Body Cream and Body Butter RecipesPosted on 8/04/2013 by aquarabbitI decided to do a post about the recipes I use for body cream and body butter because they are relevant to my post last month about loose skin. I mentioned that I make my own products because I like to know exactly what's in them, so why not show how I do it. I do have specific uses for these since they apply to not only skin problems that I use them for, but common skin problems that people who are going through a weight loss journey have. While I know that some people don't have the time to make their own cosmetics, hopefully this will be a fun project for some people. :D I get my supplies from Mountain Rose Herbs, but most of the ingredients should be easy to find locally or through the usual online websites like Amazon. Body CreamOne of the common compaints that I see on here is itchy skin. I have very sensitive skin that is allergic to all sorts of things. I started making this cream to deal with that. It's worked out very well and keeps my skin very very moisturized all day long. I just want to go over the ingredients for explanations and alternatives.Rolled Oats: These are what helps with the itching. Remember the oatmeal baths that helped itching? Well, this is the same concept. However if you are allergic or don't wish to use it, you can substitute this with any dried herb you choose. Rose petals, lavender flowers, chamomile buds, etc. Use them in the same way as you would the oats. The water won't get thick, but you'll still end up with a beautiful cream.Apricot Kernal Oil: I use this because I love it. It's an oil that really works for my skin. But again, this can be subsituted for any oil as long as it is soft or liquid. I've used coconut, almond, meadowfoam, and avocado with great results. The weather where I am doesn't change, but if you are in a climate with warmer, more humid weather in the spring/summer, something like apricot kernal or sesame oils are great because they are so lightweight. In the colder, drier fall/winter, coconut or avocado is much more moisturizing.Emulsifying Wax and Beeswax: These are what bind the oil and water together and they are necessary. You can find vegetable based emulsifying wax and use another tablespoon of it if you are vegan and don't want to use beeswax. It won't work quite as well, but it will still work.Vitamin C Powder: This is the help preserve the cream, not to make this into a vitamin c cream. I mentioned in my loose skin post about adding powdered vitamin c to water based creams. This is a cream you can do that with. Just mix some in with the cream in the palm of your hand and apply it to your body.Now for the recipe:1/4 cup Rolled Oats 2 cups Water1/4 cup Apricot Kernal Oil 2 tbsp Emulsifying Wax1 tbsp Beeswax 1 tbsp Vitamin C PowderBoil the 2 cups of water and steep the oats for 10 minutes, then strain. Boil a few inches of water in a separate pan and place a bowl over the top to make a double boiler. Gently melt the oil, emulsifying wax, and beeswax in the bowl until liquified. When both mixtures are about the same temperature, whisk together until light and creamy. Add the powder and you are done. You can make a large batch of this and freeze it for up to a year. Take out enough for about 2-4 weeks at a time. It can go bad if left out too long. You can add fragrance or essential oils to make it a bit more luxurious if desired.To use, apply it in the morning right after your shower.Body ButterThis is one that I tweaked and made to help not only tighten up the skin, help with stretch marks, and soften dry skin, but I tweaked it to help with the sore muscles that I have been having since starting to workout. I'm going to go through the ingredients again for the same purpose as before.Shea Butter: A classic skincare ingredient. I don't think that I need to go into detail about how awesome it is. If you are allergic, look into avocado butter. It's a great substitute.Kokum Butter: I love this butter. It's so luxurious and makes my skin feel amazing. It's a little harder to find, so if you can't or don't want to use it, substitute cocoa butter. If you are allergic to that, mango butter is another option.Coconut Oil: Wonderful moisturizer, soaks in great, and smells delish! Alternatives would be olive or jojoba oils. You want something light that soaks in well.Avocado Oil: This is so good for dry