Shea butter is one of the first ingredients you buy as a beauty DIYer. It has so many uses and a ton of benefits! Since it is deeply moisturizing and naturally anti-inflammatory [source], it can be used in lotions, body butters, soaps, and lip balms. Shea butter is also rich in vitamins A, C, D, and E, along with fatty acids [source].
As an anti-inflammatory with a little natural SPF, it makes an essential ingredient in bug bite balms and even acne-fighting products. And did we mention it leaves your skin super soft?
13 Ways To Use Shea Butter
Here are some recipes that showcase its many uses and will probably convince you to invest in some shea butter:
1. DIY Hair Deep Conditioner
Shea butter not only adds moisture and shine, but it can also help remedy dandruff and problems with a dry scalp. This is some serious conditioning!
2. Shea Butter Face Moisturizer
This is a recipe for a deeply hydrating shea butter face moisturizer from the book, Plant-Powered Beauty. Your parched skin will gladly soak up all of the reparative butters and oils. Plus, the vitamin E in shea butter helps protect against skin damage caused by free radicals [source].
3. Shea Butter Body Wash
This homemade body wash includes both sunflower oil and shea butter for a super soothing treat for your skin. The body wash is creamy but lathers nicely, and you can feel how the oils stay on your skin like they are creating a protective layer against the elements [source].
4. Shea Butter Lip Balm
Honey lip balm is my fave, and this one uses a whole host of moisturizers: shea butter, honey, almond oil, and olive oil. Shea butter is rich in fatty acids that help to provide a natural barrier from the elements.
5. Lavender and Shea Butter Heel Balm
No more chapped heels in your life with this shea butter-based balm! Improved with lavender oil, it’s also great for a soothing foot massage before bed. You can use it overnight on your hands, too.
Apply a thick layer of lavender and shea butter balm to hands, nails, and feet, and then put on a pair of socks. Crawl into bed and let the oils and shea butter work on repairing those dry areas, so they will be silky smooth in the morning.
6. 2-Ingredient Body Butter
6. Whipping butters and oils together makes a super rich combination that dry skin will love. And you only need two ingredients—just coconut oil and shea butter. Whipped shea butter also makes an amazing butter for babies’ sensitive skin!
7. Shea Butter Soap with Roses and Vanilla
7. If your skin is dry, making your own soap with a shea butter base is one of the best replacements for harsh soaps and cleansers. Shea butter has lots of vitamins A and E to naturally protect and condition damaged skin, and a shea butter soap will leave your skin super soft instead of stripping away your body’s natural oils.
8. Shea Butter Natural Deodorant
8. Shea butter nourishes your underarms and gives your DIY pit paste some staying power (yes, even in hot weather). Use shea to turn your deodorant into a whipped concoction or a deodorant lotion bar.
9. Shea Butter Eczema Balm
This recipe contains the best essential oils for eczema, plus a healing homemade eczema balm made with raw honey and, of course, shea butter. Rich in vitamin A, shea butter is perfect for soothing skin conditions like eczema [source] or any kind of skin irritation.
10. Sugar Scrub Bars
Exfoliating and moisturizing, all at the same time! If you love Lush copycat recipes, you’ll also enjoy these knock-off DIY sugar scrub bars made with a blend of nourishing oils and exfoliating brown sugar that are a take on the Lush Scrubees.
11. Shea Butter Cheek + Lip Stain
It takes just three ingredients to create this lip and cheek stain, but it makes the prettiest color. Silky, creamy shea butter provides healing moisture and also gives the blush its staying power to keep things looking rosy for hours.
12. Shea Butter Solid Perfume
This warm and sweet sandalwood vanilla DIY solid perfume has an anxiety-easing aroma. Sandalwood essential oil is known for its naturally calming effects [source]. And instead of alcohol or other scary ingredients, this recipe uses light almond oil and the ever-silky shea butter.
So instead of drying and irritating your skin, it moisturizes and soothes, all while making you smell delightful. Toss it in your purse to enjoy whenever you’d like!
13. Shea Butter Bath Bombs
These DIY Popsicle Bath Bombs from Ina De Clercq’s new book, DIY Beauty, are inspired by Victoria’s Secret PINK Popsicle Bath Bombs. Most bath bombs add a moisturizing oil, but this recipe uses shea butter, which helps the bombs hold their shape once the butter has solidified.
What other recipes have you made with shea butter?
Body Butter Inspiration
Can’t get enough of DIYing? Try these amazing body butters.
Whipped Coconut Body Butter Recipe: In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup of coconut oil, 1/2 cup of sweet almond oil, and 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil. Whisk until the mixture becomes fluffy, then transfer it to a jar and store it in a cool, dry place.
Homemade Mango Body Butter: Melt 1/2 cup of mango butter and 1/2 cup of coconut oil in a double boiler. Once melted, remove from heat and add 1/4 cup of almond oil and 10-15 drops of orange essential oil. Mix well and pour into a jar. Allow it to cool and solidify before using.
Olive Oil and Coconut Body Butter: Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil and 1/2 cup of olive oil in a double boiler. Once melted, remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly. Add 1/4 cup of melted cocoa butter and 10-15 drops of your preferred essential oil. Mix well, pour into a jar and allow it to cool and solidify.
DIY Body Butter for Dry Skin: In a mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup of whipped coconut oil, 1/2 cup of melted raw shea butter, and 1/4 cup of almond oil. Mix well, then add 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil. Pour the mixture into a jar and store it in a cool, dry place.
Whipped Body Butter Recipe for Sensitive Skin: In a double boiler, melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil, 1/2 cup of mango butter, and 1/4 cup of carrier oil, such as grapeseed oil. Remove from heat and let cool. Add 10-15 drops of your preferred essential oil, then use a hand mixer to whip the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy. Store in a jar and use as needed.
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Rina Mary Allawh, M.D., a dermatologist who practices adult and pediatric medical dermatology, skin cancer treatment, and cosmetic dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Lovely recipes thankyou, can t wait to try them and they don t look too complicated.
Thanks so much for sharing these, Shea butter is my absolute favourite skincare butter to experiment with. I can’t wait to try some of these recipes.
Eme xx