Vanilla Chai Buttercreme GIVEAWAY!!

Lina from the Hair Shebang has graciously offered a sample of her Vanilla Chai Buttercreme for this giveaway. (Thank you!) The buttercreme can used on the face, hair, or body. It consists of rosewater, shea butter, natural oils, ground Madagascar vanilla beans, and a chai scent made with essential oils. Sounds yummy, right? It can be yours if you win!

To partake in the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment below telling me how you keep your hair moisturized this winter. The contest will be closed next Saturday, February 20th at 11:59pm.

Fall & Dry Skin ... Rescue Me, Shea

As if I couldn't find more uses for shea butter beyond my hair and body. Now I use a dab of it on my face along with my regular moisturizer. If you're like me and notice your skin getting drier as the season grows colder, perhaps a bit of shea butter is the answer for you! Other alternatives to eliminate dryness are olive oil, jojoba oil, safflower oil, and coconut oil to name a few. Choose your butter and/or oil wisely though. Coconut oil may be comedogenic for some, while an allergy to nuts could mean bad news with shea butter.

Battle your dry skin before it battles you!


LIST OF COMEDOGENIC OILS
DRY SKIN & HEALTH

Whipped Hair Butter Recipes Galore!

Homemade whipped hair butters. Natural. Easy to make. Inexpensive compared to those sold in natural hair shops. More effective than commercial, chemical-based moisturizers and sealants. Delicious for the hair. Did I mention easy to make? Below are links to recipes I've found online. There are endless others you can find on the web. Put on your apron, grab your utensils, and get to mixing:

Shealoe (popular recipe) - shea butter, aloe vera, etc.: Recipe

Cocoa butter, shea butter, etc.: Recipe

Mango butter, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, coconut oil, aloe, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, grapeseed oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, conditioner, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, olive oil, etc.: Recipe

Low porosity shea/mango mix: Recipe

Shea butter, castor oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, mango butter, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, coconut oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, jojoba oil, etc.: Recipe

Shea butter, sweet almond oil, etc.: Recipe




OTHER READS:
LIST OF BUTTERS & THEIR PROPERTIES

LIST OF VEGETABLE OILS & THEIR PROPERTIES
LIST OF ESSENTIAL OILS & THEIR PROPERTIES

Do-It-Yourself Natural Body Butter

A couple weeks ago, I started my transition to a "more natural" body care routine. Good bye, Suave Cocoa Butter Lotion and Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Hello, natural body butter! Rather than purchase the organic alternative for an expensive price, I mixed my own version for a low cost. The recipe was a simple one derived from my obsession with shea butter and safflower oil. Shea butter is rich in vitamin A and is known for its moisturizing properties. In its unrefined form, it may provide healing benefits as well. Pure safflower oil is rich in fatty acids and vitamin E, which provide hydration and potential healing as well.

Directly below is my recipe for the simple body butter. Shea butter can be purchased from online stores or local markets that sell bulk organic ingredients. Safflower oil can be found in the cooking oil section of some local grocery stores or purchased online as well. In both cases, be sure to buy the real deal. Feel free to experiment with the type and amount of butter and oil you use:



LOO'S SIMPLE BODY BUTTER:
1 part 100% unrefined shea butter
1/4 part pure safflower oil*
*This amount of oil produces a firm body butter. Add more oil for a creamier consistency.

Instructions: Microwave the unrefined shea butter in a heat-safe container until melted. Filter the melted butter through a napkin to remove any impurities. Add safflower oil and stir thoroughly. Cover with a lid and allow to harden overnight in a cool room. (For a creamier consistency, add about 1/2 part oil, allow the melted filtered butter to solidify slightly, and then whip with a hand blender or fork.)


In case you are interested in adding more oils and a touch of fragrance to your body butter, here is a recipe I discovered online:

HOMEMADE WHIPPED BODY BUTTER:
1 and 1/3 Cups of Shea Butter

½ Cup of Olive Oil

1 tsp. Of Vitamin E Oil

½ ounce of fragrance oil

**For instructions, click here.

FOR OTHER BODY BUTTER RECIPES (SHEA, MANGO, COCOA, ETC.):
BLISSFUL BODY BUTTER
MANGO BODY BUTTER
SHEA & MANGO BODY BUTTER
BODY BUTTER RECIPES
LOTION RECIPES

OTHER READS:
SHEA BUTTER BENEFITS
SAFFLOWER OIL STUDY
LIST OF BUTTERS & THEIR PROPERTIES:
LIST OF VEGETABLE OILS & THEIR PROPERTIES:
LIST OF ESSENTIAL OILS & THEIR PROPERTIES