Today I’m super excited as I’ll be doing two DIY body butters. Do you want to know how to make body butter? You’ve come to the right place! After a day at the beach or pool, my kids and I are anxious to get moisture packed back into our skin to prepare for another fun-filled day in the sun. Here are a few of the differences when comparing refined to crude Shea and Cocoa butters.
What You’ll Need:
- Shea ButterRefined 1/2 cup
- Cocoa ButterRefined 1/2 cup
- Hemp Seed Carrier Oil 1/2 cup
- 80 drops Synergy of choice(optional)
What You’ll Do:
- Melt butters on medium-low.
- Allow to cool on counter for a half hour.
- Whip oil in for approximately 15 minutes.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Whip for another 15.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Whip for 20 minutes.
What You’ll Need:
- Shea Butter Crude 1/2 Cup
- Cocoa ButterCrude 1/2 Cup
- Hemp Seed Carrier Oil 1/2 Cup
- 80 drops Synergy of choice(optional)
What You’ll Do:
- Melt butters on medium-low.
- Allow to cool on counter for a half hour.
- Whip oil in for approximately 15 minutes.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Whip for another 15.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Whip for 20 minutes.
Should these be stored in a certain type of jar to keep the oils “good”? (Glass, plastic, clear, light-blocking, etc)
As long as you store your finished product out of direct sunlight, you can use whatever container is easier for you. If you opt for plastic, we do recommend using PET plastic.
Can we add a preservative to make this last longer? 2 weeks isn’t a lot of time especially if I want to make and gift for the holiday. Any recommendations on a preservative and amount to use in these recipes? Thank you!
Hi Kristina! There was a bit of a mixup with our last comment as this recipe does not require a preservative. If you use Hemp Seed Carrier Oil, the shelf life will be 6-12 months. If you use a carrier oil with a longer shelf life, this body butter would be good for 1-2 years! A preservative is only needed if you are combining water and essential oils. For everything else, the shelf life will be the same as the ingredient with the shortest shelf life (in this case, the Hemp Seed Oil).
Is it possible to use a food processor or stick blender (or regular blender) if used a few seconds at a time for the whipping? Some of us can’t hold a mixer that long or stand that long. Wondering if it’s a viable option as long as heat isn’t built up. Thanks so much for your sound advice!
Yes, both of those are great options. You might have to experiment with what works best for this recipe, but a mixer isn’t the only way to make this body butter.
How long will this last without a preservative?
If you use Hemp Carrier Oil, the shelf life will be about 6 months to a year. But if you use a carrier oil with a longer shelf life, the overall shelf life will be 1-2 years. No preservative is needed!
I have been wanting to try making a body butter for awhile. It intimidates me a little bit, so I’m thankful I found these instructions! Thank you!
This is very helpful. I was confused on how to make my own body butters and which is best.
Due to the harsh dry winter, I’ve been wanting to make my own body butter. I was unsure of which butter I should purchase, and this blog has really helped me decide. I want to smell the oils, so I’ll be going with refined. I’m hopeful a stand mixer will do the trick, as I don’t want to hand mix for so long. (Short attention span) Thanks for a great blog!
Love the chart–so easy to see the differences visually!
Thank you for the information on the butters and the recipe. I plan on making some soon!
Thank you for this article!! I couldn’t have chosen the right butter for my purposes without it!! Great information
Can hemp seed oil be replaced with jojoba oil?
What type of mixer do you recommend whipping with? I saw another recipe use a hand mixer but I can’t imagine using that for 15+ minutes at a time on this with my carpal tunnel, lol
You could try using an electric hand mixer. Also, the amount of time used for whipping, can be lessened. It just helps achieve a specific texture. You can do as little or as much whipping as you’d like
So we don’t have to do the whipping in the intervals stated? That seems like a lot of cooling/whipping. Does it just make it more “fluffier” if you continue whipping?
Christie, feel free to experiment with the amount of whipping you want to do to achieve your desired texture 🙂 You will notice a difference after each interval of whipping, but if the end texture isn’t that important to you, whipping so much won’t be necessary.
I just ordered the refined Shea butter and I can’t wait to use it. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.
Can I use mango butter instead of shea since refined shea is on back order. Will consistency be the same?
Yes, the consistency will be very similar and mango butter is a really great alternative to Shea. I’ve been almost exclusively using Mango butter the last few months because I love it to so much! Please be sure to let us know how this recipe turns out for you 🙂
How Long can we store the Shea Butter for ?
Shea butter has a shelf life of 1-2 years if stored properly (in a cool, dry, dark environment).
I was wondering why this has to be cooled and whipped so many times? Thank you 🙂
Donna, in my experience, the reason for the process is to get just the right texture and consistency when finished. I love it!
Thanks so much 🙂
For body butters I want to smell my essential oils not so much the butter… but I want what ever is best for the skin to REALLY hydrate but not make me greasy. I want to try to make my own so which would be best before I buy it.
The refined butters are still very nourishing, however the crude/unrefined butters have a bit extra nourishment. You will be able to smell the essential oils more with the refined so I would recommend using those so that you can both be nourished and covered in beautiful aromas.
Could you do like half refined half unrefined? I will try refined first but for future reference.
Yes absolutely!
Thank you
If I only have one type of butter, can I just use 1 cup of it?
Although the properties my vary slighty you absolutely can swap out for the butters of your choice.
Can the hemp seed oil be substituted with almond or coconut? I have only the crudes but I think I would like the milder smell from the refined. Next time now that I know! Thank you
Yes you can absolutely use the carrier of your choice in the recipe 🙂