DIY Shea Butter Skin Cream by SwissMixIt

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DIY Shea Butter Skin Cream

DIY Shea Butter Skin Cream Shea Butter is a nutrient rich cosmetic butter packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. Its biochemical properties indicate some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Shea butter is extracted from the kernels of the sheu tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). Shea butter is composed of triglycerides with oleic, stearic, linoleic, and palmitic fatty acids, as well as unsaponifiable compounds. Shea butter is frequently used in the cosmetic industry due to its high percentage of the unsaponifiable fraction (e.g., triterpenes, tocopherol, phenols, and sterols), which possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In the study of lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage cells, shea butter exhibited anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines via the NF-kB pathway. Additional research has shown that the cream containing shea butter extract had the same efficacy as ceramide-precursor product. Note: Add Zinc powder for a rich white creamy texture. The less water makes the solution a bit more oily, but more rich. Shea Butter Benefits (research) Nutritional composition of shea products and chemical properties of shea butter: a review Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils Anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects of triterpene cinnamates and acetates from shea fat

Assemble Ingredients Assemble all the ingredients. The first stage of the process is to melt the bees wax in the Rice Bran oil, which is done with a double boiler, or faster in a microwave. Never put any metal (including the magnetic stir bar) in the microwave. Never put alcohol based extracts in the microwave, since alcohol has a low boiling point and will foam and boil over. Never use an open flame to heat oil or wax. All ingredients can be purchased on Amazon. If you don't have Rice Bran Oil (good source of Vitamin E), you can use more expensive Olive Oil or other vegetable oils. Cold press oils are the best, which preserve the most nutrients. 50 grams Heated Distilled Water (2 oz) 30 grams Shea Butter (add with heating oil and bees wax) 28 grams Rice Bran Oil (1 oz) 5 ml Organic Bees Wax (1/2-1 teaspoon) 1 Small Mason Jar 1 Magnetic Mixer 1 Magnetic Stir Bar Shea Butter Benefits (research) Rice Bran Oil Health Benefits Buy Ingredients Shea Butter (buy link on Amazon)

Measure Oil and Bees Wax In the Mason jar or container, add measure and add the oil, then the bees wax. The bees wax is generally sold in small pellet form. Pro Tip: Less beeswax will make formula more like a liquid, while more wax will result in a creamier, then solid formula. If you add too much wax, you will end up with a salve, instead of a cream, when it cools. Kevala Rice Bran Oil, 1 Gallon, Premium Natural, Expeller Pressed (buy on Amazon) Organic Bees Wax (buy on Amazon) Shea Butter (buy link on Amazon)

Heat Mixture Until Melted Heat up the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds. If you have a digital thermometer (I use a laser non contact one), the temperature will be around 130F after first 30 seconds. If the wax is not melted, heat another 30 seconds. After the second dose of heat, the solution will be around 190-223F. You do not want the temperature above this, since the wax melts at a lower temp. Be careful since the glass jar will heat up quickly (very hot to the touch). When the wax is melted, remove from microwave. Microwave the Rice Bran oil, with the Organic Bees Wax, and the Shea Butter.

Low Speed Mix Put the jar and solution of heated oil and wax on the magnetic mixer. Carefully place the magnetic stir bar into the jar (try not to splash since the oil is hot). Turn on the mixer on low and as the solution spins up, you will see a small vortex appear. Make sure the solution is mixed and all the bees wax pellets are melted.

Add Heated Water Slowly add the heated distilled water. It doesn't matter what temperature it is at, as long is it's not cold (which will immediately solidify the wax instead of mixing into a creamy solution). I like add heated water, since it makes the formulation more uniform, and allows even mixing and cool down. Pro Tip: Increase the mixer speed after adding water.

Mix Turn up the mixer speed as the water is mixed with the solution. As the solution cools, the wax will start to solidify, and the entire solution will become less liquid, and the vortex will slowly disappear. You want to see a vortex, or swirl, in the solution (this means it's mixing well). Turn up the mixer speed to maintain a good vortex. This stage will take around 20 minutes.

Continue Mixing Continue to increase the mixer speed to maintain a vortex. Once again as the solution cools, it solidifies. The appearance will turn into a lighter color. This stage will take another 10-15 minutes. If you have a thermometer, the temperature will go down from 140-154 F to around 100F within 30-40 minutes. As the solution becomes more creamy, the mixer speed needs to be increased to maintain a good vortex. The vortex is the spin, or mixing component, which is necessary for consistent formula and cream.

Remove Stir Bar After about 30-40 minutes, the vortex is almost gone, and the temperature is around 100F. Remove the stir bar, and place a lid on the solution. Let cool. Pro Tip: You can use the cream at any time, but as it cools, it gets creamier.

Cool and Enjoy Let the solution cool. You should have a silky, creamy skin lotion. The temperature at this stage will be around 87F after an hour from the start. The mixture is non-greasy, and amazing on the skin.

Experiment with ingredients You can experiment with different oils, fragrances, and organic flowers. Many nutrients can be absorbed through the skin, which makes skin creams a fun and healthy at-home DIY project. Unless you plan on using a lot of skin cream, mix in a smaller 3 oz jar. Oxidation and heat is the enemy of nutrients and skin creams. If you make a large jar of cream, and it takes more than a month to use it, it's more than likely that many of the nutrients will diminish in quality and quantity. This is why commercial skin products use so many chemicals to preserve the nutrients.