DIY Whipped Shea Butter

This stuff looks like frosting. Or whipped cream, or something delicious like that. But I wouldn't taste it if I were you... 

Slathering it on your skin, however, is a whole 'nother story. Did you know that shea butter can soothe sunburn, eczema, acne, and insect bites? It's also known for fighting wrinkles and stretch marks! Most commonly, though, shea butter is praised for it's fantastic moisturizing properties for the skin. 

My favorite thing about shea butter is how it soaks into the skin almost instantly, keeping you free from that oily feeling some homemade lotions bestow. And this whipped shea butter is super easy to make! This was only my third batch, and my first and second tries turned out just like this one.  

DIY Whipped Shea Butter

Makes approximately 8 4oz. tins 

Supplies:

• 12 oz. raw, unrefined shea butter (if yours isn't raw, it's okay. That's just the absolute best kind.)
• 4.5 oz extra virgin olive oil (same here - regular olive oil is fine too.)
• 1.5 t. vitamin E oil
• 80-100 drops essential oil of your choice. I used lavender, but peppermint and lemon sound good too!
• tins or jars to store your whipped shea butter

You'll also need:

• scale to weigh your shea butter (at least, I needed one)
• double boiler
• hand-held mixer
• plastic baggie or frosting bag
• measuring cups and spoons

1. Heat the shea butter in a double-boiler over medium-low heat until it's partially melted. You still want big chunks in there so it looks like this:

The first time I made this I melted it completely down, and although it turned out fine, step three took forever.

2. Add the extra virgin olive oil and vitamin E oil. At this point you might want to transfer it to a mixing bowl with higher sides - you will be beating this, and a pan with short sides will probably send shea splatters all over your kitchen. Which is okay if you like cleaning. :P

3. Whip on high with a mixer for several minutes until the shea butter is cool. When it's done it will be smooth, light, and fluffy. If this is taking too long you can stick it in the refrigerator for a minute to speed up the cooling process, then resume whipping. Repeat as much as necessary. 

4. Add the essential oils and mix on low until incorporated. 

5. Dollop the whipped shea butter into a plastic baggie or frosting bag, and cut a small hole in one corner so you can squeeze the whipped shea butter out in a manageable fashion. I suppose you could just fill your containers with a spoon or spatula, but this looks cooler. Plus, it's fun. :)

6. Fill your tins or jars with the whipped shea butter and stick labels on them so people know not to eat your wonderful homemade body butter! 

I want to give credit to Organic Authority for the gist of this recipe. I used theirs as my base.