Hello Fall!
It’s that time of year! Hoodie weather and pumpkin spice season is officially upon us! I love Fall! I love the leaves changing from green to beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red. The air is crisp, and cool instead of hot and humid from the long days of Summer. It’s the perfect time to catch up on reading, sip something warm, and curl up with throw pillows and blankets. We, personally, make sure to take full advantage and take the kids to fall festivals, farms, and pumpkin patches to enjoy the great outdoors while the weather pleasantly rests at just the right temperatures. It’s a great reminder to slow down and enjoy family as we transition into the holidays and cooler weather.
DIY time?
Maybe it’s just me, but I also think of Fall as a great time to DIY little projects around the house, or just make crafts! While I do get crafty every now and then, and love the idea of them, I don’t have as much time as I’d like to, to spend on them. However, the possibilities of things to make are endless! With Christmas around the corner, there’s no better time to let our creative abilities flow to design and create new things. Who knows, some of these may end up being gifts for friends and family!
One thing I am diligent about making for my family, is whipped shea body butter! I started making it around five or so years ago, to avoid toxic chemicals in conventional lotions. What goes on your skin, absorbs into your skin, and we do what we can to have a healthier and non-toxic lifestyle. When I first started, I was an essential oil distributor, and the two went hand in hand! It was perfect. This is such a simple thing to make, and because of the thickness, a little goes a long way. I only have to make a batch maybe every four to six weeks or so, depending on how much I make. I love sharing information, so I don’t mind sharing how I make it! The coolest part, is this recipe can have as little as three ingredients! That’s right, just three!
You will need:
- Shea Butter
- Essential Oils safe for your skin
- Additional oil of your choice (Coconut, Jojoba, or Almond oil for example)
- Mixing Bowl/Mixer
- Glass or stainless steel container with a lid
ingredient breakdown
Shea butter is the base of this body butter, and has many great benefits for our skin and for those of us with natural hair that requires extra moisture! It comes from the nuts of karite trees located in Africa. Shea Butter softens the skin and is packed with vitamins A and E, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and other nutrients.
Types of shea butter
- Unrefined-is NOT processed and still has all of its raw, natural properties and is yellow in color.
- Refined-processed so it’s odorless, white in color, and loses a lot of natural nutrients.
This may come as a surprise, but I personally prefer refined, because it takes on the scent of essential oils. Raw shea butter will not, and I can’t stand the natural smell of it…but this will be strictly your preference if you make some. Though you won’t achieve a different scent using unrefined shea butter, you will have all of the skin healing properties it contains. And of course, that’s a win!
Where to buy shea butter
I usually order from Amazon or Etsy, but if you have a local health store, I’d check there first. I usually make one pound at a time, so this would be a great amount to start with! Just search for raw shea butter or unrefined, and check reviews for quality!
Essential oils can be the subject of controversy depending on who you talk to. I love them and find them very beneficial. Each oil serves a purpose, so if you are unfamiliar with them, I suggest doing some general research, and then narrow down your personal favorites to use in your body butter! The brand is important, because that affects the potency and safety of the oils you’re using. I like to use Aura Cacia brand. I’ve also heard great things about Mountain Rose Oils, and Plant Therapy. I have also used Young Living in the past. Please do your own research and see which oils and brands are best for you or your family, and are the purest. The scents I commonly use are lavender, tea tree, and lemon. You can combine scents or just use one.
Where to buy essential oils
For the essential oils, I would check local health stores, go directly to the websites and order from there, or check Amazon. With Amazon, I’d always check reviews to make sure the seller is legit.
Additional oils that I add in are for just a little more moisture! It’s completely optional! I have used coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil. My preference is almond oil. It seems to add just the right amount of silkiness to my lotion without over doing it. It’s also Aura Cacia brand like the oils I use. Whichever oil you prefer or want to choose that’s not included here, make sure it has skin healing or soothing benefits!
If you’re unsure about oils in general, I have heard great things about the book Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals or any other oil related books or articles by Robert Tisserand. Please educate yourself if you’re new to essential oils, and especially if you have small kids who will use the body butter, or if you have pets, as some of the oil scents can be toxic to animals!
Where to buy additional oils
The almond oil and coconut oil can be found almost anywhere, and especially in grocery stores. The jojoba oil may be in the hair section of local big name retailers.
Putting it together!
Once you have all the ingredients, dump out the shea butter in a medium or large mixing bowl. The shea butter will either be in large, solid pieces, or in a small container with a lid, depending on the supplier it was purchased from. It may get messy but just get as much as you can into the bowl.
Then, add in 1/2 tablespoon of your “additional oil” preference.
Next, add in the essential oils. Since my preferences are lavender, tea tree, and lemon, I do:
- 20 drops of lavender
- 15 drops of tea tree
- 5-10 drops of lemon
Next, you’ll mix it all together with a mixer for about eight minutes. It will “whip” up very nicely and you’ll be left with whipped shea body butter! (Remember, the oils will be at your own discretion and preference. You could always add in a few drops, blend and smell, then add more oils in if that isn’t enough.)
Lastly, transfer your whipped butter into your glass or stainless steel container with a lid, and it’s ready to go! For this step, you’ll definitely need a spoon!
Happy Blending!
Once you find your safe and preferred essential oil brand, the possibility of making different aromas and blends will be endless! It would be great to play around with them and create different scents for the holidays, different seasons, or special occasions. Some companies will have their own blend, and you can try those. Just be sure they’re safe for your skin, or hair, depending on your use for it.
If you don’t already use essential oils, the initial price of buying all of these ingredients at once may seem like a lot. But, in the long run, the additional oils and essential oils will last for months, and you’ll just replace the shea butter as often as you make the lotion unless you buy it in bulk. Again, once it’s made, a little goes a long way.
Making my own body butter has been such a blessing for my family! The kids and I often do it together, and it makes our kitchen smell heavenly while the scent of lavender relaxes everyone! I love that I can pass this down to my kids for them to enjoy personally, or to make a business out of one day. The next time we make it, I may challenge myself to dabble into some holiday scents and see how we like those! Is there anything you like to DIY or make during certain times of the year? Wreaths for Christmas? Ornaments? Fall leaf décor? Is there something you’d like to make and haven’t had time for? Let me know in the comments! I’d love ideas and to try something new! As always, thanks so much for reading!