Hello Beautiful!

Have you ever been looking for your lotion or body butter only to find the container empty?  So you keep looking and find another bottle or container that is also empty.  This wouldn’t be a big deal most days but on this day - it’s 109 degrees, schools out, and the pool is calling…

My kids hear it.

They answer the call and are on me like lent to get in!   If they get into the pool without skin protection it could be bleeding eczema (not comfy) or the itchiest itchies for my babies and me.  I’m gonna have to pull a buttered blessing out from my kitchen lab!

Quickly in my Lavish apron - I dash to the pantry to see what I can make.  Out jumps shea butter followed by apricot kernel oil - my secret ingredient for dry skin (use it by itself after soaking in the tub for a greaseless, light skin moisturizer).

In no time flat we were outside in whipped shea butter bliss!

Shea butter has excellent healing benefits and if you’ve never whipped it back and forth - DO SO TODAY!  Takes less thank 2 minutes to prepare and 8 minutes to whip (…and shake your body down to the ground while you wait :)

The raw shea butter I bought from this year’s AZ Jazz Festival, and I’ve included links for the apricot oil and aloe vera extract.

Now bring on the beach! 

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Shea Butter Benefits

Raw shea butter is a natural fat that is extracted from the nut of the African Shea Tree.  Milady’s Skin Care and Cosmetics Ingredients Dictionary (3rd Edition) lists the following qualities of this decadent butter:

1. protects the skin from dehydration

2. restores skin suppleness

3. increases moisturization

4. improves the appearance of irritated dry skin

5. an excellent emollient 

6. alleviates skin dryness

This is a heavier butter even though it’s whipped.  It’s thick but not greasy and has MAJOR moisturizing, hydrating, skin protecting properties that are perfect for use before and after swimming…and it’s curly kid-friendly!  Works great on natural hair too - we use in our edges and ends for a shinier twist out - braidout.

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Whipped Apricot Shea Butter

Ingredients

• 1 cup shea butter
• 1 tbsp apricot kermel oil
• 1 tsp peach kernel oil
• 1 tsp passionfruit oil
• 1 tsp organic olive oil**
• 1 tsp homemade vanilla oil (safflower oil, whole vanilla beans)
• 1/4 tsp aloe vera gel*
• 1 tsp vegetable glycerin (natural emollient; add as needed for extra whipped-ness and fluff without oiliness)
• 10 drops lemon essential oil (or your favorite essential)

 

Instructions

1. This mix can be done by hand in a mixing bowl, or you can add ingredients to your blender or mixer.  If you find your raw shea butter too “hard” to work with, heat 1 cup of water on medium high for about 5 minutes.  (you can also warm some water in the microwave until it’s almost boiling)  
2. Place your shea butter in a heat safe container or glass (I use a pyrex measuring cup) and set the cup in the hot water.  This will melt your shea butter gently while keeping all of its Bodacious plant sterols, fatty acids, and superpower vitamins and antioxidants in place (our skin and hair LOVE these).
3. Place your mixer on high and Whip It!!!  
4. Mix for about 2 minutes after adding each ingredient.
5. *Optional - I have a lot of this left over from my last Shea-loe phase
6. **Coconut oil is excellent in this mix.  This recipe is flexible and will work well with 1 cup of raw, organic butter (shea, mango, cocoa, kokum, etc.) and 1/4 cup of your favorite oil).   

 

Whipped Apricot Shea Butter Skin Care Benefits:

• Heals itchy, sensitive skin
• Soothes dry, cracked skin from eczema
• Excellent for “tough” and “are those your feet scratching me” spots
• Perfect stretch mark prevention and healing

Natural Hair Care Benefits:

• Hair repair from heat damage
• Produces natural shine (a little goes a long way)
• Detangling power
• Protection (apply on ends before bed for a shinier twist out in the morning)

Check out Lavish Bodacious Bun with this butter.  Her hair stays just as moisturized and soft when I take it down to twist up at night.

 

The Secret Ingredient: Apricot Kernel Oil

(AKO) is a mild, non-irritating oil that is perfect after a bath, swim, or shower. It:

• Rejuvenates

• Restores healthy glow

• Nourishes skin and hair

It works extremely well when massaged lightly onto damp skin.

Do you whip your DIY Butters?