DIY African Shea Butter Cream (makes Good Furniture Polish Too\)
Shea butter is the latest craze, and rightfully so, in cosmetics and healthy skin care, shampoos and conditioners. If you can get hold of some raw unrefined Shea butter, you can make creams for yourself, children, men's moisturizer after shaving and your friends and will probably never use anything else for your skin in your lifetime. There is a tutorial plus the origins and uses on my blog too. It is VERY nourishing and rich, but will be absorbed by the skin in no time.
Shea Butter is the inside of a nut grown on the Shea tree. 100 % natural and used by African women since centuries. In it's raw state the consistency is a lot like beeswax, but could be used as is by making it smooth by rubbing a small amount in your hands before application. It melts on warmth. To achieve a creamier and easier to apply version,I use another ingredient: 100% pure olive oil or a lighter oil (almond, or grape seed for oilier skins) in the ratio 1/2 raw Shea butter and 1/2 oil of your choice. I used refined She Butter here, but really recommend the unrefined variety.
These need to be "married"(emulsified) in a water bath (bain marie) at about 60/70 degrees, while being stirred intermittently.
All those "flakes and particles" must be melted together and will then turn yellowish white.
And now the slightly tricky part: Still in the same glass or ceramic pot, the mixture has to be stirred until it gets cool, in order to prevent a "divorce". I pour a little amount on a saucer where it cools more rapidly and test if it's emulsified for good. And if found perfect, pour it into small jars, while it's still liquid enough.
Shea butter's origin is a nut. Therefor it has a nutty smell. If you don't like the natural smell you can always add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil, which might enhance a calming or ant-aging effect of the finished cream. 6 to 8 drops are more than enough for 50 ml cream. The essential oil needs to be added when the mixture is hand warm (short before the pouring). With more heat it would simply evaporate.
testing (excuse the clean finger):
And there you are. A luxurious, magic cream which, by the way, makes a wonderful furniture polish and acts as a light sunscreen, for baby bottoms, split ends. For more uses, please consult the blog.
Use it, gift it, sell it.....
An African kiss for HOMETALK!
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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3 comments
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Haha TOO cute at the end! I'm sure many people will get great use out of a DIY furniture polish!
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Yes, very good for the skin. (If I remember correctly, shea butter is what I was advised to use during pregnancy to keep from getting stretch marks on my stomach.) I clicked on your link, Barbara, and enjoyed reading your blog, also. Look forward to enjoying more of your shared thoughts and info.
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