How to Make Body Butter

Co-authored by Aparna Ghosh

Last Updated: May 8, 2022

If your budget is stretched tight with no room for fancy creams and body butter, you can still pamper yourself and take good care of your skin. Forego the expensive commercial products and make your own nourishing, great-smelling body butter in your own kitchen. Homemade body butter will have only natural ingredients with no unnecessary chemicals or fragrances, and it makes a great gift for friends and family.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Mango Body Butter

1
Gather your ingredients. Mango butter is a rich, creamy natural substances that nourishes the skin and has an amazing tropical scent. You can find it at natural food markets or online. You'll need the following ingredients to make about five ounces of body butter:^{[1]
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Research source}
- 2 ounces (6 grams) cocoa butter
- 2 ounces (6 grams) mango butter
- 2 teaspoons shea butter
- 1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 10 drops mango essential oil
2
Melt them together. Prepare a double boiler, or create a makeshift one by filling a large pot with a few inches of water and placing a smaller pot inside it. Place all of the ingredients except the essential oil into the smaller pot. Turn the burner on low and heat the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the ingredients are completely melted. Continue to heat the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the oils are completely incorporated and the body butter is smooth with no graininess.
- Be sure not to heat the ingredients too quickly, since this could ruin the texture of the different butters. Melt them together slowly, stirring often to make sure the mixture doesn't scorch.
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3
Remove it from heat and let it cool to room temperature. Give the mixture a chance to cool a bit before adding the essential oil.
4
Add the essential oil. Stir in 10 drops drops of mango essential oil. If you like highly scented body butter, add an extra drop or two of essential oil. If you're sensitive to strong scents, just add 5 drops total.
5
Whip the body butter. To give it a light, airy texture, whip the mixture with a hand blender until the body butter is creamy.
6
Spoon the body butter into small jars or tins. Label the containers. Store it at room temperature and use it up within six months.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Hemp and Honey Body Butter

1
Gather your ingredients. Hemp body butter has very natural, earthy scent, perfect to use on dry skin during the winter months. Hemp oil nourishes the skin, and honey is a natural moisturizer with antibacterial properties. Here's what you'll need:
- 3 tablespoons coconut butter
- 1 tablespoon beeswax
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
- 1 tablespoon castor oil
- 1 tablespoon hemp oil
- 10 drops essential oil of your choice
2
Melt the coconut butter and beeswax together. Prepare a double boiler, or create a makeshift one by filling a large pot with a few inches of water and setting a smaller pot inside. Heat the boiler over medium high heat, until the water starts to simmer. Place the 3 tablespoons (44.4 ml) coconut butter and 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) beeswax in the smaller pot. Stir until the mixture melts, and keep heating it for 15 minutes so it won't get grainy.^{[2]
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Research source} It's important to melt the mixture slowly to ensure it doesn't burn.
3
Add the honey and oils. Stir constantly as you add 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of honey, 1 tablespoon sunflower oil, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) castor oil and 1 tablespoon hemp oil. Keep stirring until everything is completely incorporated.
4
Cool and add the essential oils. Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes, then stir in 15 to 20 drops of the essential oil of your choice.
5
Spoon it into jars or tins. Scoop the hemp body butter into small, sterile containers.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Easy Citrus Body Butter

1
Gather your ingredients. This easy body butter can be made in the microwave, so there's no need to mess around with a double boiler. Assemble the following ingredients:
- 1/2 cup grapeseed oil (or almond oil)
- 2 tablespoons beeswax
- 2 tablespoons distilled water
- 10 drops lemon, lime or orange essential oil
2
Heat the oil and beeswax. Place 1/2 cup grapeseed oil and 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) beeswax in a canning jar or a heatproof glass measuring cup. Place the mixture in the microwave and heat for 10 to 15 seconds. Stir, then repeat until the oil and beeswax are melted.
- Be sure to microwave the mixture in short increments to prevent it from getting too hot and burning.
- Do not try to cook the mixture in a plastic container, since the plastic could leach into the mixture.
3
Whip the mixture with a hand blender. Add 2 tablespoons (29.6 ml) filtered or distilled water and 10 drops of orange, lemon or lime essential oil as you continue to blend. The body butter will turn thick and white as you blend. Keep going until it's creamy and rich in texture.
- The process of beating the melted oils with water is called emulsifying. It's similar to the process of making whipped cream or mayonnaise. It might take awhile for the mixture to come together, so keep at it until you achieve the right texture.
4
Spoon the body butter into jars or tins. An empty lip balm container works well. Use on dry skin as needed.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can I put body butter on my face?

Aparna Ghosh
California Licensed Esthetician & Electrologist
Aparna Ghosh is a Licensed Esthetician & Electrologist and the Owner of Synergy Skincare in Folsom, California. She has been running Synergy Skincare since 2017 and has over eight years of industry experience working with various skin types. Aparna specializes in corrective and preventative skincare. She is a Kaiser Permanente Network Provider providing electrolysis hair removal for transgender patients diagnosed with adult gender dysphoria and gender incongruence. In addition to being certified in skin health and herbology, she holds a Master's degree in Zoology with a specialization in Biochemistry and a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology with a minor in Chemistry. Synergy Skincare won the Hall of Fame Best in Folsom Award in 2019 and 2022 and the Yelp Recognition Badge in 2017 and 2020.

Aparna Ghosh

California Licensed Esthetician & Electrologist

Expert Answer

That's not usually a good idea, because these products can clog your pores and create problems.
Question

How do I stop my body butter from hardening?

Community Answer

This can be caused by using too much beeswax in your recipe. I would recommend trying tapioca starch instead.
Question

Can I use a combination of Shea butter, cinnamon, and lavender oil to make body cream?

Community Answer

Yes. However, cinnamon can cause rashes on some skin types. Try melting the Shea butter with a pinch of cinnamon, straining it through cheese cloth, then adding it to the lavender oil. If you really like that "spicy" smell, add some nutmeg and ground cloves to the mix (in extreme moderation), and a bit of lemon or orange. You can substitute sesame oil for the lavender as well.