Homemade Body Butter
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A simple homemade body butter that works great for shaving your legs too.
A couple of weeks ago I ran across an article about additives in cosmetics and skin care products that was quite disturbing. Of course, I freaked a tad and thought about tossing everything in our home. After I calmed down, I decided to chill out and take a gradual approach, beginning by making some homemade versions to use. I started with what we had in our home, specifically our kitchen. My thinking is if I put in in my body I should be okay with putting in on my body.
I began by creating a body butter of sorts with only three ingredients we usually have on hand: coconut oil, honey, and citrus. A simple mixing of the three created a fresh, smooth cream that I’ve used to shave my legs, as well as a moisturizer for really dry areas, especially my dry, cracked cuticles. OR add a spoonful to some hot tea (Carrie from La Pomme de Portland recently share that handy tip).
*Please note, since this homemade body butter does not contain preservatives it is intended for use within a week or less when covered and stored in a cool dry place. The recipe shared below makes a bunch, so consider splitting it with friends or dividing the amounts used to be able to use within a week. If a longer shelf life is desired, look into using an oil soluble preservative and replacing the fresh citrus zest with an essential oil.*
As I said, I’ve primarily been using it to shave my legs. While there’s no lather, it’s pretty cool, because once I’m out of the shower or bath, my legs are already moisturized with no need for anything else. Very handy dandy, indeed. It can also be added by the spoonfuls to a hot bath as a bath oil/moisturizer.
Coconut oil and honey alone have so many healthful benefits, so just imagine what combining the two will do for your skin, without all of the junkity junk so many other skin care products can have. Be sure to check the notes below, and if you try this one soon, let me know what you think!
A few notes:
– Recipe is intended for using within a week. For longer shelf life, delete citrus zest, store tightly covered in a refrigerator, and consider using an oil soluble preservative.
– Store covered tightly in a cool dry place.
– Note that Coconut Oil is used for this recipe, not coconut milk, or coconut water.
– Primarily I’ve been using this as a shaving cream for legs, and moisturizer for dry areas like elbows, cuticles, and feet, as well as an addition to bath water. I’ve called it a body butter for lack of a better term, so test on others areas before using as an all-over body moisturizer.
– For this batch I added the zest of grapefruit for a fresh scent, but any citrus zest will do, or a favorite essential oil added to your preference could be substituted. Just imagine the wonderful combination of scents you could create!
– The “recipe” below makes a large amount, which is perfect for splitting with a friend, or having some to keep in the kitchen and bath to keep those cuticles nice and hydrated.
– Although mixture starts out soft, it will firm up, solidifying more after a day or so.
– Be aware that since it’s an oil base it can make the shower floor or tub quite slippery, so be careful!
– Since there is citrus zest in the mixture, there may be little pieces of zest that you will need to wipe off. Essential oil can also be used for scent.
How to make Homemade Body Butter:
- 1 1/2 cups of coconut oil measured as solid
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons zest of grapefruit or other citrus (substitute essential oil to preference)
- Mix all together until combined and smooth.
- Transfer to a container and cover.
Wildly intrigued, and I am almost out of my Alba shaving cream.
This looks so amazing, I would wanna eat it or at least use it as frosting. OMG. I’m so making this as a recipe and I’ll make some extra for my body. Thanks for sharing.
This is SO amazing!!! I make scrubs and rubs and stuff with olive oil & sugars or salt all the time but I’ve never made a body butter. Suuuper cool.
What a fantastic idea!
Anytime I’m cooking in the kitchen and I get a little coconut oil or olive oil on my hands, I just rub it into my skin. So natural!
Is the honey essential? I’m allergic to it topically.
I JUST made this …its still in the mixing bowl. I tried it on my hands and its sooooo sticky from the honey …??? Should i add more coconut oil !! ?! I hate to waste as its so expensive… Please help ..thanks 🙂
I usually just use coconut oil whipped. Made this for a change and don’t like the feel of it on my skin. Need to rinse off with water afterwards but DOES leave the skin soft
Agh … Nope didnt work. Dont try this ladies … Its nothing but a sticky mess !! Ive just wasted a cup and a half of expensive coconut oil !! Urrrrr
Sarah,
I’m sorry you were unhappy with your final result. I’d say to maybe try adding more coconut oil. I’ve been using mine for a couple of weeks to shave my legs with great success. I also have a friend who made a batch before I posted the recipe to double check behind me and she has been absolutely thrilled with her results.
Amy please tell me if I could use olive oil to dilute the sticky feeling from the honey. Also is there another base I can use other than the honey its honestly so sticky smells soooooo good though. I don’t want too waste it. The ingriedients were not cheap. Please HELP!
