Lotion is so easy to make and much healthier for your skin. This homemade shea butter lotion recipe is non-greasy, cost-efficient, and extremely moisturizing for dry skin. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up this simple shea butter lotion in no time.
Shea butter lotion has so many great benefits for the skin and will only cost a few cents per each use. Making your own organic skincare is definitely the most cost-efficient option. And of course, you will know it is made with the purest ingredients that will leave your skin soft and smooth.
If you are new here, you may be wondering why it is important to worry about what we put on our skin or if it even matters? The skin is the largest organ in the body and absorbs everything that is put on it. In fact, what you put on your body is just as important as what you put in your body.
As I started cleaning up my skincare routine, I quickly realized that making my own skincare was the best option. Not only is it much cheaper, but you can also customize each product for your particular skin type and preference.
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HOW TO MAKE LOTION WITH SHEA BUTTER
Making homemade lotion and whipped body butter is so easy and doesn’t require any special equipment. It is as easy as melting a few ingredients together, allowing them to cool, whipping it up with a hand mixer, and transferring it to an airtight container.
NON-GREASY SHEA BUTTER LOTION RECIPE
The trick to making homemade lotion non-greasy is adding in arrowroot powder. Arrowroot powder helps to absorb some of the oil and makes the lotion the perfect consistency.
I have made a lot of lotions in my time, from sunscreen lotion to whipped mango butter and it wasn’t until recently I discovered the arrowroot powder trick.
I loved all of my homemade lotions as they left my skin so soft and moisturized, but they were a bit oily. Adding in the arrowroot powder will help with that! Before whipping the lotion to make it light and fluffy, try adding a small amount of arrowroot powder to make the perfect homemade lotion.
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HOMEMADE SHEA BUTTER LOTION
WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE LOTION
- 3/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 15 drops essential oils (optional, see list below)
- 5 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- Double boiler
- Hand mixer
- Mason jar for storage
HOW TO MAKE LOTION
- Melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.
- Once the ingredients are melted, remove from the heat. Place the bowl in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until the ingredients start to set up. You don’t want the ingredients to be solid, just firm enough to be able to use a hand mixer on.
- Add in the essential oils and vitamin E oil if using.
- Slowly add in the arrowroot powder while mixing the lotion with a hand mixer.
- Continue mixing until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the homemade lotion to an airtight storage container.
RECIPE NOTES
- It is best to store any DIY product with essential oil in a glass container. I am using a wide-mouth mason jar. Using a shallow wide mouth makes it very easy to get the lotion out.
- If you are using essential oils, be sure to dilute further if making this recipe for a child by cutting the number of oils in half.
- If you do not have a double boiler, you can make your own by placing a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water.
- You can substitute equal parts of mango butter or cocoa butter for the shea butter if you prefer.
BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER
I love using shea butter on my skin because it has so many wonderful benefits. It is a very gentle ingredient making it great for children and babies too!
Shea butter is found in many skin care products and is known as the “superfood for the skin.” It is very unlikely to cause skin irritation and can be the best ingredient for someone with sensitive skin or rash-prone skin.
- Great for sensitive skin
- Very moisturizing
- Helps to reduce signs of anti-aging
- Can reduce age spots and scars
- Hydrate and repair damaged skin
- Great source of fatty acids and vitamins
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Improve skin tone
CAN I USE SHEA BUTTER ON MY FACE?
Shea butter is non-comedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores, making it an OK ingredient to apply to the face. If you have acne-prone skin, you may want to do a small test patch first to be sure it doesn’t cause breakouts.
Shea butter, on its own, has a creamy yet thick consistency. It is easy to apply to the skin but can leave a residue. If applying shea butter to the face, it is best to do it at night time. Applying it in the morning may affect your makeup routine.
Shea butter has anti-inflammatory properties making it great for acne and reducing redness on the face. It can also help with anti-aging by reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and crows feet.
HOMEMADE SHEA BUTTER LOTION WITH ESSENTIAL OILS
Adding in essential oils is optional, but highly recommended! Essential oils can have so many great benefits for your skin and can help to customize your lotion just the way you want. Using essential oils will add cleaning, purifying, and anti-aging properties. Several can help to hydrate the skin and boost the immune system.
