DIY Body Butter

When temperatures drop and the processed heat gets put on blast, skin is often left suffering: Dull, dehydrated, even chafed. While there are plenty of amazing body butters on the market, sometimes it’s more fun – and rewarding – to do it yourself. This DIY body butter is relatively simple to make at home, and the results rival the prepackaged creams. Plus, you can cater the ingredients to suit your specific skin concern. Dispense into a mason or jelly jar or similar container, slap a homemade label on it, maybe even a pretty bow (or a strand of twine), and you’ve got yourself a lovely – and reasonably priced – holiday hostess gift!

What You’ll Need:
2 Cups of Organic, Unrefined Coconut Oil (buy it here)
1 TSP of Almond Oil (buy it here)
1 TSP of Vitamin E Oil (buy it here)
10-20 Drops of Essential Oil, like Peppermint, Lavender, or Lemon (buy them here) (optional; for fragrance)
Mason or Jelly Jar or this container

Benefits of the Ingredients:
Coconut Oil – A natural moisturizer that quickly absorbs into the skin; contains 3 fatty acids – capric , lauric, and caprylic acids which help kill certain fungal infections (read 10 Unconventional Uses For Coconut Oil, here).
Almond Oil – Contains vitamins E and B and essential minerals; aids in repairing sun damage.
Vitamin E Oil – Extremely moisturizing antioxidant that boosts collagen and cell rejuvenation.

Directions:
I read online that whipping hard coconut oil (you cannot heat or melt it first) has a similar effect as doing so with shea butter, which is the base for most DIY body butters. So, this recipe makes a killer whipped body butter without any shea. Whipped is actually much easier to apply, and it has a fluffy, light consistency as opposed to the hard-as-a-rock consistency of its solid counterpart.

To whip your coconut oil, mix the solid coconut, almond, vitamin E, and essential oils into a bowl. According to Living The Nourished Life, using an electric hand mixer will get things whipped up, but a Kitchen Aid Classic Stand Mixer ($25), will really do the trick — and quickly. Whip to desire, but no more than 8 minutes, as you don’t want to completely liquify your butter. After 4 minutes, try a dollop of body butter on your hand to test for consistency and smell. If you want more scent, add more drops of essential oil now and continue mixing.

Once you’re butter is whipped to your liking, remove and place in a mason or jelly jar. Store in a cool, dry place. This stuff will last awhile, but I suggest making a new batch every month.

*Accompany your whipped body butter with this DIY Lemon and Sugar Scrub… pair the two for a nourishing and festive holiday gift.