It is a bit sticky so i apply it- let it sit for a minute and then wash it lightly. That takes the tacky feel away and the oil will stay on your skin. You can also apply – all over your body – and use it on your legs while you shave. This way it is soaking in while you shower and shave. Then rinse off. Again the oil will stay, your legs will be smooth and it will have a chance to soak in. Another thing you can do is mix it with a 2-3 cups of epsom salts and 1-2 cups baking soda. This will make it into a bath scrub/bath soak. I use these ingredients for that all the time. My parents who are in their 60 love this to soak in. You will need to be careful as it will make the tub slippery but your skin will get nice and soft and glow. Just keep trying until you find what works for you. Going natural is finding your balance and what you will use. I don’t soak that often but when I do this is heavenly. However, I do shave often and so this gets used that way.
Would be nice to add some essential oil to it as well, such as lavender oil or whatever fragrance you enjoy.
I just made this! I added the lavender essential oil and it smells amazing :). It is a little sticky but I’m just letting it sit on my hands for a little bit before I rinse the honey off because I want it to really moisturize. My hands get so dry in the winter so I hope this helps! My sister-in-law’s hands are even worse so maybe I’ll make some for her too!
I bet it does smell lovely with the lavender! My hands (and feet) are so dry right now that I need to coat my hands in some and let them sit for hours.
I love making my own body care products. It’s so nice knowing what’s going on my skin. I bet this smells amazing.
Hmmm … I actually added the honey knowing that it has antibacterial properties.
As far as the grapefruit zest being added, anyone allergic to grapefruit or other citrus could delete or substitute their favorite scent.
Because of Honey’s supersaturation of sugar it inhibits the growth of yeast and other fungal spores. Its pH is 3.26 to 4.48, a killing field for bacteria. This is why if you use honey on skin that is irritated by infection, it will clear up. I use honey to wash my face and it’s cleared it up so well.
It also is a food without a shelf life. Edible honey has been found in Egyptian tombs…
I’m going to try this. I use coconut oil on my dry winter hands. It’s the only thing that really makes a difference. The citrus scent added sounds wonderful. I don’t plan to use it in the shower so I’m going to leave out the honey. That seems like it would be too sticky.
A great alternative to zest is to dry the citrus peels on your counter (single layer for a few days) and then chop them up in a blender or food processor. This gives you a nice fine powder that works better than zest. This is also way better for flavoring foods. You get all that citrus flavor without any bitterness.
I just made this using orange zest and I didn’t find it to be even remotely sticky…rubbed right in!
I tried this, and personally I found it much too oily. I just made it, so it hasn’t set yet, but it is extremely oily and I probably wouldn’t use it for anything other than to shave my legs with. Which, if that is the case, I could find better, much cheaper options to use for shaving my legs.
Im gonna try the oil honey combo right now 🙂 ive been using just coconut oil for shaving for some time now. And as a head to toe moisturizer, and even put a small amount in my curly hair to define and moisturize. Dont know about putting zest in my body product. But what about steeping a sachet of zest in warm oil to scent it, without having bits of zest to deal with later? Remove sachet, let oil firm back up and whip in the honey. Thanks for the inspiration to take my beloved coconut oil to the next level.
Could I use olive oil instead of coconut oil?
Would putting finished product in fridge help solidify and preserve?
I tried thw recipe but the honey makes it very sticky..
Can I use the juice of a citrus fruit instead of the zest??
I’m not sure what the added moisture of the juice would do, so I can’t say. If you try it, let me know.
I saw this was asked already, but how sticky does the honey get in this mixture? I’m assuming if you’re using on small areas, it’s not a big deal. Also, I’m planning to use EOs instead of the orange zest. How many drops do think this would take? 20?
Hey Dana!
I haven’t noticed it being that sticky except on the palms of my hands, but I have to say, that applies to any lotion or cream I put on my body. I don’t like anything on my palms.
As far as the essential oil, I’d try a few drops at a time to see what you like best. Some of the oils I’ve used are very strong, so 20 may be overwhelming depending on what it is.
Hope that helps! 🙂
Amy please tell me if I could use olive oil to dilute the sticky feeling from the honey. Also is there another base I can use other than the honey its honestly so sticky smells soooooo good though. I don’t want too waste it. The ingriedients were not cheap. Please HELP!
Hello Lajarika,
I don’t know what would happen if adding olive oil. It would certainly thin it out. Hmmmm … did you use the recommended amount of honey to coconut oil ratio? Also, the coconut oil should be measured as a solid.
Try using Agave Nectar instead of the honey if too sticky. Same good properties as honey, less “sugar” so less sticky…. Just a thought. I will be trying this tonight and will update!