Friday, May 24, 2013

Shea Butter Body Cream Recipe


DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream


Ingredient overview-

Shea butter- used here for its intensely moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and emollient properties. In its unrefined form it is very high in vitamin A and E which are both important to supporting healthy skin.
Panthenol/B 5- boosts hydration levels in the deeper layers of the skin.
Avocado and Jojoba Oil- both possess their unique nutrient profiles and are really good for dry skin.
Honey- humectant, and mild antimicrobial properties. After this batch I am going to switch up toactive Manuka honey which apparently has amazing healing and antibacterial properties.

Recipe:

  • 5g Jojoba Oil, Cold pressed         (The Jojoba Company Pure Australian Jojoba Oil, from local health food store)
  • 5g Avocado oil, cold pressed              (www.gardenofwisdom.com)
  • 8g Shea Butter, unrefined     (www.newdirections.com.au)
  • 4g Panthenol (Provitamin B5)           (www.gardenofwisdom.com)
  • 1g Vitamin E   (Covi-ox mixed tocopherols)                (www.lotioncrafters.com)
  • 40g distilled water
  • 10g Hyaluronic Acid 1.0%      (my own stock serum, see recipe here)
  • 10g Seamollient                              (www.gardenofwisdom.com)
  • 2g Honey
  • 5g Emulsifying Wax  (Polawax)         (www.gardenofwisdom.com)
  • 2g Cetyl Alcohol                                   (www.gardenofwisdom.com)
  • a few drops optiphen
  • 1mL Rose Otto essential oil         (www.newdirections.com.au)
note: the avocado oil is dark green, and will lend a greenish tinge to the final product.

Instructions:

1. Measure out your non heat sensitive oil phase- your Shea Butter, Avocado oil, emulsifying wax, and cetyl alcohol, in one glass.
2. Measure out, in another glass, your non heat sensitive water phase- distilled water, seamollient and hyaluronic acid.
DIY Shea
 Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
shea butter, cetyl alcohol, E-wax, jojoba oil (haven’t yet put in avocado oil )
Keep reading after the jump!
 
“Heat and Hold”
3. put both glasses in a saucepan and heat until the emulsifying wax and cetyl alcohol just melts.
4.  take glasses out to cool for 15mins.
“Cool down”
5. Add Panthenol/B5 and honey to the water phase
6. Add Vitamin E to the oil phase.
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
oil phase and water phase after step 4
Emulsification:
7. Slowly add the water phase glass into the oil phase while stirring well (ideally with an electric hand mixer). You will see it come together in a creamy mixture.
8. Add the Optiphen (preservative) and essential oils.
9. As it continues to cool it will go from a runny texture to a thick cream. Stir it well every so often until it completely cools, to help with the stability of the final emulsion.
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
body cream still warm after step 8
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
stirring body cream, consistency starting to thicken
 
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
DONE! Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
If you don’t have these exact ingredients, you can still easily make a body cream. In place of the avocado oil and jojoba oil, you can use extra virgin olive oil (this will make it a heavier cream, however). You can skip the vitamin B5, and cetyl alcohol; and you can use distilled water in place of seamollient and hyaluronic acid. Keep in mindthat substitutions will change the texture and quality of the cream.
The absolute minimum for a body lotion/cream is:
oils (nice ones, do not use mineral oil or baby oil)
emulsifying wax
distilled water
preservative 
DIY Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream
In an amber glass jar- Shea Butter, Honey, and vitamin B5 rich body cream.
ALL PHOTO CREDITS AND INFORMATION FROM:

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