Today I decided to get off my butt and make something. I think most people who know me know that I am happiest when I am in the Lab creating something. Anything!

I’ve noticed that here in the midwest my skin tends to dry out more than I am used to and I require the use of a more intense lotion. But I really dislike thick, heavy, greasy creams and won’t suffer through them even if they work beautifully.

All of my creations are formulated and handmade from the ground up. I start with an idea of what kind of product I want and what I want it to do. Then I will move into formulation and create my product based on the individual oils and other ingredients that accomplish my goal. When it comes to scent, I first look for essential oils that do a particular job and then create a blend that smells a certain way based on the type of product, its color, the season, how the product is supposed to make you feel, etc.

I’m sure that this recipe is not mine because I cannot remember creating it and my formulations are either much larger or smaller for testing. I have personally used it many times and really wish I could remember where I got it and when I wrote it down. If anyone has come across it, please let me know so that I can give proper credit.

This whipped butter is extremely easy to make and does not incorporate water so there is no need for a preservative if you are not making it for clients. You will want to add an antioxidant though, to keep the oils from turning rancid. This is the purpose of the vitamin E so don’t leave it out unless you are going to substitute another antioxidant!

Also, I know there will be some people out there reading who will feel a bit cheated that I didn’t specify the butters and oils to use. It’s really okay! This is where your own creativity comes into play. You might say, I only have shea butter, can I use that? Or, I only have 1.5 ounces of aloe butter but I have 2.5 of cocoa butter, is that okay? YES! Use one butter and one oil, use a mixture of different ones, it’s all up to you. There are many people out there who purchase bases from suppliers, stir in a scent and repackage it, but I like to have control over every aspect of my products from scent to texture to benefits. Use a therapeutic essential oil blend as a scent to help with eczema. Use aloe butter to help with sunburn. Use lavender to calm you or grapefruit to energize after a morning shower. Use rosehip seed oil for mature skin, olive for sensitive skin or if it’s what you have on hand. Safflower, peanut, wheat germ, sweet almond, it’s all up to you!

Ingredients:

4 ounces butter of your choice
4 ounces oil of your choice
1 Tbs vegetable glycerin
1/8 tsp vitamin E

Approx. 1 tsp scent of your choice

Place your butters in a saucepan and melt over LOW heat. Make sure to melt slowly so you aren’t left with grainy oil because the graininess will transfer to your final product.

Melt The Oils Slowly

As soon as they are melted, remove from heat and mix in your soft oils. I use a silicone spatula and just mix thoroughly.

Mix In Fixed Oils

Because I will be whipping the mixture with my KitchenAid, I will transfer the oils to my mixer bowl and place it in the freezer. If you are adding scent, add it at this time and incorporate it well. First, make sure to double check that the mixture is below the flash point of your essential or fragrance oils so that they don’t burn out.

Transfer To Freezer Bowl

At this point you want to chill the mix for about 12 - 15 minutes, or until the oils start to solidify around the edges and the mixture becomes cloudy. This is very important to achieve the fluffy yet stiff peaks in your butter.

Chilling The Oils

Remove the bowl from the freezer and scrape the sides with your spatula. It’s good to note that if you happen to over freeze it’s not a big deal. Just slowly melt the mixture and start over. Get your mixer going, using the WHISK attachment, and just whip the heck out of it. I set my mixer on a medium-high speed (8) and whip it for at least 15 minutes. You want this to be thick, fluffy and white. (think a good stiff meringue)

Here are the different phases the mixture will go through:

First Stage

Second Stage

Final Stage

When you have reached this consistency, set the mixer on low and add the glycerin very slowly. The glycerin helps to stabilize the mixture. Once the glycerin has been thoroughly mixed in, start whipping again for about 5 minutes or so.

Glycerin

Your butter will stay a light, creamy texture unless exposed to heat. If you find that it is too greasy, whip in some veggie starch and that will take care of it.

Finished Body Butter

Be sure to store in a cool location in an airtight container.