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From the moment that the electric heater kicked on in my apartment this fall, my hands began to crack. We are talking like sticking to fabrics, scratching my children dry. So, I knew it was time to stock up on what I believe is the BEST non-greasy homemade whipped body butter. It is luxurious, it absorbs quickly, and most importantly it truly works.
Many of us spend a lot of time and energy monitoring what we eat. But it is sometimes easy to forget that what we put on our bodies can hugely impact our health. Many of the creams and lotions available at the store are full of less than desirable ingredients. Known and probable carcinogens like formaldehyde, 1,4-Dioxane, phthalates, coal tar dyes, and petroleum by-products are prevalent in many commercial cosmetic products. Additionally, many ingredients are hormone disruptors like parabens and triclosan. And of course, whatever is in that “fragrance” is often problematic (and manufacturers are not required to disclose.) Here is a quick read with a bit more information about the most egregious ingredients in skin care products.
Alright, so that’s gross. But this is an easy fix! In this post, I will walk you through my absolute favorite homemade whipped body butter recipe made with all natural ingredients that you can pronounce. No chemicals. No nasty stuff.
This nourishing body butter is adapted slightly from Carly Daley’s recipe at Modern Hippie Health & Wellness, which is fantastic- check it out! I’ve made her exact version several times with great success. However, it does require several ingredients that I didn’t initially have. So, I’m going to share with you a slightly pared down version, to hopefully lower the intimidation factor if you are just diving into making your own products.
Here's what you'll need.
Ingredients:
- 53 g Shea butter
- 26g Virgin Coconut Oil (solid)
- 33g Jojoba oil (or other liquid oil of your choice)
- 4g Beeswax pellets
- ½ T Arrowroot powder
- ¼ tsp Vitamin E oil
- Optional: 15-20 drops essential oil
Equipment:
- A clean container (for storage)
- A double boiler OR a small heat proof bowl and saucepan
- An electric stand or hand mixer
- Optional but useful: A kitchen scale
What is all this stuff?
Shea butter is fat from the nut of the African shea tree and is super moisturizing, yet absorbs easily. It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial, and is safe for virtually everyone, even those with nut allergies. (source) I have used this one several times with great success.
Coconut oil, yes the kind you can get at the grocery store, is a staple of crunchy kitchens and beauty cabinets. I usually buy the giant tub of Organic Virgin Coconut Oil from Costco and grease up my babies with it before bed. Rich in nourishing fatty acids, it is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and reduces inflammation. Coconut oil really is as amazing as everyone says it is. (Although, I would caution against using it on your face because it can clog your pores.)
Jojoba oil is one of my favorites, as you may already know. It comes from the nut of the dessert-growing jojoba plant and is anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and wonderfully moisturizing. In this recipe, you can swap out the jojoba oil for another liquid oil of your choice. Sunflower, sweet almond, grape seed, etc would all work as well.
Beeswax helps this recipe “set up” and prevents melting in warmer temperatures. Additionally it helps seal in moisture and creates a protective barrier on the skin. It is naturally soothing and antibacterial. I like to buy the pellets because it is easier than chipping off chunks from a wax brick.
Arrowroot powder: the secret ingredient that makes this homemade whipped body butter non-greasy! Sometimes called arrowroot flour or starch, it’s a grain-free/gluten-free starchy substance that is often used in place of cornstarch. You can usually find it in the flour/baking section of a natural or well stocked grocery store.
Vitamin E oil contains antioxidants which act as a natural preservative in this recipe. That being said, this is a butter which means it is all oil and no water. This is great news for shelf life! And the vitamin E oil will help give it an extra boost- plus it’s great for skin.
If you want to add essential oils, you can absolutely do so. In this recipe, 15-20 drops is a good amount. I actually prefer to keep this whipped body butter fragrance free. I like the nutty smell of the shea butter and oils on their own. Also, I originally made this for someone who was looking for a deeply nourishing cream for her mastectomy scars, and she needed something without fragrance. (By the way, she says that it was very helpful!)
How is homemade whipped body butter frugal?
One of the concerns I hear most often when it comes to making body care products at home is, “I don’t have all that stuff and it’s too expensive to buy it!” I hear you. But, I believe that making an initial investment to stock up on a few ingredients that will last you a long time and are versatile will save you money (and be healthier) in the long run.
Here’s an idea that I have personally used to kick start my natural beauty cabinet. Plan to make gifts! The thing about these ingredients, like shea butter, is that they come in large packages- way more than you need to make one jar. For example, the 16 oz package will make about 8 batches. So if you can roll the initial investment into your holiday gift giving…voilà! This is exactly what my friend and I did last year. We made 15 batches of this gorgeous homemade whipped body butter to give as gifts. They were a huge hit!
