I am addicted to skin moisturizers. As soon as I finish washing my hands or taking a shower, I MUST put one on. My hands feel dry and almost seem to ache without it.
My addiction to skin moisturizers like lotion and body butter is probably because I was born and raised on the desert planes of Colorado. Static electricity is high and mold is practically non-existent in such an environment because dryness reins supreme. So, in an attempt to evade cracked skin and to encourage nourished, soft skin, lotion it is.
Unfortunately, many commercial lotions are chock full of super unhealthful ingredients which I really would rather not being absorbed into my body. As a result, I make my own lotion.
Homemade lotion is pretty versatile. In my recipe, I use herb-infused oil. Some good herbs to use when infusing oil are lavender and chamomile. You can Google “herbs that are good for skin” to find others.
Infusing oil is super easy. Just place some dried herbs in the bottom of a jar (such as a canning jar), pour the oil over them, and seal. Keep in a cool, dry place for a week or more (the longer is sits, the stronger the infusion). Strain before using.
Another good element to add to the recipe if you want to is one or more essential oils. Essential oils can increase the nutritive value of the lotion plus they make it smell good–just be sure to use therapeutic quality oils like Young Living’s.
Homemade Coconut Oil and Shea Body Butter
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp.
beeswax pellets - 1/4 c.
coconut oil - 1/4 c.
organic raw shea butter - 2 tbsp.
oil (olive, almond, joboba, etc.; can be infused with herbs such as lavender or chamomile if you like) - Young Living essential oil (for added benefit and/or scent), optional*
Instructions
- Fill a saucepan about half full with water; bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Place a glass or stainless steel bowl over the saucepan. It should completely cover the opening of the pan to prevent any steam from getting into the lotion.
- Add all the ingredients except the optional essential oil to the bowl. Allow to melt, stirring occasionally, until a uniform liquid results.
- Add optional essential oil one drop at a time until desired scent is reached.
- Pour hot liquid carefully into sterilized jars (the short 8 ounce canning jars with a wide mouths work perfectly).
- Once the liquid has set and cooled to room temperature, you may need to stir it to keep it creamy.
Notes
2. A little of this body butter goes a long way! It is very moisturizing so using too much will make your hands feel greasy. It works great to keep skin soft and works at combating rough spots such as those that might be found on your elbows or feet.
I’ve been looking for a simple recipe like this! Pinned it. 🙂
Do you know if it would be possible to use grapeseed instead of olive/almond/etc?
Thanks so much for sharing!
How stable is this? Does it have to be refridgerated? Thanks in advance
Nope, doesn’t need refrigerated. It lasts probably about 2 months (when I make it though, I’m addicted to it and use it up faster!). If you want it to last longer you can add maybe 4 or 5 capsules of vitamin E (just bust them open and squeeze the liquid into it). This acts as a preservative and vitamin E is good for skin, too.
Hello am glad I landed on this been looking for the information of preserverative what keeps these creams to last long u said vitamin E, but can this cream last for 6 to 12months plz
where can I find shea butter and coconut oil in large amount? to make batches for Christmas gifts
Thank you
How many jars do you get from this recipe?
Can this be used on the face? I am a beekeeper and like recipes that use bee products. Honey is great for many things too.
It should, yes. You could probably add some honey to it, too. 🙂
Which type of honey??, is it the normal honey we use at home or is there any organic honey
I’m very excited to try this! If it’s as good as I think it will be, this will make a great stocking stuffer gift!
Thanks for this great body butter.will try this.
is there a problem with just using coconut oil? if so, what are the disadvantages? thank you very much!
You can try using just CO. I’ve heard some people have issues with their skin actually drying out eventually when they use just CO, but everyone’s different. I added shea butter because it has high fatty acid content, making it a great moisturizer (while the coconut oil is there because it moisturizes as well as injects nutrients). Shea butter is also known as an anti-aging cream, so it’s good at repairing the skin. Hope this is helpful. 🙂
Hello TJ, I was wondering if you use fractionated coconut oil or regular coconut oil in a jar?? Thank you 🙂
Am I able to leave out the beeswax? I have everything else!
The beeswax mainly helps to thicken it, so definitely try it without. I can’t guarantee how thick it’ll be and what-not, but if you do try it, let me know how it goes. 🙂
Try whipping the coconut oil and shea butter together after you combine them, it adds to the texture and makes it nice and creamy
Can I use coconut butter instead of oil
I don’t like using beeswax pellets in mine anymore cause they will melt while making the lotion but for my own experience they re appeared in the cream in a way which it not as pleasing to look at, if I hadn’t used them at all. (Maybe it was the brand but figured id share my experience).