skin. It's so rich and as a dry skin sufferer (even living in the tropics it's still dry) I swear by this oil. If you are looking for something lighter, you could try sesame or almond oils. Watch out for sesame though. While an amazing lightweight moisturizer, it can go bad.Rosehip and Arica Oils: These are where the bulk of the benefits are. The other oils are certainly beneficial, but these are the creme de la creme. Rosehip (as I mentioned in the loose skin post) is great for tigthening up skin and helping with skin cell production due to it's natural form of vitamin a. Arnica is an oil that has been used for centuries to help with sore, tired muscles. You don't need a lot of either of these (which is good because they are pricier), but they're a great, although optional, addition to the cream.The recipe:1/2 cup Shea Butter 1/2 cup Kokum Butter1/2 cup Coconut Oil 1/4 cup Avocado Oil2 tbsp Rosehip Oil 2 tbsp Arnica Oil Melt all the oils together in the same type of homemade double boiler I mention before. If you have a stand mixer, use the mixing bowl to melt the oils in. When all the ingredients are melted and mixed, place in the fridge to harden. After a 2-3 hours, take it out and use the whisk attachement to whip the oils. It will take about 10-15 minutes on a higher setting, but you will get the lightest, fluffiest, most frosting-like looking body butter that smooths onto skin great. I put this in jars that last me about a month and store them in the freezer for up to a year, but it can also be stored at room temperature depending on the types of oils you choose to use. To use, apply to slightly damp skin. The ideal time would be at night after a shower. However if you prefer not to shower at night, just mist yourself with a bit of water before applying the butter to help it soak in easier."FoaMink" Cream Facial Cleanser NG (Next Generation)::This Creamy, Vitamin and Protein packed Facial Cleanser will knock you off your feet! Leaves skin squeaky clean, but totally conditioned for optimum function!For Normal Skin types, leave the formula as is.For Dry Skin types, add 3.0% VegeMoist and decrease water to 54.5% or 1.0% Hyaluronic Acid and decrease water to 56.5%.For Oily Skin types, replace VegeMink Oil with additional Caprylic Capric Triglycerides.In this formula, the VegeMink Oil not only conditions the skin....but also acts as a carrier to take the proteins and vitamins in the formula deeper into the tissues. The use of NatureMulse? enhances the cream by mimicking the skin's natural lipid barrier. The cleansing properties are provided by the Polyglucose Lactylate Blend?, as well as the Oat Powder? (which also provides the cleanser with extra lipids and amino acids). Goat Milk Powder provide natural refinement. Allantoin promotes cell regeneration, while the Hydrolyzed Silk Protein and DL Panthenol nourish the skin, leaving it softer and smoother.This formula has a skill level rating of Experienced.Ingredients:Phase A Make Formula Make Formula100 g57.5% Distilled Water or Purified Water2% Vegetable Glycerin0.5% Allantoin3% Goat Milk Powder1% Hydrolyzed Oat Flour2% DL Panthenol2% Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate Preservative Phase B5.5% Naturemulse4% VegeMink2% Caprylic Capric Triglycerides2% Cetyl Esters16% Polyglucose Lactylate Blend Phase C2% Hydrolyzed Silk Protein0.5% Essential Oil of choice Directions:1. Combine Phase A with good mixing (stick blender) and heat to 170F for 20 minutes, to pasteurize the Goat Milk. Mix well to insure Allantoin and Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate Preservative have completely dissolved, before continuing.2. Combine Phase B and heat to 170F.3. Pour Phase A into Phase B, slowly, and with good mixing. Continue mixing occasionally till cool to 105 degrees4. When cooled to 110F or below, add Phase C and mix very well. Chilled Cold Cream RecipeThis chilled cold cream makes a wonderfully simple, self pampering, daily ritual that, nurtures the goddess within. It is especially nice to use on sultry summer evenings.50 grams jojoba, olive oil or other cold/expeller pressed vegetable oil50 grams alba rose hydrosol (use regular rose hydrosol if alba is unavailable)12.5 grams beeswax (if allergic, substitute candelilla wax)1 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon local honey (warm if crystallized)1 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon