DIY Shea Butter Lotion: Recipes & Benefits for Hydrated Skin

If you are looking for the best Shea Butter lotion recipe, you have come to the right place. The difference between shea butter and a shea butter lotion is that water is added to help it hydrate more. This sounds simple, but as soon as you add water, you create an environment where bacteria grow so, in this article we’ll explore how to use emulsifying wax and preservatives to make your Shea Butter lotion safe.  We’ll explore which essential oils to add to make your shea butter lotion even more effective, and how to fragrance oils to envelop you in a cocoon of sumptuous fragrance. Finally, why not experiment with our DIY Shea Butter lotion bars recipes which are perfect for when you’re on the go? Let’s dive in.

Refined or Unrefined Shea Butter?

Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii) is a nourishing cosmetic butter, which is extracted from nuts from the Karité tree. Karité trees grow through all sub-Saharan regions of Africa, from Guinea to Sudan and the indigenous populations of the region have long used shea to protect their skin and hair against the desert’s blazing sun.

Today, Indigenous women support their families by collecting and processing shea,  stripping away the fruit flesh to reveal the nut, then pulverizing it to make Shea Butter. Unrefined shea, sourced directly from these communities, is rich in fatty acids and skin-nourishing constituents. 

Creating shea butter is women’s work and at Vinevida we work with a women’s collective in Ghana. Creating shea butter helps women gain skills and to support themselves, their families, and their community.  This video shows How Handcrafted Shea Butter is Made by the women and the difference buying from them can make to them.

Choosing unrefined shea not only means you can support women’s collectives it also means you get a superior product because refining shea does damage the integrity of the shea meaning it loses a great number of its properties. Choosing unrefined Shea Butter means you can leverage all the skin-nourishing goodness it has to offer. It will be a richer and better product.

That said unrefined Shea Butter has  a very distinct aroma that is not to everyone’s taste 

If you intend to make shea body butter and lotions to sell, it makes sense to opt for a refined Shea Butter to ensure consistency for replication over future formulae.

Let’s Get Clear on Shea Butter Lotions

A quick internet search for ‘Shea Butter Lotion recipes’ will bring back a variety of options, most of which are not actually a lotion at all. Most are body butter or whipped butters, and even whipped lotions. Some of these Shea Butter lotions are even solid and called Shea Butter Lotion Bars.

Let’s take a quick look at the differences and find out how to tell them apart 

Shea Cosmetic Butter

Shea Butter is the most widely utilized cosmetic butter in the health and beauty industry. 

Shea Body Butter

Many commercially labeled body butter are not butters at all, because they contain a proportion of water. True body butter is ‘anhydrous’- which means “ no water” sol only contains oil-based ingredients.

Many Shea Butter lotions online are actually anhydrous body butter instead. Thick, unctuous creams, have a consistency that holds its shape, rather than being fluid lotions.

Anhydrous products do not require emulsifiers to help the oil and water bind together. 

Shea Body Lotion

True Shea body lotions contain cosmetic butter, oil, and a water-based fluid like Rosewater or distilled water. Since oil and water do not mix, they need an emulsifier to bind them. Since lotions also need water, it is also imperative to use a preservative to discourage mold growth.  

Whipped Shea Body Butter & Lotion

A whipped shea body butter is an anhydrous body butter that has been whipped to produce a lightly textured cream full of air. It is really just body butter but with more air in it.

Butter has a heavier structure which means it can trap air to maintain its shape. Water-based lotions lose air and structure much quicker so whipped lotions tend to lose volume and then sink into your jar... 

Shea Body Lotion Bars

Shea Butter bars are solid at room temperature, rather than fluid like Shea Butter body lotions.

Shea Butter Lotion Bars are made with (more or less) equal parts of wax, Shea Butter, and carrier oil. Ingredients are melted and then poured into molds to set.

Once de-molded, they have a similar feel in the hand to a bar of soap and soften and melt on contact with warm skin. You would simply rub the lotion bar where they are needed. 

The Benefits of Shea Butter Lotion

Shea Butter is a wonderful ingredient, especially for dry, irritated, and dehydrated skin. It is packed with essential fatty acids like oleic and stearic acid, triglycerides, antioxidants, and powerhouse vitamins like skin-nourishing Vitamins A & E. 

• • Oleic Acid is one of the best fatty acids for restoring and protecting the skin’s barrier function. 
  • Stearic Acid is a wonderful emollient, protecting against water loss and skin dehydration.
  • Palmitic Acid is an effective moisturizer and balances hydration levels.
  • Linoleic Acid is important because our bodies cannot produce it, therefore we rely on our diet and products like Shea Butter to give us this omega-6 chain fatty acid. It is otherwise known as vitamin F. It is vital to the skin’s barrier function and a boon for those who experience skin conditions like psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema. 
  • Linoleic acid also deeply moisturizes the skin and gives it a plumper feel for a smooth and youthful look.   

