website: buyingcrueltyfree.com
Catherine is passionate about animals and educating people about choosing cruelty free products.
I hope you enjoy this post! Over to you Catherine!
Firstly, I want to thank Peach for so kindly inviting me to be a part of her blog. I so admire Peach’s compassion for animals and am very excited to contribute!
I discovered Peach’s blog when she posted her DIY air freshener, so it’s only fitting I share a DIY recipe as well.
As we know, many of the biggest companies, which make some of the most common household and personal care products, still test on animals. You can check specific companies on PETA’s Companies That Do and Don’t Test Lists.
Luckily, more and more companies are becoming cruelty-free, but they still are not always readily available. One great option that can save animals and money is to make some personal care products yourself. Maybe you’re already a DIY expert, but if not – don’t worry, it’s actually way easier than it sounds!
I’ll admit, as much as I love seeing all the amazing crafts and DIY projects on the Internet, patience isn’t exactly my greatest virtue. If you’re anything like me, the more steps and time a DIY project takes, the less likely you are to actually finish it. With that in mind, I want to share how I make my own body butter. This recipe is cruelty-free, chemical-free, and so quick and easy, even for those of us who aren’t particularly crafty.
This is a very rich moisturizer, so it’s great for any dry areas, such as knees, elbows, and ankles. While it looks like it would have a thick, creamy texture, when rubbed into skin it actually feels like an oil. When you first apply it, it does feel oily, but it absorbs really quickly and leaves skin SO soft. It’s especially good for the upcoming winter months!
It really only uses two ingredients (anything else is totally optional) – Shea butter and Coconut oil, which both have incredible benefits for skin.
What You’ll Need
- 1 Cup Unrefined Shea Butter
I’m using Coastal Scents Unrefined Shea Butter, but many natural and health food stores carry it.
- ½ Cup Coconut oil
I’m using NOW Foods Virgin Coconut Oil, but again just use whatever brand is easiest for you to find.
- Apx 1 Tablespoon Almond oil and/or essential oil for fragrance (optional)
How To Make It
Step 1: Cut and Heat Shea Butter
Cut off a slice of Shea butter (the slice in the photo below equals about half a cup when melted) and heat it so it turns to an oil consistency. I’ve typically seen people doing this with a double boiler on the stove, but a microwave works too (which is what I tend to use). If you use the stove, put the Shea butter in a pot over very low heat. If you use the microwave, start with a minute or a minute and a half on half power, and just add more or less time depending on how quickly the Shea butter melts. A word of warning – Shea butter sometimes doesn’t have the best smell when heated, but don’t worry, it will be totally imperceptible once it’s combined with the coconut oil.
Step 2: Heat Coconut Oil
As with the Shea, you can heat in a pot over very low heat or in the microwave.
Step 3: Combine Oils in Mixing Bowl
At this step, you can customize the fragrance of your body butter by adding a few drops of an essential oil. You can also include a tablespoon of almond oil, which just adds additional moisturizing benefits.
Step 4: Let Oils Solidify
Depending on how warm it is in room temperature, it may solidify on its own or you may need to refrigerate it for about 30 minutes (this is what I did). When it’s ready, it should look like the photo below.
Step 5: Whip!
My favorite step :) Just whip on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes and voila!
Step 6: Put in a jar with a lid and enjoy!
The amounts listed above make this much body butter. You can of course adjust amounts depending on how much you want. This stuff can also be used on hair as a deep conditioning treatment (you may have to shampoo twice to get it all out, but it does condition amazingly!) Happy DIY-ing!
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