Homemade Shea Butter Cream For Face
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This ultra moisturizing and hydrating shea butter cream is simple to make and is good for your skin. Dry and damaged skin will feel hydrated and renewed. Follow my step-by-step tutorial with pictures below and learn the benefits of shea butter for acne.
This post was updated November 2018
It is almost like I’ have forgotten what it was like to make DIY skincare products. I made very few after August was born (new mom exhaustion), and recently, I’ve been at it again – which honestly feels pretty good. Sometimes, as mothers, you’re so busy making sure the kids have what they need or that they aren’t completely destroying the house, that you forget to do things you actually enjoy. Like making homemade products, such as this shea butter cream.
Lately, I’ve really wanted to slow down life. Life is always a bit hectic, but since moving to the west coast I’ve really felt discontent with how fast it seems to be going. It was such a rush, life was more stressful than anything, and I couldn’t get anything done. And I was seriously exhausted, yo. I imagine life back in the day when people didn’t have TV (or Facebook or Instagram) and they had to get up early to go milk the cows, pull weeds in the garden, and knit in the evening. Sure, I may be romanticizing a bit, but I knew that those dreams could be brought back a bit to our lives.
Since I’ve been dreaming about homesteading a lot lately, I figured there are ways to do that without actually having a homestead (because there is only so much one can do in a rental house). One of those things is DIY skincare products. Just by blending a few ingredients together, you can make a whole range of things. Better for your wallet, skin, and your health.
Why Choose Natural Skincare?
There are so many toxic ingredients in our skincare, and our skin absorbs about 60% of them. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about everything you use on a daily basis. Simple changes, people! I’ve been on this natural journey for a few years now and have really simplified my skincare routine to include only a few natural things, including this simple shea butter cream for my face. I’ll share my really simple and natural skin care routine later this week.
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What is the best oil to use for my skin?
Everyones skin is different, so make sure to choose an oil that works for your skin type.
- Avocado – is full of vitamins and is great for those with sensitive skin.
- Jojoba (like this one)
– is for oily skin and is full of antioxidants. - Apricot (like this one)– is great for dry skin and absorbs rapidly.
- Olive– is great for dry, mature skin.
- Almond– is fast absorbing, light, and great for those with dry skin.
- Tamanu (like this one)– is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It is great for those who are prone to breakouts.
– is for oily skin and is full of antioxidants. 
– is great for dry skin and absorbs rapidly.
– is great for dry, mature skin.
– is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It is great for those who are prone to breakouts.In this recipe, I also use Rosehip Oil – if you don’t have it you can just substitute one of the oils above. Rose hip oil is full of antioxidants and vitamins and has been shown to reduce fine lines, help the appearance of skin, and help diminish scars.
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Can You Use Shea Butter For Acne?
Yes! Shea butter is great for acne because it has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Shea butter is easily absorbed by the skin and doesn’t clog pores and many acne suffers have found relief when using shea butter on their skin.
Ingredients Used In This Face Cream & Why They Were Chosen
- Rose hip oil is full of antioxidants and vitamins and has been shown to reduce fine lines and scars. Also, help improve the overall appearance of skin
- Shea butter is ultra moisturizing and great for acne.
- Aloe vera gel (I use this one) is hydrating, has antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Vitamin E – can moisturize dry skin and as been shown to help wound healing. It may also help reduce scars and fine lines (source)
- Essential oils can be really beneficial to your skin. Geranium and Frankincense have been shown to help reduce fine lines. Lavender is has anti-inflammatory properties. Find the right oil for your skin.
How To Make Shea Butter Cream
Step 1:
In a glass bowl, add in shea butter and beeswax and place over a saucepan filled with a few inches of water to create a double boiler (or melt in the microwave). Once melted, take off of heat, add in oils, vitamin e, and essential oils.
Step 2:
Allow the shea butter, oils, and beeswax mixture cool until it starts to thicken, but it shouldn’t become hard. See picture below for reference.
Step 3:
Add in aloe vera gel and whip up using whisk. Place in a glass container and allow it to cool completely.
Homemade Shea Butter Cream
Shea Butter Cream For Face And Body
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Ingredients
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 1 tsp bees wax
- 2 tbs oil of choice olive, apricot, jojoba, avocado
- 1 tsp rosehip oil or previous listed oils
- 1/4 tsp vitamin e optional
- 1/4 cup aloe vera gel
- 30-40 drops essential oils- lavender geranium, and frankincense would work well.
Instructions
- In a glass bowl, add in shea butter and beeswax and place over a saucepan filled with a few inches of water to create a double boiler (or melt in the microwave). Once melted, take off of heat, add in oils, vitamin e, and essential oils. Allow to cool until it starts to thicken, but it shouldn't become hard. Add in aloe vera gel and whip up using whisk. Place in a container and allow to cool completely.
Notes
Want More DIY Skincare Recipes? Check these out!
- Homemade Makeup Remover is a staple in my skincare routine.
- This DIY Natural Repairing & Anti-Aging Serum is awesome.
- Coffee Scrub is the hands down my favorite face scrub.
Hi! I made my first batch today – I recently moved to the Great Lakes region and my face decided it was the Sahara. The only thing that kind of works is a whipped shea butter night cream from a shop I love but that I really can’t afford for the amount I’m going through. Anyway, I had quite a bit of liquid come out at the end whipping stage. I think it may have just been water it didn’t smell or feel like anything. I used fresh aloe from my garden that I peeled and blended smooth instead of aloe gel. Could this have been where that extra liquid that didn’t blend in came from? In my next batch, do you think I could add some xanthan gum to help with the emulsification? Thank you!
That is no fun. So my guess is that because it was fresh aloe it doesn’t naturally contain any thickeners or preservatives it won’t be as thick (also why there is that liquid coming out) or last very long before spoiling. You could try adding an emulsifier, but you may also have to add some sort of preservative as well.
Hi! Can I use aloe vera from a plant instead of it’s processed form?
thanks for the recipe, excited to try. xo
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe – one question though. Is the beeswax necessary? I have all the other ingredients…just curious.
Yes it acts as a binder helping to hold it all together
Amy, I haven’t researched this, but I totally believe what you’re saying, and it’s not hard to believe either. I am going to make my face cream, however what if I leave out the beeswax, will it still mix up well and be good for my skin? Thanks for sharing your recipe
“There are so many toxic ingredients in our skincare, and our skin absorbs about 60% of them”
This statement is COMPLETE RUBBISH!
Skincare products in the EU MUST be safe by law and ingredients are strictly controlled.
The skin absorbs very little of what is put on it.
This is its function – a strong BARRIER to external things.
Please – don’t use fear as a promotional tool.
Unfortunately, it is not rubbish. The US allows many toxic ingredients including parabens, endocrine disrupters, chemicals known to cause cancer, and you can even find lead in makeup. Here in the US, the laws are not as strict as the EU. The EU has banned over 1,300 ingredients in skincare and the US… 11. The skin is the largest organ and does absorb a lot of what is put on it, it just absorbs it more slowly. Not a scare tactic, just the honest truth.