Shea/Cocoa Butter

[sewwies]

Has anyone had any experience using either of these to make their own creams or scrubs? I'm thinking of buying some raw ingredients to do a spot of home cooking, see if I can rescue my poor legs from their wintery fate and entertain myself over the holidays

[karen]

I think we're working on the same project! Right now I'm knee-deep in testing things that are sorta like a lotion bar for "alligator legs". Shea butter is sort of like vegetable shortening- thick, and creamy, and it stays that way on your skin. The one thing about shea is that it doesn't like to behave itself in a formula- it goes grainy when you melt it. Supposedly there are some tricks to prevent the grains, but I've never gotten them to work on a long term basis...they work for a few days or a few weeks and then you get the grains. I like it in smaller amounts for its barrier function- it's a nice layer of grease that kind of seals your skin off from the elements. Mango butter is fairly similar.

Cocoa butter is very very solid at room temperature- almost brittle, a lot like chocolate. It melts at body temperature and feels pretty much like any light oil on the skin, and makes your skin really soft. It has a very "sharp" melting point- so it's completely rock solid until about 98 degrees and then it's liquid and doesn't like to firm up without some time in the freezer.

For something like a sugar scrub at home- liquid oils are the way to go. Sweet almond, apricot kernel, sesame, rice bran, grapeseed, olive, jojoba, or avocado (in smaller amounts- it's a heavy oil) are all wonderful. Another one I really like is extra virgin coconut oil- it's divine.

Good luck! I hope you find something wonderful!

[LT16]

testing things that are sorta like a lotion bar for "alligator legs"

raises hand alligator legs here!!!

I have Cocoa butter at home and use it for my legs. It's divine but I hate scraping it out to apply. If only it came in a stick form of some sort. I've also used Mango butter and love it! It is so moisturizing. I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeves for these two ingredients.

[sewwies]

Thanks for that Karen I'll bear that in mind, maybe just use the shea on my lips. I went a bit ordering crazy and ordered a bit of everything! I've got some avocado butter and macadamia butter, coconut oil and the shea and cocoa butters as well. Going to have a play around anything to put off writing my dissertation! I've read that shea butter is good for acne, but I can't imagine something so thick working on my skin. We shall see!!

[karen]

Oooh you're going to have fun!!! Shea is wonderful- and the grains do melt. For home- great choice, for SN- not so much. I can get it to work at about 10% of a formula- after that it's not something I want to sell. You're going to looove the avocado butter.

Good luck on your dissertation!

[deloclvb]

I've always love shea butter. But I never thought of making my own mix because I'm too lazy and messy to carry it off.
I'm a huge shea butter fan. I have some raw shea butter that I use as a lotion bar. I am also a fan of whipped butter shea butter from another internet site that is great, I can even use it on my face and as a lip balm. They started using this Shea Olein , true liquid shea butter in their formulation for a face cream and it has been great, none of that turned grainy unlike the normal shea butter.

[lwoodall10]

testing things that are sorta like a lotion bar for "alligator legs"

raises hand alligator legs here!!!

I have Cocoa butter at home and use it for my legs. It's divine but I hate scraping it out to apply. If only it came in a stick form of some sort. I've also used Mango butter and love it! It is so moisturizing. I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeves for these two ingredients.

I found 100% Cocoa Butter sticks at the Dollar General store by our house and I love them!

[sewwies]

My goodies have arrived! Melted a bit of everything with some beeswax to make a bit of a balm but can't wait to have a proper play, the cocoa butter smells incredible!!!!

[emmy2410]

Since this topic is abt both butter, Ive got eczema on both my feet and sometimes I just wanna scrub them with a good scrub but I cant use those on the shelf cos it aggrevates the itch and the whole feet goes havoc. I checked out at body shop, the cocoa butter scrub cost a whopping $30 for a small tub...its expensive..so I was wondering if I cld use the palmers cocoa butter and add some sugar and use it as a scrub...i know it can be greasy but I just want to scrub off the dead skin.
Any suggestions ladies!!! thanks alot.

[JenW]

Since this topic is abt both butter, Ive got eczema on both my feet and sometimes I just wanna scrub them with a good scrub but I cant use those on the shelf cos it aggrevates the itch and the whole feet goes havoc. I checked out at body shop, the cocoa butter scrub cost a whopping $30 for a small tub...its expensive..so I was wondering if I cld use the palmers cocoa butter and add some sugar and use it as a scrub...i know it can be greasy but I just want to scrub off the dead skin.
Any suggestions ladies!!! thanks alot.

That sounds like it would work. It is definitely worth an experiment, even if it does not do the job perfectly, especially if you have the Palmer's on hand..... Salt might work, too, but I prefer sugar.