Lathering a fluffy body butter on your body is such a treat, especially after a relaxing bath. The ingredients, especially from homemade recipes, are easily absorbed into the skin. And with a two-ingredient recipe, like the one in this article, you don’t have to worry about other preservatives, endocrine disruptors, or any of that nonsense.
Now, we’ve published our fair share of body butter recipes, and most of them tend to have coconut oil. Although coconut oil is a moisturizing ingredient, it does not always agree with everyone’s skin. In fact, people with oily or sensitive skin can sometimes develop acne after applying coconut oil to the skin. The reason for this is because it has a high comedogenic rating, meaning that it can clog pores and cause skin irritation. That said, it is a miracle oil for the skin and many people love to use it.
From start to finish, this recipe takes about one and a half hours to make, including one hour of freezing/waiting time. It yields approximately 12 ounces of homemade body butter, and you can learn about the two ingredients below.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is made from pressing sunflower seeds, typically through the use of chemical solvents or cold-pressed. When you purchase sunflower oil, do your best to look for organic cold-pressed sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is naturally rich in vitamin E, a protective antioxidant that can help protect the skin from environmental factors that age the skin prematurely. Additionally, sunflower oil contains protective antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, D, and K. These antioxidants can help the skin retain moisture, which can minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Unlike coconut oil, sunflower oil is non-comedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores. In fact, sunflower oil may decongest pores by clearing them of dead skin cells.
Shea Butter
Shea butter comes from the kernels of shea trees, which are native to sub-Saharan Africa. Parts of the tree are famous for their anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, and have been known to relieve nasal congestion and skin issues. Shea butter is a common ingredient in many beauty products, especially face moisturizers and body lotions. It acts as an emollient that softens and hydrates the skin. The fatty acids, including oleic, palmitic, stearic, and linoleic acids, work to protect the skin from environmental pollutants. Research states that shea butter’s anti-inflammatory properties help to soothe irritated skin. It may help to fight breakouts, especially for people with dry skin. Dry skin is acne-prone because it overproduces sebum, which can clog pores. Shea butter stops this cycle and helps prevent skin from drying out.
Homemade Body Butter
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup raw unrefined shea butter
- 1/3 cup organic cold-pressed sunflower oil
Instructions:
- Pour a couple inches of water into the bottom of a double boiler and place that over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Place the top on and add the shea butter and sunflower oil to the top. Stir gently until fully melted and then remove from heat.
- Pour the melted oil mixture into a heat-safe glass measuring cup and place that in the freezer for one hour so that it can harden.
- Remove from the freezer and use an electric hand mixer to whip the frozen mixture until it turns into a fluffy whipped body butter. It may take about 10 minutes to achieve this texture.
- Spoon the body butter without coconut into clean containers and lather on your body when ready to use.
