I wanted to make a body cream using Shea Butter that followed the KISS method (Keep it simple, Sue). I enjoy using body creams that feel nice on the skin and yet don’t require extra applications as the day progresses. This body cream was the result of my formulating. Let’s take a peek at the ingredients that I chose!Shea Butter: For several years, I have seen lotions and creams advertised as using Shea Butter in their ingredients. I wanted to see if I could make a light body cream while using Shea Butter, or if I should use Liquid Shea Oil. I was happy to discover I didn’t need to change from using the Refined Shea Butter.
Weighing ingredients.
Emulsifying Wax: Since I wasn’t planning on making an anhydrous body butter, I needed something to help the oil and water bond. Emulsifying Wax was just the thing!
Melted ingredients after mixing.
Stearic Acid: I wanted to have a thicker cream, so I used Stearic Acid as a thickener for the lotion as I knew the Shea Butter wouldn’t be enough to make a thick lotion.
Liquid Germall Plus: Liquid Germall Plus is one of my go-to preservatives because it has a low required usage rate. (Which means money saved!) It also is compatible with most cosmetic ingredients so I don’t have to worry as much about a failed preservative.
Cooled body cream on my finger.
Collect needed items:
| Ingredients Distilled Water Shea Butter Peach Kernel Oil Emulsifying Wax HoneyQuat Stearic Acid Natural Vanilla Oil Liquid Germall Plus |
Equipment Scale Microwave Safe Container Spoons Pipettes Jars for Cream |
Recipe: (Makes 100 grams or 3.53 ounces)
| Recipe in ounces: 2.43 ounces Distilled Water 0.53 ounces Shea Butter 0.35 ounces Peach Kernel Oil 0.11 ounces Emulsifying Wax 0.04 ounces HoneyQuat 0.04 ounces Stearic Acid 0.02 ounces Natural Vanilla Oil 0.02 ounces Liquid Germall Plus |
Recipe in grams: 69 grams Distilled Water 15 grams Shea Butter 10 grams Peach Kernel Oil 3 grams Emulsifying Wax 1 gram HoneyQuat 1 gram Stearic Acid 0.5 grams Natural Vanilla Oil 0.5 grams Liquid Germall Plus |
| Recipe in Percentages 69% Distilled Water 15% Shea Butter 10% Peach Kernel Oil 3% Emulsifying Wax 1% HoneyQuat 1% Stearic Acid 0.5% Natural Vanilla Oil 0.5% Liquid Germall Plus |
Weigh all ingredients except the additives (Natural Vanilla Oil and Liquid Germall Plus Preservative) into a microwave safe container. Heat in the microwave using short time bursts until everything is melted. Blend the ingredients to a smooth, creamy consistency using the immersion blender. Add the additives once the temperature drops to approximately 120° F in the mixing bucket. Stir gently until completely mixed. Pour into jars and allow to cool completely before labeling.
Cream Notes: This is a nice and light body cream. It absorbs easily and leaves skin feeling silky. There is a slight drag that allows the skin to be briefly massaged while being applied and allows one to quickly pamper oneself. If over used, will take a few minutes for the fingertips to not feel slick. That being said, you can easily apply and go back to work without leaving an oily residue on everything!
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Yay for HoneyQuat! I would like to add it to cold process soap,
but not sure how to go about doing that, (hint hint)
As the normal process of soapmaking produces glycerin. I don’t think the addition of another humectant is necessary, especially since soap is a wash-off product, not a leave-on product. Honeyquat is probably better used in products and leave-on products.
I’m going to try this, looks nice. Back to the old order form!
P.S. The recipe in “ounces” is in percentages
Thanks!
Love your cream notes about it not being overly oily! I have some creams I only use at nighttime since they take longer to absorb into the skin, but this one sounds perfect for work.
Great recipe I have a bunch of shea butter that I’d like to experiment with. I can figure it out for myself, but I thought you should know that the recipe in ounces shows percentages.
Yikes! I’ve fixed this recipe now! Thanks for your help.
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