Let's get cracking. How's it made?
This, and most DIY cosmetics recipes, is a little easier with a kitchen scale. I have this little one and it works great! However, if you don’t have one, don’t panic. I will give you the approximate conversions to teaspoons and cups in the printable card at the bottom of this post. Keep in mind this isn’t exact, but I don’t want a little thing like a kitchen scale to stand in the way of you giving this a go.
First, we need to melt the solids. Combine shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and jojoba oil in a double boiler or a heat safe bowl that fits on top of a saucepan. I have a small metal bowl that I reserve for making DIY’s like this one. Next, heat an inch or two of water in the saucepan to a simmer and set the bowl on top. Gently stir until everything is melted.
Then, remove the bowl from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. From this point, you could allow this mixture to cool completely on the counter, but quite frankly that could take a long time. So, I like to stick it in the fridge for about 30 minutes or so until the oils begin to thicken. It should begin to turn opaque but you should still be able to squish it with your finger. If it turns rock solid, you’ve gone too far. No worries, just let it sit out for a while to soften or re-melt if necessary.
Next, transfer your oil mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer if using. Add the arrowroot powder, vitamin E oil, and optional essential oils. Whip on high for about 5 minutes until peaks form, very similar to whipping cream. When the mixture has reached the optimal point, it will cling to the back of a spoon or spatula without falling off.
Finally, spoon your luxurious homemade whipped body butter into a clean jar or container. It will produce approximately 5- 6 ounces of cream. When I make this for gifts, I like to package it in these 4 oz Mason jars because they are adorable, reasonably priced, and reusable. (Plus the glass will not react to essential oils the way some other materials could.) Just note that there will be a little extra product left over if you use these.
I can’t wait for you to try this out! I think you are really going to love it and the end product is pretty impressive. Check out this video tutorial for some visual tips and tricks. Tell me how this worked out for you and please let me know if you have questions!
Looking for more skin saving and giftable recipes? Check out these other ideas!
Homemade Whipped Body Butter (non-greasy)
This non-greasy homemade whipped body butter is made with all natural ingredients that you can pronounce. It is luxurious, absorbs quickly, and most importantly, it truly works! Easy enough for beginners and impressive enough to make the perfect gift.
Materials
- 53g (approx. 1/4 c) Unrefined Shea Butter
- 26g (approx. 2 T) Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- 33g (approx. 3 T) Jojoba Oil or other liquid oil
- 4g (approx. 1 tsp) Organic Beeswax Pellets
- 1-1/2 tsp Arrowroot Powder
- 1/4 tsp Vitamin E oil
- Optional: 15-20 drops essential oil
Tools
- A clean container (for storage)
- Double boiler OR small heatproof bowl and sauce pan
- Electric stand or hand mixer
- Optional but useful: Kitchen scale
Instructions
- Combine shea butter, coconut oil, beeswax, and jojoba oil in a double boiler or heat safe bowl that fits on top of a saucepan. Heat an inch or two of water in the saucepan to a simmer and set the bowl on top. Gently stir until everything is melted.
- Remove bowl from the heat and let cool for a few minutes. Place the bowl in the fridge for about 30-40 minutes or until the oils cool and thicken. The mixture will begin to turn opaque but you should still be able to squish it with your finger. (If it turns rock solid, you’ve gone too far- just let it sit out for a while or remelt it if necessary.)
- Transfer your oil mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer (if you’re using one.) Now add the arrowroot powder, vitamin E oil, and optional essential oils. Whip on high for about 3-5 minutes until peaks form, very similar to whipping cream. When the mixture has reached the optimal point, it will cling to the back of a spoon or spatula without falling off.
- Spoon your luxurious homemade whipped body butter into a clean jar or container.
Notes
This recipe is adapted slightly from Carly Daley’s recipe at Modern Hippie Health & Wellness, which is fantastic! I’ve made her version several times with great success- check it out. To hopefully lower the intimidation factor for those just diving into making their own products, I’ve pared down the ingredient list a little.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you make a purchase from a link on my site, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I will never recommend a product or service that I do not personally use or like.
