The butters I use are naturally sourced, hard vegetable fat obtained from kernels (nuts) of plants that are usually solid at room temperature. Some occur naturally and can be obtained straight from the plant, such as cocoa, mango, and Shea. Others are obtained by first cold processing the fruit then refining them, these include coffee, hemp and macadamia. The resulting oil leaves behind natural waxes and fatty fractions that contain vitamins and moisturising properties and when blended with oil they produce a butter.
Some of the butters can be used alone and will melt on contact with the skin – Shea butter is an example of this and I often use it in this form on my youngest son’s legs when his eczema is playing up but some butters that are harder such as cocoa have to be melted and blended before they can be used. I use them in bath melts, balms and bath bombs.
Under EU regulations all producers of handmade bath and body products have to hold the correct documentation (I won’t bore you with all the details but it is worth checking with any company you buy from) and the ingredients have to be written on the product using their Latin names. Very confusing and how can you tell which butters are being used?
Here’s a short list for you to use to check what butter is in your body butter;
Aloe Barbadensis – Aloe butter which is extracted from aloe vera and combined with coconut oil (cocos nucifera), this butter is very soft so can be applied directly to the skin where it will melt on contact. The butter is very good for treating dehydrated or sunburnt skin, eczema and psoriasis.
Persea Gratissima – Avocado butter is a rich soft butter is obtained from crushing the flesh of an avocado fruit; it is rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, D and E. It provides a wonderfully nourishing and hydrating treatment with natural sunscreen properties. It melts very easily and it beneficial for dry skin and also for damaged hair.
Theobroma Cacao – one of the most common and versatile butters, cocoa butter is the fatty component of chocolate, need I say any more? It is a fairly hard butter and is used in many cosmetic products. It is known to provide a protective barrier to retain moisture in your skin; it is also a source of natural antioxidants which help ease dry skin.
Coffea Arabica – a light brown butter with a delicious roasted coffee aroma it is made from hydrogenated coffee bean oil. It offers a natural protection from the sun and is excellent at moisture retention. It makes a fabulous lip balm and body butter.
Macadamia Ternifolia – this butter is made by combining natural waxes and hydrogenated oils from the macadamia nut. It is a highly absorbent, moisturizing and nourishing butter providing excellent skin protection.
Mangifera indica – obtained from the fruit kernels of the mango tree. The butter is used for many applications including treating dry, sunburnt skin, providing protection from the sun and treating rough skin, scars, wrinkles, eczema and dermatitis.
Olea europea – obtained from cold pressed olives with all the legendary properties of olive oil. It has a low melting point and can be used on it’s own, massaged directly into the skin, or added to balms, body butters, bath bombs and soaps.
Butyrospernum parkii – this naturally rich and creamy butter is obtained from the fruit of the African karate tree. Shea butter is highly emollient, rich in nutrients and has great anti aging and moisturising properties. It is used to diminish the appearance of skin scars including scars, stretch marks, burns, rashes and eczema.
Ooh what lovely natural skin delights there are. I hope after reading this you will pick up the current skin cream that you are using and see if any of these gorgeous ingredients are in it!
Here’s to natural happy skin!
Mrs Bath
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