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How to make the best homemade body butter with simple, natural ingredients. This DIY whipped body butter feels luxurious and delivers maximum moisture to the skin. Let me show you how to make body butter that’s non-greasy and works for any skin type.

Spooning whipped body butter into a jar
Making your own body butter is easy, you just need 2 main ingredients!

Body butters are no stranger to Live Simply. Together, we’ve made a couple of body butters before, although I didn’t call them “butters.”

First, we made this ultra-moisturizing shea butter lotion. Then we made a simple shea butter cream facial moisturizer. And, today, we’re making a silky smooth body butter for the whole body: face, arms, legs, feet…wherever you need moisture.

  • Ultra-Moisturizing: The whipped butter feels luxurious and soaks into the skin, delivering incredible moisture.
  • Easy to Make: Just melt the ingredients, chill in the fridge, then use a fork or hand-mixer to whip. That’s it! Easy and simple. I’ll guide you through each step via photos and a video.
  • Inexpensive: Body butter can cost a fortune if you buy it at the store, particularly from a natural company. Making your own body products, like body butter, is usually the cheaper route. There is an extra cost in buying the ingredients, but once you have them on hand, you can make multiple jars of your own whipped body butter (and other products).
  • Non-Toxic and Natural: Made with simple, natural ingredients. No synthetic fragrances, preservatives, or other unwanted ingredients. Just nourishing ingredients that are good for your skin.

What Readers Say

“I have never made any kind of beauty product before and this recipe made me feel like a CHAMP. Super easy to make with great results. I used mango butter, sweet almond oil as a carrier, arrowroot and lavender oil and it absorbs nicely into my skin after about 10 minutes. .”

C. Brewer

What is Body Butter?

Body butter is a rich, moisturizing skincare product that’s generally made with skincare butters, like shea butter and cocoa butter. Body butter can be used as an alternative to lotion, since its primary job is to moisturize the skin. It may be used on the entire body, from the face to the feet.

Lotion vs. Body Butter: What’s the Difference?

  • Lotion is made with water and oil (and possibly butters) so it’s light, airy, and silky smooth. Homemade lotion needs to be used within a short time or a preservative should be used (due to the water and bacterial growth). It also requires an emulsifier to properly blend the oil and water.
  • Body butter is made exclusively with butter(s) and oil(s), so it’s very thick and dense. Homemade body butter will last for up to 6 months without a preservative.

Both a body butter and lotion are used in the same way: to moisturize the skin. Body butter does deliver more moisture, since it’s not cut with water. So it’s ideal for all skin types, particularly dry skin or during the winter months.

Hands holding a glass jar with white, homemade whipped body body butter inside.
This natural product nourishes the skin with its ultra-moisturizing properties.

Ingredients Needed to Make Whipped Body Butter

DIY body butter is easy to customize to your liking. You’ll need just 2 natural ingredients. From there, you’re welcome to add 2 additional ingredients, if desired, to make a non-greasy product or add a custom scent.

  • 1/2 cup butter: shea butter, mango butter, and/or cocoa butter (I always use at least 1/4 cup shea butter)
  • 1/4 cup carrier oil: sweet almond, jojoba, grapeseed, coconut, or even olive oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot flour starch (optional)
  • 36 drops favorite essential oils (optional)

The ingredients may be found online, some craft stores, or health food stores. I’ve included Amazon links in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Equipment Needed

  • small saucepan
  • glass or metal bowl (large enough to fit on top of the saucepan)
  • fork or hand-mixer
  • fridge
  • glass storage jar

Learn More About Each Ingredient

Shea butter bottles lined up in a row.
Butter makes up the base of any good body butter recipe.

Butter

Homemade body butter starts with a moisturizing skincare butter. Shea butter is the perfect base butter, since it’s soft and easy to work with and easy melts into your skin. My recipe calls for at least a 1/4 cup of shea butter.

From there, it’s up to you, the maker, to customize the body butter. You’ll need a total of 1/2 cup butter, so you can either double the shea (for a total of 1/2 cup shea butter), or mix the shea with a different butter: 1/4 cup of cocoa butter or 1/4 cup of mango butter.

