Full disclosure: I live in Arizona. So while most of the country is in a deep freeze, it’s citrus season where I live. Don’t hate me! Nevertheless, it’s still winter and that means dry skin (even for us Arizonans!). What better time to make a decadent whipped body butter?
I haven’t experienced frigid winters in a long time, but I grew up in Ohio so I know what they’re like! You skin takes a beating during the cold months. Hands get dry and cracky from frequent hand washing, and your face and body need extra TLC with the dry heat blasting all the time. The cure for winter dry skin is lots of moisture. So it’s the perfect time for an exceedingly rich body butter.
The oranges in my backyard were the inspiration behind this recipe. The light, happy scent of orange essential is perfect if you’re in a winter wonderland with springtime temps still months away. I used coconut oil, shea butter, a bit of sweet almond oil
Orange + Coconut Whipped Body Butter
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (make sure it is somewhat solidified)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons shea butter
- 2 drops sweet almond oil
- 25 drops orange essential oil
- Medium-sized glass bowl
- Electric hand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Glass container with a lid
Instructions
- Place the coconut oil, shea butter, and sweet almond oil in a medium-sized bowl.
- Use a hand mixture to beat the ingredients for a few minutes to combine them. Add the essential oil and continue to mix for 5-7 minutes, or until the mixture becomes fluffy. Use the rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, as needed.
- Transfer the body butter to a glass container with a lid. If you live in a warm environment, you may want to refrigerate the body butter so it doesn’t melt.
- Use sparingly.
Notes
If you’re pregnant, you should not use essential oils. For more facts and safety information about essential oils and aromatherapy, check out the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.
5 Tips to Avoid Dry Skin This Winter:
- Use a humidifier in your bedroom (or any room where you spend a lot of time). A humidifier helps keep moisture in the air, which helps replenish your skin.
- Stay hydrated. You might not think much about it during the colder months, but you still need lots of water to stay hydrated. Not only is water good for you in general, but your skin will benefit as well.
- Bundle up to keep your skin protected against the elements when you go outside. That means wearing gloves, a scarf and, while you’re at it, throw on a cute hat!
- Apply your moisturizer and lotion shortly after bathing while your skin is still damp. This helps trap moisture in your skin. Pat yourself dry then apply a rich body butter.
- Don’t forget to apply sunscreen. The sun can still beat down on you (and not in a good way) when it’s cold out. Sunscreen will help protect your skin from the negative effects of the sun.
If you love citrus beauty products, learn how to make your own citrus sunshine perfume!
Photos by Ana Stanciu
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Robert L. Estrada says
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Maria says
January 8, 2018 at 7:17 amI WOULD SUGGEST A MANGO BUTTER INSTEAD OF THE SHEA BUTTER
Noni Rodriguez says
August 18, 2017 at 12:42 pmHow much does this make? I want to fill out 4oz jars for my bridesmaids.
Hind says
April 26, 2017 at 9:06 pmHi,
Thank you for the recipe. I tried it today, but for some reason it did not turn out a little solid for me. Any suggestions please!!!!!
Fannie says
November 9, 2016 at 1:07 pmI don’t see any recipes for these body butter?
Dianne Rigsby says
November 3, 2015 at 2:36 amHi, & Thank you, I’ll be making this tomorrow, November 3rd, Tuesday, for myself, the Shea Butter it is calling for in ingredients, for the Orange Coconut Whipped Butter, it calls for Shea Butter, is that using
liquid or how does that work? Thanking you in Advance
Regards, Dianne Rigsby
321-972-1286 Home
Stephanie Gerber says
November 3, 2015 at 9:56 amIf the coconut oil and shea butter are soft, you can just whip them as is. But you can also melt them together and then refrigerate until solidified again and then whip.
Jae says
October 27, 2015 at 1:41 pmThis body butter sounds awesome! Is it possible to replace the coconut oil with coconut fat? Is there even a big difference between the 2? And in what kind of container should self-made body butter (or lotion, too) be stored, does it matter whether it’s a glass, plastic or aluminum container? Thanks in advance for the reply!
