Yesterday, BF complained about having dry skin after returning from his frat brother's bachelor weekend in Scottsdale. Basking in hot sun and chlorinated water in middle of desert for hours while imbibing in alcohol = supremely dry skin.
He asked me if there was anything in my Chinese Hippie recipe collection I could make to relieve his dry skin. My response went something like this, "...um, YEAH! I have just the thing!!" I shouted this while running down the hallway to the kitchen. Before he even had a chance to reply, I had a saucepan filled with water on the stove.
You see, body butter is one of my favorite things to whip up in the kitchen. The recipe is quite simple and the nurturing ingredients are interchangeable. Just remember this - the solid oils to liquid oils ratio is always the same. 1.5 cups solid to 1 cup liquid. Easy peasy, right?
This time, I decided to use coconut oil and shea butter as my solids and grapeseed oil and a bit of vitamin E as the liquids. These oils are exceptional for moisturizing and absorbing well into dry skin. The last thing I need is an oily BF complaining about feeling like a greased-up wrestler! With that in mind, I also decided to add a little cornstarch into the mix to prevent greasiness.
I prefer to keep things as natural as possible, so I utilize organic, pure, extra virgin, unrefined and cold-pressed oils whenever possible.
The following recipe makes roughly 2 cups. Please store in a
cool, dry place. I recommend storing in the refrigerator if temps reach higher
than 70 degrees indoors.
VV's Body Butter
1 cup coconut oil
½ cup shea butter
½ cup grapeseed oil
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon vitamin E
Optional - essential oils (EOs) of your choosing, please make sure you pick ones
that are safe to use on skin and complimentary to one another.
1. Boil 2 inches of water in a stainless steel sauce pot,
reduce to low heat and place measuring cup into hot water bath. We have 3 Pyrex measuring cups, so I’ve dedicated 1 to my crunchy beauty recipe needs.
2. Place coconut oil, shea butter and cornstarch into
measuring cup and stir gently to promote melting.
3. When solid oils have melted, add grapeseed oil and
vitamin E
4. Add EOs and stir if you are choosing to add aromatherapy
benefits to butter. I used 8 drops each of sweet orange and rose absolute. It
smells delicious, if I do say so myself. I put some in a canister for BF's
sister who remarked, "Smells like frosting!"
5. Place the measuring cup into the refrigerator for ~1 hour
to partially solidify. If you are in a hurry, as I was last night, simply place
the measuring cup into an ice bath and stir until the mix is slightly solidified. This process took only 6 minutes, with one ice bath change.
7. Using a clean spoon, scoop butter into previously sterilized jars and use within 3 months. (To sterilize
jars, simply place in boiling water for a few moments and remove with tongs.
All traces of water must be removed from jars before introducing body butter
into them or else they may get moldy!)
BF tried the body butter last night, read: I rubbed his back, shoulders and feet with the body butter, and he loved it. He was happily surprised when the luxurious butter sunk right into his skin and then asked for a jar full to keep on his nightstand.
Waitaminute. Does that mean he expects a massage every night?!?
...I suppose if it means he starts switching over to more natural products, fine. c'est la vie.
Wishing You Lots of Buttery Goodness,
VV
VV
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