Best Butters
  • Shea Butter: Shea butter comes from the “nut” (or pit) of the fruit found on the Karite Tree. It has a strong scent when it’s purchased in an unrefined state. I use unrefined shea butter in recipes (including body butter), but if you don’t care for the strong (natural) fragrance, use refined shea butter instead. Since shea butter is naturally soft and makes a wonderfully soft whipped body butter. It may be used on its own with a carrier oil, or combined with another butter like cocoa butter or mango butter. See all the ways you can use shea butter to make your own body products.
  • Cocoa Butter: Cocoa butter comes from cocoa beans, so it has a strong scent and smells like chocolate. Cocoa butter is hard, at room temperature, and it melts easily. Cocoa butter is naturally a very hard butter, so if you choose to use it, you need to mix it with shea butter or mango butter to make a softer body butter. See other ways to use cocoa butter to make your own body products.
  • Mango Butter: Mango butter comes from the seed of mango fruit. It’s naturally soft, similar to shea butter, and can have a gritty texture before it’s melted down. It yields a soft, airy body butter when mixed with shea butter. If you don’t want to use shea butter (due to allergies) in my recipe, then mango butter is the best replacement.
Carrier oil bottles lined up in a row.
Carrier oil choices. The carrier oil is mixed with a butter(s) to make a soft body butter that melts into the skin.

Carrier Oil

A liquid oil is the second main ingredient used to make body butter. The oils used in skincare recipes are typically referred to as carrier oils, although I usually call them nourishing oils. The oil used is completely up to you.

See all the ways to use carrier oils to make your own body products.

Best Carrier Oils
  • Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil are best for making a non-greasy body butter that is easily absorbed by the skin. Great for all skin types.
  • Virgin coconut oil may be used, but it can be very greasy and clog pores. Avoid if you have body acne or sensitive skin.
  • Olive oil is another option; however, olive oil can be extremely heavy and feel greasy. Just like with coconut oil, this is not an option for all skin types and you may not love the results.

(Optional) Arrowroot Powder

Whipped body butter recipes can be very greasy!

The good news is that there’s a simple solution for this issue: add arrowroot flour/starch. Arrowroot is a natural starch (used in cooking to thicken soups, sauces, and stir-fry) that will absorb the greasy feel of the butters and oils, without drying out your skin.

(Optional) Essential Oils of Your Choice

An essential oil may be added for scent and additional skincare benefits. Use just one essential oil, or mix a few different essential oils to create different scents, or an essential oil blend (a pre-blended bottle of different essential oils). At the moment, my personal favorite essential oils for body butter are: lavender, geranium, and frankincense (carteri).

I use a 1% dilution in my body butter recipe. Before using any essential oil, read the back of the bottle for specific dilution recommendations.

How to Make: Step by Step Instructions & Video

Making a double boiler by placing a glass bowl on top of a saucepan.
Fill a saucepan a 1/4 the way with water, then add a glass bowl on top. This creates a DIY double boiler.
Adding shea butter to the glass bowl on top of a saucepan (double boiler).
Add the butters of choice, then melt over medium heat on the stove-top.

Step 1: Melt the butter in a double boiler.

Partially fill a saucepan with water (about 1/4 the way full). Then place a glass (or metal) bowl on top of the saucepan.

Place the butter(s) in the glass bowl. Turn the stove-top to medium heat, placing the double boiler on top of the heat. Allow the butter(s) to fully melt (about 3-5 minutes).

Sweet almond, jojoba, and grapeseed oils in bowls to show the different colors of each oil.
Grapeseed, jojoba, and sweet almond are the best carrier oils to use for DIY body butter.
Spooning arrowroot flour into a small bowl with carrier oil.
To make a non-greasy body butter, add 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot starch to the carrier oil of choice. Mix to combine.

Step 2: Mix arrowroot powder with carrier oil (optional).

If you’re planning to use arrowroot flour, in a small bowl, whisk the flour into the carrier oil. Set the mixture aside. If you’re not using arrowroot flour, skip this step. 

Pouring the carrier oil mixed arrowroot starch into the melted butter.

Step 3: Combine the melted butter and carrier oil.

Carefully remove the bowl (with the melted butter inside) from the double boiler set up. Add the oil (with the arrowroot flour, if using) to the melted butters, and use a spoon to stir and combine the ingredients. 