Olivia Cassidy says
February 4, 2017 at 10:40 amCoconut fat and coconut oil are very different.
Jessica Lewis says
February 4, 2015 at 6:08 pmThanks for the recipe. I have printed it off to try to make this weekend. I definitely need some TLC on this dry skin!
Lindsay says
January 21, 2015 at 3:27 pmI’ve tried making body butter with similar ingredients to these, including coconut oil, shea butter, and I used beeswax as well and it keeps turning super liquid. Are you supposed to keep it in the fridge?
Hope you can help me out there– I’m sick of body-sauce!
:) Thanks, Lindsay
Stephanie Gerber says
January 22, 2015 at 7:56 amI was experimenting with body butter yesterday and really liked the consistency of 1/2 cup shea with 1/4 cup coconut oil. Recipe is coming next week! But do you live in a hot climate? I wonder if that’s why it’s liquifying?
bon says
May 19, 2014 at 11:45 pmIs that the right amount, just 2 drops sweet almond oil? that’s not very much
gerbermom says
May 26, 2014 at 8:53 amYes, you only need a small amount because of the other oil in the recipes. I think it would be okay to leave it out if you prefer :)
Laura Lehmax says
May 14, 2014 at 8:08 amThese suggestions about skin’s care will help to ensure that my skin’s health and beauty will be maintained through the years. Thanks!
Coleen says
April 13, 2014 at 6:18 amHello Patricia, This is perfect for summer! I love doing DIY beauty products, gotta copy your recipe.. thanks for sharing♥
gerbermom says
April 18, 2014 at 12:36 pmYou’ll love it Coleen, happy summer! :)
Laura Lehmax says
April 3, 2014 at 8:54 amThis is so important… What most women don’t realize is that going natural is not a sacrifice! With a little trial and error (at first), you can find great products that leave you looking and feeling divine. Thanks!
vicki Klabusich says
April 1, 2014 at 6:49 pmA friend made this body butter with essential orange oil. It is wonderful! I’m going to make some myself! Why does it need to be in a glass jar and not plastic? Does it really make a difference? Is there an expiration time fore this cream?
Vicki
ps This cream is NOT greasy! It soaks right in! Love it!
Marcy says
November 19, 2014 at 7:26 amI saw in an other recipe using essential oils she noted that they would eat through plastic, hence the glass container.
Jasmine says
March 1, 2014 at 9:42 amHi,
Could we actually get real drops from the orange? I know that is probably not a question you’re ever, and I’m not sure if it could be possibly? If it can be done how long would this cream last for?
Thx
Juli says
February 11, 2014 at 2:27 pmI love your blog :)
I would love to make this for the kids that I nanny, but they have a nut allergy. What can I use in place of the sweet almond oil?
Thanks.
M3ow says
March 8, 2014 at 5:07 pmOlive oil works in place of or grapeseed oil. I’m not sure if they could use those but you may ask.
Veronika says
January 21, 2014 at 10:00 amThat sounds like a lovely body butter, but I’d like to give a small warning – citrus essential oils tend to make skin photosensitive, which is to say it’ll sunburn much more easily, so avoid using this on anything exposed to sunlight (like face or neck). Or use another essential oil like lavender which doesn’t have the same effect!
[email protected] Care says
January 21, 2014 at 5:48 amIn winter skin becomes dry and thus its important to provide additional care to skin so that it remain healthy and hydrated. In winter, normally I switch to natural products like soap, lotion and creams and made them itself because then I know what is in the products that I am using rather than using chemical products because they make skin dry.
Kiara says
January 19, 2014 at 10:15 pmHow long will it be before it goes bad?
jenny says
January 16, 2014 at 11:10 amThis sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing!
Claire @ Claire K Creations says
January 16, 2014 at 1:56 amThis looks so luxurious Stephanie! I didn’t know you had an orange tree. I’m a little bit jealous.
[email protected]'s Recipes says
January 15, 2014 at 2:19 pmWhat a fancy body butter!
[email protected] says
January 15, 2014 at 9:34 amThis sounds fabulous. I love the smell of oranges.