It gets mighty hot here where I live in Northern California. In fact, the forecast calls for 108 degrees on Saturday. But it's all good. I grew up in this weather. I lived in the desert as a child for 7 years (near Death Valley) and other super hot locations in Cali. Luckily, my skin does not react to the hot weather (it DOES react to the cold dry weather, however). My husband has super sensitive skin and thus gets terrible eczema on his hands. And my sweet-pea son, Ethan, well, you can read about his journey with eczema here. It's essential that my guys stay lathered up with lotion during the hot summer months, so a big ole' batch of homemade body butter was on my to-do list this week. And I made more than enough for the entire summer. This lotion contains four simple (and edible) ingredients: shea butter, cocoa butter, avocado oil, and vegetable glycerin. And this lotion is great for so much more than a moisturizer for eczema/dry skin (good for scars, scratches/cuts, sunburns, nails, under eyes, wrinkles, massage, lips, rashes, etc).
I want to take a moment to share why I use these particular ingredients and their benefits.
What is Shea Butter?
Why I love it:
*Natural sunblocking properties
*Joint pain relief
*Anti-inflammatory
*Excellent moisturizer
*Long self life
What is Cocoa Butter?
Why I love it:
*Natural antioxidant
*Excellent moisturizer
*Great for scars
*Protects from environmental pollutants
*Long self life
What is Avocado Oil?
Why I love it:
*High in sterolin
*Contains vitamin A, D & E
*Anti-bacterial
*Anti-inflammatory
What is Vegetable Glycerin?
Why I love it:
*Anti-bacterial
*Anti-bacterial
*Draws oxygen into the blood
*Can be used in place of alcohol
*Excellent moisturizer
Shea + Cocoa + Avocado Oil Body Butter
(with Anti-Itch Recipe)
Ingredients:
-16 ounces raw organic shea butter, cubed
-4 ounces raw organic cocoa butter, shaved*
-1/4 cup avocado oil (hexane-free)
-2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin
How to:
1. In a food processor add 16 ounces shea butter. Pulse a few times to break it down. With the food processor running, add in the vegetable glycerin and avocado oil.
2. Add 4 ounces cocoa butter to a glass pyrex and set into a pot of heated water. Do not let the cocoa butter rise above 118 degrees (if you want this to be a raw lotion). Remove from heat once things are looking good and melted and continue to stir around. The heat will melt any little remaining chunks.
3. Drizzle the cocoa butter into the food processor. Mix until well incorporated.*
4. Scoop out lotion into glass jars and lather up!
Anti-Itch Recipe:
Mix together 1/2 cup homemade lotion and 2 teaspoons gluten free colloidal oatmeal. Use on persistent itchy skin. Add more oatmeal to lotion as needed.
Notes:
*Yes, this recipe is oily but it does eventually absorb into the skin.
*Initially, the lotion is super thin in texture. It's suppose to be. It will firm up as it cools. Additionally, the lotion will slightly change texture with the weather (hotter days will soften the lotion, cold winter days will harden it).
*This lotion will keep for months at room temperature. You can store it in the fridge though too.
*I usually just shave the cocoa butter and run it in the food processor with the other ingredients until it gets warms and melts. But this time I melted it for a smooth, creamy finish. To keep the cocoa butter raw, keep the heat under 120 degrees.
*I purchase all the ingredients locally, except for the shea butter (I do order that on-line).
Here is the shea butter
I weigh all my ingredients
Here is the cocoa butter
Here is the mixture with the shea,
vegetable glycerin, and avocado oil
This is how I melt the cocoa butter.
Be sure to shave it before you heat it, it will melt faster and more evenly.
Pouring cocoa butter into mixture
Look at how velvety!
Here is the oatmeal in the coffee grinder
Add it to the lotion and mix
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Initially, the mixture will be very thin from the warm cocoa butter, but it firms up quite a bit as it sets. See the pictures here below for texture.
Other homemade lotions/body butters from The Tasty Alternative
1. Shea Butter Lotion with Chamomile Infused Jojoba Oil
2. Coconut Shea Lotion with Jojoba, Calendula & Eucalyptus
2. Coconut Shea Lotion with Jojoba, Calendula & Eucalyptus
3. Cocoa and Shea Body Butter with Jojoba and Vanilla
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Shared on: Raw Foods Thursday, Wellness Weekend, Whole Food Fridays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays,
These are definitely a must-try for me. Not only is my skin almost always dry, it's also sensitive. Your recipe might be the solution to my problem. Thanks for posting about it!
ReplyDeleteHi MT,
DeleteHope you find the recipe helpful! We love it.
This is the only way I. Could figure out to comment! Any alternative you would recommend for avocado oil? My lo has bad eczema but is allergic to avacado. Could I do olive with some vitamin e to perserve serve it longer?
DeleteThis looks great! If I wanted to create more of an ointment like lotion (closer to the thickness of something Aquaphor) would adding beeswax help? My 4 month has a couple of rough patches on his cheeks and I'm thinking I need something thicker to stay on ... but maybe not?
ReplyDeleteHi There Michaela,
DeleteThanks for your comment. Sorry the pictures are a bit misleading. The lotion firms up quite a bit after if cools. The warm cocoa butter makes everything very soft, but it solidifies after a few hours. There is no need for beeswax. I will make this more clear in the post. Thank you. :-)
What nourishing body butter and way less expensive to make your own than buying it at Whole Foods! Love all your homemade recipes Amber.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. I agree it's sooo much cheaper to make at home. And it just feeling fabulous. :-)
DeleteHave a great weekend friend.
xo,
--Am
Thank you so much for your inspiration and guidance! I also really appreciate that you always link to the products you use - it is a great starting point for my own research. I am quite happy with the skin care products that I am using, but as a next step I am now super intrigued to try to make my own - for full control of the ingredients that I put in. Love your site and love reading your posts! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by today and leaving such a nice comment. It warms my heart that I provide inspiration. I feel so inspired by others, so nice to see that come full circle. :-)
DeleteEnjoy the rest of your day.
Be Well,
--Amber