This natural belly butter is my new favorite personal care recipe! We are halfway through my pregnancy and I’m absolutely loving using it to hydrate my skin. Hopefully it will help prevent stretch marks as my belly grows!
Like all my homemade bath and beauty recipes, this one is easy to make with simple ingredients that I always have on hand. I use all of these supplies in other DIY products and they last a long time.
By making this belly butter yourself, you know exactly what goes into it. The recipe is nontoxic and budget friendly. Cutting down on packaging waste is another benefit to making it at home.
Natural Belly Butter
What You Will Need:
- 3 tbsp almond oil
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 2 tbsp shea butter (I use raw unrefined)
- 1/4 cup unrefined coconut oil
- 2 tbsp beeswax (I use pellets)
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil
- 6 drops lavender essential oil
- 8 drops frankincense frereana essential oil
Why These Ingredients?
Almond oil is a light carrier oil, appropriate for all skin types. It softens and reconditions dry skin while spreading and soaking in easily.
Avocado oil contains a high percentage of Vitamin E among other nutrients to nourish skin. The oleic acid found in avocado oil promotes collagen production which aids healing.
Shea butter is rich in fatty acids, antioxidants, and contains vitamins A and E to hydrate skin.
Coconut oil also increases collagen production. It moisturizes and protects by creating a layer that traps hydration inside the skin and reduces inflammation.
Beeswax contains natural emulsifiers to help lock in moisture and heal dry and damaged skin.
Vitamin E oil keeps skin hydrated and reduces itching. It can help prevent or heal scars, wrinkles, and fine lines.
Lavender gives a calming scent and has both soothing and restorative properties for skin.
Frankincense frereana is known for it’s rejuvenating properties. It can smooth wrinkles and scars as well as promote the healing of dry or damaged skin.
How to Make Natural Belly Butter:
This recipe makes about 6 ounces of belly butter.
You need a double boiler for this recipe. I don’t own one and often make do with a large glass measuring cup hooked over the edge of the pot and held above the boiling water or a glass bowl that is slightly too big to fit down inside the pot.
Using the double boiler, begin melting the shea butter, unrefined coconut oil, and beeswax pellets over boiling water. Stir occasionally to combine.
Once the ingredients are liquid, add the almond oil and avocado oil. Mix together over low heat until combined.
Carefully remove the bowl or measuring glass from the pot of water.
Let the mixture sit for about 10 minutes to begin cooling down.
Add the vitamin E oil and drops of essential oil. Stir to mix throughout the butter.
Pour the mixture into a glass container or jar. I have a glass clamp jar I favor for this butter but a half pint mason jar would work great too.
Allow the belly butter to cool and set. The texture remains somewhat soft and pliable so it’s easy to scoop out of the jar when ready to use.
I love this recipe! So far I use about a 1/2 tbsp amount on my belly, sides, and chest. I usually apply it right out of the shower and give it a few minutes to soak in.
This recipe lasts me about a month. It might last less as my belly grows.
Notes:
Even if you’re not pregnant this is a great recipe to use anywhere your skin needs deep hydration or healing.
My homemade belly butter is quite yellow because I use yellow beeswax pellets and yellow unrefined shea butter. Shea butter comes in a variety of shades from ivory to yellow so the final product color will vary depending on which kind you use.
I have noticed that occasionally a couple of the beeswax pellets reform in the butter upon cooling. It can be a little annoying since the remaining bit won’t melt on your skin and absorb. To prevent this, I heat and stir the first three ingredients for a few minutes longer after their initial melting.
Other Recipes I Use These Ingredients For:
- I use these ingredients in both my homemade hand butter and diy lip balm.
- Unrefined coconut oil is the base for my 3 ingredient deodorant, basic homemade moisturizer and simple beard balm.
- I use these essential oils in my favorite immune support diffuser blends and diffuser combinations for sleep.
- Lavender is one essential oil I use all the time, from my sleep aid roller bottle to my homemade shampoo recipe to my favorite diffuser blends for stress relief.
Resources:
6 Reasons to Make Your Own Personal Care Products
What are your favorite recipes for homemade personal care? What ingredients do you turn to for nourishing skin?
