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by Autumn 42 Comments
When battling dry, cracked skin, we all want a moisturizer with more power, something with a bit of kick to it! Of course, whatever we use, we always want to keep it natural and healthy. This DIY body butter recipe is just the thing, my secret weapon for combating ultra-dry skin!
You can make it in your own kitchen, using just 3 ingredients!
How It All Works
To make this recipe you need shea butter, coconut oil and a liquid oil. You can use avocado, apricot kernel, jojoba or olive for the latter, but I prefer to use sweet almond oil. It’s a thick and ultra-moisturizing!
The process is simple: melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler (what is that?) to eliminate lumps, then let these two ingredients cool and return to a solid state. Once they have, you’ll whip them into creamy fluff while incorporating the liquid oil.
And that’s really all there is to it! Here’s the recipe and directions!
A DIY Body Butter Recipe for Dry Skin
Here the exact recipe I use when I need a healthy skin moisturizer with extra power!
- ½ C shea (here’s the type I like to use)
- ¼ C coconut oil (get yours here)
- 2 Tbs of sweet almond oil (get it here) or your oil of preference
Directions to Follow
Add water to the bottom of your double boiler, filling it 3/4 full. Set it on the stove and turn your burner to medium-high.
While the water is warming up, measure out ½ C shea butter and ¼ coconut oil. Place these two ingredients in the top portion of your double boiler and set in on the water-filled base.
Adjust heat to medium-low so it doesn’t boil, so your shea butter and coconut oil will slowly melt into a golden puddle.
After it has melted, pour the colorful liquid into a mixing bowl. Set it in a cool place and wait for things to firm up. Note: this process can take several hours at room temperature!
Once the shea butter and coconut oil have returned to a solid state, it’s time to fluff the ingredients. I have a small, handheld KitchenAid electric mixer that I like to use for small batches of body butter. However, if you’re making a double batch (like I was in this tutorial), you can use a larger, stationary mixer. Just be sure to use the wire whisks!
Whip the solids for 15 seconds or so, until they resemble the consistency of sour cream. Measure out and slowly add 2 tablespoons of liquid oil to the creamy butter. Whip for another 15 seconds.
And you’re done! You just completed this DIY body butter recipe and now have an extra-nourishing skin moisturizer for everyday use.
Storing Homemade Body Butter
Once prepared, your homemade body butter can go directly into a storage container. Because it’s so thick, body butter doesn’t work in pump or a squeezable bottle. I like to store mine in a vintage glass jar, but you can use anything you have available!
How to Apply Body Butter
If you’re accustomed to using commercially prepared, water-based skin moisturizers, you’ll have a slight learning curve ahead of you! Don’t slather this stuff on as thick as you possibly can!
Body butter is made of 100% fats and oils! If you apply too much, your skin won’t be able to absorb it all. Not only is this wasteful, but you’ll soon discover it’s annoying! Your skin will be sticky for hours and in that time, you’ll pick up dust from your home, plus lint and fuzzies from clothing.
When you apply this body butter, take a dime-size dollop and rub it between your hands to melt the oils. Apply to the body, spreading it so thin you can hardly tell it’s there! This DIY body butter recipe creates such a rich substance, your skin really doesn’t need much!
Caring for Your Body Butter
Before I let you go, I also want you to know that body butter does melt when exposed to high heat! For example, if you leave it in your car on a hot summer day or forget it in a south-facing window, it will melt into a pool of liquid.
Don’t throw it out! Put it in a cool place and once it has returned to a solid state, simply send it through your kitchen mixer once again, until it’s light and fluffy!
All clear? Let me know how your first attempt with this DIY body butter recipe goes! And if you have any questions, be sure to send them my way!
