January. The coldest month of the year, at least here in the Northern hemisphere. And all that bitterly cold air means dry air, which means rough, dry skin. Wind-burned, chapped, cracking dry skin. But fear not, because I’m here to save your hide with this homemade body butter, made with moisturizing Shea butter and unrefined coconut oil.
What’s homemade body butter, you ask? Good question. I was wondering the same thing.
Lotion. It’s just a fancy name for lotion. I’m a guy, function over form, so I don’t understand the need to unnecessarily prettify something. But again, I’m not a woman, and if calling it body butter instead of lotion makes my wife feel more pampered, with all that she does to keep the household running, I won’t begrudge her that, even if I don’t get it 🙂
And truly, this homemade body butter does feel more luxurious than just a simple lotion – it’s whipped and creamy and smooth, and really does a number on your dry skin.
How to Make Homemade Body Butter
Simple. You melt some shea butter, a little coconut oil, and some almond or olive oil (about a 50:50 shea-to-oil ratio). I do this by resting a small metal bowl in a pot of water on the stove, then heating until it’s fully melted.
Let it cool slightly – when the edges are just starting to harden up, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and blend on high speed until it’s fairly creamy. I find that it’s easier to mix if it’s too solidified as opposed to too liquidy. If it’s your first time, it may take a try or two to figure out the right time to whip it, but if you mess it up, you can always remelt until it’s soft enough to whip again – no worries!
Store your homemade body butter in a glass jar at room temp – I’ve had mine out for months with no problems whatsoever!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup olive or almond oil
- 10-15 drops your favorite essential oil, if you need it to smell pretty (I like orange, or sandalwood for something a little more manly)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a double boiler or small saucepan over medium heat.
- Heat until everything is melted.
- Pour into another bowl and let cool for a good hour (in the fridge if you’re in a hurry), or until the oils are just starting to consider re-solidifying (this is important – you won’t be able to whip it up if they’re still too liquid).
- When the oil mixture is starting to solidify around the edges, start beating with a hand mixer. Continue for a few more minutes, or until it looks kinda like whipped cream, forming stiff peaks.
- Transfer to a jar or other storage. Should keep for a long while.
Note that the measurements don’t need to be exact. Since I was dealing with solid oils, I just eyeballed them rather than doing water displacement and all that. It won’t explode if the ratios aren’t perfect.
Note also that this is a little greasy when you first put it on, as it takes a minute to absorb, so don’t operate heavy machinery or perform dental surgery for at least a few minutes after application.
For a lighter version, try this non-greasy moisturizing lotion – just as easy to put together, but not quite so heavy!
To learn more about the amazing benefits of essential oils, see my Essential Oils page!
And don’t forget to exfoliate with this easy sugar scrub!
Interested in more homemade goodness? Clean up your entire routine with this toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo.
And don’t forget to pamper your lips too, with this 5-minute homemade lip balm!
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