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Homemade whipped shea butter is great to use in cooler weather and it helps to nourish dry skin. It smells great and has only 3 clean ingredients- shea butter, extra virgin olive oil, and the essential oils of your choice.
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My family has pretty much always used clean skincare products, my favorite being Burt's Bees, but recently I have started to make my own.
I am pretty sensitive to smells, and most products are highly scented, mostly with artificial scents. I like making my own products because I can control the amount of scent as well as the quality.
A few drops of pure essential oil smell way better than the artificial smells used in many skincare products.
Making your own homemade body butter is easy and only requires a few natural ingredients, that will leave your skin feeling soft and nourished.
Ingredients and Tools You Will Need
Raw Unrefined Shea Butter
I use unrefined ivory African Shea Butter. The unrefined shea butter doesn’t have any additives, and the texture is very firm. You don’t have to only use the ivory shea butter, you could also use yellow shea butter or even a different type of butter entirely. Just make sure it is unrefined, and you are good to go!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
In order to make the shea butter into luxurious body butter, you need an oil to mix with it. I love to use extra virgin olive oil on my skin. You could also use grapeseed oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, etc.
Pure Essential Oils
You want to use 100% pure essential oils. That way you are only getting the pure essential oils and not any fillers or additives. When people think of essential oils they often think of very expensive oils from MLM companies, but they don’t have to be expensive to be effective. You really just want something that is pure, preferably organic, and from a reputable company.
Some of my favorite essential oil companies are - Now Foods essential oils, Plant Therapy, Aura Cacia, and Mary Tylor Naturals.
Food processor, Electric whisks, or Stand mixer
To whip your shea butter into body butter, you can use a food processor, hand-held electric beater, or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment. Whisk or beat the mixture for 30 seconds to 1 minute to mix everything together.
Storage containers
You can put your body butter into whatever container the shea butter came in or you can put it in a glass mason jar. I love to split the batch of body butter in half, add different essential oils to each, and put them in mason jars. Use the wide-mouth jars for easy use!
How to Make Whipped Shea Body Butter
Step one. In a stand mixer or food processor, add in the raw shea butter, and olive oil. Mix everything together for 30 seconds to 1 minute to achieve a smooth, light, and airy consistency.
Step two. Split the body butter into two different bowls to create different scents.
Step three. Mix in 10 - 20 drops of your favorite essential oils into each bowl.
I used 15 - 20 drops of peppermint.
And 10 - 15 drops of bergamot (be careful with some citrus essential oils, because they can be phytotoxic in the sunlight. Research which oils to use before using).
Step four. Lastly, transfer your body butters into plastic containers or glass wide-mouth mason jars. Store in a cool area.
Storing instructions
Will the body butters melt?
I have never had a problem with my body butters melting. This shea body butter recipe is thick and creamy and doesn’t require melting the butter before whipping it. They shouldn’t easily melt unless you store your butters in direct sunlight or in a very warm environment. I usually store them in a relatively cool area, in indirect light.
If you have a problem with them melting, try storing the body butters in the refrigerator before using them.
How Long will the shea body butter last?
These body butters are made with unrefined raw oils and pure essential oils. They can last for several months without any problems.
Frequently Asked Questions —
In this case, try using refined shea butter. It is more processed than the unrefined shea butter but it doesn't have a strong shea butter smell. I would also try using an all-natural fragrance oil if you want a more fragrant body butter.
Unrefined shea butter naturally has a gritty texture. Add more oil to your body butter if it's still a bit gritty even after whipping. Start with a ¼ cup of oil then add a bit more until it reaches your desired consistency!
I hope you give this homemade whipped shea body butter a try soon! If you do, leave me a star rating, a comment, or tag me on Instagram (@themidwestkitchenblog) so I can see! Thank you for reading, and enjoy!
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Print📖 Recipe
How To Make Whipped Shea Butter
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 oz 1x
- Category: natural skincare
Description
Homemade whipped shea butter is great to use in cooler weather to help with dry skin. It smells great and has only 3 clean ingredients - shea butter, extra virgin olive oil, and the essential oils of your choice.
Ingredients
- 8 oz raw unrefined shea butter
- ¼ - ½ cup olive oil*
- 30 drops essential oil, divide if making two different scents
Instructions
- In a stand mixer or food processor add in the raw shea butter, and olive oil. Mix for 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the shea butter has a smooth, light and airy consistency.
- Mix in 30 drops of the essential oil of your choice. Store in a plastic container or mason jar in a cool area. Enjoy!
If making two different scents:
- Add 15 - 20 drops of peppermint essential oil to half of the body butter. Mix and transfer to a plastic container or mason jar.
- For the second one, add 10 - 15 drops of bergamot oil or your favorite essential oil. Mix and transfer to a plastic container or mason jar.
