Nourishing Beeswax and Shea Butter Body Cream
A thick body cream with beeswax, shea butter, and apricot kernel oil perfect for dry skin.
Servings: 8 ounces of body cream
Equipment
- Shallow mason jar or body cream jar
- Pyrex measuring cups or other microwave safe containers
Ingredients
- 140 grams distilled water
- 16 grams almond oil (available here from Nurture Soap)
- 8 grams shea butter (get it in a bar from here)
- 8 grams beeswax (pellets are the easiest to work with)
- 14 grams stearic acid (get it here)
- 14 grams polawax (available online)
- 2 grams phenonip (order here)
- 2 grams fragrance of your choice (Nurture Soap and Brambleberry are great sources of fragrance oils)
Instructions
- Prepare. Measure all the ingredients using a digital scale for accuracy. Then, sterilize your stick blender and the container you will use for the body cream by washing them in hot, soapy water and then rinsing well. Allow them to air dry or dry with a clean towel.
- Heating the ingredients. Place the stearic acid, polawax, beeswax, shea butter, and apricot kernel oil (or almond oil, if using) in a microwave-safe container. Then, heat the mixture in the microwave until thoroughly melted, reaching approximately 170°F (77°C). In a separate microwave-safe container, heat the distilled water until it also reaches 170°F (77°C). Use a thermometer to make sure both the oil mixture and the water are at the same temperature before proceeding to the next step.
- Blending the mixture. Slowly pour the melted oils into the hot water while blending with a stick blender. Blend for 20 seconds, then rest for 20 seconds, and repeat until the mixture thickens. Initially, the mixture will appear bubbly and fluid. As it cools, it will start to thicken and change texture. Continue blending until the mixture becomes a thick, creamy consistency resembling body cream.
- Adding preservatives and fragrance. Once the desired texture is achieved, add the preservative (Phenonip) and the fragrance of your choice. Briefly blend with the stick blender to evenly distribute the preservative and fragrance throughout the cream.
- Storing the cream. Transfer the cream into a very clean, sterilized container, making sure there are no contaminants. Store in a cool, dark place. The cream should remain stable for at least 6 months.
- Stovetop option. Alternatively, you can heat the ingredients in separate pots on the stovetop. Maintain continuous stirring and even heating to avoid hotspots, and make sure both the oils and water reach the same temperature before blending.
Video
Notes
Make sure the oils and water have the same temperature before blending to achieve the best texture. A kitchen thermometer can help you with this and prevent the mixture from separating.
When you start blending, the mixture might seem too thin or bubbly. Keep blending in short bursts—don’t worry, it will thicken as it cools and turn into a creamy texture.
If you want to add essential oils for fragrance, start with a small amount and add more as needed. Some essential oils are very strong, so a little goes a long way.
You can also heat the components separately in pots on the stovetop.