Body Cream and Body Butter Recipes

Posted on 8/04/2013 by aquarabbit

I decided to do a post about the recipes I use for body cream and body butter be
cause they are relevant to my post last month about loose skin. I mentioned tha
t I make my own products because I like to know exactly what's in them, so why n
ot show how I do it. I do have specific uses for these since they apply to not
only skin problems that I use them for, but common skin problems that people who
are going through a weight loss journey have. While I know that some people do
n't have the time to make their own cosmetics, hopefully this will be a fun proj
ect for some people. :D I get my supplies from Mountain Rose Herbs, but most o
f the ingredients should be easy to find locally or through the usual online web
sites like Amazon.
Body Cream
One of the common compaints that I see on here is itchy skin. I have very sensi
tive skin that is allergic to all sorts of things. I started making this cream
to deal with that. It's worked out very well and keeps my skin very very moistu
rized all day long. I just want to go over the ingredients for explanations and
alternatives.
Rolled Oats: These are what helps with the itching. Remember the oatmeal baths
that helped itching? Well, this is the same concept. However if you are aller
gic or don't wish to use it, you can substitute this with any dried herb you cho
ose. Rose petals, lavender flowers, chamomile buds, etc. Use them in the same
way as you would the oats. The water won't get thick, but you'll still end up w
ith a beautiful cream.
Apricot Kernal Oil: I use this because I love it. It's an oil that really work
s for my skin. But again, this can be subsituted for any oil as long as it is s
oft or liquid. I've used coconut, almond, meadowfoam, and avocado with great re
sults. The weather where I am doesn't change, but if you are in a climate with w
armer, more humid weather in the spring/summer, something like apricot kernal or
sesame oils are great because they are so lightweight. In the colder, drier fa
ll/winter, coconut or avocado is much more moisturizing.
Emulsifying Wax and Beeswax: These are what bind the oil and water together and
they are necessary. You can find vegetable based emulsifying wax and use anoth
er tablespoon of it if you are vegan and don't want to use beeswax. It won't wo
rk quite as well, but it will still work.
Vitamin C Powder: This is the help preserve the cream, not to make this into a
vitamin c cream. I mentioned in my loose skin post about adding powdered vitami
n c to water based creams. This is a cream you can do that with. Just mix some
in with the cream in the palm of your hand and apply it to your body.
Now for the recipe:
1/4 cup Rolled Oats
2 cups Water
1/4 cup Apricot Kernal Oil
2 tbsp Emulsifying Wax
1 tbsp Beeswax
1 tbsp Vitamin C Powder
Boil the 2 cups of water and steep the oats for 10 minutes, then strain. Boil a
few inches of water in a separate pan and place a bowl over the top to make a d
ouble boiler. Gently melt the oil, emulsifying wax, and beeswax in the bowl unt
il liquified. When both mixtures are about the same temperature, whisk together
until light and creamy. Add the powder and you are done. You can make a large
batch of this and freeze it for up to a year. Take out enough for about 2-4 we
eks at a time. It can go bad if left out too long. You can add fragrance or ess
ential oils to make it a bit more luxurious if desired.
To use, apply it in the morning right after your shower.
Body Butter
This is one that I tweaked and made to help not only tighten up the skin, help w
ith stretch marks, and soften dry skin, but I tweaked it to help with the sore m
uscles that I have been having since starting to workout. I'm going to go throu
gh the ingredients again for the same purpose as before.
Shea Butter: A classic skincare ingredient. I don't think that I need to go int
o detail about how awesome it is. If you are allergic, look into avocado butter
. It's a great substitute.

