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Here is another idea for a little luxury product that is really easy to make at home.
You can make this with any fragrance or coloring that you like and it makes a perfect gift! I also like these homemade beauty products as a great way to spend time with the kiddos- teenage girls in particular might enjoy making these kinds of things with Mom. They can have fun with these recipes and make batches of body butter for their friends.
So this one is really easy to whip up and it makes a wonderful treat for winter skin.
Ingredients:
- 6 oz Coconut Oil
- 2 oz Cocoa Butter
- Peppermint Essential Oil (or fragrance of your choice)– use therapeutic grade oils if you can. They are safe for topical use.
- Red colorant (optional)
- Rubbing Alcohol (optional)
- Mason Jars (optional)
Directions:
- Spray a storage container with rubbing alcohol and set aside to dry. (This will just sanitize your jars and is an optional step).
- In a double boiler, melt both the coconut oil and cocoa butter. Once oils are melted, remove from heat and refrigerate. {Do not place in freezer!}
- Once the oils appear opaque, remove from fridge and using a stand or hand mixer whip. The oils will get creamy fast.
- Once oils are creamy, refrigerate for 5 minutes, and then continue to whip again. Add in essential oils, and whip until you get stiff peaks.
- Separate into two bowls, and color one with the red colorant. Using a spoon or piping bag, add a layer of white body butter, then red, alternating until container is full.
You can skip the coloring and just keep this white and it will still look really pretty.
Some other fragrance ideas would be cinnamon, lavender, citrus, vanilla, coconut, eucalyptus… the possibilities are endless!
If you decide to make this please come back and let me know what you think!
All the products needed to make this recipe can be found on Amazon or at a natural foods store.
Oh and one last note, if you don’t have the cocoa butter this recipe still works. The cocoa butter just makes this even more moisturizing. Home cooking advice by Woolworths Catalogue specials may be really interesting for you, too.
See tons more DIY ideas on my pinterest board.
If you have extra coconut oil, you might try this easy Deep Conditioning Hair Conditioner recipe.
And you might also like these homemade lotion bars. A wonderful treat for dry hands!
Easy Hand Scrub– perfect for cooking or gardening
As soon as this post appeared and I saw the photo and title, I said “oooooh!” Looks wonderful and easy to make! I need to pin a bunch of your ideas before I lose track of them. 🙂
Charlene, I will be in your area on Friday. Where do you buy your supplies? I think I would just feel better seeing and smelling the cocoa butter the first time I buy it. The essential oils, too. Thanks so much.
Kim, I get everything from Amazon. You can also check Sprouts or Whole Foods. I would call ahead though and just make sure they have it.
Charlene,
I am absolutely going to make this for Christmas gifts this year, was wondering if it needed to be kept in the redridgerator? I know sometimes coconut oil gets liquid if it’s too warm, or does the whipping with the butter solve that problem? Thank you!
Christen, It doesn’t need to be kept in the fridge but it will stay firmer that way. You can always divide it into 2 containers and just have a small amount in your bathroom or whatever that you refill. It is like whipping cream- liquid and then you whip it and it turns into whipped cream or even butter.
What is the purpose of rubbing alcohol in products like this, what does it do? I ask because I have no clue.
Tracie,
This is listed in the post:
Spray a storage container with rubbing alcohol and set aside to dry. (This will just sanitize your jars and is an optional step).
So that is the only purpose of the rubbing alcohol.
Hi there! My family and I adventure with your Lotion. My question is the lotion didn’t get quite thick enough. Any suggestions?
Also, we wondered if there is a substitute for the red colorant?
Thankx for your attention on this
The Hienie Family
Jo Lynn, you don’t need to use red color you can just use no color. Did you whip it enough? That might be the issue- I use a Kitchenaid Mixer to whip, whip, whip 🙂
About how much does this make?
Thank you so much!! I put it back in the frig and that helped! When I make my next batch, I will whip whip whip!! Hehee thankx again
What kind of colorant do you use? can you use food coloring?
