HOMEMADE CREAM MOISTURIZER/SHEA BUTTER CREAM

How To make Scented Shea Butter Cream Moisturiser

Finally, today I will be writing about how to make your own body cream moisturiser with pure unrefined natural ingredients. This is probably one of the major projects I have embarked on so far in my natural skin and hair care journey. I will try to make this as short and precise as possible.

If you care a lot about your health in and out, you will agree with me that one of the biggest challenges is finding natural products that are not only healthy but can also help achieve that flawless skin we all hunger for. So far I have shared my favourite DIY skincare products that I have come to completely trust but I have frequently gotten questions from some of my readers about how to get an all-natural body moisturiser that will serve the purpose of keeping the skin healthy as well as giving it the glow and right tone. So...finally here it is.

INGREDIENTS:

1. 4 oz (8 tablespoons) of raw unrefined shea butter
2. 2 tablespoons of raw virgin coconut oil
3. 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
4. 2 drops of natural vitamin E oil as preservative and antioxidant (optional)
5. 1 drop of natural vanilla essential oil for scenting (optional)
6. an airtight container
7. a large bowl
8. An electric or hand whisk/mixer

This is really simple. The main base for this cream is the Shea butter. Raw Shea butter has a hard consistency but you shouldn’t melt your Shea butter. I prefer this method because it keeps all the ingredients intact, no heat is required at all and it takes only a few minutes. I use this moisturiser for my skin and hair. Believe it or not, my hair is growing like crazy (will update soon).

1. Before you start to prepare whipped Shea butter, make sure your unrefined Shea butter is at room temperature. Do not melt or heat it! Put your Shea butter in a bowl and mash it with a fork. The same way you make mashed potato.
2. Add base oils ( coconut and olive) and mash it a little bit more.
3. Add vitamin E oil which is a natural preservative and a strong antioxidant.
4. Put the mixture into the mixing bowl. Mix it on high speed with an electric mixer for approximately 5 minutes. you can also use a hand mixer.
5. This step is optional, you can add your chosen essential oil(s) according to the scent you prefer. I used vanilla for mine and I love how it turned out. just one tiny drop does the magic. Mix it a few more minutes to blend with your whipped cream.
6. Put whipped cream in a clean glass jar(s) and close it. Keep it in a dry, dark and cool place at room temperature. Your bathroom cabinet is fine.

BENEFITS OF SHEA BUTTER:

Being rich in precious constituents such as unsaturated fats with a large proportion of non-saponifiable components, essential fatty acids, vitamins E and D, phytosterols, provitamin A and allantoin, shea butter is considered a superfood for the skin. It has been used since time immemorial for skin care, baby care and for consumption. In fact, the legendary Egyptian queen Nefertiti owed her beauty secrets to Shea butter which further demonstrates its goodness for the skin. Given below are its various benefits for skin and hair.

Sun Protection:

Shea butter acts as a natural sunscreen by providing protection against the ultraviolet radiations of sun though the level of protection offered may be variable. Shea butter is considered as the best skin care for winter and after-sun care as it provides the extra moisture, nutrients and protection needed by your skin during the cold season and summer.

Healing Agent:

Shea butter has amazing healing properties. It is often used as a base in medicinal ointments due to its anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used since ages for the treatment of scars, eczema, blemishes, skin discolourations, chapped lips, stretch marks, dark spots and in reducing the irritation caused by psoriasis. Due to its high content of vitamin A, it is effective in promoting healing and disinfection; and soothes skin allergies like poison ivy and insect bites. Vitamin F acts as a rejuvenator for soothing and healing rough and chapped skin.

Anti-ageing Benefits:

Shea Butter is considered as one of the best anti-ageing and moisturising agents for the skin. It stimulates the production of collagen, the youthful scaffolding protein in the skin. The vitamins A and E found in this butter keep the skin supple, nourished and radiant and prevent premature wrinkles and facial lines. Shea butter penetrates the skin easily without clogging the pores and is effective for dry skin.

Baby Care:

Shea butter is an excellent natural moisturiser which is devoid of chemicals. Thus, it is ideal for baby care as besides being gentle and soft on the skin, it is specially adapted for delicate and sensitive skin of babies. It can be for after bath application on skin and as also for healing eczema or diaper rash on the skin of babies.

Lip Care:

Shea butter is easily absorbable and provides extra moisture and nutrients that are needed during the cold season and dry weather. Thus, it acts as a perfect lip balm to protect your lips from cold and dry weather and is effective for treating dry and chapped lips.

Restores Skin Elasticity:

Non-saponifiable matter and vitamin F in this butter are vital ingredients for maintaining skin-elasticity. Thus, application of Shea butter restores the elasticity of the skin and helps maintain an even skin-tone besides hydrating, softening and beautifying it.

 

Shea Butter For Hair

When we talk about the skin and hair benefits of Shea butter, the list is simply unending. In short, one can say that it is considered a natural conditioner for hair, thanks to its moisturising and healing properties. Some of the numerous benefits of Shea butter for hair are given below.

Soothes Dry and Irritated Scalp:

Shea butter is effective in soothing a dry itchy scalp or dandruff. It possesses anti-inflammatory qualities and gets absorbed into the skin without leaving a greasy residue or clogging the pores. Being rich in vitamins A and E, it soothes dryness, repairs breakage and mends split ends. Hence, it is extremely effective in providing relief against dry scalp, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.

Moisturiser:

The presence of vitamins A and E makes Shea butter an excellent moisturiser to moisturize your hair from roots to tips. Thus, it can be used as a natural conditioner. It is highly effective in locking in moisture without leaving the hair greasy or heavy. Shea butter has wide usage in curly hair treatments due to its emollient qualities. A number of chemical treatments like straighteners, perms, curlers etc are responsible for stripping off the natural moisture from the hair. Shea butter can help restore this lost moisture.

Hair Protection:

Shea butter provides protection to the hair against the harmful free radicals in the air and water and harsh weather conditions. Moreover, Shea butter has low amount of SPF which is sufficient enough to protect the hair from sun damage caused due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation and repairs the damage that has already been caused by harsh weather and sun. This is largely due to the fact that once absorbed, Shea butter coats the hair shaft so that it is protected from a heat tool or any other damaging material being passed along the hair. This is particularly beneficial for processed or coloured hair. It also protects the hair against salt and chlorine when applied before swimming.

Hair Softener:

Shea butter is great for softening and revitalising damaged and brittle hair. Due to its non-greasy nature, it helps to control and spread excess oil in the scalp. Massaging the hair with generous amounts of Shea butter can give soft and silky tresses. This benefit of Shea butter is applicable for dry as well as fragile curly hair. Shea butter should be applied twice a week for hair growth, improving hair texture and moisturising the hair.

TIPS!

• Shea Butter’s shelf life is approximately one to two years. It should be kept in a dark, cool place on room temperature.
• You should keep your Shea butter or Shea buttercreams in a closed glass or heavy-duty plastic containers.
• If you don’t want to put any preservatives in your homemade Shea butter creams, never put any water into the cream. 
• Protect your cream from absorbing humidity from the air by keeping it always firmly closed.
• Wash your hands every time before you are using Shea butter or Shea buttercream because you are contaminating it every time you touch it. This will prolong its lifetime.

GLOW IN YOUR SKIN AND GROW YOUR HAIR WITH SHEA BUTTER!!!!!!