I think at this point we’ve all likely tried a body butter or two. They’re nice and all, but personally I’ve never really understood how they’re that much different from a run of the mill lotion. That remained true until I tried the recipe I’m about to share with you guys.

This body butter recipe is better described as a body whipped cream. It’s so fluffy, and so creamy that you’ll definitely be tempted to eat it. The key is to use light ingredients. Many homemade body butter recipes insist that coconut oil is the correct base. I’d argue heavily against this, as it weights the body butter down and makes it solid over time.

Instead I’ve gone with shea butter, which may be a bit greasier, but is actually easier to whip and contains a plethora of benefits for the skin. If you struggle at all with eczema like I do, this is the body butter for you. However just a side note, you’ll want to keep in mind that shea butter has a pretty low melting point. During warmer months, you’ll want to keep your body butter out of direct heat. Your pretty body butter fluff may very well turn into a sad puddle.

With that said, let’s get into the recipe!

What you’ll need:

Ingredients:

• 8oz Shea Butter
• 3oz Cocoa Butter
• 2oz hemp seed oil (alternatively, you could use argan oil, reship oil, jojoba, etc depending on what you have on hand.)
• 2 tsp Tapioca Starch (cornstarch or arrowroot would also work well.)
• 15-20 drops of whatever essential oil you wish to scent the body butter with. Personally I’d recommend lavender, but you can play around with scent combinations and choose whichever you feel smells best!

Equipment:

• Double boiler or one small pot and one large pot
• Microwave safe container
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Airtight container to store your body butter in

Directions:

1. Measure out your shea butter ingredient.
2. In a double boiler on very low heat, melt the shea butter in a small pot.
3. Put the shea butter in the fridge until it’s almost solid again except for the middle. The goal is to make it soft to the touch, but not hard. This allows for maximum fluffiness when beating. 
4. Start whipping the shea butter with a stand or hand mixer until it appears white and fluffy. This can take a few minutes, so be patient! 
5. In a heat proof container, mix together your cocoa butter and hemp seed oil.
6. Heat in microwave using 20 second bursts, or preferably in double boiler until cocoa butter is completely melted (Keep in mind that the container will be hot to the touch).
7. Allow cocoa butter mixture to cool down to room temperature, then add your tapioca starch and essential oil.
8. Little by little add your melted cocoa butter mixture, thoroughly whipping with a mixer after each addition. It is vital that you add a tiny bit at a time. Going too quickly can alter the integrity of the texture.
9. Mix well until incorporated.
10. Set your body butter aside until it has reached room temperature. It will get even fluffier as it rests. 
11. Use a spoon or a piping bag transfer into an air tight container.
12. Butter yourself up to your hearts content!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe! What essential oil did you choose to scent your butter with? Let me know in the comments!