You will want to avoid citrus essential oils if you plan to use your lotion before being outside in direct sunlight. Some citrus essential oils are photosensitive and can cause the skin to sunburn or get a rash.
It is also important to note that the amount of essential oils you use will depend on who you are making it for. If making this lotion for an adult, you can add 10-15 drops of essential oil to the lotion. If making the lotion for a child, you can add 5-10 drops of essential oil to the lotion.
BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SKINCARE
- Frankincense
- Rose
- Lavender
- Sandalwood
- Roman Chamomile
- Yarrow
- Tea tree
- Geranium
- Jasmine
- Rosemary
Homemade Shea Butter Lotion
Making your own lotion is so easy and much healthier for your skin. This shea butter lotion recipe is non-greasy, cost-efficient, and extremely moisturizing for dry skin. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up this recipe.
Materials
- 3/4 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 15 drops essential oils (optional)
- 5 drops vitamin E oil (optional)
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
Tools
- Double boiler
- Hand mixer
- Mason jar for storage
Instructions
- Melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.
- Once the ingredients are melted, remove from the heat. Place the bowl in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until the ingredients start to set up.
- Add in the essential oils and vitamin E oil if using.
- Slowly add in the arrowroot powder while mixing the lotion with a hand mixer.
- Continue mixing until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the homemade lotion to an airtight storage container.
Notes
- It is best to store any DIY product with essential oil in a glass container. I am using a wide mouth mason jar. Using a shallow wide mouth jar makes it easier to get all the lotion out.
- If you choose to use essential oils, cut the number of oils in half if a child uses it.
- If you do not have a double boiler, you can make your own by placing a glass bowl over a pot of boiling water.
- You can substitute equal parts of mango butter or cocoa butter for the shea butter if you prefer.
Wilhelmina says
Absolutely dreamy! Adding arrowroot to keep it from being oily is a genius tip!
Laura says
I am glad you like it!
Kim says
Hi Laura! I love this recipe! The only thing i do differently is swap the arrowroot powder for zinc oxide powder. It’s nongreasy and it offers some sun protection.
Laura says
Great idea!
Leslie Randall says
Hello my question is how long after you prepare the Butter Lotion, what’s the expiration time lasting in the jar.
How much ounces does ingredient makes on the website?
How much more ingredients will it takes to make 8 to 16 ounces for a jar?
Sincerely,
Leslie Randall
Neha says
Hi Laura can u plz tell me what is beeswax made up of as I’m vegetarians so I want to no whether to use beeswax or not in my products
Laura says
You can use soy wax instead!
Madiha says
Hei,
I used xanthan gum istead of Arrowroot powder. And i get particles of xanthan gum when I apply cream on my skin. It didnt mix well in the cream. Any suggestion here?
And the cream didnt get creamy texture but like hard butter texture.
Laura says
I have never made it with xanthan gum. It works great with arrowroot powder and it gives you the perfect texture. The change of ingredient is probably what made the texture get off too.
Valia says
Hi Laura,thanks for sharing this recipe!Is there something else I can substitute arrowroot powder with?I cannot find it where I am……
Laura says
Cornstarch works too!
Felicia Nelson says
Good to hear that cornstarch works just as well as arrowroot.
LauraRose says
Yea! Because I found this after I had all the other ingredients!
Yvonne says
I know this is an older post but I found arrow root powder in my local Health Food store as well as in the grocery store in the baking aisle.
Have a lovely day
Laura says
Enjoy! I love this lotion!
Carolyn says
Hi Laura,
When you talk of 3/4 cup and 1/4 cup what are these in weight? Am in the UK and not sure of cup size as we use scales to weigh things. Thanks for your help and congratulations on your new baby boy . Carolyn
Enuma says
Hi Laura, am in the UK too just convert it to percentage so:
3/4 will be 75% that is 75kg
1/4 will be 25% that is 25kg
I hope this helps.
Christina says
Hello! I attempted to make this recipe but I must have done something wrong because mine has tiny little balls of oil that make it difficult to use, and it did not set up quite as thick as yours. I’m tempted to re-melt it and try to whip it again. Any other advice?