Kokum Butter: I love this butter. It's so luxurious and makes my skin feel ama
zing. It's a little harder to find, so if you can't or don't want to use it, su
bstitute cocoa butter. If you are allergic to that, mango butter is another opt
ion.
Coconut Oil: Wonderful moisturizer, soaks in great, and smells delish! Alternat
ives would be olive or jojoba oils. You want something light that soaks in well
.
Avocado Oil: This is so good for dry skin. It's so rich and as a dry skin suff
erer (even living in the tropics it's still dry) I swear by this oil. If you ar
e looking for something lighter, you could try sesame or almond oils. Watch out
for sesame though. While an amazing lightweight moisturizer, it can go bad.
Rosehip and Arica Oils: These are where the bulk of the benefits are. The othe
r oils are certainly beneficial, but these are the creme de la creme. Rosehip (
as I mentioned in the loose skin post) is great for tigthening up skin and helpi
ng with skin cell production due to it's natural form of vitamin a. Arnica is a
n oil that has been used for centuries to help with sore, tired muscles. You do
n't need a lot of either of these (which is good because they are pricier), but
they're a great, although optional, addition to the cream.
The recipe:
1/2 cup Shea Butter
1/2 cup Kokum Butter
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Avocado Oil
2 tbsp Rosehip Oil
2 tbsp Arnica Oil
Melt all the oils together in the same type of homemade double boiler I mention
before. If you have a stand mixer, use the mixing bowl to melt the oils in. W
hen all the ingredients are melted and mixed, place in the fridge to harden. Af
ter a 2-3 hours, take it out and use the whisk attachement to whip the oils. It
will take about 10-15 minutes on a higher setting, but you will get the lightes
t, fluffiest, most frosting-like looking body butter that smooths onto skin grea
t. I put this in jars that last me about a month and store them in the freezer
for up to a year, but it can also be stored at room temperature depending on the
types of oils you choose to use.
To use, apply to slightly damp skin. The ideal time would be at night after a
shower. However if you prefer not to shower at night, just mist yourself with a
bit of water before applying the butter to help it soak in easier.
"FoaMink" Cream Facial Cleanser NG (Next Generation)::
This Creamy, Vitamin and Protein packed Facial Cleanser will knock you off your
feet! Leaves skin squeaky clean, but totally conditioned for optimum function!
For Normal Skin types, leave the formula as is.
For Dry Skin types, add 3.0% VegeMoist and decrease water to 54.5% or 1.0% Hyalu
ronic Acid and decrease water to 56.5%.
For Oily Skin types, replace VegeMink Oil with additional Caprylic Capric Trigly
cerides.
In this formula, the VegeMink Oil not only conditions the skin....but also acts
as a carrier to take the proteins and vitamins in the formula deeper into the ti
ssues. The use of NatureMulse? enhances the cream by mimicking the skin's natura
l lipid barrier. The cleansing properties are provided by the Polyglucose Lactyl
ate Blend?, as well as the Oat Powder? (which also provides the cleanser with ex
tra lipids and amino acids). Goat Milk Powder provide natural refinement. Allan
toin promotes cell regeneration, while the Hydrolyzed Silk Protein and DL Panthe
nol nourish the skin, leaving it softer and smoother.
This formula has a skill level rating of Experienced.

Ingredients:
Phase A

Make Formula Make Formula

100 g
57.5% Distilled Water or Purified Water
2%
Vegetable Glycerin
0.5%
Allantoin
3%
Goat Milk Powder
1%
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
2%
DL Panthenol
2%
Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate Preservative
Phase B
5.5%
Naturemulse
4%
VegeMink
2%
Caprylic Capric Triglycerides
2%
Cetyl Esters
16%
Polyglucose Lactylate Blend
Phase C
2%
Hydrolyzed Silk Protein
0.5%
Essential Oil of choice

Directions:
1. Combine Phase A with good mixing (stick blender) and heat to 170F for 20 minu
tes, to pasteurize the Goat Milk. Mix well to insure Allantoin and Gluconolacto
ne, Sodium Benzoate Preservative have completely dissolved, before continuing.
2. Combine Phase B and heat to 170F.
3. Pour Phase A into Phase B, slowly, and with good mixing. Continue mixing occ
asionally till cool to 105 degrees
4. When cooled to 110F or below, add Phase C and mix very well.

Chilled Cold Cream Recipe

This chilled cold cream makes a wonderfully simple, self pampering, daily ritual
that, nurtures the goddess within. It is especially nice to use on sultry summe
r evenings.
50 grams jojoba, olive oil or other cold/expeller pressed vegetable oil
50 grams alba rose hydrosol (use regular rose hydrosol if alba is unavailable)
12.5 grams beeswax (if allergic, substitute candelilla wax)
1 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon local honey (warm if crystallized)
1 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon borax (optional to make the product white)
1 to 2 drops pure rose otto essential oil (optional: for a stronger rose scent)
Blending Procedure:
Combine oil and beeswax in the top portion of a small double boiler pot. Heat ov
er boiling water until the beeswax has fully melted. While the wax is melting, d
issolve your borax in the rose hydrosol and then heat liquid gently. Do not boil
!

