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While spending time with family the other day, I thought it would be fun to propose an afternoon for whipping up a little holiday fun in the form of....body butter! They were all on board, so off we go to make a big messy mess in the kitchen!
Colder
temperatures, turning up the heat, and supplementing with wood and pellet stoves, zap our environment with lack of moisture. This clearly takes it toll on our skin, leaving us dry and perhaps even a bit itchy. Drinking more water is essential, as well as nourishing our insides with healthy oils like omega 3 fatty acids. External exfoliation employing either dry brush or a yummy body scrub, followed by a creamy whipped body butter, will most certainly turn the dry lizard skin into supple, hydrated skin.
Over the years, I have made lots of body creams, but, my all time first choice is whipped body butter. It is also remains (aside from cordials and truffles) my favorite hand made holiday gift to share. Another great feature of body butters...they have an excellent shelf life...not that they will hang around for very long!
In the summertime, out back on my special herb pedestal, coconut oil warms in the sun, infusing with a variety of herbs, such as Rosa rugosa, calendula and vanilla beans. The express intent of doing this is to set the oil aside for the whipped butters to come. Adding a bit of sunshine, and the goodness of the plants, helps hydrate my skin in the cold, dark days of winter.
Here is a basic recipe for you to try:
1/2 cup shea butter
1/2 cup cocoa butter
1/2 coconut oil
1/2 cup of a liquid oil (apricot, almond, sunflower)
Combine all ingredients in glass measuring cup, using a double boiler method, i.e. take the measuring cup and place in pan with cold water. Heat water up slowly with cup in pan, and melt all oils until combined together. Remove measuring cup with melted oils from heat and let cool slightly (sometimes I will put in refridge or set outside to speed up until it starts to harden, but it is still soft). Use a hand mixer and whip until fluffy. Put in jar with wide mouth (small Mason jelly jars are great for this), and return to the refridge to set.
Variations: an infusion of vanilla bean into coconut oil turns this into something decadent. Think vanilla and chocolate. Or...omit cocoa butter, add a different butter such as kokum, mango, argan or hemp seed. Just make sure you keep your solid butters to 3 to 1 ratio (1 being a liquid oil). Add an essential oil, or oils, using 10-30 drops to amounts above.
Just in case you need resources for purchasing ingredients:
New Directions Aromatics
From Nature With Love
Locally:
Herbwise
35 Broad St.,
Westerly, RI
401-596-7815
Back to Basics, Main St., East Greenwich, RI, 401-885-2679
So have fun, make a mess, thrill your friends with a scrumptious body butter...and remember, use organic and expeller pressed oils in your products. Your skin will be so happy!!!
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