I’ve ditched all the store bought lotions and I make my own…WHY?
Our skin is very permeable…there are medications that are applied topically and that is because the skin is a great way to get something into your body. Go get your lotion and look at the ingredients list…yes, all that “stuff” is getting ingested into your body via your biggest organ…YOUR SKIN!!! The rule I apply to the food I eat I also apply to just about everything that I apply to my skin…”If it contains anything that I can not pronounce than I assume that my body probably can not process it” Now look at the ingredient list again…are there ingredients you can not pronounce? Do you think your body knows what to do with the extra chemicals?
Ditching and switching gave me control over what I apply to my skin to keep it healthy and happy!
Especially during the dry months of winter that can be damaging to your skin, causing it to become dry and flakey. This recipe was created to remedy dry skin during the winter, but I now use it everyday even in the summer because it is so nourishing and makes it look smooth and soft. For the ingredients that I use, I prefer to go all-natural and organic since the skin will quickly absorb what you put on it.
After many attempts at trying to “whip up” the perfect recipe for Body Butter I finally landed on a combination of ingredients that yield a butter that is creamy and does not leave you feeling greasy. Using a stand mixer to whip the ingredients together is key to the whole process, as it creates a creamy light texture. This recipe makes a large batch of “base”, which I than use to make a few different types of body butter and rubs.
There are four main ingredients that hydrate the skin in no time.
- Shea butter nourishes and hydrates the skin while shielding it from the winter elements and offers sun protection.
- Grape seed or almond oil is soothing and hydrating as well as offering antioxidant properties.
- Coconut oil contains vitamin E & A, essential amino acids as well as lauric and caprylic acid which form part of barrier function for the skin thus helps the skin regenerate itself.
- Cocoa butter, with its fatty acids may help reduce wrinkles, dry skin and age spots. Helps to moisturize the skin while getting rid of dead skin cells thus promoting a soft and smooth skin.
Tools:
- Stand Up mixer
- Double boiler (I just use a pot and place a large glass measuring cup in the post of water)
- Spatula
- Glass or metal containers to place the body butter in
Ingredients for THE BASE:
- 4 cups Raw unrefined shea butter (could use naturally refined)
- 1/8 cup Organic Coconut Oil (can not the liquid, fractionated…makes the end product very greasy)
- 1/8 cup Grapeseed or Almond Seed Oil
- 1 tsp Cocoa Butter
- 1 tsp Vitamin E
NOTE: This creates a large amount of Base that you can store in the fridge and use only what you need for individual recipes. I usually cut the recipe in half.
You may want to add the following to the above, optional:
- 1 tsp Rosehip Oil
- 1 tsp Jojoba Oil
Lastly, add a combination of essential oils from one of the recipes below. Each can make a big impact on the health and condition of skin.
Instructions:
- In a double boiler melt coconut oil and cocoa butter in double boiler (do not exceed 170 degrees as it affects the therapeutic properties).
- Stirring constantly. Once the mixture is melted remove from heat for 10 minutes and than place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes. You don’t want it to harden. but if it does let it sit on counter to soften.
- Combine in mixing bowl with Shea Butter and mix on medium speed.
- Add the remain carrier oils – Grapeseed/Almond, Vitamin E, Rosehip (optional), Jojoba (optional) on medium speed
- Once combined and the consistency is soft than switch to HIGH speed and whip for at least 10 minutes stopping occasionally to scrape the sides.
- Store in an airtight glass or metal container in the fridge. It should be fine for a few months stored this way.
- Extract the amount you need for each recipe.
- Stir in the essential oils do not whip…we need to be gentle with the oils.
Winter Skin Cream
1/2 cup of Base
8 drops – Lavender EO
6 drops – Melrose EO
8 drops – Frankincense EO
6 drops – Myrrh or Tea Tree EO
Daytime Cream
1/2 cup of Base
10 drops – Frankincense EO
10 drops – Geranium EO
5 drops – Helichrysum EO
Sleepy Time Night Cream
1/2 cup of Base
15 drops – Cedarwood EO
15 drops – Peace & Calming
15 drops – Lavender EO
(Substitute P & C with Valerian EO)
Pick Me Up Cream
1/2 cup of Base
15 drops – Motivation EO
15 drops – En-R-Gee EO
15 drops – Peppermint EO
Ouch Relief
1/2 cup of Base
10 drops – Panaway EO
8 drops – Lemongrass EO
10 drops – Valor EO
10 drops – Peppermint EO
Wassail Body Butter
1/2 cup of Base
3 drops – Cinnamon Bark EO
3 drops – Orange EO
6 drops – Ginger EO
6 drops – Clove EO
Muscle Rub
(Muscle and Skeletal Support)
10 ounces of Base (approx. 1 1/4 cup)
2 tsp – Orthos Sport or Ortho Ease Massage Oil
2 drops – Joy EO
2 drops – Helichrysum EO
7 drops – Copaiba EO
7 drops – Cypress EO
3 drops – Xiang Mao EO **
5 drops – Eucalyptus Globulus EO **
** substitute these two with 7 drops – Cool Azul EO