Laura says
I would re-melt and whip it again. Make sure it is set up before you whip it.
Sahar says
Hello there . I love your blog!!
I live in Egypt so sometimes some ingredients are very hard to find here.
What can I use as substitute for arrowroot powder? And what if I skip it completely
Laura says
You can use cornstarch or you can leave it out.
Ruth says
Try tapioca I place of arrowroot… same/same but different…
Twin Mama says
I love your blog, so many great recipes!! So, I really want to try this recipe but I am unfortunately allergic to arrowroot powder. And my kids are allergic to everything corn, so cornstarch as a replacement is out. Any other recommendations? Thanks so much!
Laura says
You can make it without the arrowroot powder. It will be a different texture but it is still a great body butter.
Lisa says
Can you use a kitchen aid mixer or does it have to be a hand mixer?
Laura says
You can whip it with either one!
Anna says
I just made this recipe for a friend and would like to inform them on how long it lasts! Would you please let me know what the shelf life is? Thanks!
Laura says
I keep it for 1 year.
Praj says
Hi Laura
I got all excited and ordered all the butters like Shea,Mango & Cacao along with some Jojoba oil only a couple of months ago in a 1 kg pack getting ready for winter here in Australia. I want to make your cream recipes and also an eczema one for my son
How long do i have to use them before they loose their potency or turn bad? Any idea?
Thanks in advance
Laura says
One year
Darcy says
Excited to try this! Do you know if swapping the coconut oil for jojoba oil would work or no since coconut is hard at room temp?
Thanks!
Laura says
It won’t be the same consistency with jojoba.
Audrey Hancock says
Could you please tell me how much lotion this makes?
Ashley says
Hi I have a few questions. If I use this recipe to make lotion for retail purposes do I need to add a preservative? Also how much does this make roughly? Thank you!
Laura says
You can add an antioxidant like vitamin E antioxidant or rosemary antioxidant to help extend the shelf life of the product if desired.
tonya kiner says
I CANT WAIT TO MAKE THE SHEA BUTTER LOTION FOR MY HUSBAND LOVE READING YOUR SITE
Laura says
Thank you so much!
Glory says
Hello, thanks for this recipe. Please can I add all 3 butters: shea butter,cocoa butter and mango butter into one body butter .?
Laura says
Yes!
Lindsey cassel says
I followed instructions to a T but my lotion is not quite getting that whipped fluffy consistency. Help! 😮
Maria N Bares says
Just made this! Easy enough to follow and it makes your hands super soft! I used 6 drops lavendar 6 drops frankenscence and 4 drops copaiba. Couldn’t smell any of the oils as the shea over powered it but that’s okay.
Monica says
Hi there.
Where and how do you buy Shea butter?
Laura says
I have it linked in the post. 🙂
Shari Rogers says
I’m really anxious to try this recipe, as well as several others! My question is, would I be able to put it into a squeeze bottle rather than a jar, or is the lotion too thick to be squeezed out?
Laura says
It is too thick for a squeezable bottle and will work better in a jar or small container.
Danny says
Hello Laura, what do you think about substituting arrowroot with bentonite clay?
I like the zinc oxide substitute idea as well but too much zinc oxide leaves a white residue everywhere that can be a pain to clean. THANKS!
Laura says
Yes, you can add in clay!
Mia says
I love this recipe! I’m still new to all of this diy natural stuff, so this has become my go-to and base for experimental modifications. I tried substituting half of the coconut oil with safflower oil. The texture is the same, though it melts a little faster on the skin, but I find that it absorbs faster too.
Anyways, a question… I made a batch with patchouli (mixed with lavender and rosemary to light up the smell a bit), I love the smell, but I think the amount is a bit overwhelming, would have liked to have used only 10 drops in total in stead of 15. I was thinking of making half a batch with no essential oils, and mix them up. Do you think that is possible? I would like to avoid heating up the original batch with the new one, because of the essential oils already added. Do you think I can combine them by whipping them together? Hope this makes sense…
Laura says
I am so glad you love this recipe! You can definitely use less essential oils if you prefer. And yes, I think that is a great idea!