Step 4: Chill the mixture in the fridge.

At this point, the oil mixture should be cooler (along with the glass bowl). If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then place the mixture in the fridge and allow it to solidify (about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on location in the fridge and fridge temperature). 

Holding essential oil bottles in hands.
Choose your favorite essential oil(s).
Adding essential oil to the chilled body butter mixture in a glass bowl.
Then add 36 drops total. This is completely optional.

Step 5: Add Essential Oils (optional).

Once the mixture is opaque and a bit firm (not solid as a rock), remove the bowl from the fridge. Add the essential oil of choice, if desired. 

It’s important that the essential oils are added when the mixture is cool, as heat will cause the fragile essential oils to evaporate.

Using a fork to whip the body butter to make cream.
Use a fork…
Using a hand-mixer and beaters to whip the body butter mixture.
or a hand-mixer to whip the chilled ingredients.

Step 6: Whip the Body Butter

If you used cocoa butter, whisk the mixture with a fork until it appears “whipped.”

If you used shea and/or mango butters, you can use the same technique with a fork, or use a hand mixer to “whip” the body butter. Just be careful not to over-whip the mixture.

Spooning whipped body butter into a jar
Spoon the mixture into a jar for storage. Store up to 6 months.

Step 7: Spoon into a Storage Jar

Scoop the mixture into a jar and place the lid on the jar. Now it’s ready to use!

Storage

Store at room temperature (out of direct sunlight) in a sealed jar for up to 6 months.

How to Use This Product In Your Skincare Routine

Use this product anytime your skin needs moisturizing. Scoop a small amount from the jar, then massage onto the skin. As you massage, the butter will melt into your skin. You only need a small amount at a time.

I love to use this product after bathing when my skin is still moist. I apply a small amount of product to my fingertips, then massage on my skin: arms, legs, feet, neck, chest.

This product may also be used on your face as a homemade shea butter moisturizer. Just avoid using coconut oil or olive oil in your formula if you plan to use it on your face. Or check out my homemade shea butter facial cream recipe.

Two glass jars of body butter on a marble board.
Use this beautiful butter on your whole body: arms, legs, feet, face, neck, and/or chest.
Spooning whipped body butter into a jar
4.81 from 52 votes

How to Make Homemade Body Butter (Non-Greasy)

This whipped body butter feels luxurious and delivers maximum moisture to the skin. Here's how to make body butter that's non-greasy and works for any skin type.
Kristin Marr
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time1 hr
Cook Time10 mins
Total Time1 hr 10 mins
Course DIY
Cuisine Body
Servings 6 ounce jar
Cost: $4-6 per jar (depending on butter and oil used)

Equipment

  • 1 small-medium saucepan to create a double boiler and melt the butter(s)
  • 1 medium glass or metal bowl big enough to rest on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler and melt the butter(s)
  • 1 small bowl if using arrowroot starch to mix with the carrier oil
  • 1 fork or hand-mixer to whip the body butter
  • 1 glass storage jar to store the final product

Ingredients

Instructions

  • First, make a double boiler: Partially fill a saucepan with water (about 1/4 the way full). Then place a glass (or metal) bowl on top of the saucepan. Place the butter(s) in the glass bowl. Turn the stove-top to medium heat, placing the double boiler on top of the heat. Allow the butter(s) to fully melt (about 3-5 minutes).
    Adding shea butter to the glass bowl on top of a saucepan (double boiler).
  • If you're planning to use arrowroot starch/flour, in a small bowl, whisk the starch into the carrier oil of choice. Set the mixture aside. If you're not using arrowroot flour, skip this step. 
    Spooning arrowroot flour into a small bowl with carrier oil.
  • Carefully remove the glass bowl (and melted butters) from the heat source. Add the oil (with the arrowroot flour mixed in, if using), and stir to combine the ingredients. 
    Pouring the carrier oil mixed arrowroot starch into the melted butter.
  • At this point, the mixture should be cooler (along with the bowl). If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then place the bowl in the fridge and allow the mixture to solidify (about 30-60 minutes, depending on location in the fridge and fridge temperature). 
  • Once the mixture is opaque and a bit firm (not solid as a rock), remove the bowl from the fridge. Add the essential oil of choice, if desired. 
    Adding essential oil to the chilled body butter mixture in a glass bowl.
  • If you used cocoa butter, whisk the mixture with a fork until it appears "whipped." If you used shea and/or mango butters, you can use the same technique with a fork, or use a hand-mixer to "whip" the mixture. Don't over-whip!
    Using a hand-mixer and beaters to whip the body butter mixture.
  • Spoon the whipped body butter into a glass storage jar with a lid. Place the lid on the jar. It's now ready to use. Store at room temperature (out of sunlight) for up to 6 months.
    Spooning whipped body butter into a jar

