Over the past year I've really started to eliminate a lot of the "beauty products" I have that contain a ridiculous about of chemicals and harmful ingredients (parabens!). Many of the items I use come from Young Living (Thieves toothpaste, Lavender shampoo and conditioner, and Thieves foaming hand soap). After venturing into the world of making my own bath salts and foot soaks, I've decided that I can make pretty much anything. Today's experiment: Homemade Whipped Body Butter (made with Young Living essential oils)!
Just as in other posts, I want to mention that I only use Young Living essential oils. Young
Living is the only company that makes PURE, THERAPEUTIC GRADE essential
oils in a completely transparent way that they guarantee with their
"Seed to Seal" process. If you plan on following this recipe or any
other that involves essential oils, PLEASE note that the $4.00 bottle of
Lavender you find at the drug store is not the same thing. The
quality, purity and grade of oils is not the same. Please do your
research and know what you're using on your body. To get your own Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils click here.
What you will need:
1/4 cup Shea Butter
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
1/4 cup Almond Oil
10 drops of Young Living Essential Oils (your choice! I did Peace & Calming and Lavender)
1 Half Pint Mason Jar
Stainless steel mixing bowl
Mixer
Spatula/spoon
Start by combining all your ingredients in a stainless steel bowl. I used the bowl that goes with my Kitchenaid stand mixer. Place the bowl top of a bowling pot of water (you're basically making a double boiler to melt down and combine shea butter, coconut oil and other oils.
It shouldn't take long for everything to liquify. I used a silicone spatula to stir to make sure everything combined together well.
Remove from heat (take out your spatula) and place in the refrigerator to cool. This will probably take a few hours. You want it to cool all the way through, but not be rock hard, so don't use the freezer.
Use a mixer to whip the cooled ingredients. I should look deliciously like whipped frosting! I had to scrape the sides a few time to make sure everything got mixed really well.
Use your spatula or a spoon to dish the whipped body butter into your jars.
Seal them up and label them!
This recipe is easily doubled or tripled to make gifts. I found the portions listed above makes enough for one jar half pint jar.
Other Yummy Smelling Suggestions:
Lemon - which smells like lemon custard! Since citrus oils (like lemon) eat petrochemicals (plastics), please make sure you use a glass jar for storage.
Peppermint - definitely a great scent for the holidays!
Lavender - very relaxing and calming. Also great for skin care!
Orange - an energizing scent. Since citrus oils (like lemon) eat petrochemicals (plastics), please make sure you use a glass jar for storage.
I was introduced to Young Living Essential Oils almost a year ago (by my stepsister, Jill Wade) and I love them. I don't go a day without diffusing them or applying them topically to my family or me. They are life changing! I'm sure there will be more time for me to comment on my love for Young Living, but I wanted to begin my post today by pointing out that I just use Young Living and ONLY Young Living oils when making oily items (like this Peppermint Foot Soak).
You see, Young Living is the only company that makes PURE, THERAPEUTIC GRADE essential oils in a completely transparent way that they guarantee with their "Seed to Seal" process. If you plan on following this recipe or any other that involves essential oils, PLEASE note that the $4.00 bottle of Lavender you find at the drug store is not the same thing. The quality, purity and grade of oils is not the same. Please do your research and know what you're using on your body. To get your own Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils click here.
Now let's talk about FOOT SOAKS! This was not my idea. A classmate from high school actually shared her plans for holiday gifts and I loved it... so I copied it! (Thanks, Amber!) It is such a great option because my recipe yields a lot for little cost, has very little mess/clean-up, and has a lot of options when it comes to aroma. It is also easy enough to make that my 5 year old daughter was able to assist (stirring), which was great since these are the gifts she made her teachers!
Ingredients:
3 cups Epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
1 cup mix of sea salt and PINK Himalayan salt (makes it look like peppermint bark!)
20 drops of Young Living Peppermint essential oil (or the oil or combination of your choosing)
Glass jars/bottles
Glass or stainless steel mixing bowl (don't use plastic with essential oils)
Fork (to stir ingredients)
Silicon funnel (to fill bottles)
I got my glass bottles from the Target $1 spot (for $3 for 2)! Everything else I already had at home!
Begin my mixing the Epsom salt, baking soda, sea salt, and pink Himalayan salt in a large bowl. (This is a perfect job for a child... like the little girl who picked 11 teachers to bring gifts to!) Add YL Peppermint essential and stir some more. I let it sit while I opened all my bottles.
Next I use my funnel to fill the bottles and made sure the lids were on tight.
The theme Amber came up with was "For Your Mistle-TOES!", so I ran with that idea and made some cute cards with directions and printed them on cardstock.
My daughter signed the back and helped me tie them...
This was a lot of fun and EASY! Enjoy!
