Body Butter is thicker than a standard lotion and can be massaged on while the skin is still damp. It’s ideal for dry winter skin or problem areas like elbows and knees.
Body Butter is usually made with a blend of natural, plant-derived butter and oils. The primary ingredients are typically shea butter, murumuru butter, or mango butter (or a combination of these). Other ingredients can include essential oil for fragrance and other skincare benefits or non-toxic, skin-friendly plant-based extracts with skin-boosting properties. Optional add-ins include vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel, and arrowroot powder for a silky texture. Some recipes also recommend the addition of a natural preservative to the finished product to help inhibit the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms.
The optimum formulation for body butter is one that offers an optimal skin feel and a pleasant aroma in tune with the concept of a nourishing cosmetic. Graininess, a strange color or an overpowering aroma can indicate less-than-ideal formulation concepts or manufacturing errors.
While making a batch of body butter can be time consuming, it is relatively easy to do with the right equipment and ingredients. First, prepare your workspace by sanitizing your work area and sterilizing your bowls, utensils and containers. Next, weigh and measure your solid and liquid oils according to your chosen recipe. Once your ingredients are ready, heat them over a double boiler or in the microwave in short bursts until they have fully melted. Then, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in your optional add-ins (if needed).
Once your ingredients are combined, you can start to whip it into a light and fluffy consistency. A stand mixer or electric mixer is recommended, but if you don’t have one, a whisk can be used to achieve the same result. Once your body butter is whipped, it can be spooned into clean, glass jars for storage.
As with any homemade skincare product, it’s best to make your body butter in small batches and use it within a reasonable time frame. This will prevent contamination by harmful bacteria and extend the shelf life of your products. If you choose to store your body butter in the fridge, it’s important to label it with the date of preparation and a list of ingredients.
Formulation
Body Butter is a specific type of hydrating cream that’s formulated with compounds like shea butter or cocoa butter along with carrier oils and other specialized ingredients. It’s thicker than lotion and more occlusive, so it creates a barrier that locks in moisture to keep skin soft, smooth, and moisturized. It’s often used for dry, irritated skin, especially on areas that are prone to dryness, such as feet, elbows, and knees. It’s a popular choice for winter because it’s extra moisturizing and can help keep skin hydrated in cold weather.
Body butter is a great DIY beauty product because it can be made with simple ingredients that don’t require a preservative or an emulsifier. This makes it a popular choice for beginner MIY (Make-it-Yourself) enthusiasts. The basic recipe for body butter is a mix of melted butters and oils and then added essential or fragrance oils, vitamin E oil, and other skin-enhancing oils. It can be whipped to achieve an airy texture or it can be left to set into a creamy consistency.
For a whipped body butter, the butters and oils are mixed in a double boiler until they reach a soft-set stage. Then they are transferred to a large glass bowl and whipped with a hand or stand mixer until the butters and oils resemble a soft-served ice cream, about 10 minutes. Using the mixer will also create a frothy air that will add to the body butter’s sensorial experience.
Once the body butter has a whipped texture, it can be scooped into containers to store. It should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. If the whipped body butter begins to harden, it can be put back into the fridge to soften again.
It’s important to choose the right butters and oils for your formula. Shea butter is a common choice for a body butter because it is known for its ability to deeply moisturize. Other options include mango butter, murumuru butter, and cocoa butter. It’s also helpful to select a blend of different butters so that each one can impart a unique texture and skin feel to the final product. In addition to the butters, you should also consider choosing a soft-set oil to add to the mixture, as this will help prevent the body butter from melting in warm temperatures.
Texture
The thickest of body moisturizers, a Body Butter can be a little harder to work with than lotions or creams. However, once you have the hang of it, you can use it to quench your skin and lock in moisture.
When making a body butter, the choice of ingredients is going to have a huge impact on its texture. Butters vary in their solidity at room temperature, and some have different melting points. For example, shea butter is much harder at room temperature than mango butter. This is important to consider because it can affect how whipped the body butter will be.
Oils also have a significant effect on the texture of a body butter. Choosing oils that are lighter in consistency can help to make the finished product feel less greasy on your skin. Oils that soak into the skin more quickly will also create a creamier and more airy texture.
In addition to the butters and oils, body butters typically have a few other ingredients like conditioners and emulsifiers to help them maintain their smooth texture. Most importantly, a body butter should be made with ingredients that promote healthy skin and are free of any chemicals that could damage the skin or the environment.
Lastly, some body butters may have stabilizers and preservatives added to keep them fresh for longer. This is important, especially for homemade body butters, since they don’t have the advantage of being stored in a refrigerator to preserve their consistency.
Aside from the stabilizer, most body butters are made with natural colors and fragrances to give them their signature scent. They are also often scented with essential oils that have sensorial and skin beneficial properties.
Homemade body butters are almost always whipped so that they have a soft and light texture. When using a homemade body butter, it is best to apply it shortly after showering or bathing while the skin is still damp. This will prevent the body butter from melting on the skin and causing it to become stiff or clumpy.
Scent
Body butter can be scented for added relaxation and skin-enhancing benefits. A popular example is a lavender-scented body butter, which can help calm the senses and promote deep sleep for an overall healthy beauty routine. Some recipes also call for other natural ingredients like herbal extracts and essential oils to help improve skin texture and tone. For example, rose essential oil helps soothe sensitive skin while chamomile and lavender extracts can be great for improving the look of redness and acne scars.
The main ingredients in homemade body butter are a skincare ingredient, such as shea or cocoa butter, and a carrier oil. Some recipes call for additional add-ins, such as vitamin E oil, aloe vera gel, or powdered colorants like micas. For a more lightweight and fluffy formula, many DIYers choose to whip their ingredients after melting, cooling and mixing. This requires waiting until the mixture is a bit cooler, then using an electric mixer to beat it as if you were making whipped cream. However, whipping is completely optional and can be skipped if desired.
If you’re making a whipped body butter, the recipe should contain arrowroot starch or flour, which can help reduce its oily/greasy feel and absorb excess moisture. A small amount of sugar can also be added to create a sweet and light scent, if desired.
To make a creamy body butter, combine all of the ingredients and whisk to mix. Then, pour into a clean container and let cool. The best time to apply body butter is directly after a shower, while the skin is still damp. Applying it regularly will deeply moisturize the skin and prevent dryness, especially in problem areas like elbows and knees. It can also help reduce the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy by treating dryness in the belly area early and effectively. It can be used on all areas of the body, but most people find that applying it to the legs, arms and torso provides the most moisture-boosting results. If you have sensitive skin, a gentle body butter may be best for your needs.