Easy Homemade Whipped Body Butter Recipe
Do you have this constant itch to make your own stuff? Do you talk to yourself too, saying things like, “I’ve got to try that one day” or “ I wonder how easy is it to replicate this and that?” or the best one, “ It might be cheaper to just... (insert any recipe or project you plan on tackling yourself)". You , my friend , are a Do-it-Yourselfer at heart . A DIYer is constantly experimenting and tinkering with well established blueprints. From home renovation projects to home cooking, to skin care, the sky is the limit.
Today, we are going to satisfy your urge to tinker and invent with a very simple recipe for homemade body butter. So easy, maybe a 10 year old can do it? Most of the ingredients you should have on hand. If not, you might have to buy three ingredients at most. It’s so simple; all you have to do is melt and whip lovely oils together in a KitchenAid stand mixer, and voila! Beautiful body butter!
First things first...
WHAT EXACTLY IS BODY BUTTER?
Body butter is basically a rich, moisturizing skin product that’s generally made with natural plant butters and oils like Shea butter, Cocoa butter, coconut oil and Sweet almond oil. Body butter is an excellent and more effective alternative to lotion, since its primary job is to moisturize the skin.
But aren't butter and lotion the same thing? Isn’t this whole “butter” term just a fancy schmancy term for regular, schmegular lotion? Sorry guys but no,... lotion is lotion and butter is butter and it’s called butter for for a reason. Let us explain...
Body lotions and body butters are both moisturizers designed to be used on the skin below your neck. Note: Natural Serums are best suited for the face since they are made with liquid oils that won't clog pores and are infused with other active ingredients that address problems that typically only occur on the face.
Getting back to body butter and lotions.... yes, each one is hydrating and they both help soften skin and minimize dryness for healthier-feeling and better-looking skin. But, they’re not the same.
The biggest difference between body lotion and body butter is texture: Lotions have a higher water content with more liquid consistency, while body butter is thicker and creamier (like, well, butter).
Body butters contain a higher concentration of heavy moisturizers, such as shea butter or cocoa butter while body lotion is formulated with lightweight hydrators and lots of water. Typically, body butters are ideal for those with very dry skin, as they’re thicker and often offer more intense hydration.
From a do-it-yourself standpoint, homemade body butters will last for many months without the use of a preservative because they don’t contain any water. On the other hand, if you attempt to make homemade lotion, it will have to be used within a short time frame OR you’ll have to include a preservative to prevent bacterial growth. Water is a breeding ground for bacteria( link to other blog post about waterless skincare). Oh and you’ll need an emulsifier to properly blend the oil and water together. Quite complicated isn’t it? At Lang & Ivy we prefer simplicity over unnecessary complexity!
BODY BUTTER BASICS
Butter
Yep.. Homemade body butter starts with butter. You need a plant butter that is solid at room temperature. Shea butter or Cocoa butter are excellent choices. Many people tend to have access to Shea butter home and you know what? That’s an excellent choice since it’s softer and creamier making it easier to work with if you are attempting this project for the first time. Cocoa butter is a harder butter and will take a little more experience, tinkering or adjusting to achieve the best final results.
Oils
Oil is the second main ingredient used to make body butter. The oils used in skincare recipes are typically referred to as carrier oils.
The oil used is completely up to you. Use what you have. Coconut Oil is readily available but if you use that alone, your body butter might feel a little too greasy for your liking. This is because, Coconut oil is a heavy and is just greasy by nature. Other lightweight oils such as Almond, Jojoba or Grapeseed are better choices. You can use these lightweight oils on their own or you can mix them with coconut oil if you choose.
Aroma
The last component to making your own body butter is aroma! Your homemade concoction should smell lovely! That’s where natural concentrated essential oils and extracts come into play. At Lang & Ivy, we only use premium essential oils and extracts because not only do they providing amazing fragrance but they are also very beneficial to the skin. However, since this blog is about making a simple homemade concoction, it’s perfectly acceptable if you don’t have essential oils on hand. In this case, fragrance oils will work but there is a difference that you should know about. The difference between fragrance oils and essential oils is simple. Fragrance oils are synthetically created to mimic the aroma of fruits, plants, flowers and other substances but they have no active ingredient to benefit the skin. On the other hand, Essential oils are natural oils that are literally extracted from flowers, trees, plants and shrubs. Unlike fragrance oils, they contain active ingredients that are beneficial the human body.
Lavender, Chamomile and Rose Geranium essential oils will make excellent additions to your homemade body butter but if you don’t have any of those you could certainly use your favorite fragrance oils. The sky is the limit when it comes to fragrance oils since they come in a plethora of scents. From baby powder, to coffee cake spice the choices are endless!
Now that we’ve touched on the basics of body butter, let’s take a look at our formula for making your own custom body butter...