Friday, April 6, 2012

Cocoa and Shea Body Butter for Dry Skin and Eczema

I'm so excited to share this lotion with all of you!  It's incredible in terms of healing.  I've been using it on Ethan's skin for about 5 days and his dry eczema patches have nearly disappeared, and the rest of his skin feels like velvet.  My poor son has awful seasonal allergies and this exacerbates his eczema.  So during this time of the year I keep his immune system strong and keep him lubed up with healing lotion.  I am also using this lotion on my legs and back (where I tend to get dry this time of year).  I'm just really impressed with cocoa butter...and it's fun to smell like chocolate. Oh, and I'm also using it as lip balm.  So fun!  If you're searching for a healing lotion for your dry, itchy skin, this one might be for you!  I've included links below if you're interested in making it.  I can't stress how easy it is to make your own lotion.  I'm saving so much money; comes out to about $2.50 per jar (I was paying $10 - $15) for similar store bought lotions.   
 Cocoa and Shea Body Butter 

Ingredients 
-2.5 ounces Raw organic cocoa butter 
-3.5 ounces Raw organic unrefined shea butter 
-3 tablespoons organic jojoba oil (I find this at my Coop in bulk.  Any healing liquid oil will work).
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla (just good ole' vanilla extract)
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine 

How To
1.  Weigh out your butters.
2.  Shave the cocoa butter, much as your would a chocolate bar, the smaller shavings the better.
3.  Add cocoa and shea to food processor, pulse few times to incorporate.
4.  Slowly drizzle in jojoba oil, vanilla, and vegetable glycerine.
5.  Blend for a while.  The heat will melt the larger chunks of cocoa.  
6.  I do not recommend heating any of the ingredients, as this will compromise the healing properties.  Shea butter is a bit hard, but if you store it in the fridge and then bring it to room temp, it softens up a bit, at least my batch did (every batch is different though).  You could also leave it out in the sun to soften.  You don't have to heat the cocoa butter, simply shave it.  
7.  Transfer lotion mixture to glass jars.  The lotion will be soft, then it will harden as it cools.  It will last for MONTHS at room temp.  Store leftover shea and cocoa butter in fridge and bring to room temp before working with it again. Yields about 12 ounces.
Enjoy friends! 

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Raw cocoa butter 


Cocoa shavings 


Add cocoa and shea to food processor, pulse a few times to incorporate, then keep on blend and drizzle in wet ingredients.


Mmmmm, looks good and smells outrageous
I make two jars at a time. 
One for our room and one for Ethan's.  
The small jar holds 4 ounces  
The large jar holds 8 ounces 
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Other homemade lotions from The Tasty Alternative

2.  Coconut Shea Butter Lotion 

Shared on: Fat Tuesdays , Simple Lives Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, It's a Keeper Thursday 

11 comments:

  1. This body butter looks wonderful. How much oil did you use? Or do you just pour in slowly until it becomes smooth? Also, instead of vegetable glycerin could you use Coconut oil?

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    • Hi There Ina,

      Thank you so much!

      Little oversight on my part there. I just added the info above. Thanks for the heads up. :-)

      And I'm sure coconut oil would be fine in place of vegetable glycerine (or just leave this ingredient out, it's only 1/2 teaspoon). I added the glycerine in there because it has a ton of healing properties and makes the lotion very silky and smooth. But yes, play around with different ingredients. And if you can, drop me a message here with your modifications. Always fun to read what others come up with!

      Be Well,
      --Amber

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  2. I want to make this!!! I have eczema that comes and goes on my fingers/hands/wrists, legs, feet, and the back of my neck. It's so annoying and irritating! :( I'm going to look into where I can buy what I need! :)

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    Replies
    • Hello There,

      I'm sorry to hear about your struggles with eczema! My husband gets eczema soooo bad on his hands! That's a difficult place to get it too, as our hands are always in water and exposed to the elements. When it gets really bad, my husband finds it helpful to lather on my homemade lotion before bed and wear cotton gloves all night. :-)

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  3. Tessa Domestic DivaApril 7, 2012 6:07 AM

    Two questions my dear so i can make this.....how much should I expect to pay for shea butter? And what are some other 'healing' oil I could try in place of the jojoba?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    • Hi Tessa,

      Great questions.

      Check back up in the ingredients, there's a link to where I buy the shea butter. :-)

      Other healing lotions, good for inflammation include:

      -Calendula Oil (one of my absolute favorites)
      -Almond Oil (use caution with nut allergies)
      -Coconut Oil (you'll have to melt)
      -Olive Oil (the best you can find)
      -Witch Hazel Oil
      -100% pure aloe vera would also work
      -Emuo Oil

      More on Emuo oil (which can be found online):
      Emu oil is one of the best and most promising eczema home remedies you can find, because it has many potent natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are perfect for eczema symptoms. The oil is soothing and will not clog your pores, and it provides fast relief for inflammation, itching, cracked and burning skin.

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    • Tessa Domestic DivaApril 16, 2012 9:46 AM

      this was SO much fun to make! So creamy you want to taste it! I used coconutoil instead of veg glycerin, and I used half emu oil, and half of another soothing baby oil we had on hand (a mixture of several healing oils and essential oils too). i am not sure I want to share it with anyone!!

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  4. This is something that I really have to try. It sounds wonderfully soothing and from what you have said it's very effective. This is my first visit to your site, but after spending some time browsing through your earlier posts I can tell you it will not be my last. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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    Replies
    • Thanks Mary!

      Let me know if you try it. It's super fun to make your own lotions. Fun to give as gifts too!

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  5. Adrienne @ Whole New MomApril 7, 2012 11:28 AM

    I can't wait to try this. I have the hardest time w/ dry lips. I've been using straight shea and a mix, but I've been meaning to make my own. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    • Hi Adrienne,

      It's quite lovely as a lip balm! Hope you enjoy it. It's really working wonders for our skin.

      Hugs

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