How to Use:

  • Use this product anytime your skin needs moisturizing. Scoop a small amount from the jar, then massage onto the skin. As you massage, the butter will melt into your skin. You only need a small amount at a time.
  • I love to use this product after bathing when my skin is still moist. I apply a small amount of product to my fingertips, then massage on my skin: arms, legs, feet, neck, chest.

Video

Notes

Which Butter Should You Use? Mango butter will yield a softer body butter, when mixed with the shea butter. Cocoa butter will yield a thicker, denser body butter that smells like chocolate, when mixed with the shea butter. Or use 100% shea butter, without mixing in other butters. Unrefined shea butter can have a strong scent, so refined shea butter may be better to use if you’re sensitive to scents.
Which carrier oil should you use? I like sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil as they work for all skin types and are light and easily absorb into the skin. Coconut oil and olive oil are also options, but they can be very heavy and clog pores.
Why use arrowroot starch? The arrowroot cuts through the greasy feel that’s often associated with body butter. It’s optional.
How much essential oil should you add? I use a 1% dilution in my recipe. Before using any essential oil, read the back of the bottle for specific dilution recommendations. This is also optional.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

SKINCARE

Free Natural Skincare Starter Guide

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Kristin is the creator and editor-in-chief of Live Simply. Kristin is married to her high school sweetheart, Dustin, and is the mom to two kids and two free-roam (litterbox-trained) bunnies, Leo and Estela. Kristin started Live Simply in 2013 to share her passion for real food and natural living.

171 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was my first time making body butter.
    I used 100% unrefined Shea butter, with a grapeseed carrier mixed with arrowroot. Before I added the EO’s, I tried it. I thought it would be too greasy, but my skin absorbed it beautifully, and my skin is glowing.
    However, unrefined Shea butter has an aroma of earthy play-doh that isn’t easy to overcome.
    According to manufacture instructions, my EO’s can be as high as 5%. So I added another 2% to overcome that play-doh aroma, which I achieved. I will add the additional 2% EO’s and see if it gives me the aroma I like. If not, I mix Shea butter with Cocoa butter next time.
    I would recommend using a oldschool handmixer rather than a immersion blender to whip it up.
    Thanks for this!

    Reply

    1. Hey Nancy, I haven’t played around with avocado butter before. As long it’s a shelf stable butter, and feels and acts similar to mango or shea butter, then yes, it should work.

      Reply

  4. 5 stars
    I tried the 6 oz recipe and love it!! I want to make a larger size. When I change the ounces, the grams in the recipe stays the same as 6 oz. The cup amount changes, but not the grams. What am I missing?

    Reply

    1. Hey Shandra, I apologize for the delayed response, I’ve been out of the country without internet the past few weeks. I think there is an issue with our recipe card and not adjusting accordingly. I’ll look into that! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. You can double of triple the amounts as needed.

      Reply

  5. Can kids above the age of 8 years use this body butter??… would beeswax prevent it from melting in extreme hot temperatures, as the temperature in summer here goes upto 38 degrees Celsius,??.. if I have to add beeswax can you let me know the amount please..thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hey Rachana, This body butter should hold up just find in the summer. If you want to add beeswax, it will make it very hard. I would use just a couple of teaspoons. It is safe to use on kids, just skip the essential oil or use a kid-safe essential oil.

      Reply

  6. Just wondering if I can substitute cornstarch for the arrowroot? Don’t know if this was asked already, but there are so many comments, which I love to read, but didn’t want to scroll through all. Great recipe. I am making today!