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Unrefined African Shea Butter – Ivory, 100% Pure & Raw – Moisturizing and Rich Body Butter for Dry Skin – Suitable for All Skin Types – Use Alone or in DIY Whipped Body Butters – 16 oz (1 LB) Bar -
Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil by Sky Organics 16.9 oz- USDA Organic Coconut Oil, Cold-Pressed, Kosher, Cruelty-Free, Color Corrector, Skin Moisturizer, Hair Treatment & Baking(1 Pack) -
Desert Essence 100% Pure Jojoba Oil – 4 Fl Oz – Pack of 2 – Haircare & Skincare Essential Oil – All Skin Types – No Oily Residue – May Help Prevent Flakiness – Makeup Remover – Aftershave Moisturizer -
Sky Organics USDA Organic Yellow Beeswax Pellets (2lb) Pure Beeswax No Toxic Pesticides or Chemicals – 3 x Filtered, Easy Melt Pastilles- for DIY, Candles, Skin Care, Lip Balm (Pack of 2) -
Bob's Red Mill Arrowroot Starch / Flour, 16-ounce -
DERMA E Vitamin E Skin Oil 14,000 IU 2 fl oz -
Ozeri ZK14-S Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale, Elegant Black, 8.25 -
Ball 4-Ounce Quilted Crystal Jelly Jars with Lids and Bands, Set of 12-2 Pack (Total 24 Jars)
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Can you double or triple this and get the same results. I would like to make larger batches. Also how long does this keep for? Thank you!!
Yes! I once made 15 times the recipe for a huge batch of holiday gifts and it was just the same! It just took a bit longer for the mixture to cool down and be ready for the whipping part.
I would say that it will keep for at least 6 months, on the conservative side. It kinda depends on the freshness of the ingredients you’re using, but these oils have a pretty long shelf life. (You could take a look at the packages of your raw ingredients and base it on that.) Since there is no water in the mixture, you don’t need to worry about it getting gross quickly. Mine never lasts very long, but I have a friend who found a jar she had stashed away and forgot about. She reported that hers was still good a year later.
Hi
Can I use on my face x
It’s probably not the best cream for your face, although I think it depends on your skin type. Coconut oil (and also cocoa butter) can clog pores, so if you are prone to breakouts (like me!) I wouldn’t use it too often on your face.
Hi…wat is the proportion of coconut oil if I want to skip hebal oil in the recepie…can u pls tell me the proportion gir 100 gms .I live in india
Hi. Can this butter be piped into the jars? Can the beeswax be left out?
Hey! I think you could certainly pipe this into a jar if you wanted. (I have never done it because I am far to lazy lol!).
The beeswax helps the body butter maintain its whipped consistency and keeps it from getting metly in warmer temps. If you were to leave it out, you would still have a very nourishing product, but I suspect it would not hold its shape at room temperature and might get a little melty.
Can you use corn starch instead of arrowroot powder?
I have seen some folks add cornstarch in place of arrowroot powder, although I have not personally tried it. I would probably start with an equal substitution. I’d love to know if you try it out and how it works for you!
I tried corn starch and did not like it at all, it made the palms of my hands feel so dry like they needed to be moisturised.
Ack! Well that is certainly good to know. Thank you very much for reporting back! I appreciate it and I’m sure other readers will, too.
I’ve never had that experience with the arrowroot. I think you will like it much better.
I tried to make this by using the exact name brand product you recommended and measured on scale but something went wrong, IT WILL NOT WHIP. Do you have any ideal why?
My best guess is that it’s not quite cold enough. Sometimes this happens to me and if I stick the mixture back in the fridge for a little bit and then try again, it will whip right up. (It’s definitely more of an issue for me this time of year when my unairconditioned kitchen is quite warm!)
Yes. Mine did not whip the first time I tried. I put it back in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes and it whipped up really well.
Awesome!
Just finished up with this body butter. tried a little and it absorbed perfectly.
I would like to ask a question. If you continue to put it back in the fridge and take out to whip some more will it get thicker? or does it get to a certain point and that’s it? also, does it stay this consistently stay at this thickness til used up? or will it thin out over time?? thanks for a great recipe, I’ve been wanting to make some body butter for a long time and this seems to be wonderful…
Hi LuAnn! I’m so glad that it worked for you! From my experience, the body butter will stay at the whipped consistency, even at room temperature, for as long as you have it! I suspect that if it got very, very warm (say in a car on a summer day) it would start to melt and need to be cooled and re-whipped.
I have never tried to whip it a second time, so I am not sure what will happen. (If you decide to try it out, I would be curious to know what your result was!)
Hi!
Thanks for this amazing recipe.
