Blissful Body Mousse

This deliciously fragrant variation of Whipped Shea Butter is a must-have in my personal skin care stash.  Peach Kernel Oil and High Linoleic Safflower Oil make this whipped body butter extremely nourishing and moisturizing, but what really makes this recipe irresistible is its heavenly aroma!  Vanilla, Bergamot, and Ylang Ylang are known for their aroma therapeutic properties.  With each whiff you'll add a little bliss to your day. (Or daydream.)

Blissful Body Mousse

Ingredients
5 Ounces Shea Butter, Crushed and Refined
3 Ounces Peach Kernel Oil
3 Ounces Safflower Oil, High Linoleic
1 Ounce Jojoba Esters, 70 (MP70)
1 Teaspoon Cornstarch

Essential Oil Blend
15 drops Bourbon Vanilla Absolute
25 drops Bergamot, Ivory Coast
5 Drops Ylang Ylang Extra, Madagascar

Directions
In a double boiler, melt and heat the Shea Butter to approximately 175 Degrees Fahrenheit.  Hold the melted Shea Butter at this temperature for at least twenty minutes before adding the Jojoba Esters.  Holding the melted Shea Butter at this heat for twenty minutes will allow tiny crystals in the butter to fully melt, allowing a smooth, even texture to form when the butter has cooled.  As soon as the Jojoba Esters have melted remove the mixture from heat.  Depending on your double boiler you may have to transfer the mixture to a bowl.  Next, add the Peach Kernel and Safflower Oils, and the Cornstarch.  Stir the mixture well then begin to whip it.  I recommend using a hand or stand mixer for this step, as the whipping process can take a fairly long time.  Whip the mixture for 5 - 10 minutes then add the Essential Oil Blend.  Continue to whip the mixture for another 5 - 10 minutes.  As the mixture cools it will thicken, and firm up.  The finished mixture can be spooned or piped into containers.  Within a few hours, the Mousse should set and become stiff.

Packaging and Usage
The Blissful Body Mousse looks fabulous packed in Flat PET Jars.  It can also be stored in Flat or Dome Cream Jars.  This recipe will fill about 20 ounces of volume.  It should fill about five 4 Ounce Jars or ten 2 Ounce Jars.

Comments

[Ms Flaka]

If I was wanting to make a butter like this for my hair...would I need to adjust the amount of cornstarch or use something else to keep it from being too greasy...I am concerned that the cornstarch would leave an ashy color or film on dark hair.

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Didi. The Jojoba Esters in this recipe are very stiff, far harder than Murumuru Butter.  If substituted for the Esters in this recipe, Murumuru might be too soft to stiffen the mixture into a mousse.  That being said, it can never hurt to experiment.  Try making a small batch to see if the texture works out well.  If you do, please let us know how it turns out. 

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Ms. Flaka.  This recipe would be highly moisturizing, and a bit too heavy for fine or very soft hair.  If you have very dry or very coarse hair, it could be a good match.  Im not sure how apparent the cornstarch would be when applied to the hair, as this recipe was concocted as a body moisturizer.  You could try using this recipe as a hair moisturizer, or you could check out one of the following recipes that were designed for hair.  Jasmine Acai Berry Pomade is a moisturizing balm that provides texture and conditioning to the hair.  Find the recipe here: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/10/jasmine-acai-be.html

Ayurvedic Hair Cream combines nutritive Ayurvedic Oils with creamy shealoe butter to create a soft, semi-liquid cream conditioner for the hair.  Find the recipe here: http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/09/ayurvedic-hair.html

Thanks again for stopping by the blog!  I hope you enjoy these recipes.

[Merilyn Konnerth]

hello - I tried making this recipe substituting apricot kernel oil and evening primrose oil...I added a 1/4tsp of vitamen E and 1 gram of optiphen...The EPO made the mix a lovely golden color. it's been so hot and humid where I live and I just couldn't get this batch to whisk in to any thing - kept going back to it every few hours. Left if overnite and now I'll try it again, but the shea looks as if it's started to solidify just a bit. What did I do wrong? Will the texture be ok? What can I do differently? Should I have put it in an ice bath when I tried whipping initially?

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Merilyn.  Since this recipe doesnt use a hard wax, such as beeswax, or an emulsifier to bind it up, hot weather can seriously hinder its success.  The recipe relies on the Shea Butter and Jojoba Esters setting up after they cool.  Unfortunately, in the summer, that can take a very long time, or in some cases it could just be impossible.  You can try cooling the mixture by setting you mixing bowl in an ice water bath as you whip it.  This could help force the temperature of the mixture down.  If you get it to set up, transfer it to the refrigerator as soon as possible to help it set up the rest of the way, and to keep it from re-melting.  

[Karen Kriebl]

Any suggestions for making a whipped body polish similar to Lush's "Turkish Delight?" I love this product but want to make it without all the additives. Thanks so much for all the great information you share.

[Emmy Gabriel]

If you like that particular scent from Lush, try making a body butter scented with Rose, Jasmine, and Neroli. Start with equal portions of each scent, then play with the proportions until you find a scent that you love.

[Remah]

Your recipes look yummy and I would like to "play" with some of them but I am not sure of measuring quantities. Here in the UK we use metric and mostly mls and grams. Oviously for your recipes I would weigh hard fats such as cocoa butter but are liquid oils weighed or measured (fl. oz)? Also, your essential oils are measured by spoons. Oh, and you sell your essential oils by fluid oz instead of mls. Is there a conversion calculator on your site?

By the way I love what you sell - the quality is first class. I would be ordering from you all the time if it weren't for the cost of shipping.

[Ely Anderson]

Hi, this recipe looks awesome! Can't wait to try it, but I was wondering if I could substitute the refined shea butter with unrefined shea butter.

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Ely.  Im glad you like this recipe!  I would guess that unrefined Shea would work out in this recipe, but the texture may vary a little bit.  If it comes out too soft or too stiff, just remelt and adjust with a little wax or oil. 

[Crystal Peace]

I'm really excited about this recipe. However I know the recommendation is not to use Bergamot on young children. How young is too young? I have a soon to be 7yo who likes to put on mommy's lotions sometimes.

[Emmy Gabriel]

Hi Crystal. When using essential oils around kids, its best to use the lowest doses possible. The Body Mousse recipe was formulated with adult use in mind, so it would probably be too strong for a child to use. Chances are, a child getting into the cream once in a while wouldnt be a really big deal, but its best to be avoided if possible. Also keep in mind that Bergamot is a photo-sensitizer, and could have a stronger affect on kids sensitive skin.