Creamy Smooth Body and Hand Cream

Rita~'s Note:

Chef #248023 inspired me to make this after I made her Recipe #256951. Shea butter is known for its cosmetic properties as a moisturizer and emollient. As well as an anti-inflammatory agent. Shea butter can be effective at treating the following conditions: fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretchmarks, wrinkles and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. Also provides natural UV sun protection but don't rely on it as a sunscreen because it filters out only little amounts of UV rays. Shea butter absorbs rapidly into the skin without leaving a greasy feeling. It can be bought on line.

• Total Time: 12 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 2 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 12.0 ounces

• 6 ounces unrefined shea butter (softened in microwave or double boiler)
• ¼ ounce cocoa butter (softened in microwave or double boiler)
• 6 ounces almond oil
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ¼ fluid ounce essential oil

Directions:

1. Place lots of ice in a large bowl and place a metal bowl on the ice.
2. Mix the ingredients together in the metal bowl.
3. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the oils.
4. Whip with an electric hand mixer (not a stand mixer) and continue to beat.
5. Adding in the essential oils desired.
6. Continue to beat until light, fluffy thick and cool.
7. Place in a glass jar, store out of sunlight and use as needed.

Reviews

[SAHS]

This takes quite a while to thicken up, but looks great when it does! I used jojoba oil instead of almond oil, and orange essential oil (it smells great with the cocoa, but is a bit too sickly-sweet after a while). It was a bit more oily than I'd like, but is great for dry skin. I'm going to try a few more shea recipes, but if I make this one again I'll halve the amount of oil.

[Tigg]

I made this up and WOW am I impressed! Used the right way it is absorbed into the skin and is not greasy at all. I had deeply cracked heals and it made them smooth in two days! I have such dry skin on my legs that they were flaking and splitting - smooth again in two days. The best way to use it is on damp skin because then your skin is like blotting paper and it drags all that goodness down into itself. I put a bit of sandlewood oil in mine and it smells beautiful.

[Chef #815030]

To Chef # 454174, Shea is a very absorbant cream, what you normally use (amounts) for most creams does NOT have to be used with Shea. I am sure if you cut the amount down on how much you put on, you will see its not greasy. I love this recipe and like the fact that I can use different EOs to find make different fragrances.