I will try to make it, but would like to have different scents, so I was thinking to use the same base for all of them and just change the scents with 15-20 drops of essential oil. Do you believe it would work? Everything else should act as a base? Also, have you ever tried coloring it with some skin friendly color? Thanks!
Hi Ana!
I think that sounds like a great idea for the different scents. I would make the “base” of oils, like you said, and then split it up. Then you could add the essential oil, arrowroot, and Vitamin E to each smaller portion before you whip them. Just make sure to adjust the amount of essential oil since 15-20 is for the whole recipe. (So say 7-10 drops in each half.)
As for adding color, I have never done this but you certainly could play around with it. From what I understand, different kinds of natural color additives would need to be introduced at different stages of the recipe. For example, some need to be infused into a carrier oil while something like mica could probably be added right before whipping. Please do let me know if you try something! I would love to know how it worked out for you.
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Tried this today. Chose this recipe because it was supposed to be non-greasy….wrong… it is greasy. I won’t make it again and probably won’t use what it did make.
Hi Kara,
I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you! I would suggest adding more arrowroot powder to help absorb a bit more oil. I have always found that it absorbs into my skin pretty quickly. Thanks for your feedback.
Do you have any thoughts on substituting out the coconut oil? Perhaps for aloe vera gel?
I have only ever made it with coconut oil, but I think you could try swapping it out for another carrier oil you like but use only about half the amount. (So maybe 13 grams?) I think this would keep the consistency about the same.
I would not recommend using aloe vera gel because it has a lot of water in it. I don’t think your product would emulsify properly- the oils and water would likely separate. It would also significantly shorten the shelf life of your product (and it would need to be refrigerated.)
Hope this helps!
Hi! great recipe. You mention that you cannot add essential oils while the mixture is hot, can you explain why? Thanks
Hey, thanks! In general, it’s best not to add essential oils to a super hot mixture. Heat can potentially impact the quality of essential oils and sometimes even change the chemical composition of the oil, making them less effective. Hope that helps!
Hey – I just made your recipe and love it – I didn’t let it cool enough though so it did not whip, but will be making it again – I did not use any EO’s – ppl should know too that adding EO’s to hot oils is tricky as each oil has a flashpoint – folks should google the flashpoint of each oil if they want to add it to the recipe before it is cooled – thanks so much Kat
That’s great! Yeah, sometimes I get impatient, too, and don’t let it cool long enough, lol! Gotta pop in back in the fridge for a few and try again.
Yes, that’s right about the essential oils. Thanks for the tip. The great thing about this recipe is that any EO’s can (and should) be added after the cool down when it’s ready to be whipped- at the same time as the arrowroot powder. But I’m with you. I almost always make it without. I like the way it smells “plain” with just the butters and oils.
I loved this recipe! I may have done something wrong though. Mine hardened up but melts when you touch it so it still works great! Just wondering if you had any advice on how to keep it at that wonderful whipped consistency?
I’m so glad you like it! To get the consistency a little “softer,” maybe try reducing the amount of beeswax a little next time you make it. (Mine always hardens up a little bit, but tends to still be “airy”.)
Hi!
I want to ask you about a powder.. can I use colloidal oatmeal instead?! Because my goal to make this body cream is for my son who has eczema… he is 4 years old and I am fighting with his eczema right now. And is it ok if I don’t have vitamin e oil?!
Can I use colloidal oatmeal instead of arrowroot powder??
And also can I mix with other oils too such as cocoa butter and lanolin?!
I know I just should try it myself but I wish you can give me advise ?!
I am fighting with my 4 years old sons eczema right now..
I stopped using medication from skin doctor. I really want it to be natural way to cure eczema!
So if there is another suggestion, please let me know!!
Hi Aya!
I want to say first, that I am not a dermatologist so I can’t give you advice about treating eczema. But, colloidal oatmeal is very soothing and is often recommended to alleviate symptoms of many skin conditions, including eczema and severe dry skin.
I was so intrigued by your question about using colloidal oatmeal in place of the arrowroot powder, that I tried it out today to find out! So I can say, yes! This definitely worked. The body butter was not quite as “non-greasy”, but the consistency when whipped was still light and fluffy. I used 1/2 Tablespoon of oatmeal, ground as finely as I could get it in my blender. I could feel the faintest bit of sediment from the oats when I applied the cream, but I suspect a commercially ground colloidal oatmeal or one made in a more high-powered blender, would be a bit finer. But my skin was left feeling super soft and any teeny bits of oat seemed to disappear. (I also used it on my boys after their bath tonight and my own 4yo loved it, too!)
