When I discover an ingredient I love, I tend to stick with it for quite a while, experimenting with every interesting recipe I can find (hello, Pinterest!). Right now, my current ingredient obsessions are coconut and avocado (have you tried my Dark Chocolate-Avocado Pudding Recipe yet?).
Truth be told, I’m not a DIYer when it comes to skin care products, but this recipe brings back childhood memories for me, so I like to make it from time to time. My mom used to make this body butter, except she would buy coconuts from the grocery store and extract the oil herself—I know—I’m going to have to ask her how she did that. Until I become schooled in the extract-the-coconut-oil-straight-from-the-coconut method, I’ll continue to buy the ready-made stuff.
When purchasing coconut oil, be sure you are getting the highest quality available—the higher the quality, the healthier it is for you.
Make sure the brand you are buying is:
Also be sure that it comes in a BPA-free jar. Some great, high-quality brands I have tried, love, and fit all of the above criteria are Nutiva and Carrington Farms.
I personally prefer to keep the body butter's coconut scent as it is, but if you want to change things up, you can add a few drops of your favourite essential oil along with a carrier oil such as organic sweet almond oil. Try some essential oils that go well with coconut such as vanilla or orange and make sure that the essential oil you choose is a 100% essential oil since artificial fragrances are not healthy for us.
If you are worried about this body butter being too oily, no need to worry. A little goes a long way and once it is rubbed onto the skin, it is quickly absorbed—you’ll quickly learn how much is enough for you. Also, if you aren’t too sure if coconut oil is a healthy moisturizer for your skin, it is! It is also a great replacement to use in cooking and baking as a healthy replacement for butter or fat. Read all about the benefits of using coconut oil here and here.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup of solid, organic, unrefined coconut oil
A few drops of your favourite organic essential oil (optional)
1/2 tsp of organic sweet almond oil* (optional and only needed if you are using an essential oil)
* If you cannot use almond oil because of an allergy, see this list of suitable carrier oils that can be used as a substitute.
Put all of the ingredients in the mixing bowl. It’s a good idea to chill the coconut oil beforehand because it will not whip properly if it’s soft, runny, or melted—it needs to be solid—but not too solid that it won’t mix.
If using a stand mixer, whip using the whisk attachment for about 7 minutes or until enough air has been whipped into the oil to make it light and fluffy.
Transfer the body butter into a glass or stainless steel jar, cover, and store at room temperature. In the warmer months, you may need to store it in the fridge. When refrigerated, it will become solid, but will melt as soon as it comes into contact with your skin.
Notes:
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