Sign in
Register now
My Reward PointsEmulsified body butters are thick creams or lotions made with emulsifying wax, containing a higher ratio of oils and butters compared to water-based lotions.
Originally crafted from oils and butter, traditional whipped body butters are anhydrous and greasy, prompting the creation of emulsified versions to enhance texture.
This process blends water and oils with an emulsifier, resulting in a smoother product that offers deep hydration without a greasy feel, making it popular for daily skincare.
Continue reading, as this post will teach you how to make emulsified body butter.
Why Choose Emulsified Body Butter Over Traditional Body Butter?
Emulsified body butter combines oils and water, providing a richer texture than standard body butter.
This formulation enhances absorption, smoothness during application, and hydration while avoiding a greasy finish. Some strikethrough points of an emulsified body butter include:
- Non-greasy and silky finish.
- Lightweight texture ideal for hot or humid situations.
- Moisturizing and breathable for the skin.
Benefits of Using an Emulsified Body Butter
There are numerous advantages to using an emulsified body butter, including a lightweight and non-greasy feel, deep moisture, smooth and easy application, customization for different skin needs, a longer shelf life, and improved stability.
1. Lightweight and Non-Greasy Feel
Emulsified body butters blend oils, butters, and water for a creamy, fast-absorbing texture that deeply hydrates skin without greasiness, combining the rich moisture of traditional butters with the lightweight feel of a lotion.
2. Deep Moisturization
An emulsified body butter combines water, oil, and an emulsifier to create a creamy, non-greasy moisturizer that deeply hydrates, prevents moisture loss, and keeps skin soft, nourished, and hydrated for longer durations.
3. Smooth and Easy Application
Using an emulsified body butter is smooth and easy, as it glides effortlessly over skin with a creamy, lotion-like texture. It is also ideal for everyday use and suitable for all seasons.
4. Customizable for Different Skin Needs
Emulsified body butter can be tailored to address various skin types, such as dry, oily, or sensitive skin, using a mix of butters, oils, and essential oils for desired effects.
5. Longer Shelf Life & Better Stability
Because emulsified body butter stays smooth and does not separate easily, it has a longer shelf life and better stability.
Including preservatives in these body butters ensures product safety and extends shelf life.
Key Ingredients Needed for DIY Emulsified Body Butter
DIY emulsified body butter requires a water phase and an oil phase, heated, mixed, and cooled with emulsifiers and additives to create a stable, lotion-like, hydrating product.
1. Oil Phase
The oil phase of a DIY emulsified body butter needs butters like shea, cocoa, and mango butter for richness and smoothness.
The oils required for this phase include jojoba, almond, or coconut oil for nourishment.
2. Water Phase
The water phase of homemade emulsified body butter requires hydrating options, including distilled water, aloe vera juice, and floral hydrosols.
3. Emulsifiers & Additives
Emulsifiers blend water and oil for stable, creamy body butter, while waxes, thickeners, and humectants boost texture, stability, and skin feel. The emulsifiers and additives in these body butters include
- Emulsifying wax, BTMS-50, or Polawax (for blending oil and water).
- Vitamin E, a preservative (like Optiphen), and essential/fragrance oils.
DIY Emulsified Body Butter Recipe
Here, we will show you a simple emulsified body butter recipe, which yields 200 g of body butter and lasts around 6 months.
Ingredients
A. Water Phase
- Distilled water: 95 grams
- Aloe Vera Concentrate: 20 grams
- Glycerine: 4 grams
- Xanthan gum: 1 gram
B. Oil Phase
- Shea butter: 40 grams
- Avocado oil: 20 grams
- Emulsifying Wax: 16 grams
- Cetearyl Alcohol: 4 grams
C. Emulsifiers & Additives
- Optiphen Plus preservative: 2 grams
- Vitamin E oil: 2 grams
- Essential oil: 2 grams
How to Make?
- Measure out the water and oil phase ingredients.
- Melt both phases in separate heatproof vessels over low heat with a double boiler or bain-marie.
- When the oil phase has completely melted and no solids remain, pour it into the water phase and instantly combine with an immersion blender.
- Because of the high oil content, the mixture should emulsify quickly and become homogeneous after about a minute of blending. Continue to combine until the mixture thickens and takes on the consistency of thick cream. Allow to cool to room temperature before proceeding to the cool-down stage.
- Add the cool-down components to your emulsified body butter and mix thoroughly with a hand whisk.
- Store your emulsified body butter in a tub-style container or jar out of direct sunlight.
How to Make Emulsified Body Butter Thicker?
Consider the points below on how to make emulsified body butter thicker:
- To thicken an emulsified body butter, increase emulsifying wax or fatty thickeners such as cetyl alcohol, or incorporate a powder-based thickener like xanthan gum with glycerin.
- Ensure all stages are conducted at high temperatures, use an immersion blender to emulsify, and allow cooling for noticeable thickening.
- If you are wondering about another idea on how to make a thick emulsified body butter, then modifying water and oil phase ingredients, such as increasing butter or emulsifying wax and slightly reducing water content while whipping longer, can also achieve this.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Making Emulsified Body Butter
You should avoid the following common mistakes in emulsified body butter recipes:
- Avoid overheating butters and oils, as this can damage nutrients.
- Avoid skipping preservatives, as this can lead to bacterial growth.
- Avoid using the incorrect oil-water ratio, as this can create separation.
- Avoid using tap water instead of distilled water.
Conclusion
Emulsified body butter provides benefits such as a lightweight feel, deep moisturization, smooth application, customization for skin types, and enhanced shelf life.
It combines oils, butters, and water for hydration without greasiness, making it suitable for all skin types and allowing for tailoring to individual needs while improving stability through preservatives.
It is pretty easy to make your own emulsified body butter. Finally, we advise you to try different DIY emulsifying body butter recipes to match your preferences.