Unrefined Shea Butter also contains: 

• • Vitamin A is effective at reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation, balancing and improving the appearance of the skin, its texture, and elasticity. 
  • Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant and is widely used to improve the appearance of the skin by nourishing and protecting it.

What Can I Expect From Using a Shea Butter Lotion Regularly?

Designing and creating your own bespoke Shea moisture body lotion or a nourishing body cream with Shea Butter, and using it regularly, will:

1. 1. Replenishes lipids, balances, and protects your skin's barrier function.

   2. Deeply penetrate, hydrate, and moisturize your skin.

   3. Lock in moisture for a longer-lasting effect. 

   4. Smooth the appearance of the skin, in tone, color balance, and texture.

   5. Utilise antioxidant qualities to reduce the signs of skin aging, like hyperpigmentation,  and dark spots

   6. Plump and smooth the skin to reduce the visible signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. 

   7. Soothe skin  irritation 

Can Everyone Use Shea Butter Lotion?

Shea Butter comes from a nut so is not suitable for people who have nut allergies. 

Shea Butter also contains a natural latex/protein, so anyone living with TYPE B Latex allergies should also exercise some caution around using Shea Butter.

How to Make Shea Butter Lotion

We have talked about the differences between Shea Butter body lotion and anhydrous body butter. This recipe is for a beautifully hydrating and skin-nourishing body lotion.

You will need an emulsifier and a good-quality preservative for this recipe. Don’t be scared of these, they are very simple to use. They will give you the best results and you will be able to create something that feels very similar to what you buy from the stores. Just better, in fact, a LOT better! It will be bursting with skin-nourishing goodness.

Simply make your base Shea Butter lotion recipe and add the essential oil blend of your choice to suit your skin type.

If you want to, you could just add a delicious aromatic fragrance oil instead, why not choose a dupe of your favorite perfume like NO. 3510 -Inspired by: Bloom (Women) by Gucci or NO. 3001 - Inspired by: Coco Chanel #5 by Chanel.

Follow the IFRA maximum skin safety dilution rates in Category 5A for body lotions, butter, and butter bars. 

You Will Need:

• • Double boiler
  • Measuring scales, digital scales make life easier.
  • Bowl 
  • Protective heat mat
  • Stainless steel spoon
  • Silicone spatula 
  • Immersion blender, handheld whisk or stand mixer
  • Jar funnel 
  • 120ml jar
  • Oil and waterproof label

Base Ingredients:

• • 2.8 oz of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)
  • 0.4 oz of Jojoba carrier oil (Simmondsia Chinensis)
  • 0.2 oz of Rosehip carrier oil (Rosa Canina)
  • 0.2 oz of Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii)
  • 0.2 oz of Emulsifying Wax of your choice (various ingredients)
  • 0.02 oz of preservative such as Liquid Germall Plus

Shea Butter Lotion Essential Oils Blend For Normal Skin

• • 30 drops of Lavender essential oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
  • 30 drops of Palmarosa essential oil (Cymbopogon Martinii var Motia)

Safety: Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 

Shea Butter Lotion Essential Oils Blend For Dry Skin 

• • 30 drops of Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium Graveolens)
  • 30 drops of Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia serrata)

Safety: Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 

Shea Butter Lotion Essential Oils Blend For Oily Skin

Cold-pressed citrus oils tend to be phototoxic, making it problematic to use a lotion in the day and then expose your skin to sunlight. Green Mandarin does not have these phototoxic qualities so try and source this.

• • 20 drops of Green Mandarin essential oil (Citrus reticulata)
  • 20 drops of Clary Sage essential oil (Salvia sclarea)
  • 10 drops of Ylang Ylang essential oil (Cananga odorata)

Safety: Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy. 

Shea Butter Lotion Essential Oils Blend For Sensitive and Irritated Skin 

• • 30 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
  • 20 drops of German Chamomile essential oil (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

Safety: Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 

Method:

Warming Up

1. 1. Set your double boiler over low to medium heat to pre-warm and get your workspace ready and prepared. 

   2. Once your double boiler is warmed through, measure out all the Rosewater, Shea Butter, Jojoba carrier oil, and Emulsifying Wax and place them into the top section of the double boiler.

   3. Now don’t be tempted to turn the heat up to speed things up, low and slow is the way to go! Nothing will degrade your oil and butter faster than being exposed to high heat! 

   4. Keep an eye on the Emulsifying Wax, it is this that will take the longest to melt, as soon as it is all molten remove it from the heat and separate the top of the double boiler from the hot water, and set aside on a protective heat mat. 

Cooling Down

1. 1. Leave to cool for a couple of minutes and then use your immersion blender, hand whisk or stand mixer and mix until the lotion is fully emulsified and homogeneous. You may need to do this in short bursts, leave it for a couple of minutes to cool and then mix again. 