I cannot speak to using lanolin because I have never worked with it before. But you could use cocoa butter in place of the shea butter in this recipe. (Or a mix of the two.)
As for the vitamin E oil, you can leave it out if you don’t have it. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and can help increase the shelf life of homemade products. But this recipe is a “butter” containing all oils, so it will last quite a while anyway.
Hope that helps. Thanks for the great suggestion!
Thanks for your replay and also you tried oatmeal already?!!! You are sooo good at it!!!! I am sooooo impressed about what you are doing !! I am soooo fun of your recipe!!!!
I tried it myself but I used copy versions of Aveeno baby oatmeal bath stuff… maybe that was mistake.. And after I used it and it left so many oatmeal on my body so even I made this but I didn’t want to use it….. it was waste….
I just need to find a good Colloidal oatmeal I feel like.
But after your recipe I found out about arrowroot powder too. And I was researching a lot about it and it could be good for kids eczema or at least making skin stronger! I am Japanese and I also checked in Japanese website too and people use this powder for face foundation!!!
So I just got arrowroot powder today!! And I just started making it followed your instruction!
Thanks for your recipe and thanks for your advice !!
I might need to ask you questions later.
Because I really want to find out how to fight with my sons eczema.. I just felt like skin doctor can’t help us ..
One of my friend told me to use zinc powder with diy body cream and it did work when eczema is red and angry. But not quite there yet…
Anyways thanks again !!
Thanks for your kind words, Aya! Arrowroot powder is a great ingredient. I didn’t know that about using it for foundation, but I love it as a DIY dry shampoo
I’m very glad you like the recipe. Best of luck in your battle with your son’s eczema. I hope you find something that works for you!
Aya, while this has nothing to do with body butter.. I know how to heal your son! Please look up Medical Medium Celery Juice. 16oz of fresh celery juice first thing in the morning every day WILL heal his skin! No meds, no products.. just real healthy healing! Please try!
Hi,
I’m buying all the ingredients to make this – thanks for the recipe! I’m wondering if I could sub Caster Oil for the carrier oil. I have been reading that Caster Oil is much more effective at reducing scars, and that’s mostly what I want it for.
Thanks!
Hi CC,
I think that will work just fine!
Can you convert the measurements for the Shea butter, coconut and jojoba oils to Tbsp?
Hi Staci! Yep. I’ve listed the approximate conversions in the printable card at the bottom of this post. But here they are again. Hope it helps!
53g (approx. 1/4 c) Unrefined Shea Butter
26g (approx. 2 T) Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
33g (approx. 3 T) Jojoba Oil or other liquid oil
4g (approx. 1 tsp) Organic Beeswax Pellets
1-1/2 tsp Arrowroot Powder
1/4 tsp Vitamin E oil
Optional: 15-20 drops essential oil
Due to my shea butter already being soft and not using the wax pellets or arrowroot, I just whipped all the ingredients without melting them but there is a small grit texture. Not sure why. Any ideas?
Shea butter is made up of many different fatty acids which all have different melting (and cooling) temperatures. Sometimes when the butter gets soft or partially melted, the fatty acids can separate and when they cool back down they can cause that grainy texture! It’s annoying. But, I think you can definitely get it to smooth back out by completely melting your product to a liquid. I would then pop it in the fridge for a bit until it reaches the consistency described in the post and whip it back up! (Or if it doesn’t bother you too much, and that sounds like a lot of work, it’s perfectly fine to use as it is. And you can just try melting it next time!)
Hope that helps!
Hello again!! Sorry to be sending so many questions your way…😬 You can tell I’m in real need of something to help soothe my daughter’s skin that is totally toxin free and natural. I’m also considering jojoba butter and kokum butter to substitute for coconut oil. I believe they are both very low on the comedogenic scale. I also considered cupuacu butter but I understand it’s highly comedogenic so I would not feel comfortable using it on the face. Do you have any thoughts on these ingredients? Thanks again!
Hi, I just came across your post and am looking forward to trying it. I am new to this and wondered How you thought ginger essential oil might smell with the Shea and coconut mixture from your recipe.? I saw another recipe that uses cocoa butter and thought that those scents might now mix well together.
Oooh! Yes! I do think ginger would smell lovely and warm in this recipe. Shea butter has kind of a mild nutty scent which I think would be great with the spicy ginger and the coconut. Cocoa butter, of course, smells like chocolate. So that combo might smell more like a spicy candy!
