Crafting Your Own Whipped Body Butter

January 11, 2024

Updated:

January 11, 2024

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This is part 9 in “DIY Personal Care Products”

In this series we explore how to harness the healing powers of nature through home-made personal care products and avoid the side effects of chemical additives, artificial fragrances, and toxic preservatives in commercial products.

Last week, we explored crafting lip balm. Today, we focus on whipped body butter—a deep moisturizer used to soften and revitalize dry, cracked, or rough skin.

In this article, we explore the potential dangers of chemicals found in store-bought whipped body butter and the advantages of formulating your own. An all-natural recipe is provided.

Unmasking the Perils of Conventional Body Butter

Some of the potentially harmful chemicals lurking in some commercial body butters are:

Silicones

These synthetic additives create a temporary illusion of smoothness, but a 2020 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences reported “skin barrier damage” caused by silicones. “Irreversible damage of the stratum corneum [outer layer of the skin]” was observed following application of silicones.

Artificial Fragrances

The alluring scents in body butter often stem from synthetic fragrances that may consist of dozens of chemicals. Even though they may trigger allergic reactions and dermatitis, those chemicals aren’t required to be disclosed on the product label. Some fragrances have shown endocrine-disrupting or neurotoxic effects.

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Artificial Dye

These synthetic chemicals are commonly made from coal tar and raise health concerns from hypersensitivity to cancer, according to a 2012 research review in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental.

Parabens

As synthetic preservatives, parabens extend the shelf life of body butter. However, research has found that their ability to mimic estrogen may disrupt hormones. This association has prompted concerns regarding their potential involvement in the development of breast cancer and infertility.

You can avoid these harmful chemicals and protect your health from potential risks associated with long-term exposure by making your own whipped body butter.

Benefits of Making Your Own Whipped Body Butter

By incorporating natural whipped body butter into your skincare routine, you gain several benefits, including saving money.

Natural ingredients used in homemade body butter are often more affordable when purchased in bulk, and you can reuse containers to reduce costs.

This article includes a recipe for whipped body butter made from organic ingredients. Using today’s bulk pricing, the whipped body butter costs $1.15 per ounce, which is roughly 60 percent less expensive than comparable store-bought organic brands.

You can also personalize your body butter to better suit your own preferences and skin care needs.

DIY Whipped Body Butter Recipe

Below is a recipe that harnesses the power of natural ingredients to promote skin health, including:

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial activity make it a great treatment for skin disorders.

Shea Butter

Because of its fatty acid content, including linoleic, oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids, shea butter is naturally moisturizing. It also contains antioxidant properties and is a “significant source of anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting compounds,” according to a 2010 study published in the Journal of Oleo Science.

Cacao Butter

Cacao butter has high fatty acid content, which lets it hydrate and moisturize the skin. It may slow aging by protecting the skin against UV damage and promoting healing. According to a 2014 review article in Nutrients, flavanol-rich cocoa has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it “improves dermal blood flow, increases photoprotection and contributes to the maintenance of skin health.”

*Essential Oil

These natural oils add desirable aroma to body butter while providing health benefits. Rosemary essential oil, for example, contains antimicrobial and antiseptic properties that can extend the shelf life of body butter by staving off microbial growth. Rosemary also contains anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and anticancer properties for the skin, according to a 2023 study in Antioxidants.

A Word on Ingredient Quality

Choose organic ingredients whenever possible, and when choosing oils, select products that are 100 percent pure, cold-pressed, and unrefined.

Recipe: Whipped Body Butter

Ingredients:

1/3 cup shea butter
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup cacao butter
1/3 cup jojoba oil
15–30 drops of your favorite essential oilǂ (I enjoy 2 drops rosemary and 15 drops vanilla essential oil)

Instruction:

In a glass bowl, combine shea butter, coconut oil, cacao butter, and jojoba oil.
Melt the mixture over medium-low heat using a double boiler, stirring until well combined. If you don’t have a double boiler, use the glass bowl and a large pot as a substitute. The glass bowl should fit comfortably over the top of the pot, almost like a lid, but with enough space between the bottom of the glass bowl and the pot to ensure steam can flow between them. Place water in the bottom of the pot, place the glass bowl containing the ingredients on top of the pot, and simmer until the water steams.
Once all ingredients are melted and thoroughly combined, remove from heat.
Allow to cool to the touch, mixing occasionally with a hand blender.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator until the mixture begins to harden but is still somewhat soft.
Remove from the refrigerator and whip with a hand blender until the body butter reaches a creamy consistency.
Add essential oils and mix again with a hand blender.
Transfer the mixture to a clean, airtight, glass container and store in a cool location. If lotion melts due to heat exposure, place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes and then blend with a hand blender until creamy.
To apply, place a small amount on your finger and gently massage into the skin.

Contraindications and Precautions

*Pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under the age of 2, and anyone consuming prescription medications should consult their health care providers before using essential oils. Lavender essential oil can cause skin irritation. Nausea, vomiting, headache and chills have been reported in some people after inhaling or absorbing lavender through the skin. People with high blood pressure or epilepsy should avoid rosemary essential oil.

Always check for sensitivities or adverse reactions by applying a small amount of product. Do not use these recipes if you are allergic or sensitive to any of the ingredients.

Final Thoughts

Crafting your own body butter benefits your health, finances, and the environment. Remember to personalize the formulation to cater to your specific needs because you’re worth it!

DIY Personal Care Products