   2. As it cools it should thicken more on standing, so allow for this when mixing.

   3. Cover with a soft clean cloth and allow to cool completely for at least a few hours, ideally overnight.

Finishing, Decanting, and Labeling

1. 1.  If your lotion feels too thick at this point, add more Rosewater. 

   2. Add your chosen preservative, following the manufacturer's guidelines and the essential oil blend that best suits your skin type, and mix thoroughly to ensure an even distribution.

   3. Decant into your jar using a jar funnel and clean the rim meticulously before adding the lid. I clean my rims with white vinegar. 

   4. Add an oil and waterproof label, listing all ingredients, a production date, and an 8-12 month expiry date if you used a preservative. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Store your Shea Butter lotion in a dark, cool place that maintains an ambient temperature.

   2. Do a 24-48 patch test before first use.

   3. Do not use it if you are allergic to nuts or to type B Latex.   

   4. Apply to your face and body with your fingertips working in upward motions, taking care not to drag delicate skin, especially around the eyes. 

   5. Leave to sink into the skin, there is no need to rinse. 

Bonus Recipe - How to Make Shea Butter Lotion Bars

I’m going to give you a super quick and easy recipe for making your own Shea Butter Lotion Bars. They are brilliant if you are on the go and don’t want to carry a bulky bottle with you. Just take one of these nourishing bars with you instead! 

How many this recipe makes depends entirely on how big your molds are. Make them small and sweet for an overnight stay or the size of a bar of soap for a fortnight away. 

You can use the same essential oil blends given above, all the same safety applies or add fragrance oil following the maximum skin safety dilution rates in IFRA Category 5A 

You Will Need:

• • Double boiler
  • Measuring cups
  • Protective heat mat
  • Stainless steel spoon
  • Silicone spatula 
  • Molds
  • Oil and waterproof label

Ingredients:

• • 1/4 cup of  Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera)
  • 1/4 cup of Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii)
  • 1/4 cup  of Beeswax (Cera alba)
  • 5 ml of NO. 2210 - Inspired by: Brazilian Bum Bum by Sol De Janeiro Soaps & Candles fragrance oil.

Method:

1. 1. Prewarm your double boiler over low to medium heat.

   2. In the meantime get your workspace ready and prepared. 

   3. Once your double boiler is ready, measure out the Shea Butter, Beeswax, and EV Coconut oil and place them into the top section of the double boiler.

   4. Nothing degrades your oil and butter faster than high heat, so don’t be tempted to speed things up by whacking up the heat. Trust me, low and slow is the way to go! 

   5. As soon as the wax melts, remove the double boiler from the heat and set aside to cool for a few moments.

   6. Add your fragrance oil or chosen essential oil blends, and mix thoroughly.

   7. Pour immediately into your chosen molds, cover with a clean soft cloth, making sure it does not touch the mixture in the molds, and leave to cool fully.

   8. Once fully cooled and set, de-mold.

   9. Store your Shea Butter Lotion Bars in an airtight glass jar. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Store your Shea Butter lotion bars in an airtight container until you need them. Preferably in a dark, cool place that maintains an ambient temperature.

   2. Always do a 24-48 patch test before the first use, please.

   3. Do not use it if you are allergic to nuts or to type B Latex.   

   4. I find if I am going away these are great just wrapped in a beeswax wrap or a piece of greaseproof paper. If you are going somewhere hot, consider that they could melt, so maybe place them in an airtight tin or plastic pot, just in case! 

   5. Simply rub onto your skin as and when needed and rub in any excess with your fingers. If it gets cold and it won’t give up its nourishing goodness, sit on it for a minute to warm it up and give it some encouragement! 

Final Words

Making your own lightweight Shea Butter Lotion is a great formula to boost hydration and help your skin’s barrier function work more harmoniously. Once you make your own bespoke lotion you won’t want to use any bog standard emollient moisturizer product anymore. It is a bit addictive!

Whether you are making a body lotion or a lotion that you can use on your face too. You will find that you can create a tailor-made product for your skin type to introduce moisture. It can also help it to penetrate and lock it deep into the layers of the skin. 

Introducing a Shea Butter lotion into your skincare routine can help moisturize combination and dry skin, balance oily skin, and soothe sensitive and irritated skin. It can help to relieve the symptoms of dryness and smooth and nourish your precious skin. 

Harness its anti-inflammatory qualities and use a Shea Butter lotion to reduce the inflammation, swelling, and redness. Not to mention, irritation associated with acne, skin breakouts, and skin conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. 

Use your lotion alongside using your chosen essential oil blends, to treat problem areas and get rid of mild blemishes. 

You can use it happily if you're prone to clogged pores as Shea Butter is classed as non-comedogenic and will not clog your pores any further. 

Every time you apply your Shea Butter lotion you will benefit from its rich fatty acids, plentiful antioxidants, vitamins, and all its super-healthy triglycerides fat content. It will be bursting with oily nourishment and goodness. 

What are you waiting for? Get stuck into making your own bespoke Shea Butter Lotion today!