Place the melted oil/wax mixture into a food processor. With processor running,
slowly drizzle the honey into the oil/wax mixture, until well blended. Continue
running the processor and slowly add the warmed rose hydrosol into the oil/wax/h
oney mixture in very small amounts until all the rose hydrosol is fully incorpor
ated and you have an emulsion. If desired, during mixing time, add a drop or 2 o
f Rose Otto for a stronger rose scent.
Allow your cream to sit and "settle" for a minimum of five minutes. Hydrosol whi
ch has not incorporated into the cream will sink to the bottom and the emulsifie
d cream layer will rise to the top. Drain off this lower layer of hydrosol and d
iscard it or use it immediately, for example, to splash on your face.
Gently spoon one teaspoon of "cold cream" into each cavity of a standard ice cub
e tray. Spread a piece of plastic wrap loosely over the tray for easy removal of
the cubes all at once and to limit exposure to your fingers. Freeze until solid
.
Remove frozen cubes from the tray with clean hands or plastic wrap and place the
m into an airtight freezer storage container, or Ziploc baggie. NOTE: It is VERY
important that you keep your cold cream frozen and/or refrigerated at all times
as there are no preservatives in this recipe.
Preparation for use: Place a frozen cold cream cube into your cream pot - which
can be any reusable, non porous container with a lid, from a ceramic jar to an e
mpty, clean cosmetic jar. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, stir with a too
thpick if necessary when thawed; use the daily portion size of chilled cream tha
t same day. To reduce risk of spoilage and/or contamination, use your thawed por
tion of cream within 48 hours!
To Use: Massage a small amount into your skin and tissue off or rinse off with
warm water.
Shea & Mango Body Butter
(Makes about 10 oz.)
Ingredients:
6 oz Refined/Unrefined Shea Butter or Mango Butter
1.5 oz Olive Oil
1.5 oz Jojoba Oil
1 oz Babassu Oil
1 tsp. Vitamin E Oil
1 - 2 tsp. Fragrance Oil
Measurements by Weight not Volume
Method:
Place Shea Butter and/or Mango Butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat just unt
il melted.
Add Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Emu and heat just until mixed and translucent.
Add Vitamin E Oil and blend with stick blender.
Let cool for about 10 minutes, and then place in freezer for approximately 5-10
minutes.
Blend again for a few minutes and place again in freezer for another 5-10 minute
s.
When mixture begins to thicken, blend your fragrance oil in and pour into clean
sterilized containers.
Shea Butter Body Bars Recipe
Shea Butter Body Bars are easy last minute gifts made with rich Shea butter, Vir
gin Coconut oil and Beeswax. Of course you can skip the essential oils I use, us
e your own blend or keep them unscented. Either way, the virgin coconut oil adds

a "macaroon-type" aroma and these are welcome treats for any occasion.
Ingredients
60 grams (about 2 ounces) shea butter
18 grams (about 1/2 ounce) virgin coconut oil
26 grams (about 1 ounce) beeswax
1/4 teaspoon patchouli essential oil
1/4 teaspoon blood orange essential oil
4 drops ylang ylang essential oil
2 drops rose essential oil
Instructions:
Measure the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax into a Pyrex measuring cup and
place the cup into a bath of boiling water. When the wax is nearly completely me
lted, remove the cup from the water and stir the ingredients to thoroughly combi
ne.
Allow the mixture to cool for about 1 minute before adding the essential oils an
d stirring to ensure the mix.
Pour into molds of your choice. I usually use 1/4 ounce molds shaped like ovals
so they fit nicely into the hands but you can use any mold you like. You can als
o use deodorant or other "stick" containers.
Allow the bars to cool completely before using. To use, warm a bar between your
palms to transfer some of the oils and butter to your palms. Massage dry skin wi
th your oil infused palms to soothe and moisturize. Repeat often!