Marshmallow Body Butter 3

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is a plant from which we use both the leaf and the root in herbal applications.

It is said to be emollient, conditioning, and anti-inflammatory. Its specialty is said to be soothing irritated tissues. Marshmallow extract is sometimes added to creams and used to treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and contact dermatitis.

Our Marshmallow Root and Marshmallow Leaf Extracts intrigued me into creating an emulsified body butter to feature these products. They are made in a base of Coconut Oil Fractions. I chose to go for a heavy butter-style cream to deeply moisturize the skin. Kalahari Melon will add a summery feel to this formula with its sweet melon scent.

Join me in the workroom as I make this cream.

What You’ll Need

Formula

70% Distilled Water
6% Handcrafted Shea Butter
3% Cocoa Butter
5% Olive Oil
4% Hydrovance
3% Conditioning Emulsifier
2% Stearic Acid
3% Marshmallow Root Extract
3% Marshmallow Leaf Extract
0.5% Kalahari Melon Fragrance
0.5% Liquid Germall Plus

Instructions

Ingredients weighed before heating.

Weigh all ingredients but the extracts, fragrance, and preservative.

Heat ingredients in the microwave using shorts bursts of time, stirring after each heating, until all ingredients have melted. Check the temperature of the mixture. You’ll want to make sure you heat to 160ºF at least to be sure all the Stearic Acid granules have melted fully.

Once the mixture is heated and melted, use a stick blender to create the emulsion. Stick blend thoroughly. Check the temperature again, and set aside to cool to below 120ºF.

When mixture has cooled sufficiently, add extracts, fragrance, and preservative. Mix thoroughly.

The cream will be fairly thick by this point, so it will be easiest to scoop it into a plastic bag, snip off a corner, and pipe the cream into wide mouth jars.

Leave the lids off until the mixture has cooled completely, then label and enjoy.

Notes

I’m really thrilled with the way this cream turned out! It has a lovely consistency, rubs into the skin fairly quickly, and it has such a unique feel! I used it on my arms shortly after finishing it, and I can’t wait to try it all over.

If you want a decadent, rich, moisturizing body butter, give this one a try.