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 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 DIY sunscreen lotion to homemade 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.

One other way to make non-greasy lotion would be to make a water-based recipe like my DIY pump lotion. They easily absorb into the skin and can be stored in a pump-style bottle for easy application.

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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

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

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

Laura Ascher

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. 

4.37 from 138 votes

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Project Type lotion

Category Bath & Beauty

Create ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Active Time 5 minutes mins

Additional Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Yield 8 ounces

Equipment

• ▢
  Double Boiler
• ▢
  Hand Mixer
• ▢
  Mason jar for storage

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ ¾ cup shea butter
• ▢ ¼ cup coconut oil
• ▢ 15 drops essential oils optional
• ▢ 5 drops vitamin E oil optional
• ▢ 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder

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

• 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.

For visual reference, I've included a video tutorial for this recipe in the post above!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was and mention us on Instagram @ouroilyhouse

This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

More of My Favorite Skin Care Recipes:

• Goats milk Lotion Recipe
• Homemade Moisturizing Hand Cream
• Homemade Magnesium Lotion
• Bedtime Baby Lotion Recipe
• DIY Lotion Bars