Whipped Shea Body Butter
This water-free body butter uses shea butter as the main emollient, liquid oil for spreadability, cetyl alcohol for a smoother, less greasy finish, and a small amount of arrowroot powder to improve the skin feel.
100 g formula
| Ingredient | Percentage | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Raw shea butter | 65% | 65 g |
| Jojoba or sweet almond oil | 25% | 25 g |
| Cetyl alcohol | 5% | 5 g |
| Arrowroot or tapioca starch | 4% | 4 g |
| Vitamin E | 0.5% | 0.5 g |
| Skin-safe fragrance, optional | 0.5% | 0.5 g |
Method
- Add shea butter, liquid oil, and cetyl alcohol to a clean heat-safe vessel.
- Heat gently in a water bath until the cetyl alcohol and shea butter are fully melted.
- Remove from heat. Sift in the arrowroot powder and mix until no lumps remain.
- Cool until the mixture begins to look slightly opaque around the edges.
- Add vitamin E and optional fragrance, then whip until light and uniform.
- Transfer to a clean, completely dry jar.
Texture tips
- If the finished butter is too firm, remelt and add a little more liquid oil.
- If it is too soft, remelt and increase cetyl alcohol slightly.
- Shea butter can become grainy when it cools slowly. Cooling the melted mixture promptly and evenly can help reduce crystal formation.
Storage and use
Apply a small amount to clean, slightly damp skin. Keep water out of the jar and store away from heat and direct sunlight. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, not a broad-spectrum preservative.
Patch test before use. When adapting this formula for sale, perform stability, packaging, and safety testing.
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