Formulating Non-Greasy Whipped Body Butter with Shea and Cocoa Butter
Question
I would like to create a Whipped Body Butter using Shea Butter (Ultra Soft) as the primary base because I love its natural scent, but I find using it pure to be too sticky on the skin.
My requirements for the formulation are as follows:
- Texture: I want a texture that is fluffy like whipped cream, easy to spread, and absorbs well without leaving a heavy or sticky residue. However, I would still like a slight "glow" similar to the finish of a Body Oil.
- Scent: I am looking for a warm, gourmand scent similar to Warm Vanilla Sugar from Bath & Body Works. I am considering adding
Cocoa Butterto see if its natural aroma will complement a Vanilla fragrance oil to achieve this. - Benefits: The product should focus on skin nourishment, keeping the skin smooth, hydrated, and healthy-looking.
- Skin Type: It must be suitable for sensitive skin.
Please provide a recommended formula and the specific process required to achieve the desired whipped consistency.
Answer
To create a Whipped Body Butter that is fluffy, easy to spread, and non-greasy while maintaining a healthy glow, you can follow this anhydrous (water-less) formula. This method uses Shea Butter (Ultra Soft) as the base and incorporates esters to reduce stickiness.
Recommended Formula
- Shea Butter (Ultra Soft): 60% (Main base for nourishment)
- Cocoa Butter: 10% (Adds firmness and a natural chocolatey-butter scent)
- LipidSoft™ Lite (Isononyl Isononanoate): 25% (A very light ester that helps the butter absorb quickly and reduces stickiness)
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane (4.5 microns): 3% (A powder that provides a velvety, soft-focus finish, reducing the greasy feel on the skin)
- Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate): 1% (Antioxidant to prevent the butters from going rancid)
- Vanilla Essential Oil or Fragrance: 1% (For the Warm Vanilla scent)
Why these ingredients?
- Shea Butter (Ultra Soft): You already love this for its texture and scent. It provides deep moisture.
- Cocoa Butter: Adding this will definitely help the scent! It has a natural "white chocolate" aroma that blends beautifully with Vanilla and Shea to create a warm, gourmand scent similar to "Warm Vanilla Sugar." It also helps the whipped texture stay stable.
- LipidSoft™ Lite: This is the secret to making it feel less "heavy." It gives the product a "Body Oil" glide but allows it to sink into the skin much faster than pure butter.
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane: This helps "matte" the surface slightly so you don't feel sticky, but the skin still looks glowing and healthy.
How to achieve the "Whipped" texture:
- Melt: Gently melt the Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter (Ultra Soft) together using a double boiler (low heat).
- Mix: Once melted, stir in the LipidSoft™ Lite.
- Cool: Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 15-30 minutes. You want it to start setting—it should look opaque and semi-solid (like soft margarine), but not completely hard.
- Add Actives: Add the Vitamin E, Vanilla scent, and Polymethylsilsesquioxane powder.
- Whip: Use a hand mixer (egg beater) to whip the mixture on high speed for several minutes until it becomes white, fluffy, and doubles in volume, resembling whipped cream.
- Store: Transfer to a jar. Since this formula contains no water, it is very stable and great for sensitive skin.
Scent Tips:
Using a Vanilla Essential Oil or a high-quality Vanilla Fragrance Oil will work perfectly. When combined with the natural nutty scent of Shea and the chocolatey scent of Cocoa Butter, you will get a very rich, "edible" warm vanilla aroma that is very soothing for bedtime.
Related Products Mentioned
Vitamin E (Tocopheryl Acetate)
Shea Butter (Ultra Soft)
LipidSoft™ Lite (Isononyl Isononanoate)
