DYI Whipped Body Butter Recipe - Easily Remove Toxins & Customize to Your Skin
One of my biggest frustrations is when I pick up a jar of body butter (or any product for that matter) to read the label, and I see a whole bunch of chemicals and fillers I know aren't needed. Did you know you can make it yourself and it isn't very hard? Even better, you can tailor the recipe to meet YOUR skin needs.
Here are a few fallacies the big manufacturers promote to mislead you so they can create low-cost products with prolonged shelf lives. When I say prolonged, I mean years. Almost all of us have come across old products in our bathroom cabinet. If we are honest, many of us have to admit we have even used these ancient artifacts when we realized we had run out of favorite. But what exactly kept that old stuff in a usable state? Chemicals and fillers. While most of them are benign, they aren't what we want to absorb into our bloodstream regularly.
This brings me to a very real fact. Did you know that our skin is our largest organ? Did you know that anything you put on your skin will enter your bloodstream within 26 seconds? Once something is into your bloodstream, it begins the journey throughout your entire body. This is why we must shift our thinking about body care products. The same way we think about what we eat. We need to think about what we are putting on our largest organ, our skin. Why? Because whatever is in that product will soon be running through our entire body via our bloodstream. Don't be fooled; the impact of these habitually used chemicals that we are led to believe are safe is enormous. There is a reason why treating autoimmune diseases has become a 25 billion dollar industry in the United States alone!
Fallacy #1: You need preservatives
This is not true! Preservatives are only needed when a product has water or another aqueous ingredient. When you are formulating with only oil-based ingredients, preservatives are not required.
While it is true that some oils will go rancid over time. The best way to prolong your product's life is by keeping it in a sealed container in a temperature-controlled environment, ideally out of direct sunlight. Even better, keep butter, or any body care product, in a dark cabinet.
Fallacy #2: Water is a great ingredient
NO, NO, NO! Water is the best thing for your body! You should drink it every day; the more, the better. Bath in it using a gentle natural soap; there is almost nothing better to clean yourself with. Water in body care products only does two things.
First, it is a cheap filler. Yep, when you fill a product with water, you always need to use more of it. Why? Because water dilutes the things that are truly nourishing to your skin. The best natural products are concentrated because that is how nature works.
Oh, and did I mention water is cheap? What costs next to nothing for the manufacturer to use adds weight to your product. You think you are getting more of what you need when, in reality, you are being duped.
Water evaporates! Ever wonder why you put lotion on in the morning, and by lunch, you look down at your dry, ashy skin and think to yourself, what happened? Water happened. Your skin does not absorb moisture in this way. Even worse, when the water evaporates, it takes what should be hydrating your skin away with it, leaving your skin dryer
than before.
Fallacy #3: That you can't make your own skin-loving butter yourself!
Here is an easy recipe that is even easier to alter to meet your specific skin needs.
First, start with the pure ingredients. The more likely you are to eat the ingredient, the better it is for your body. Don't be intimidated; most of these ingredients can be easily found on Amazon or Etsy. My favorite way to find ingredients is locally. Check out a farmer's market or a community shop. I love to support local shops whenever possible. I build relationships with people who genuinely care about my family and me. Doing this also allows my money to circulate in my community. If I can not find a local source, I try to support someone doing something for the global community. We have to always remember our dollars have power. We can direct that power. In this way, we create global communities and the world we want to see.
If you don't believe me, just take a walk down your local big box store's personal products aisle. You will see all types of products that claim to be natural. They feature "plant-based this" and "essential oil-infused that" (insert yawn here). These huge multi-billion dollar conglomerates have heard you. They know you want to be healthier. You want products that are safer for yourself and your families. In response, these gigantic companies have spent millions of dollars to create products to give you the illusion of health. A fake natural. What has been created is a marketing concept known as "Green-Washing" (this is a topic for another blog). Green Washing has given you the same old products in updated packages with new fragrances (yep, more chemicals, yuck!). They have done all of this because THEY know the power of YOUR dollar, and they want it.
The ingredients
50% The Butter (Shea, Cocoa, Illipe, Mango)
30% The Oil (Olive, Sweet Almond, Rice Bran, Hemp, Jojoba, etc.)
10% Coconut Oil
3-5% The Wax (Plant-Based or Bees - Not paraffin)
3-5% The Essential Oil (Essential Oils for Fragrance and healing)
The butter
Butter is derived from the seeds and or nuts of the plant. They are what give your body butter its rich emollient feel. You can choose whatever butter you like or mix a few. Unrefined butter will maintain all of the plant's natural properties. Sometimes the scents or colors of a natural butter are not suitable for your end product. In this case, you may choose to use refined butter. I recommend you only use "naturally" refined. This means chemicals are not used to give the butter a uniform look, feel and scent. My favorite is Organic Fairtrade Natural (unrefined) Cocoa Butter. I love its yummy chocolatey scent.