Rebecca, I don’t think the brand matters. Here is a sample of colorant:
http://www.amazon.com/Colorant-3-Ounce-Brick-Cement-Pigment/dp/B008D1OMUC/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&keywords=red%20colorant&linkCode=ur2&qid=1386188158&sr=8-3&tag=myfrugadve-20
Choose the color you like. It is more concentrated color. I think you could probably use food coloring. I used food coloring in these Homemade Lush Bath jellies:
http://myfrugaladventures.com/2012/06/childrens-craft-idea-water-bath-jellies/
But if these are gifts you might want to stick to a natural color or using the colorant. Better to use the right product for the job for gifts is my opinion. If it is for you, you can certainly experiment and see 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! Definitely on my ‘to make’ Christmas list.
I would love to make this as gifts this year. About how much does this make?
Is there a substitute for cocoa butter?
I love the jar that you used in the photo – where did you buy this from?
Ashley it was the Dollar store. I also find cute jars at craft stores, Crate n Barrel and World Market.
About how much did all of this cost you? thanks!
Would it work ok and keep well if I was to use beet juice as a colorant?
How long does the body butter keep before spoiling? My daughter is a fanatic and owns multiple scents/brands, never to be used in it’s entirety I’m sure LOL.
Nicole- it will last a very long time. Check the expiration on your coconut oil and that will give you a guide.
Can Shea butter be used in place of cocoa butter?
Do you add a preservative? I was just doing some research and it said that you should add a preservative to protect your lotions from bacteria, fungus and mold especially when it has a high oil /butter content. Have you had any problems? Now I’m nervous about making my own.
I just finished making this body better and because of the cocoa butter, it smells like Thin Mints…yum! I used some and was happy to see that it wasn’t greasy. The next time I make it, I plan on using Shea butter and flowery scents or citrus scent.
Awesome Jen! Thanks so much for the comment- I am really glad it worked for you!
This looks amazing, and I can’t wait to make it. Could you tell me if your measurements are fluid ounces or by weight? Thanks!
I’m allergic to coconut oil, any other suggestions as a substitute? Thanks.
I’d like to add magnesium to my body butter. What are your thoughts on this ?
One more thing, I’d also like to try using shea butter in place of the cocoa butter. Thx.
I made the body butter but it seems to be a little to greasy, what can I do to make less greasy?
Hi Sissy-
I don’t find it greasy because the coconut oil sort of melts into the skin. You might try adding just a little corn starch and see if you prefer that texture 🙂
Hi, is this recipe the amount to make one jar or more? Thanks x
Also, how much peppermint did you add? x
Hi Fiona,
That is really up to you. If you want subtle fragrance just use a few drops. For stronger fragrance use 5-6 drops and see if you want to add more. Young Living or DoTerra oils will require fewer drops than something from the grocery or natural foods store.
Thank you. How many pots of what size does this make? x
Hi Fiona, it is 8 oz of oils so it makes one generous jar of body butter.
What do you think about adding something to make it shimmer? Like mica or ????
Thanks for the recipe, Charlene!
I tried out your recipe this afternoon as the snow was starting to fall, and it turned out great! I think I will be splitting future recipes into little jars for gifts for family, friends and teachers. The combination of cocoa and peppermint is sooo lovely… and perfect for sitting by the fire on a cold autumn or winter’s night!
Hi Wilma! I am so happy to hear that! I absolutely love Peppermint too 🙂
Have you ever tried to microwave the oils instead of using the double boiler. If so, what was the result?
Hi Andrea- sorry but I have not 🙂
i am totally making this tomorrow! I’m thinking pumpkin pie for the season but not sure. Will let you know how it turns out.
I have customers who are allergic to coconut oil; are there alternatives to this such as Vegetable oil or shortening instead? Also, Do you add a preservative to protect the lotion from bacteria, fungus and mold especially when it has a high oil /butter content?