from Elizabeth over at The Nourished Life that inspired me to try making my own! I wanted to make a body butter that could double as an after shaving cream that could provide some added protection against ingrown hairs, irritated skin, and act a gentle deodorant. This brought me to the some of the only ingredients I actually used on my skin at home (besides coconut oil): Progest E and essential oils.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup coconut oil (like this)
- 6 tablespoons cocoa butter (like this)
- 2 tablespoons jojoba oil (like this)
- Few drops of Progest E (optional)
- 15-20 drops of Melrose essential oil (you could use more, but at this strength, it was still very gentle to the most sensitive skin areas, including the face). If you have very sensitive skin, do a spot test first. Melrose essential oil tends to have a medicinal smell. If you don't like it, I suggest adding 15-20 drops of Lavender or Orange essential oil to your liking. I love the cocoa butter smell, so I didn't add anything additional. Because essential oils can be expensive, you may want to read this post on how to find them at wholesale prices.
Process:
- Melt cocoa butter in a glass container in the oven at a low temperature, or in a double boiler on the stove top. You just want it melted, not hot.
- When the butter has melted, remove from heat and stir in coconut oil, jojoba oil and combine (the coconut oil should melt solely by the temperature of the cocoa butter).
- Wait a few hours or overnight for the mixture to solidify at room temp. You could also speed this up in the fridge.
- Add solidified mixture to a Kitchen Aid mixer and whip on high for 6-10 minutes stopping to stir down the sides as needed.
- Add in your Melrose essential oil and mix one last time. (If you want, I would split the recipe in two at this point to test out two different body butter oil combinations).
This is such a decadent body butter! It's gentle enough for anywhere on the body, but will be especially helpful on shaven areas, underarms and feet. Feel free to add more Melrose essential oil if you need a stronger concentration, but be careful, a little bit goes a long way!
Do you make your own body butter at home? What is your favorite recipe?
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Lena
Catherine
how long can this butter last? where should i be storing it.
Thank you
Lena
Diana
I don't have any cocoa butter, but I do have shea butter. Can it be used in the place of cocoa butter?
liz
Love this idea - I have really dry skin so I love body butters - this seems like a great after shaving lotion!
Kris
This looks so rich and nourishing! Going to try this out as a homeschool project with the kids.
Visiting from Fight Back Friday...
Nicolette
How long can it be stored for and where? On the counter?
Meg
These creams usually last around 3-4 mths. The tea tree will help but they lack preservatives.
Melissa Salmon
Add vitamin e to preserve the shelf life
Martha
I was pretty excited to make this, having had great luck making my own deodorant, lip balm, and non-petroleum jelly. I had a few problems with this. Once it set up in the fridge, it was really difficult to break it down in my kitchenaid. I finally did, and whipped it up until it approximately doubled in size. I put it into the containers I had for it and closed them up. The body butter began to liquify again relatively quickly. For my personal tastes, this was far too chocolate smelling. I had hopes it would be a lot more coconutty and a lot less chocolatey. Maybe I'll find someone else who will like the scent, but with the unpleasant texture, I doubt anyone will want it. Additionally, I felt it was far too greasy.
Tamara
Hello Martha, how did you make your lip balm and non-petroleum jelly? Also I am going to make the body butter but was wondering if it is greasy. I see some people add corn starch to make it no greasy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
thanks
tamara.
Christina
Try using shea butter instead of cocoa butter. It isn't as strong. Also add just a few flakes of beeswax to it. It will help with the meltdown a little bit.
Moisture maven
Add arrowroot powder or corn starch in mixer. If not add 1/8 beeswax or emulsifying wax in double boiler.
Heather
I've been testing out a lot of DIY body recipes (lip balm and deodorant have been successful so far). I use a lot of lotion/body butter and happen to have the ingredients this recipe specifies on hand. I thought I'd try it out.
It is basically whipped oil. That is neither a good nor bad thing, but if you aren't the kind of person who likes an oily residue and wants a something that stays emulsified and absorbs quickly, try another recipe. This won't work for you. This is more of a cold, dry weather moisturizer. My skin does feel lovely and soft after I've had time to let this absorb, but it takes time and will leave the dreaded (by some) greasy residue.
As also said in other reviews, it makes a lot once you whip it. I recommend reducing the recipe, especially if you're not sure about it. I ended up filling about a half dozen small body butter tubs with what I made, and I'm pretty sure I reduced the recipe by half.
I don't love this, but I'm going to try it again with a few additions. I want to see what vegetable glycerin and aloe vera gel will do to change it. While I don't hate the oiliness, I'd like something a little less greasy.
Gwen Charron
Are your measurements in solid or liquid?