borax (optional to make the product white)1 to 2 drops pure rose otto essential oil (optional: for a stronger rose scent)Blending Procedure:Combine oil and beeswax in the top portion of a small double boiler pot. Heat over boiling water until the beeswax has fully melted. While the wax is melting, dissolve your borax in the rose hydrosol and then heat liquid gently. Do not boil!Place the melted oil/wax mixture into a food processor. With processor running, slowly drizzle the honey into the oil/wax mixture, until well blended. Continue running the processor and slowly add the warmed rose hydrosol into the oil/wax/honey mixture in very small amounts until all the rose hydrosol is fully incorporated and you have an emulsion. If desired, during mixing time, add a drop or 2 of Rose Otto for a stronger rose scent.Allow your cream to sit and "settle" for a minimum of five minutes. Hydrosol which has not incorporated into the cream will sink to the bottom and the emulsified cream layer will rise to the top. Drain off this lower layer of hydrosol and discard it or use it immediately, for example, to splash on your face.Gently spoon one teaspoon of "cold cream" into each cavity of a standard ice cube tray. Spread a piece of plastic wrap loosely over the tray for easy removal of the cubes all at once and to limit exposure to your fingers. Freeze until solid.Remove frozen cubes from the tray with clean hands or plastic wrap and place them into an airtight freezer storage container, or Ziploc baggie. NOTE: It is VERY important that you keep your cold cream frozen and/or refrigerated at all times as there are no preservatives in this recipe.Preparation for use: Place a frozen cold cream cube into your cream pot - which can be any reusable, non porous container with a lid, from a ceramic jar to an empty, clean cosmetic jar. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, stir with a toothpick if necessary when thawed; use the daily portion size of chilled cream that same day. To reduce risk of spoilage and/or contamination, use your thawed portion of cream within 48 hours!To Use: Massage a small amount into your skin and tissue off or rinse off with warm water.Shea & Mango Body Butter(Makes about 10 oz.) Ingredients:6 oz Refined/Unrefined Shea Butter or Mango Butter1.5 oz Olive Oil1.5 oz Jojoba Oil1 oz Babassu Oil1 tsp. Vitamin E Oil1 - 2 tsp. Fragrance OilMeasurements by Weight not VolumeMethod:Place Shea Butter and/or Mango Butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat just until melted.Add Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil, and Emu and heat just until mixed and translucent.Add Vitamin E Oil and blend with stick blender.Let cool for about 10 minutes, and then place in freezer for approximately 5-10 minutes.Blend again for a few minutes and place again in freezer for another 5-10 minutes.When mixture begins to thicken, blend your fragrance oil in and pour into clean sterilized containers.Shea Butter Body Bars RecipeShea Butter Body Bars are easy last minute gifts made with rich Shea butter, Virgin Coconut oil and Beeswax. Of course you can skip the essential oils I use, use your own blend or keep them unscented. Either way, the virgin coconut oil adds a "macaroon-type" aroma and these are welcome treats for any occasion.Ingredients60 grams (about 2 ounces) shea butter18 grams (about 1/2 ounce) virgin coconut oil26 grams (about 1 ounce) beeswax1/4 teaspoon patchouli essential oil1/4 teaspoon blood orange essential oil4 drops ylang ylang essential oil2 drops rose essential oilInstructions:Measure the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax into a Pyrex measuring cup and place the cup into a bath of boiling water. When the wax is nearly completely melted, remove the cup from the water and stir the ingredients to thoroughly combine.Allow the mixture to cool for about 1 minute before adding the essential oils and stirring to ensure the mix.Pour into molds of your choice. I usually use 1/4 ounce molds shaped like ovals so they fit nicely into the hands but you can use any mold you like. You can also use deodorant or other "stick" containers.Allow the bars to cool completely before using. To use, warm a bar between your palms to transfer some of the oils and butter to your palms. Massage dry skin with your oil infused palms to soothe and moisturize. Repeat often!