Left: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Marty S.
Home recipes by Sheetal Rawal
There are days when nothing beats taking the time to slather warm body butter on your skin. This is especially true for days that have gone on for far too long, which we’ve all experienced at least once in our lives. Applying body butter can be a very soothing and therapeutic process; not only does it feel great to massage your skin with it, but (depending on the body butter) it can also smell heavenly. Your skin, moreover, will thank you for it because body butters are typically loaded with nutrients and other compounds that your skin will soak up happily. With time and constant use, your skin may begin to look softer and less prone to premature aging.
Of course, you shouldn’t just grab a random tub of body butter. Instead, invest in one that is all natural so your skin doesn’t absorb anything harsh or potentially damaging. Alternatively, you can create your own body butter at home using natural ingredients that you may be able to find in your pantry or kitchen. Here are 3 coconut body butter recipes for you to try right away so that your skin is soft, glowing, and youthful. Even if your skin isn’t dry or undernourished, everyone can benefit from using body butter.
Before we begin, you should know that like any article we publish, these coconut body butter recipes are meant for a one time use and should not be stored after. To get the most out of these recipes, use them immediately after preparing them.
1. Coconut & Sunflower Oil Body Butter to Nourish & Soften Skin
But why would you use body butter in the first place, especially when you may have a perfectly fine body lotion at your disposal? Well, to make the choice between the two, you should know that body lotions usually consist of oil and water whereas body butters consist of oil and butter. While oil and water might not seem like a big deal, the difference between the two is staggering. If you are looking for something that is lightweight and not too greasy, use a body lotion. However, if you want a product that has a much more lasting effect on your skin, use a body butter. Body butter is an excellent skin nourisher due to the number of oils and good fats in it, and it helps your skin retain moisture and softness by deeply penetrating the skin. This means that body butter is perfect for you if your skin is dry or cracked. If you’re not used to using body butter, it might be a little thick for your liking at first (due to the lack of water in it), but you will easily get used to it over time.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of coconut butter
3 drops of sunflower oil
8 drops of apple cider vinegar (ACV)
⅛ tsp. of aloe gel
Instructions
Mix the ingredients together.
Apply and massage the skin using circular strokes for 2 to 3 minutes.
Wipe off any excess with a soft towel or tissue.
Use this right after a shower or before bed. It should not be stored for future use.
Notes
Sunflower oil in this recipe will provide some additional nourishment because it also contains fatty acids.
“The Rose Glycerin toner helped moisturize my skin so much. My skin actually started looking like skin. Touching my face even now, it feels so soft, not dry to the touch, and it started to help even out my complexion. I had a lot of dark spots, a lot of scarring going on so the toner helped with that.”
2. Coconut & Lemon Body Butter to Eliminate the Look of Stretch Marks
Body butter will help you maintain nourished, soft skin. However, if you use a body butter over an extended period of time, it may also fade the appearance of stretch
marks. That’s because body butters are typically rich in antioxidants and fatty acids. Antioxidants minimize free radical damage (which can break down collagen in your skin and make stretch marks more likely to form) while fatty acids help nourish your skin and improve your skin’s structure. Together, these two compounds can keep your skin soft, plump, and youthful.
A homemade body butter is even more effective in reducing stretch marks when it is paired with other natural ingredients, such as lemon juice, which helps exfoliate your skin through its citric acid content.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of coconut butter
5 drops of castor oil
8 drops of lemon juice
1 tsp. of avocado paste
Instructions
Mix the ingredients together.
Apply and massage the skin using circular strokes for 2 to 3 minutes.
Wipe off any excess with a soft towel or tissue.
Use this right after a shower or before bed. It should not be stored for future use.
3. Coconut Body Butter for Youthful, Plump Skin
Given the different types of body butters available in the market, we highly suggest coconut body butter. Why? First of all, coconut butter is readily available; if for some reason you aren’t able to find it in your local natural foods store, you can easily find it online. Second, coconut oil is rich in fatty acids like medium chain fatty acids (MCTs) and lauric acid. As we mentioned above, fatty acids are vital for nourishing your skin and keeping it soft and supple. Lauric acid, in particular, has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which means it can clean your skin and minimize infections. In addition, coconut butter pairs well with a lot of natural ingredients. For example, you can combine coconut butter with vegetable glycerin, which is able to keep your skin moisturized by itself because it is a humectant.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. of coconut butter
⅛ tsp. of turmeric
½ tsp. of vegetable glycerin
1 tsp. of ripe banana paste
Instructions
Mix the ingredients together.
Apply and massage the skin using circular strokes for 2 to 3 minutes.
Wipe off any excess with a soft towel or tissue.
Use this right after a shower or before bed. It should not be stored for future use.
Here is a homemade hand butter recipe you must try if your hands are dry or cracked. Enjoy and please subscribe to my YouTube channel!
If you need more skin care advice or product suggestions, fill out this form and you will receive an email from Sheetal soon.
Go natural. It is good karma!
