HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN WHIP IT GOOD

I did not set out with the pure intention of selling a product. There are many things like it that you can buy elsewhere. It’s not a new idea. It’s not my idea. It’s something that people have been using on their skin for hundreds of years.

You can absolutely learn to make this yourself. It’s just about having the time, patience, space, and equipment. You could even do this without electrical appliances if you really wanted to.

With a bounty of time and patience and a desire to make something GOOD that I could share with others, I started making this body butter. Self-care seems like an overused and empty term sometimes (2020 trash fire feelings), but you really need take care of yourself before you can help others. We all need to heal and help each other, now more than ever.

This how-to was originally created as a series of IG stories to make the whole thing less daunting towards people unfamiliar with the process, and for those who are curious but not curious enough to do a deep dive into the world of DIY / natural skincare. I also think you should know exactly what’s going on your body… To make it more accessible, I’m putting it here. It’s full of typos and some extra words because whatever.

Enjoy!

FULL DISCLOSURE: This is not the recipe I use in the formulation I sell now, but it’s pretty close! It’s mostly about technique here anyway.

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STEP 1:

Clean clean clean your workspace and equipment! Homemade means I’m doing this in my actual home. Those of you who know me know I’m already kind of a clean freak, but when it comes to making DIY skincare, even more so.

Just FYI - we don’t cook meat in this kitchen. This body butter is also vegan and gluten free for those concerned.

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TOOLS:

  • Stand of hand mixer with whisk attachment

  • Mixing bowl

  • Pot

  • Spatula

  • Gloves

  • Also extremely helpful to have a powerful grease cutting soap like Dawn around for cleanup! Shea butter is tough to wash off!

INGREDIENTS:

I have put a lot of time and research into deciding where to source my ingredients and weighing factors such as quality, carbon footprint, accessibility, ethics etc. I urge you to do the same.

  • Raw shea butter

  • Argan oil

  • Rose hip seed oil

  • Jojoba oil

STEP 2:

Prepare a double boiler to melt the raw shea butter. This means using heated water to gently melt the shea butter. The water in the pot should not touch the bottom of the the bowl placed on top. Do not let the butter smoke or bubble - you want to be using the minimum required heat for melting.

 
 

STEP 2 CONT…

Bring the water down to a slow simmer and add raw shea butter to the dry bowl. You can break up the shea butter beforehand into smaller pieces to speed up this process.

STEP 3:

Once the shea has fully melted, carefully remove from pot and let it cool to room temperature.

 
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WHY RAW SHEA BUTTER?

Raw shea is full of fatty acids and vitamins A, E, and F. These are critical for the production of healthy skin cells, along with lots of water and a balanced diet.

I wouldn’t call WHIP IT GOOD unscented. Shea butter has a light nutty and slightly waxy scent. The other oils I add also have their own light scents because they all cold-pressed and retain their inherent healing properties.

 

STEP 4:

Add your oils, if using any. I'm using about 10ml per oil for each pint (16oz) of raw shea butter. Contrary to what you may think, oils do not necessarily clog pores! In fact, these can help with inflammation and acne. Look for oils that are non-comedogenic. Since everyone's skin is different I suggest doing a patch test on your neck first if you plan on using this product on your face.

STEP 5:

Give it a gentle mix to blend the oils and shea butter together. Then put it in the fridge to thicken up a bit.

 
 

STEP 6:

Start whipping! Start off slowly as the mixture should still be quite liquid for this. This part takes a watchful eye and patience - do not rush it or you will end up with a splattery mess.

As the whipping goes on you will see the color change from clear to more of a milky color - this means it's going well!

STEP 7:

Look how light and frothy she is now. We're gonna pause and stick this back in the fridge to chill for a bit to speed up the thickening.

I'm not giving exact times - I'm someone who operates on instinct and observation.

This process can easily take up a whole day.

 
 

STEP 7 CONT…

Getting thicc and light, increasing speed...

STEP 7 STILL…

Now running at top speed for a final beating for max fluff before the first long chill in the fridge.

 
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PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE!

Once this texture is achieved, it is ready to use but it will quickly lose its fluff and could easily melt into a liquid again. This is why multiple rounds of whipping and cooling are required for a more stable consistency.

STEP 8:

Ready for more whipping now, it's been chilled in the fridge for 45 minutes. Time is flexible here - you just want it to be firm.

 
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STEP 8 CONT…

Whip it more. Periodically stop the mixer to scrape down the sides of your bowl to ensure that it all gets incorporated to an even consistency.

When it’s thick and smooth like frosting, put it back in the fridge for at least an hour to harden again.

STEP 9:

Take your hardened shea butter out of the fridge and bring to room temperature. Or use a heavy duty dough mixer to soften it up again.

 
 

STEP 10:

Whip it good, one last time. Not gonna lie, this part takes some finesse to get the texture light again, a lot of scraping down the sides of your bowl and speed adjustments.

It's ready to package once you've achieved your desired texture.

Congrats! You’ve made your very own WHIP IT GOOD. Share it, sell it, or just keep it all for your beautiful self.