This body butter is the boss of body butters! It has simple ingredients, it is safe for you, and best of all you can do it yourself. To top it off, it is extremely moisturizing, protective, and heals your skin. It has a lovely mild lavender scent, which along with neem oil contributes to its healing properties. 

It can be used topically to ease symptoms  of eczema, insect bites- those pesky mosquitoes, skin ulcers, shingles etc. It is completely oil based, hence this is an anhydrous (water free) recipe without any preservative. Once you add water to the recipe, then a  preservative is needed to prevent contamination/growth from any microbes. 

Let us take a look into the properties of some of the wonderful ingredients that are used to make this body butter. 

Lavender essential oil is derived from the lavender plant. It has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is therefore great to treat wounds and various skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. 

Neem oil is derived from the seeds of the tropical neem tree. It is extremely beneficial to the skin. It contains fatty acids, antioxidants, calcium, etc. It is great for treating wounds, eczema, dry skin, reducing scars, and stimulating collagen production. 

I have recently decided to make this body butter for my whole family, after doing my research on the best and safest ingredients to include in the recipe. My own personal testimony is that it is great especially if you have children that need some peace from itching after insect bites. Talk about soothing, moisturising, natural repellent, body butter- all in one!

Ingredients:

• ½ cup Organic Shea Butter
• ½ cup Organic Coconut oil
• 4 tsp Neem Oil
• 4 tsp arrowroot powder- optional ( helps to reduce the oily feel of the butter)
• 10-15 drops Lavender Essential Oil 

Directions:

• Combine the shea butter and coconut oil in a double broiler/ in a bowl and then place that bowl in a pot of water over medium heat.
• Occasionally stir the mixture until all of the ingredients are melted together.
• Once combined carefully remove the mixture and  pour  into a bowl
• You can set the bowl aside and let it cool, or you can place the bowl in the freezer for about 10  minutes. Doing this  lessens your cooling time and also reduces the time you will need to whip the mixture to create that fluffy consistency.
• Allow it to stay in the freezer until it has a semi-solid film on the top. Use a mixer to whip for about 10-15  minutes until it is fluffy and at your desired consistency.
• Add arrowroot powder and whip a little more
• Add the neem oil and essential oil to combine them in the mixture. 
• Place your body butter into storage containers of your choosing.

Please keep in mind that in order to make a 2% dilution (recommended dilution), 12 drops of essential oil to 30 mls of oil is used. If the butter is being used on children or the elderly this dilution is halved. A patch tests should be done to observe for allergies before using any new oils on your skin. Essential oils should not be used on infants under 3 months.

Also to note, the body butter will soften when exposed to very warm temperature, it best to keep in a cool area.