Hi! I love the idea to try this cream for my daughter’s very dry skin. I would like to use it on her face, as well. Is there another ingredient I could use instead of coconut oil to be able to use it on her face? I could do 2 batches (one for her face and one for her body). Also, I would love adding colloidal oatmeal to this cream to alleviate my daughter’s eczema. How much should I use? Would I use both arrowroot powder and colloidal oatmeal? Thank you for your help!
Hi Sonia!
Thanks for these great questions! Sorry it took me a minute to respond, I wanted to do a quick test of a coconut oil-free version of this body butter. The easiest way to modify this recipe would be to eliminate the coconut oil and adjust the amount to shea or cocoa butter you use.
(See next comment for my modification recommendation…)
This will give you a nice creamy body butter, although it is not quite as fluffy as the original.
If you want to use colloidal oatmeal, you absolutely can! I would replace the arrowroot with the oatmeal 1:1. (I have not tried using them together.) Using the colloidal oatmeal instead of the arrowroot will not make this “non-greasy”, but I think it still absorbs pretty quickly into my skin. Just remember a little goes a looong way! So start with a small amount.
I don’t have any experience with those other butters you mentioned so I cannot speak to that. But I think simply adjusting the amount of shea/cocoa butter will give you a lovely product! I’m gonna do a little more playing around with this coconut oil-free idea and will update as I work it out! I hope that helps!
Thank you very much! I really appreciate your feedback. I would love to hear your results as you further experiment without the coconut oil. Thank you for getting back to me so quickly!!
You’re welcome! I am actually already going to modify my recommendation after running another batch of this without coconut oil! I am going to edit my previous comment. But I think for this recipe, substituting the coconut oil for about half the amount of a different liquid carrier oil works a bit better. The body butter is not quite as fluffy, but it still makes a very nice cream. Here is a different suggestion.
53 g of shea or cocoa butter
13 g of carrier oil A
33 g of carrier oil B
4 g beeswax
I will keep noodling on this!
Thank you! I will try it tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it goes. I’ve tried it with babassu butter (instead of coconut oil), and it turned out nice but not as fluffy. It was still a very nice cream. I’ll keep on trying. Thank you so much for the feedback! Have a great weekend!
Just thought I’d let you know that I’ve been doing this recipe, but I swapped out the coconut oil for babassu butter. I also use a combination of oils (mainly hemp, argan and jojoba). I also use both arrowroot and colloidal oatmeal. It’s done wonders for my daughter’s skin, but it’s still a bit greasy. I’m thinking it’s maybe because babassu is way more liquid than coconut oil. I’m debating whether to add 1/2 tbsp more of arrowroot, but I don’t want that to take away from all the nourishment the cream provides. I’m wondering if you have any experience or thoughts on this.
Oh wow! Thank you, Sonia, for the update! This sounds like a wonderful combination and I am thrilled to hear that it is nourishing your daughter’s skin. I don’t have experience with babassu butter, so I can’t offer much guidance. But you could try reducing the amount of it, since you find it to be a bit more “liquidy,” to thicken the overall consistency of your product. I think that babassu is a little more oily-feeling than coconut oil. I don’t think there is any harm in trying to increase the arrowroot a little and seeing if that gives you a less greasy body butter. I also sometimes need to remind myself that a little of this stuff can go a long way and that applying a little less of it works just as well (and is less oily.) Let us know how your modifications work out! I’m sure it is helpful for others as well.
Hi Elise!!
I’m considering using emulsifying wax instead of beeswax. I’ve read it makes it easier to wash off clothes. I’ve also read it somehow makes it less greasy (not sure exactly how). Do you have any experience with this switch? Would I switch them 1 for 1, or do I need to use a different amount? I am still making this lovely butter for my daughter, and it’s been such a blessing!! The only down side is the washing. It’s really hard to wash out of clothes and bedding which brings me to my emulsifying wax question…😁
Hi Sonia! I am so glad to know that this is still working well for your daughter! I unfortunately don’t know the answer to this one. I have never tried swapping the beeswax for emulsifying wax. I do know that you cannot substitute emulsifying wax with beeswax, (since beeswax will not create an emulsion in lotions, etc). But you are asking about the other way around, and I am not sure about that!
When I get oily spots on my clothes (mostly from spilling coconut oil or something on myself lol), I find the best way to pre-treat it is by generously covering the oil stain with baby powder and letting it sit for a while to absorb the oil. (I think baking soda, arrowroot powder, or cornstarch would also work.). Then I wash it as usual.
I don’t want to mess with your routine since it seems like it is working well for her skin. But you might consider applying a little less body butter since it seems like it’s not able to absorb in all the way?
