Sandra Heart - Body Butter Basics: Learning to make your own Body Lotions and Butters for Happier Healthier Skin

Body Butter Basics: Learning to make your own Body Lotions and Butters for Happier Healthier Skin

by Sandra Heart

2014 717Publishing

All Rights Reserved.

If you're reading this, I'm sure lotions, and body oils are in your daily regimen. When you're are experiencing bouts of ash or dry skin, topical application of these really helps. They offer a way of adding to your skin to make it healthier.

This e-book will teach you the basics of making your own body butters and lotions. With 7 recipes, this isn't a cookbook, but a tool to help you learn and explore the world of home made lotions and butters.

Benefits of homemade body butters and lotions

Unlike products you purchase at the store, you will know literally every ingredient that goes into your product. No more ingredients you can pronounce or processed products that can be damaging to to your skin. Likewise, if you have a specialty diet or any allergies you have the option to ensure all of the products are 'you' friendly.

Other benefits include:

It can be a fun and rewarding experience

It is excellent for sensitive skin

You can make your body butter and lotions smell the way you want

If you run out of product, you can certainly make more

All the ingredients can be found online at Amazon or in local grocery stores

The bulk ingredients can drastically cut down costs

Essential oils can be utilized for added health benefits

E ffects received

If you choose your ingredients just right you stand to see some great effects. When topically applied, homemade body butters will often penetrate into the lower layers of your skin. This absorption allows for your skin to be soft, smooth, and oh so moisturized.

Warning

You should always take certain precautions when making handmade body butters and lotions. When utilizing containers to mix and store your product, you must ensure that they are sterilized. The bottle and cap of your storage container must also be sterilized before you put the lotion inside it. If you do not sterilize all of your containers, there may be a chance that bacteria could be introduced into the finish product. This means a contaminated product that will not last the length of its shelf life.

Shelf life

As stated before, all homemade lotions and body butters should be stored in sterilized containers. If properly sterilized, most products have a shelf life of 6 months from the time of creation. Shelf life is also dependent upon what ingredients go into your product. Some oils have a tendency to develop a smell more quickly than others. Cold pressed oils tend to last longer. If possible, store your product (and supplies) in air tight containers in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life.

W hen creating such products you will need three main ingredients. These ingredients consist of oils, water, and an emulsifier. An emulsifier is a substance that stabilizes an emulsion, in a particular food additive to stabilize process foods. In this case one must utilize an emulsifying wax (preferably bees wax ). Any water utilized in the process of making handmade lotions should be either distilled or purified.

When it comes to essential oils, there are many to choose from. Each one offers its own benefits, though ones that are light and contain less grease are preferred when making body lotion and body butters.

Carrier oils

Apricot seed oil- When used in skin scrubs this oil will give you radiant skin. Paired with sugar, you can use it to exfoliate your skin. The oil is rich with fatty acids, and Vitamin A and E. It does not typically leave behind oil residue and helps to moisturize the skin. The oil is light and therefore prime in the treatment of oily skin. It also has an anti-inflammatory property that helps to fight against eczema.

Castor oil - This oil has healing properties. It is commonly used to aid in prevention of sunburns, dry skin, and stretch marks. The oil also helps in the prevention of wrinkles. It has the ability to seep into the deeper layers of the skin and stimulate collagen and elastin production in the skin. This helps to soften and hydrate the skin, which prevents wrinkles and makes the skin appear younger and healthier. It also helps aid in fighting acne and acts as a moisturizer.

Jojoba- This oil has antimicrobial properties within it. This agent helps protect your skin and aids in the healing of sores and rashes as well. Vitamin A and E are rich within this oil, and likewise stocked full of nutrients. Zinc, copper, and chromium are all contained within the product. This oil also helps protect the wearer from skin infections and is a widely used oil for the treatment of acne.

Grape seed- This oil is extracted from a grape. It is tasked with treating acne and moisturizing the skin. The oil is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it ideal in acne prevention. It has the ability to tighten skin as well, which leads to a diminished chance of open pores. Closed pores means less clogging and pimples. This oil is to light in nature and can fight against aging.

Olive oil-This oil is packed full of Vitamin E and aids in the preservation of your skin. It can rid you of dryness and fight aging.

Coconut oil- This oil is healthy to your skin. It is an antiviral, antimicrobial, antibacterial agent that protects the wearer's skin from sunburn. In fact, it blocks out 20% of harmful UV rays tasked with breaking down your skin.

Sweet almond oil- This oil is packed full of nutrients. It contains within it Vitamins E, A, B1, B2, and B6. It helps to balance moisture in the skin, and is absorbed within the skin to avoid leaving sticky, or oily residue on the outer skin layers. The oil also helps stop signs of aging, clears up dark circles under the eyes, and helps with stretch marks.

B ody Butter Bases

To make body butter you will need either:

Shea butter- This butter is processed by hand in Africa. It is tasked with nourishing the skin, and healing damages the skin has sustained over time. It is also tasked with increasing circulation, revitalizing dry scalps, and skin renewal.

Mango Butter- This substance is semi hard to the touch. It helps rejuvenate and revitalize damaged skin. It can also be used to aid in the prevention of stretch marks left behind after pregnancy .

Cocoa Butter- This butter is found in the cocoa bean, hailing from the cacao tree. It is rich with antioxidants that help prevent aging skin, and skin stressors. Likewise it is a source of deep hydration and help with sensitive skin issues.

Please keep in mind that there are many other essential oils and butters that can be used as the basis of any lotion or body butter. The next chapter will feature some body lotion recipes that you will surely enjoy.

B efore we begin it is essential that you know the basics of lotion making/body butter making. These guidelines should be applied with every recipe.

70-80% of the solution should be made up of distilled or spring water

3-5% of the solution should contain a stearic acid

3-6% of the solution should be a emulsifying wax

The rest of the solution should contain either a butter, or oil

If you want a fragrance only .5% of the solution should be made up of this

A small amount of preservative can be added to extend shelf life

T his recipe should take a total of ten minutes to complete. You will need:

cup of almond oil

you can infuse the oil with herbs for added benefits

cup coconut oil

cup of beeswax

1 teaspoon of Vitamin E to nourish the skin