- Store your body butters in a cool area. Enjoy!
Notes
Shea body butter can last for several months in a cool environment stored in a air-tight container.
* Add more oil if you want a lighter feeling shea butter with a smoother consistency.
Keywords: shea body butter, whipped body butter, whipped body butter recipe, homemade body butter, shea butter, essential oils, olive oil
Nia says
Hi Tonya,
I have a question regarding the clean up of the food processor. I don't have a dishwasher and I used it for making a shea butter magnesium lotion which turned out great but I cannot for the life of me clean the food processor without it still having not only residue but I worry about using the processor for food? Do I have to buy another processor? What can I do to wash it so it can be food safe again? Thank you so much
★★★★★
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Hi Nia! Yes, in that case, it would be a good idea to get another food processor especially for food. You could also try using Dawn dish soap or Dawn Ultra power wash. It works wonders at removing oil and residue. Hope that helps!
Jackie says
Hi, I whipped up some of your shea butter recipe and I loved it. I didn't measure anything and added frankincense oil to it, Used OVOO. Still had a small amount of grits to it, so next time ill try mixing it longer, and measuring things out. What are your thoughts on using organic caster oil? Ps: I also added it to my face and neck! Now waiting for it to absorb into my skin. I think my whole body is loving it!
★★★★★
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Yayayay! I'm so glad to hear it Jackie! Ooooh frankincense is a lovely choice! I recently made a batch with it and started putting it on my face as well. 🙂 Castor oil is great for the skin, but I would personally mix it with olive oil or some other carrier oil because it might make your shea butter too thick. Thank you so much for your comment!
Purest Botanical says
Nice Article Thank You for Sharing Information
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Bree says
Hey Tonya! So I don't have a food processor, but I tried to mix everything the best I could. However, my shea butter came out oily and the smell isn't great. Even with a bunch of essential oils added. Is there any
way I can get my butter to come out creamier and with a better fragrance?
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Hey Bree! It's really hard to get the shea butter to whip into a smooth and creamy consistency without a food processor or mixer of some sort. Try using refined shea butter instead to avoid the smell! You could also try using an all natural fragrance oil as well if the essential oil smell is too light. Hope this helps!
paula s massie says
Hi,
I want to infuse my shea butter with dried arnica flower at low temperature ( 160 f). Have you tried this? If so, how well does it work once the shea butter has been melted and then whipped?
Thanks,
paula
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Hi Paula! I haven't tried infusing the shea butter with anything before, but I have tried melting it and then whipping the shea butter and it works great. Let me know how everything works out for you!
Alison says
Hi Tonya - My raw shea butter is quite grainy... should I melt it together with the oil first and then refrigerate overnight before whipping? Or does the graininess dissipate after whipping? I'll be using sweet almond oil. Thank you!
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Hi Alison! Yes, raw shea butter is usually grainy at first. Once it's whipped with the oil it shouldn't have a grainy texture anymore!
Tina says
I tried this but still had clumps of shea butter so I ended up putting in a double boiler but then it melted completely 😅 so, now I have it in the fridge fridge hoping it will solidify some so I can try whipping again! Any solution for the clumps of shea butter otherwise? Should I heat it a little before whipping in the future
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Hi Tina! I've never had lumps in my shea butter before, but in that case, yes, I would melt it first then allow it to solidify a bit before whipping it. Let me know how it goes!
Sarah says
What a lovely blend! I used almond oil because that’s what I had on hand. And lavender essential oil. It is luxuriously smooth and silky! Thank you!
★★★★★
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Oooooh, that sounds wonderful Sarah. I'm so glad you liked the body butter!
Isaac says
Thank you for this tutorial. I followed your instructions and was able to make my raw shea butter into a soft, whipped, creamy application that has been very beneficial. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
★★★★★
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Of course! I'm glad you liked it!
William McCullough says
Do an article on nitolica the best shea butter if not the best all purpose butter or oil.
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
I'll research it! Sounds interesting.
Rose says
Made this today, only problem I have is no matter what essential oils I add, the Shea butter smell stays! What is the solution to that ?? Please advice
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Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Hi Rose! If you don't like the smell of raw shea butter, try using refined shea butter. It doesn't have a fragrance so the essential oils are all you smell! Thanks!
Rose says
Thanks you so much for the response ! Will try refined Shea butter, how about cocoa butter ?
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Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Of course! Cocoa butter is excellent on the skin. It smells a little like chocolate so I would get refined cocoa butter too!
altrajack says
This is a great recipe!!!!!
★★★★★
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Thank you!
Jacob Evans says
Thanks for sharing this!! This is a great idea!!
Tonya | The Midwest Kitchen Blog says
Thank you!