Hi Elise!! I think I got something that works now. I’ve increased the amount if arrowroot I use. It’s pretty much 3 times the amount (perhaps more because I use 1.5 heaping tbsp of arrowroot powder 😬). That gives us a great cream we can use daily that absorbs quickly and leaves a pretty much non-greasy feel to her skin. And the clothes are washing clean without any issues…🎉🎉🎉
Thank you so much for your help and patience with my gazillion questions during this process!!
Wonderful! Thank you for reporting back! Your feedback and questions are so helpful to me and I’m sure to many other folks. I’m so happy you have nailed down your perfect recipe!
Hi!! Can I use babassu butter instead of coconut oil? I’m wondering if I can use it on the face with this change since babassu butter is non-comedogenic. Also, can I use both arrowroot powder and colloidal oatmeal? 1/2 tbs of each? Thank you!
Hello, I was wondering if you have any suggestions on how to keep it from melting so easily. I love it so much and I wanted to take it with me on a trip to California. The car never got hot and it melted down to a liquid. 🙁 can I add something to help with that?? Maybe more wax?
Thank you
Christina
Oh bummer! Yes, I agree- I think adding a bit more beeswax will prevent this in the future. The good news is that you can always cool it down and re-whip it!
Hello. I’ve read through the comments but no one asked my question so I’ll do the honors lol. Can this be used as a lip butter? I don’t see why not but just curious if you’ve used it on your lips
Yes! I have definitely used this on my lips! (Especially at night when I am too tired to hunt around for my lip balm, haha!)
Hi ! What would be the ratio if I want to skip 33 gms of herbal oil in your recipe ? Could you please chalk out the ratio of all the ingredients skipping herbal oil for body butters
I have never made this body butter with only coconut oil and no other liquid oils. So unfortunately, I can’t speak to the exact proportions for leaving it out and retaining the same consistency. Sorry about that. But any liquid oil you have or like would work well- it doesn’t have to be jojoba oil. (Olive oil, sunflower oil, sweet almond, grapeseed, etc, even liquid fractionated coconut oil, could all be used.)
Also sorry for my delayed response! I somehow missed your question.
I made this tonight for my girlfriends birthday and it didn’t thicken up when I was whipping it. Don’t know what I did wrong but it turned out like soup consistancy. I followed the recipe exactly. 🙁
Hi Janette! I’m sorry it didn’t whip up properly for you. This occasionally happens to me too when the oil mixture isn’t cold enough, which sounds like what is happening to you. Try popping it back in the fridge again for a while until it is mostly solid but still a little squishable with your finger. (When my kitchen is hot I have this problem since it warms up the oil so fast.). I hope this helps!
Hi. This is the most helpful site I’ve seen to date. Can’t wait to make it for my niece’s spa package. But I’d like to use a less greasy carrier. What would you recommend in place of the coconut oil??? I can’t order any less available products (bombassu?) as I have to shop local because I’m short on time. Thanks so much!
Hi Karen and thank you! What a wonderful gift idea! (Who couldn’t use a little spa action about now?!) I don’t have a good replacement for the coconut oil in terms of greasiness. But I do think the arrowroot powder really helps to absorb excess oil upon application. Since this recipe is all oils and butters, it will by nature be a bit “oily”. I find that it absorbs into the skin pretty quickly. And I always remind myself that a little goes a looong way! You don’t need to apply as much of this as you might be used to with a store bought lotion. I hope that helps a little.
Hi there! Saw your recipe after I saw the hippie one, and agreed that I needed one with a few less ingredients to start…
So I had some rosehips, and wanted to infuse some sweet almond oil with them for extra benefit. The problem is that it got too hot, and now it’s more like toasted almond/rosehip oil. Can I still use that? Or does toasting break down the oil so it wont work in the recipe? Or have some other harmful side effect? I’ve tried googling this, and no luck. Thought you may have an idea.
Thanks, Sara
Hi Sara! What a wonderful idea! I think a rosehip infused body butter sounds amazing.
Oh man, I hate it when stuff like that happens to me. I don’t know for sure, but I do agree with your thought that toasting/frying the herbs causes them to lose their beneficial properties. I wouldn’t think that it would harm you to use it, except that it likely doesn’t smell that great. I would probably infuse a fresh batch to use in your body butter so you can really get the full benefit.
When using a quick method infusing herbs into a carrier oil, the goal is to keep the temperature at about 100 F. I like to infuse mine in a jar in crockpot (with the lid off) using the “warm” setting like this: https://thecrunchyginger.com/how-to-make-herb-infused-oil-in-a-crock-pot/
I hope that helps a little!
