You are going to love this easy to make organic and all natural massage bar! It can also be used as a body moisturizer. Shea Butter is naturally rich in Vitamins A, E which help soothe, hydrate, and balance the skin. It makes a great gift!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon organic refined* Shea butter
1 tablespoon of organic cocoa butter
1 tablespoon of organic Apricot kernel oil (or your favorite carrier oil)
1 tablespoon of Natural beeswax
20 drops tangerine or sweet orange essential oil
*You can use raw Shea butter which contains more vitamins and minerals than the refined Shea butter but I am not a big fan of the nutty smell. Organic Refined Shea butter is my personal favorite. I recommend avoiding any other lower grade than refined (below Grade B) as it will affect the level of vitamin content and is extracted by solvent such as hexane.
Directions:
Melt butter, oil and beeswax in a double boiler on low heat. Once melted add the essential oils and pour right away in your favorite soap mold. Put in the freezer for 2 hours. Unmold and it’s ready to use!
Word of wisdom: Like any citrus essential oil, tangerine and sweet orange can be phototoxic, avoid using before going under the sun!
Hi Eve! First let me say that I love your blog! I also wanted your input on Organic Refined Shea. I use it and LOVE it – but when doing searches on it’s properties compared to unrefined, I don’t find much CREDIBLE information. All I really find are sites that sell unrefined that bash all refined , calling it all bad – and spewing the fact that all refined is processed using Hexane, or a similar toxic chemical. Even the Shea Butter Institute site looks bogus to me – and not credible (I find it odd and peculiar that a seemingly scientific entity would have “Conventions & Expos” that discuss marketing, etc. No real names or credentials are given at this site either.
In any event, I mostly use Organic Refined Shea and love it, but I’d really like to be able to cite true facts about its beneficial properties as compared to unrefined.
Thanks for a great cite!