Creamed Body Butter
Moisturising body butter made with natural plant oils and butters, herbal infusion and pure essential oils for a soothing skin care application.
Ingredients (these quantities fill 3 x 120ml jars)
- 2 tablespoons each of dried Calendula flower petals and Liquorice root (gently crushed together in a pestle and mortar).
- 115g Shea butter
- 115g Mango butter
- 115g Coconut oil
- 115g Almond oil
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops Neroli essential oil
- 10 drops Patchouli essential oil
- 5 drops Rose essential oil
Method
- Place the Coconut oil and Almond oil in a double boiler (bain-marie) along with the herbs. Heat the oils and herbs gently to a simmer, remove from heat, then cover and leave to infuse for up to 24hours.
- Strain and reserve the infused oil.
- Melt the butters in the bain maire until liquid and combined.
- Combine the arrowroot and Vitamin E into the herb infused oil (use a hand whisk).
- Cool the butters in a bowl within a larger bowl filled with cold water or ice.
- Add the oils as the butters are beginning to harden around the edge of the bowl (approx. ½ hour).
- Use a hand blender to cream the mixture together. It will pale as it cools and becomes whipped.
- Add the essential oils and blend again.
- Once whipped and cool, spoon into sterilised jars. Knock the jars firmly on a wooden board and this will consolidate the cream into the jars, pushing out any air pockets.
- Place on the lids and label (don’t forget to add the date). The creams can be stored in the fridge for a longer shelf life and may last up to 12 months but this can vary within each batch.
Herb Information
Using dried as opposed to fresh herbs eliminates water content within the finishing remedy, potentially giving the Body butter a longer shelf life.
Calendula officinalis (Marigold flower petals) is a gentle cleansing and anti-inflammatory herb used in healing skin lotions.
Glycyrrhiza glabra (Liquorice root) is naturally anti-inflammatory and has been used in skin remedies to reduce redness and swelling.
Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) is actually obtained from a variety of plant species. It is the powered root of the plant rootstock containing starch. Used here in this recipe arrowroot lends the body butter a drier, less oily application and feel on the skin which enables faster absorption. Arrowroot is often used cosmetically. It is a natural perennial herb that has been grown for centuries in the West Indies for traditional uses.
Apart from the amazing aromas that the essential oils impart to any therapeutic remedy they are also employed for the additional medicinal properties of the active constituents within and have been combined here as a gentle and safe application for sensitive skin both dry and combination. Additionally, pretty much all Essential oils have some degree of natural preservative property.
Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) essential oil is a healer and is anti-inflammatory and deodorant. It is also antiseptic and fungicidal and therefore often used in topical creams and healing ointments.
Neroli is also an anti-inflammatory healing essential oil which aids tissue granulation, contributing stimulating and cicatrizing constituents.
Patchouli is an anti-inflammatory and fungicidal agent and is used in this recipe to contribute to the balance of the scent but also the soothing effect on skin.
Roman Chamomile contains a high content of azulene – the anti-inflammatory compound. It is an excellent skin care remedy and is calming on the central nervous system.
Rosewood is often employed in perfumery and skin products but it’s important to obtain it sustainably as the resource is fragile. With the ability to both calm the nervous system and revive the spirits, Rosewood lends a multitude of healing properties – it is deodorant, antiseptic, antimicrobial and a cellular stimulant for tissue regeneration.
The base oils and butters have all been selected for their unique contribution to this skin application. They are also all fairly odourless which allows the essential oils to combine to impart a clear aroma.
Coconut Oil (Coco nucifera) is a great natural remedy for skin. It contains lauric acid which gives it antiviral and anti-fungal properties. The oil is derived from the Tropical coconut palm and is super cleansing and a good moisturiser up to a point – beyond which it can become drying to the skin, which is a good reason to combine coconut oil with other fixed oils for skin and hair use.
Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) is often a favoured base oil for skin remedies as it absorbs quickly. It is a light oil with little odour and I often use it to infuse herbs for remedy making. Known as Sweet Almond oil and derived from the nut of the Almond tree it is pale yellow in colour and high in Oleic acid. Almond oil is used in cosmetics for its nourishing properties and is particularly recommended for dry, sensitive skin and for baby products.
Shea Butter (Vitellaria paradoxa, Vitellaria nilotica) is derived from the crushed Fruit nut seed of the Karite Tree of Central Africa after the Shea oil has been extracted. Used as a cosmetic ingredient for hundreds of years Shea butter is solid at room temperature and a great natural product for soothing, smoothing and conditioning skin.
Mango Butter (Mangifera indica) is helpful for hydrating and softening the skin. Also solid at room temperature, it is extracted from the seed of the mango fruit. Mango butter and has a similar profile to cocoa butter as it is high in fatty acids and can also be protective for the skin. Best applied as a body cream for moisturising and remedy against sun damage.
Vitamin E oil (Triticum vulgare) is usually derived from Wheatgerm or Soya. By adding a small amount of vitamin E oil to a recipe we can enhance the remedy with this natural organic preservative. In addition Vitamin E has anti-aging and restorative properties for skin.
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