Thanks so much. Yeah, I did it in the crockpot on warm, and it boiled. So the jar method would have been a lot better. Like a bain marie. Well, live and learn! Thanks for the tip!
Good luck! You’ve got me inspired to go source some rosehips…
Just finished a test batch with a few substitutions…
shea butter = shea butter (I love the benefits here)
Coconut Oil = Sunflower Oil
Jojoba Oil = Sweet Almond Oil
Beeswax = Candelilla wax (does melt at a higher temp so it takes longer in fridge to cool)
Arrowroot Powder = Colloidal Oatmeal (4.5 g)
It whipped up really nice and has been sent out to friends for testing against dry skin.
Hi Michelle! This sounds ah-mazing. Thank you for sharing your version and ideas! Please let us know how your testers respond!
I just made this and I love it! I didn’t have shea butter so I used cocoa butter. Also, I used sweet almond oil instead of jojoba oil. I showered and shaved my legs while it was cooling. When I put it on my legs it was so nourishing. And I love the amount it makes. I’ve tried other recipes that made a lot. I’d rather made small batches so it’s fresh when I use it. This recipe is a keeper.
Thanks, Claudia! Your version sounds awesome- thanks for sharing it! I agree with you, I like to try different variations so I tend to just make a jar or two at a time and use it right away when I am making it for myself.
How many grams of butter does this recipe yield?
Should be about 116g. It usually yields about 5-6 ounces once it’s all whipped up.
Hi! I tried your recipe and included all the brand names you recommend, including the glass jars! I’m sorry to say that it turned out very greasy. The body cream hardened into a big solid lump after leaving it overnight. I can’t use it for holiday gifts, because it is so greasy. Since I spent so much on the ingredients, I’ll use it myself until it’s gone, but I’m left wondering what I did wrong.
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear this! It’s difficult to say exactly what’s going on from the other side of the internet, of course. But if it hardened up like that, I am wondering if perhaps there is too much wax? You could try melting it back down and adding a bit more of your softer ingredients (coconut oil or carrier oil.) Then cool and re-whip.
The product will always be more oily than a traditional lotion, but I find it absorbs pretty quickly when I apply a small amount at a time and let it soak in. But you can certainly add more arrowroot powder when you re-whip it!
I just finished making this and it turned out perfect! Thank you!
Yay!! I’m so so glad!
Can this be whipped with an immersion blender?
Interesting idea! I am not sure, honestly. My gut reaction is probably not because it seems like it would be a bit thick for most immersion blenders to handle. But my immersion blender is pretty puny so, perhaps a higher powered version might work? I know that sometimes folks are able to make whipped cream with their immersion blenders, so it might be possible…
Sorry, I know that isn’t much help. But if you do try it, I would very much like to know if it worked! Has anyone else ever had success with this?? Please comment!
This looks so good! What a fun gift to make for friends or family!
Thanks! It’s always a big hit when I gift it to folks. There are so many ways to customize it with varying oils and essential oils that it works well for many occasions.
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Yes! Since there is no water in this recipe, it will keep for quite some time stored in a cool/dark place (i.e. out of the sun). It depends a bit on the freshness of your ingredients, but in general a good 6-12 months. The shelf life can be estimated by your ingredient with the shortest shelf life -some oils will go rancid sooner than others.
I live in the high mountain desert. Hot during the day and cool at night. I’m not wanting to refrigerate the body butter. Any suggestions on keeping its consistency? Thank you so much!!!
You could try increasing the amount of beeswax – that might help raise the melting point a bit.
I love this recipe. I just made some orange boys butter for a friend’s birthday gift. Along with some homemade orange creamsicle sugar scrub. This body butter recipe is the best. Thank You.
Yummy!! What an awesome gift. I’m also really loving my Sweet Orange oil lately and have been using it in everything!
Hi. Thank you for this recipe. It worked out great for me. Due to a coconut and shea allergy, I made a few subsitutions if it is helpful for anyone.
53g (approx. 1/4 c) Unrefined Shea Butter – replaced with mango butter
26g (approx. 2 T) Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – replaced with babassu oil
33g (approx. 3 T) Jojoba Oil or other liquid oil – replaced with half jojoba and half sunflower oil
4g (approx. 1 tsp) Organic Beeswax Pellets
1-1/2 tsp Arrowroot Powder
1/4 tsp Vitamin E oil
Optional: 15-20 drops essential oil
Thank you for sharing your version! This is wonderful and so helpful.