Easy Homemade Body Butter

Make your own Easy Homemade Body Butter! This DIY body butter recipe is just 5 ingredients to make and it's incredibly thick and moisturizing. Pamper yourself and your skin with this natural luxurious treat that will leave you feeling soft, nourished, and revitalized. Your skin will thank you! This recipe also makes a wonderful homemade gift!

I have extremely sensitive dry skin, and my skin reacts badly to most store-bought lotions, creams, and body butter. I can never figure out which ingredients irritate my skin, so I decided to try making my own homemade body butter, that way I can control every ingredient that goes into it. My goodness am I ever glad I tried this, my skin has never been happier! And it smells amazing too!

This whipped body butter recipe is easy to make and it also allows you to tailor the recipe to your preferences. By choosing high-quality natural ingredients and controlling the process, you can ensure that your body butter is free from harsh chemicals or additives often found in commercial products. And it's surprisingly so easy to make! Get ready to embark on a delightful journey of self-care and indulge in the joy of creating your very own Easy Homemade Body Butter.

Common Questions:

What oils are best for body butter?

Inspired by the body butters from The Body Shop, I used a combination of shea butter and cocoa butter for the base. are used for their deep moisturizing properties, ability to nourish the skin with vitamins and antioxidants and delightful natural fragrance. They leave the skin hydrated, soft, and indulgently pampered.

Because both shea and cocoa are solid at room temperature, you need an oil that is liquid at room temperature to soften the mixture and make it spreadable. For my liquid oil, I like to use jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, or sunflower seed oil. See below for the benefits of each. They all have different benefits and range in price.

What oil to use:

• Jojoba Oil: Known for its similarity to the skin's natural sebum, jojoba oil moisturizes, soothes, and balances the skin, making it suitable for various skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
• Grapeseed Oil: Lightweight and non-comedogenic, grapeseed oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, helping to moisturize, tighten, and tone the skin while supporting its natural collagen production.
• Coconut Oil: With its moisturizing properties, coconut oil can nourish and hydrate the skin, leaving it soft and supple. It also has antimicrobial properties that may be beneficial for certain skin conditions, although it can be comedogenic for some individuals, meaning it may clog pores and lead to breakouts. Unrefined coconut oil has a strong coconut smell whereas refined coconut oil is scentless, so if you do not want a coconut smell use refined coconut oil. This oil will also make your body butter quite firm in cooler temperatures.
• Almond Oil: Almond oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, making it a great emollient and moisturizer for the skin. It can help improve complexion, reduce inflammation, and soothe dry and irritated skin.
• Olive Oil: A versatile oil with antioxidants and fatty acids, olive oil provides moisturizing benefits, helps protect against free radicals, and can aid in improving skin elasticity. It is commonly used for dry or mature skin. It is a heavier oil that may not suit all skin types. For individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, using olive oil may potentially clog pores and cause breakouts.
• Sunflower Seed Oil: Rich in vitamins A, D, and E, sunflower seed oil helps retain moisture, soothes and calms the skin, and can assist in enhancing the skin's natural barrier function, making it suitable for dry and sensitive skin.

How do you make body butter soft and fluffy?

The oils are first melted together and then chilled. Once chilled you can use an electric mixer or hand whisk to whip the mixture and incorporate air. This will make it soft and fluffy. 

How to make body butter not so greasy?

Adding 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, arrowroot powder, or tapioca starch will help the body butter feel less greasy. I also find applying it directly after showering and letting it sink into your skin for a few minutes helps it absorb and not feel greasy.

What does homemade body butter smell like?

It depends on what oils you choose to use. Shea butter has a mild, nutty aroma and cocoa butter smells like white chocolate. Jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, refined coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil are odorless, so if you use one of these oils in your mixture you can expect the body butter to smell only of the shea and cocoa butter. It will be a very mild nutty chocolatey fragrance. 

Unrefined coconut oil smells of coconut, olive oil smells of olives, and almond oil smells nutty, so if you choose to one of these oils they will add to the fragrance.

If you like, you can additionally add a small amount of essential oil to add a custom fragrance. My preference is a vanilla essential oil, but you could use any essential oil you like such as lavender, orange, lemon, grapefruit, peppermint, ylang-ylang, geranium, frankincense, patchouli, sandalwood, eucalyptus, tea tree, rosemary, cedarwood, or bergamot. You can even get creative and try different essential oil blends. If you want to experiment with different scents I recommend getting an essential oil set with many different oils.

How to make easy homemade body butter:

Step 1: You can either use a double boiler, or the microwave to melt the oils.

Double boiler method: Use a double boiler or place a heatproof bowl on top of a pot filled with a couple of inches of simmering water, ensuring the bowl doesn't touch the water. To the bowl, add the shea butter, cocoa butter, and oil of choice.

Gently melt all the ingredients together using a spatula to stir them every now and then. Once melted, remove the bowl from the heat and place it in the fridge to cool for about 45 - 60 minutes.

Microwave method: If you prefer you can use the microwave to make homemade body butter instead of the double boiler. To a large microwave-safe measuring cup or bowl, add the shea butter, cocoa butter, and oil of choice. Melt the ingredients together in the microwave in 20-second increments, stopping to stir, and being very careful not to burn or overheat the oil. Pour the melted oils into the bowl of your stand mixer or another large heat-proof bowl, then place the bowl in the fridge to cool for about 45 - 60 minutes.

Step 2: Whip the body butter:
You will know the oils have chilled long enough and are ready for whipping when the oils around the edges of the bowl are solid but it is still a bit melty in the middle.
Now to the bowl add the starch, and essential oil. I like to start with 10 drops of essential oil and then add more as needed if I want the scent to be stronger.

Use a stand mixer, hand mixer, or whisk to whip the body butter until it is a fluffy texture and lightens in color.
Transfer the body butter to a sealable jar. I like to store my body butter at room temperature, but if it is a hot summer day you may want to store it in the fridge as it can melt at about 90℉ (32℃).

This easy homemade body butter is...

• super rich and moisturizing
• all-natural (just easy 5 ingredients)
• smells amazing (I literally had people asking me what scent I was wearing)!

If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram. Let me know in the comments if you want more homemade skin care recipes!

Bon appetegan!

Sam Turnbull.

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