I enjoy creating natural beauty products as gifts, and homemade body butter is a favorite among my friends and family. It’s a lovely gift that you can personalize with natural scents, and if you want, you can even add a bit of magnesium to help with sleep. Simply package it in a cute glass jar with a ribbon and tag, and you have a thoughtful, pampering gift that will last for months.
Even if you don’t usually make your own gifts, this recipe is a breeze for beginners and fun to make, so why not give it a shot? Body butter is richer than lotion because it has less water, which means it takes a bit longer to absorb into the skin (word of caution—avoid walking barefoot on the floor after applying it to your feet!). Despite this, it does a fantastic job of moisturizing and softening even the driest areas like knees, elbows, and feet.
By whipping the body butter, you get the best of both worlds—something that’s easy to apply and incredibly moisturizing. This updated recipe is similar to homemade lotion bars, but it skips the beeswax and whips the mixture as it cools, resulting in a cloud-like, nourishing lotion. Shea butter and cocoa butter combined offer a luxurious feel, though you can add mango butter if you prefer.
This body butter is suitable for babies or sensitive skin and can be scented to become a personalized gift for someone else or just for yourself. Personally, I love a peppermint-scented version for the holidays, but a citrus and lavender blend is also delightful.
This recipe has been shared for a while, so here are some of the frequently asked questions:
Body butter is definitely thicker and richer than lotion, but it sinks into the skin after a few minutes and leaves behind no greasy feeling. As long as you store it away from moisture and light, this homemade body butter should last between 6 to 8 months. Using a spoon or spatula to scoop it out rather than your fingers will help it last longer.
Shea butter might vary in texture and color based on the brand, but it will still work effectively. Interestingly, this body butter helped my cystic acne quite a bit.
If you’ve got the hang of the recipe, why not experiment with your own scent combinations? Here are some ideas to inspire you. Have you ever made your own body butter, or do you want to give this recipe a go? Feel free to share your thoughts!
