I love body butters especially during the cold winter months when my skin gets dry and flaky. It’s been a while since I whipped up my own body butter so I decided to get back into it.
I really enjoy experimenting with different butters and oils. My go-to recipe uses Shea butter, Cocoa butter and Coconut oil. This time I decided to try something new.
Here are the ingredients I chose…
Mafura Butter – is made from the seeds of the Trichilia emetica tree which grows in Eastern Africa. It is extremely high in palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid and has been shown to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Mafura butter has also been known to have nourishing and beneficial properties for the skin and makes for an excellent hair moisturiser or conditioner.
It has a strong nutty aroma and it would probably be best to blend it with other butters or base oils. This will also allow to play with the consistency and create a balm of a lighter and softer texture.The butter is solid at room temperature but melts when it comes into contact with skin.
Benefits…
- Moisturising and quick to absorb.
- Improves the condition and health of the skin
- Encourages regeneration of cells without clogging pores
- It has anti-inflammatory properties
- Heals Dry Skin
- Good for the hair and scalp.
- Can be used for natural hair to strengthen and moisturize it.
- Can be used a a hair conditioner
- Beneficial for itchy and dry scalp.
- Prevents hair breakage
Kokum Butter – is obtained from the fruit kernels of the Indian tree, Garcinia indica. It is one of the most stable vegetable butters against oxidation. Another thing that makes it unique is the fact that it is one of the hardest vegetable butters at room temperature; however, it melts just above body temperature, absorbing readily to provide a light texture to skin and hair while restoring softness and elasticity.
Kokum butter is more emollient than most butters, possesses natural healing properties, has a uniform triglyceride composition and promotes regeneration of skin.
Benefits:
- Helps prevents drying of the skin
- Helps heal ulcers, heal fissures of the lips, hands and soles of feet
- Helps regenerates skin cells & reduces degeneration of skin cells
- Non-pore clogging (non-comodegenic)
- Contains 80% stearic-oleic-stearic triglycerides
- Contains antioxidant properties
- Helps stabilize emulsions
- High oxidative stability
- Softens the skin and restores skin flexibility
Raw Organic Cocoa Butter – Cocoa butter is a natural, pure vegetable fat extracted from the cocoa seeds found inside the pod. The cocoa seeds are fermented, roasted, hulled, ground, and pressed to receive a pale-yellow butter that will sometimes carry with it a pleasant chocolate scent.
Cocoa butter is a stable fat, high in saturated fats and antioxidants. These two properties give cocoa butter an amazing shelf life. The butter can last anywhere from two to five years before it will finally go rancid.
Cocoa butter is solid and brittle at room temperature, it melts at about 40 °C but cocoa butter when chopped finely can easily be softened by rubbing between your fingers, or melted in a pan.
Benefits…
- Prevents Skin Dryness and Peeling
- Heals Chapped Lips
- Fights Signs of Aging
- Soothes Burns, Rashes and Infections.
Sweet Almond oil – is rich in amino acids, vitamin A, B, D and E and minerals. It can be utilized as a lotion, cream or as a regular oil. Almond oil is particularly useful for dry skin. Suitable for all skin types, particularly dry, damaged or irritated skin.
Meadowfoam seed oil – Meadowfoam is a herbaceous annual plant. The oil is cold-pressed from the seeds of the plant. Known for its moisturising and rejuvenating properties. It is highly stable and long lasting. The oil is easily absorbed by the skin, it can help keep skin moist for longer and help heal cracked skin.
Organic Sweet Orange Essential oil – Orange is popular as a digestive tonic and can be massaged on to the skin with a carrier oil to help improve digestive function, particularly after indulging in high fat foods.
Organic Lavender Essential oil – is renowned for its many beneficial properties, including promoting calm, relaxation, and being a nervous tension reliever. It can also be added to a carrier oil to help reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles and is effective for soothing minor cuts and grazes and can also provide nourishment to dry or sun-chapped skin.
May Chang Essential oil – Bright, lemony, and energizing, May Chang is most commonly known for its usefulness in dealing with skin problems. May Chang has uplifting properties, and can help to clear the head and refresh the mind and spirit, soothing and restoring frayed nerves.
What you’ll need
Kitchen equipment
- Hand or stand mixer
- Medium glass bowl / stand mixer bowl
- Double boiler or large pan
- Kitchen scale
- Spatula
- Glass jars for storing
Ingredients
*Try to use organic ingredients whenever possible.
- 50g Mafura butter unrefined (purchase here)
- 50g Organic Cocoa butter (purchase here)
- 50g Kokum butter (purchase here)
- 50ml Meadowfoam seed oil (purchase here)
- 50ml Sweet Almond oil (purchase here)
- 10 drops Organic Sweet orange essential oil (purchase here)
- 10 drops May Chang essential oil (purchase here)
- 10 drops Organic Lavender essential oil (purchase here)
Directions:
- Using a kitchen scale, measure out the mafura, kokum and cocoa butter and put them in a glass bowl or stand mixer bowl.
2. Gently melt the butters using a double boiler or over a pan of hot water. Stir until the butters are completely melted.
3. Remove from the heat. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes and then add the almond oil and meadowfoam seed oil.
4. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for an hour until firm. You want the mixture to start to solidify but not completely harden, a consistency similar to soft wax or softened butter.
5. Start whipping the mixture using a hand or stand mixer. The texture and colour will gradually start to change. Add your essential oil(s) and whip for about 5 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. The mixture is ready when it can stick to a spoon when held upside down.
6. Spoon into your glass jars (mixture fills two 370g jars). Store in a cool place.
7. Apply to damp skin after a shower or bath. Enjoy!
It absorbs quickly into the skin without being greasy.
This makes a wonderful irresistibly smooth whipped body butter that smells amazing. You can choose your favourite essential oils or make it without adding any essential oils if you prefer.
DIY Body Butter With Mafura, Kokum & Cocoa Butter
Ingredients
- 50g Mafura butter
- 50g Organic Cocoa butter
- 50g Kokum butter
- 30ml Meadowfoam seed oil
- 30ml Sweet Almond oil
- 10 drops Organic Sweet orange essential oil
- 10 drops May Chang essential oil
- 10 drops Organic Lavender essential oil
Directions
- Using a kitchen scale, measure out the mafura, kokum and cocoa butter and put them in a glass bowl or stand mixer bowl.
- Gently melt the butters using a double boiler or over a pan of hot water. Stir until the butters are completely melted.
- Remove from the heat. Let it cool for 10-15 minutes and then add the almond oil and meadowfoam seed oil.
- Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for an hour until firm. You want the mixture to start to solidify but not completely harden, a consistency similar to soft wax or softened butter.
- Start whipping the mixture using a hand or stand mixer. The texture and colour will gradually start to change. Add your essential oil(s) and whip for about 5 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. The mixture is ready when it can stick to a spoon when held upside down.
- Spoon into your glass jars (mixture fills two 370g jars). Store in a cool place.
- Apply to damp skin after a shower or bath. Enjoy!
Have you made your own body butter? I hope you decide to give it a go!
Lola ♡
Hi
Can I substitute mafura butter to more cocoa butter (50g) and meadowfoam seed oil to coconut oil since these are not available to me..?
Hi Kay, you can substitute with any butter or oil you have available. I hope that helps 😊