Shea butter comes from an oil extracted from the seeds of the Mangifolia tree found in Africa. It is a luxurious, gentle lotion that stimulates the skin to make its own collagen. It offers some UV protection and makes a great moisturizer. Many packaged beauty products that include it add poor-quality shea butter and other unhealthy ingredients. You can save money and create a better product by making your own.
Instructions
1. Obtain 6 oz. of an unrefined, all-natural shea butter from a health food store or beauty supply store. Find one that has not been bleached and to which no chemicals have been added. The less processed the shea butter, the better the product will be.
2. Place about 2 inches of water in a pot and put it on the stove over medium heat. Bring it to a simmer. Place the shea butter in a medium Pyrex or stainless steel bowl. Set it over the pot like a double broiler.
3. Allow the shea butter to melt. When it's fully melted, add 4 oz. of either coconut, almond or grapeseed oil. If you prefer, you can add a mixture of these oils. Just make sure it equals 4 oz. Add 1 tsp. of cornstarch and the contents of a vitamin E capsule. If you like, you can add approximately 1/2 oz. of a cosmetic-grade fragrance oil at this point; however, this is not necessary. Mix the ingredients together.
4. Place some heavily iced water in a large bowl. Remove the bowl from the pot and set it in the larger bowl on top of the ice water. Be sure not to get any water into the mixture.
5. Blend the ingredients with a hand mixer on medium. Continue blending as you would if you were making whipped cream. That's the consistency you are trying to achieve. The ice water will cool the mixture and it will begin to thicken as you blend.
6. Stop blending when the mixture looks like whipped cream and forms stiff peaks on top. Remove the Pyrex or stainless steel bowl from the ice water. Spoon your mixture into a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Your shea butter lotion will keep for months in the refrigerator.
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