Your skin is the largest organ on your body, and you should do all you can to keep it healthy. Shea butter has been around for centuries and is known to keep your skin soft and hydrated. Shea butter may even repair and prevent damage such as stretch marks. Shea butter recipes can be used all over the body, and the additional ingredients in them are designed to keep your skin healthy. Does this Spark an idea?
Shea & Mango Butter
Shea butter allows the skin to retain moisture and can heal damage to the skin. Mango is a good source of natural oils that replenish and clean your skin. Begin by placing shea butter in a microwave just until it has melted enough for you to stir it until it has finished melting. You do not want to melt it too much or burn it, so take it out when the chunk of butter has begun to melt.
Add mango oil to infuse the butter with mango scents and nutrients. Add olive or jojoba oils to the shea butter for added moisture and nutrients. Add a few drops of vitamin E for natural skin healing agents. Mix thoroughly, and let it cool in its container for 10 minutes or so in the freezer. Once it begins to thicken, add fragranced oil---mango would clearly work---and fill individual tubes or jars with the mango-shea mixture.
Whipped Mousse
Nothing could feel better on your skin than a lotion or cream that has been whipped so it feels lighter than air. Melt 5 oz. of shea butter in a double boiler at 175 degrees. Let the melted butter stand until it cools 15 minutes, and then add jojoba oil for moisturizing. Add 3 oz. each of peach kernel oil and safflower oil. One tsp. cornstarch will help the mixture combine and stick together.
For added scent, add vanilla extract or essence, or any fruit fragrance you choose. Whip the mixture with a mixing machine until it is light and fluffy like icing. It may take five to ten minutes, so be patient. If it is not fragrant enough, add more oil and whip another 5 minutes. Store it in containers or jars that are sealed tightly to keep the moisture in.
Lip Balm
Nothing goes better than mint and chocolate, so make a lip balm that tastes delicious. Although you may not think to use shea butter on your lips, it is a healing agent that can be used on broken or damaged areas. All you need are a quarter ounce each of cocoa butter, beeswax and shea butter.
Melt the butters and wax in a glass bowl until you can mix them easily, but melt them in a bowl that will not burst or melt during heating. Add 10 drops of pure peppermint extract. Let it cool, and your lip balm is complete. The cocoa butter gives off the scent and taste of chocolate, while the peppermint helps open your airways and even plumps your lips, since it is made of menthol and has a little sting to it.
Tags: shea butter, your skin, cocoa butter, keep your, keep your skin