Yaaay for Shea (Butter)
~ I can already hear my friends groaning with that rhyme! ;P
For those of us in the northerly regions, it is that time of year again!: Time to slather on the moisturizer and keep from becoming reptilian versions of ourselves, scaly skinned and all! I may be an enthusiast for trying new products but I’m not beyond some hardcore DIY when it comes to making the basics that get me through the winter. What’s my favorite DIY product this month? This is the very best, richest, Shea Butter recipe I’ve ever made. This Shea Butter keeps my skin protected, soft, and hydrated all day long when the weather gets harsh. Added bonus: It smells so good; I don’t need perfume!
Ok, enough with the description, you say!! Get on with the recipe already!!
Shea Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
16oz Shea Butter
4oz Sweet Almond Oil
1T Vitamin E
20 drops Thieves essential oil
What you’ll need:
Stand or Hand mixer
Large stainless steel bowl
Large pot on stove (to make double boiler)
Refrigerator (optional)
Jars for the finished product
Directions:
- Fill a large pot with a few inches of water and place the stainless steel bowl nested inside creating a double boiler. Turn the burner on medium.
- Melt the Shea Butter in the bowl and then remove from heat.
- Mix in the sweet almond oil and vitamin e.
- Using a stand mixer, blend together the mixture on medium for a few minutes. Then put the bowl in the refrigerator to cool down your oils.
- About every 10 minutes, take the mixture out and whip the ingredients with the mixture on medium high for about 3 minutes. Continue this process until you start to see the mixture solidify and turn opaque.
- During the last whipping, add the drops of essential oil. The body butter will be about the consistency of frosting at this point.
- Scoop the body butter into your containers.
- Voila! Now share your spoils and impress your friends!
*If you are going to store it for awhile, make sure to stick it in the fridge to prolong its’ shelf life.
Why is this Shea Butter stuff so good?
Shea Butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African Shea Tree. This fat is a triglyceride derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid. Shea butter is naturally rich in Vitamins A and E as well as essential fatty acids and other vitamins, minerals and acts as a low level UV protectant. There are tons of uses for Shea Butter and it is fairly well tolerated by many skin types, which is one of the main reasons I love it. When combined with added Vitamin E and Sweet Almond Oil to make it a bit more viscous, it is the best body butter I’ve found to keep all my parts soft through the winter. I can put this on right after shaving with no irritation. And… if you have added the Thieves oil as suggested in this recipe, you’ll not only keep the robbers away , but also the germs! No guarantee you’ll keep the admirers away though… This stuff smells delicious! Enjoy 🙂