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Homemade Shea Butter Lotion

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 in small mason jar

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. 

PIN IT FOR LATER

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

non-greasy shea butter whipped body butter in glass mason jar on blue and white checker towel

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.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.

HOMEMADE SHEA BUTTER LOTION

whipping up homemade lotion with a hand mixer

WHAT DO I NEED TO MAKE LOTION

HOW TO MAKE LOTION

  1. Melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.
  2. 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.
  3. Add in the essential oils and vitamin E oil if using.
  4. Slowly add in the arrowroot powder while mixing the lotion with a hand mixer.
  5. Continue mixing until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes.
  6. Transfer the homemade lotion to an airtight storage container.

RECIPE NOTES

  • Store out of direct sunlight for up to one year.
  • It is best to store any DIY product with essential oil in a glass container. I am using a wide-mouth mason jar. 
  • 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

shea butter lotion in mason jar on white and blue towel

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 
Yield: 8 ounces

Homemade Shea Butter Lotion

shea butter lotion in small mason jar

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. 

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 5 minutes
Additional Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty easy

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

  1. Melt the shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.
  2. 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.
  3. Add in the essential oils and vitamin E oil if using.
  4. Slowly add in the arrowroot powder while mixing the lotion with a hand mixer.
  5. Continue mixing until light and fluffy; about 3 minutes.
  6. Transfer the homemade lotion to an airtight storage container.

Notes

  • Store out of direct sunlight for up to one year.
  • It is best to store any DIY product with essential oil in a glass container. I am using a wide mouth mason jar.
  • 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.

© Laura
Project Type: lotion / Category: Bath and Beauty

More of My Favorite Skin Care Recipes:

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Best Foot Scrub to Remove Dead Skin

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DIY After Sun Spray

Homemade Anti-Itch Cream (Natural Bug Bite Relief)

3 Essential Oil Roller Bottles for Skin

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Comments

  2. 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.

    Reply

    • 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

      Reply

  3. 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

    Reply

  4. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  5. 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……

    Reply

  6. 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

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  7. 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?

    Reply

  8. 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

    Reply

  9. 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!

    Reply

    • Laura says

      You can make it without the arrowroot powder. It will be a different texture but it is still a great body butter.

      Reply

  11. 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!

    Reply

  12. 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

    Reply

  13. 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!

    Reply

  15. 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!

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

  17. 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 .?

    Reply

  18. Lindsey cassel says

    I followed instructions to a T but my lotion is not quite getting that whipped fluffy consistency. Help! 😮

    Reply

  19. 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.

    Reply

  21. 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?

    Reply

  22. 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!

    Reply

  23. 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…

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

      • Mia says

        Thank you!
        I’m sorry, another question… I made a small batch, but had very little vitamin e left, would say it contains “traces of vitamin e”. How long do you think it will be good for?

        Reply

  24. Rachel says

    Hi Laura, I was wondering whether this lotion consistency will work in a pump style amber glass bottle. It seems like an easier way to apply lotion rather than scooping it out of a jar with your hands.

    Reply

  25. Olga Quesada says

    Muchas gracias por compartir sus recetas que además de sencillas se ven útiles. Solo como sugerencia en los ingredientes sería bueno en el caso que se pueda colocar (otros sugeridos) ya que hay países donde no se encuentran los productos. Co.o por ejemplo el polvo de Arrurruz Muchas gracias
    Olga desde Panamá

    Reply

  26. Shannon Sibbald says

    Could I add the arrowroot or cornflour in this lotion, but without the essential oils, for my baby with eczema?

    Reply

  29. Anna says

    I tried this and it is easy to do and has a lovely feeling! I would suggest listing how much this makes, I don’t remember but would guess it makes about 2x the measured materials since air is added.

    Reply

  31. Kelly says

    Made it! Did a double batch! Used corn starch in place of arrow root and used way more than the recipe called for. Maybe even a half cup of corn starch. Did not add any scent. It’s perfect! Whipped and whipped for a long time. It’s nice and creamy, no clumps! Will try again with some scents

    Reply

  35. Sara says

    I ordered the Shea butter from your link but have had the seal lifted up on both jars. Not sure if I should still us it. Do you have another Shea butter that you can recommend?

    Reply

  36. Barb says

    This looks like a great formula to get around the emulsifier issue when adding a water-based ingredient. I love the idea of the Arrowroot powder to cut the greasiness of the lotion.
    However, I have Tapioca starch but no Arrowroot, and I need to make this tomorrow.
    Can I substitute the Tapioca starch in this formula?
    Thank you.

    Reply

  39. Marguerite says

    What if the shea butter is too oily.
    What do I do.
    I used 1/4 cup of coconut oil and it is really watery.
    Thank you.

    Reply

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