Thanks
Can’t wait to try this recipe. One question though. I would like to use up some of my stored breast milk. Is there any ingredient in here that I can substitute with breast milk?? Thanks!
Hi, Lily! You could try just adding a couple tablespoons in it, it should still work just fine. I wouldn’t necessarily suggest doing that though because breastmilk supposedly perishes after up to 8 days when refrigerated. So unless you plan on using all the lotion before then, that wouldn’t work. Maybe just use the breast milk in addition to the lotion?
What could you use in place of the beeswax to thicken the lotion?
I am asking the same question.
There are a lot of things you can use to make it thicker. You could try searching for lotion emulsifiers. Some people use soy lecithin.
Hi TJ. So glad to see a homemade lotion cos I am a lover of shea butter,but can it be good on a very dark skin?if not send ou recipe that will be perfect to a dark skinned.
Hi, Hauwa! It should work just as well on dark skin. 🙂
Hi I was wondering if your just making enough for one jar if you have to heat them. I’ve been making some just whipping and I’ve noticed people do both. Thanks for your help. I’ve been using shea butter, virgin coconut oil and vitamin E oil and some essential oils. I just want to be safe.
Hi, Patricia. If you’re using my recipe, you’ll need to heat it so the beeswax melts. If you’re just mixing ingredients that are already soft, there shouldn’t be a need to.
I am looking for a lotion recipe that can be put in a tube and carried in a purse without melting. I tried one recipe but I think I used too much bees wax. I was unable to sqeeze it from the bottle. Do you have any helpful ideas?
You’ve good stuff on this website
Hiya I really want to do this as a Christmas present to 10 people but wandering how much the ingredients would change like the quantities? Can you let me know please 🙂
Hi,
I just made this recipe and added lemon oil and vitamin E oil. Mine turned out on the hard side and not creamy at all. More of a chapstick texture instead of lotion. Do you have any suggestions on how to make it more creamy. Maybe more coconut oil or less beeswax pellets? It’s my first so any advice would be great.
All of the ingredients actually harden when cold, so if you make it during winter months then it would not be creamy unless your house is very warm.
Want to try this would like a larger receive for gifts
I am making this recipe for 10 people what’s the measurement for that thank you
I’ve been using this recipe for over 1 1/2 years. This is the best recipe! My whole family loves this body butter! We all use it every day. I double this recipe when I make it and fill a bunch of mason jars and it lasts us a really long time. We use it all years round. It’s great for the dry winter and for recovering from the sun drying out your skin. The only thing I change up, is I try different blends of essential oils at the end of the process. It always comes out great. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Can I add yoghurt to this recipe for skin lightening and is vitamin E enough to preserve it up to a year +.? Thanks so much.
Do you put the top on the jar right away or after it’s cooled?
Do you happen to have weight measurements instead of volume? I’m excited to try this recipe! I love that there is beeswax inclued.
The do you sell your lotion wholesale
Since this is a preservative free product, does this need to be refrigerated? How long should this last? And can a preservative be added ? I just made the lotion and can can’t wait to try it 😊. Thank you. Ginger
Hi. Thanks for the recipe. I just tried it, but I’m questioning whether I did something wrong because the consistency is thin. It pours like oil.
I am 85, living on pension from USA and we are in the Philippines. Some years ago I had a Shea butter body butter business and finally after some strokes and my wife passing from mortality, I gave away everything I owned and came to the Philippines with 2 suitcases and 1 carry one.
Now 3 years later, I am surprised that I did not die as I expected if I had stayed in Utah, and I actually recovered many things from my 5 strokes and now have 5 adults and 4 children to feed and house .
I need more income besides my pension and I decided that Shea butter is the way to TRY to make things work.
Shea butter and coconut oil were in solid form, but here Coconut oil is always liquid as the temps are above the melting point.
So I know that Stearic Acid (Used in candle making)or Beeswax will raise the melting temp, but I know that refrigerators and AC are not the normal items in a home here.
I am sitting here with an AC on to partially cool the rest of our tiny home, and my setting has a temp of 80 degrees which works for me. So others have HIGHER temps and this will change packaging for me.
Here in the Philippines Shea butter melts at what temp?
I know stearic acid can handle that but contamination by user is also a concern here.
So I would like some input from anyone as I am not a webpage user for my self and know that is also needed.
USA pricing and packaging is not the norm here. being close to China, perhaps I am closer than others who seek less expensive packaging, also.
I’d like to have an idea of how much this recipe makes, please. I’m considering doubling the recipe and want to know that the mixer bowl is large enough. I also want to know that I have enough containers and how large the containers need to be.
Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Thanks
How many ounces does the recipe make?