Winter is a trying time for skin. When the cold weather hits, it hits hard, and I fight with dryness constantly. Fortunately, a simple body butter is easy to whip up and will nourish and moisturize your skin through the worst of times.
I posted a recipe for a basic body butter a couple years ago, and the process is much the same. This time around, I added a little arrowroot powder to help it feel less greasy, and also a good dose of peppermint essential oil. Peppermint is soothing and cooling, perfect for angry skin. It can also have a nice tingling effect. S has used a peppermint lotion on her feet and legs and likes that sensation, and I’ve tried to replicate it.
Peppermint Body Butter
The “butter” part of body butter is the solid botanical butters that we start with – typically, shea, cocoa, or mango. You’ll also add oils for about a 50:50 ratio – usually coconut, almond, or jojoba, although olive would work too.
Melt the butter and oil (sounds yummier than it is) together – because this will require mixing, I tend to use a small metal bowl and rest it in a pot of hot water until everything melts.
When everything has melted, remove the bowl from the heat. Add in a small amount of arrowroot powder (another alternative would be bentonite clay powder) as well as the peppermint essential oil. I also added a few drops of lavender to this body butter, as lavender is also great for skin.
Depending on how cool your kitchen is, you can leave the bowl out or put it in the fridge. You want the mixture to just start to solidify, while still being slightly melted in the center. This could take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. Obviously the fridge will speed up the process, but it’s not absolutely necessary.
When the edges are solid but still soft, begin to whip it up with a hand mixer. If you find that it’s still too liquid to work with, toss it back in the fridge for another minute. You should be able to whip it into stiff peaks – basically, you’re incorporating air into the body butter.
It should stay solid in the heat, and the micro-bubbles help ensure that it’s easy to use when room temperature is cold (not just a solid block of oil).
Scrape it into a small jar or metal tin, and use as needed!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shea or mango butter, or a combination
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup almond oil
- 1 Tbsp arrowroot powder
- 15-25 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3-5 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- In a small metal bowl, melt the butters and oils together by placing the bowl in a pan of hot water.
- When melted, remove from heat and add the arrowroot powder and essential oils.
- Put the bowl in a refrigerator or other cool spot until the edges of the mixture are solid but still soft.
- Whip the body butter using a hand mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Store in a glass or metal container.
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