When I began selling my natural skincare products, my intention was to share the recipes as well. Why? Because I want you to know how they’re made and that you don’t have to buy that chemically laden crap that’s out on the market. And if you want to make your own, it’s quite simple if you have some extra time and the right ingredients. One of the easiest recipes to start with is whipped body butter; you can make your own with just three ingredients. The trick is as simple as melting them together and then whipping the mixture as it cools. You’ll end up with a luxurious, buttery product that melts into your skin. And you can add your own favorite blend of essential oils, if desired.
You’ll need equal portions of shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil, a double boiler or similar contraption (such as a bowl that fits over the top of a pan with water in it), and an electric hand mixer. You want to make sure your butters and coconut oil are raw and unrefined – when they’re refined they lose virtually all of their healing properties – and organic and fair trade if possible. If you can’t find both butters, you can substitute one for the other, but this is my favorite blend.
The reason I’ve chosen these ingredients is because of the amazing things they do for your skin:
Shea butter is a skin superfood. I first learned about this miraculous butter, made from the nut of the shea tree in West Africa, while traveling in Ghana. Staff of Life in Santa Cruz sells raw, fair trade shea butter made by a women’s cooperative in Ghana. Chock full of vitamin A, it’s effective against blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, dermatitis and more. It’s extremely hydrating, providing immediate softness upon application. Not only that, but a study conducted by The National Center for Biotechnology Information indicated that shea butter contains anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor compounds. And a study by the American Journal of Life Sciences shows anti-aging benefits in shea butter, due to its ability to boost collagen production.
Cocoa butter, made from the extracted oil of the cocoa bean, is a skin-loving wealth of fatty acids and antioxidants. It prevents dryness and peeling, healing cracked and dry winter skin as well as skin that’s been in the summer sun. It’s easily absorbed into the skin and stays locked in for hours.In addition, it’s an emollient, meaning it adds a protective layer of hydration. Containing antioxidant compounds called cocoa mass polyphenols, cocoa butter can also help diminish signs of aging as well as soothe dermatitis and rashes. Plus, it smells like chocolate – enough said. I get my raw, fair trade organic cocoa butter from Mountain Rose Herbs.
A favorite among hippies for years, coconut oil works amazingly on skin because it has a low molecular weight and an affinity for bonding with proteins, being a triglyceride of lauric acid. This, in addition to capric and caprilic acids, helps keep skin healthy and clean. Coconut oil has similar moisturizing properties to shea and cocoa butter, and it also contains antibacterial properties. It melts into the skin, has a smooth feel and smells great. The downside to using coconut oil on your skin is that it gets runny in warm temps yet extremely hard in cold temps – whipping it with the butters makes a soft product that is much easier to apply!
Ingredients:
- 2 oz coconut oil
- 2 oz shea butter
- 2 oz cocoa butter
Directions:
- Melt ingredients over low heat in a double boiler.
- Cool in refrigerator until partially solidified (around an hour).
- Whip with electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes). If mixture melts too much, place in refrigerator for a bit longer and re-whip.
- Store in glass jars with lids, out of heat.