The Oil
Because butter on its own is so rich and emollient, you will want to add oil to smooth out your body butter. The type of oil you use is your choice. Different oils will feel differently on your skin and nourish your skin differently. Rice bran oil is an excellent option for those who are sensitive to gluten. Jojoba oil mimics the sebum in our skin which helps everything in your butter be more actively absorbed. This means you get the maximum healing benefit from your essential oils. Some people have nut allergies, so that is something to consider. Olive oil is lightweight and full of antioxidants, but it can clog your pores, so you may not want to use it as your sole oil. You are in control, and with a bit of research, you can create a body butter that meets all of your needs.
Coconut Oil
I love to add Coconut oil to my body butter because it creates a moisture barrier. The other oils provide nourishment to the skin. However, because coconut can clog pores, I would not recommend making it more than 15% of your total oil content.
The Wax
There are many different types of wax to use. Plant-based waxes allow your product to be vegan. Beeswax is another option; it will make your formula heavier/richer than plant-based waxes. Adding wax to your recipe will give the butter a stiffer feel when at room temperature. As long as you do not add too much, your butter's ability to melt quickly into your skin will not be lost. I live in the desert, so adding little wax helps my butter maintain its consistency throughout the summer. I personally lean toward less wax in my recipe. If you live in a cooler climate, you may want to omit this ingredient altogether.
The Essential Oils
This is where things really become fun. Essential oils give fragrance, but they also provide healing. I could write pages about what each type of essential oil does, but I'm sure you don't have time to read about everything. I think you should take a little time to reflect on your specific needs. Maybe meditate on it. Then do a little research. I recommend using organic essential oils whenever it is possible. I also think you should think beyond fragrance. Essential oils are nature's medicine. If you have eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin, you can create butter for your specific need. If you have gluten sensitivities, you will want to consider this as you formulate your body butter. I love google like everybody else, but you want to make sure that the information you are using is correct. I own a doTERRA essential oil book which has been a trusted go-to for information for years. I am sure Young Living also has a great reference book. This will make it much easier for you to figure out precisely what is best for you and how you can address any skin issues you may have.
Here are a few easy to find oils:
Lavender - is great for calming and soothing. It has both physical and emotional benefits.
Lemongrass - has a fantastic fragrance, and it is actually a mood elevator and has been used to fight depression.
Chamomile - a tremendous calming oil with a lovely scent. Keep in mind that chamomile is part of the ragweed family. Keep this in mind when making butter for people with allergies.
Sun Protection - try red raspberry seed or carrot seed oil. Carrot seed has a strong fragrance. Remember, nature is concentrated, so you don't need much. When I use carrot seed oil, I use less than 1%, and I will usually make sure to also use fragrances I really like. This gives my end product a lovely scent.
Rosehip - offers anti-aging as well as other skin benefits.
Eczema and psoriasis - try Tea Tree (Melaleuca), Bergamot and Geranium.
Most of the oils I mentioned above should be easy to find. Please keep in mind that not all essential oils are made equal, so be selective about where you purchase your oils. Unfortunately, due to the cost of producing essential oil, it is not uncommon for oils to be diluted with other ingredients. I personally try to purchase only Organic essential oils, but sometimes that is not possible. The most important thing is to find a reputable source.
The Process
This recipe is easy to make but will take time due to the waiting involved. I like to make this when I have a lazy day at home. Just take your time, and your butter will turn out great.
- Start by weighing out all your ingredients except essential oils and putting them in a bowl or pot you can melt your ingredients in. I like to use a standing mixer to make my butter. My bowl is stainless steel, so I can heat and whip in the same bowl.
- Once your ingredients have melted, it is time to cool. I will let them sit for 15-30 minutes before sticking them in the refrigerator.
- As the butter cools, check on it periodically and scrape the sides with a rubber spatula. You want the butter to get thick but not solid.
- Now it is time to whip the butter; you can do this in a standing mixer or hand mixer. You will be mixing for 7 to 10-minute intervals. The butter will become like whipped cream as you mix.
- If the butter isn't whipping up, return it to the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes, then whip it again. Continue this process until your butter is at the consistency that you like.
Don't worry if your butter isn't perfect. Regardless of the texture, It will feel fantastic on your skin. Your butter will get better and better with every batch you make.
**Pro-tip**
If you're having problems getting your butter to whip to the right consistency, remove half the butter and whip in two separate batches. Sometimes having enough space in your mixing bowl is all you need to make your butter better!
Sample Recipe for 24oz Batch
12 oz (340g) - Butter
7.2 oz (204g) - Oil
2.4 oz (68g) - Coconut Oil
0.15 oz (20-34g) - Wax
0.15 oz (20-34g) - Essential Oil
The above recipe has a lot of room for experimentation. I provided both the percentages and a weighted example for you to reference.
The most important thing is to leave room for creativity and listen to your body; if it doesn't feel right, tweak it next time*.
*Very important if you have any type of reaction, STOP using. You may have an allergy or sensitivity. Always listen to your body.
Thank you for reading,
Allana
Founder
Sabali Pure Face & Body
www.sabalipurefaceandbody.com