    Reply

  8. Has anyone done the math to find out the cost analysis of making the body butter? Like how much it costs per ounce or container of 6 ounces?

    Reply

    1. Hey Stephanie, I haven’t done a specific breakdown. It will depend on the brands you use for the shea butter, etc. I do know it’s much cheaper than any of the truly natural body butters in the store which can cost about $12.99 upward. There is also the time factor, too. So it really comes down to if you enjoy making it and is it worth the extra time to save a few dollars, IMO. Maybe someone else can chime in with how much it’s costing them.

      Reply

  10. Hi. I have been making besrd oils and facial serums for a while. I now expanded to bodybutters. Your advice and suggestions came in really handy. I mostly use shea butter as a base. But one issue is I cannot seem to get my mixture as fluffy and creamy like your pictures. Am I mixing too long or perhaps the wrong speed. I have one of those hand held mixers. Could you pleasy advise? Many thanks

    Reply

    1. Hey, I’ve found over mixing can cause that issue or mixing it too fast. Keep in mind, most body butters will harden up, so they won’t stay “whipped” like whipped topping.

      Reply

  11. Dear Kerstin. I have also read similar recipes and made a few myself. I also saw one where the use the shea butter without melting it. Only using a hand blender mixing the shea butter and carrier oils with tapioca powder snd then whisking in the essential oils. What are your thoughts about this method? Also, what would your recommended ratio of shea butter to carrier oil be? 80% shea to 20% oil? Thanks for all the tips.

    Reply

    1. You can try that—not melting the butter. Not sure how it will turn out. You can play around with the ratio that works best for you. The amounts provided in the recipe are what I like best.

      LS Team

      Reply

  12. hey. I have started prepping to make this recipe, only question I have is what volume is produced from the whipped product?
    I have a 230 ml container will that do?

    Reply

  13. 5 stars
    Hey again! Quick question since this is u.s measurement can I use the same measurements but uk version instead of converting them so for example it is 42g instead of finding out how many grams that would be in uk can I just use 42g in uk measurement or would that effect the batch sorry kinda over explained !

    Reply

  15. Hi there would you kindly send me your lip balm recipe please, i have made this many times and given it to many of my friends who keep asking for more, i have misplaced the lip balm recipe and cannot find it anywhere.
    Kind Regards Terry

    Reply

  16. 5 stars
    When it says 42g of plant carrier oil does it mean since your using two oils 42g each or alltogether so 14g each if your using three oils

    Reply

  18. Hi all,
    please need an advice, while I was making the body butter, after melting shea butter and coconut oil at the bottom of the bowl I saw lots of black dirts floating about, how can I filter the dirt out, the product cannot be used, before I started to make the product I washed everything throughly and let it dry. I believe the dirts is in the product itself like shea butter or coconut oil.
    Please advise many thanks …

    Reply

    1. Hi there,
      I’m not sure what the black dirt would be. I would contact the brand for the oil or butter and ask them what they think.

      LS Team

      Reply

  19. How many grams is 1/2 cup shea butter please? We don’t use cup measurements here in the UK. Thank you! Looking forward to trying this as my first homemade body butter!

    Reply

  20. I’m a newbie so I’m a little confused about how much essential oil to add. The recipe says 36 drops of essential oil but there is a note that mentions you do a 1% dilution. I’m not understanding what you mean by that. I want to make sure I do this correctly so it is safe to use on my skin. Is it 36 drops straight from the essential oil bottle or are you diluting it with something? Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like I’m stupid but I have never made my own bath and body products and the essential oil part is intimidating I’m scared to add the essential oils. I’m concerned that I may add too much essential oil and cause a skin irritation. Am I making this harder than it actually is??? (LOL) Your advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hey Leigh, Great question! Dilution can be tricky to figure out at first. This is drops from the EO bottle into the mixture. This is based on how much carrier oil you’re using (what the essential oil is being diluted with/in) and also how much of an essential oil is considered safe to use (some essential oils can be used at a higher or lower dilution percentage). The 36 drops is based on this recipe, so I just add a note to let people know how much this is (1% dilution rate). This post explains more about dilution: https://blog.planttherapy.com/blog/2018/09/11/how-to-dilute-essential-oils-a-comprehensive-guide/

      Reply

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