When you’re dealing with dry, cracked skin, you want a moisturizer with real staying power—something nourishing, natural, and effective. This simple DIY body butter is my go-to for extreme dryness: it’s made from only three ingredients and delivers deep hydration without synthetic additives.
You can make it in your own kitchen using just shea butter, coconut oil, and a liquid oil of your choice.
How It Works
This body butter combines a solid butter (shea) with a semi-solid oil (coconut) and a liquid oil (such as sweet almond, jojoba, avocado, apricot kernel, or olive). Shea provides rich, long-lasting emollience; coconut oil adds softness and a silky texture; the liquid oil thins the mixture just enough to make it spreadable and absorbable. I prefer sweet almond oil for its light, nourishing feel, but use whatever you like.
The method is simple: gently melt the shea and coconut in a double boiler, allow the mixture to cool and re-solidify, then whip it while slowly incorporating the liquid oil. The result is a light, whipped butter that absorbs better than raw, unwhipped butters and feels luxurious on the skin.
DIY Body Butter Recipe for Dry Skin
Here’s the exact recipe I use for an effective, natural moisturizer:
- 1/2 cup shea butter (unrefined if you prefer a natural scent)
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons sweet almond oil (or your preferred liquid oil)
Directions
1. Prepare a double boiler by filling the bottom pot about three-quarters full with water. Heat to medium-high until the water simmers.
2. Place the shea butter and coconut oil in the top of the double boiler. Reduce heat to medium-low so the oils melt gently without boiling. Stir occasionally until fully melted and smooth.
3. Pour the melted mixture into a clean bowl and set it somewhere cool to solidify. At room temperature this can take several hours; you can speed the process in the refrigerator but check periodically so it doesn’t become rock-hard.
4. Once mostly solidified, use a handheld mixer or stand mixer with whisks to whip the solids for about 15 seconds until the texture resembles sour cream.
5. With the mixer running, slowly add the 2 tablespoons of liquid oil and continue whipping for another 15–30 seconds until light and fluffy. Scrape the sides as needed and whip until you reach a smooth, whipped consistency.
6. Transfer the finished body butter into a clean jar or container. Because of its thick texture, a jar is more practical than a pump bottle.
Storage
Store your body butter in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. A sealed glass jar or similar container works well. If it’s exposed to high heat and melts, simply cool it back to solid and re-whip to restore the whipped texture.
How to Apply
Because this body butter contains only fats and oils, a little goes a long way. Take a dime-size amount, rub it between your palms to gently warm and melt the butter, then spread a thin layer over the skin. Applying too much can leave a sticky residue and prevent proper absorption. For hands, elbows, knees, and very dry patches, a slightly larger amount can be used, but still keep the layer thin.
Care Tips
Keep in mind the product will soften or melt in high heat. If it liquefies, place it in a cool spot to re-solidify and re-whip if necessary. This restores the light, airy texture and ensures the best application experience.
Enjoy your nourishing homemade body butter, and feel free to experiment with different liquid oils or a few drops of skin-safe essential oils if you want a subtle scent. If you have questions about variations or storage, ask away!