Whipped Coconut Body Butter is part of our Simply Homemade gift series
The December days are flying by. Christmas packages are arriving in the mail and the presents are starting to gather under the tree. Everything is bright and glorious and full.
It’s getting harder to find time to make gifts now that the days are short and swift. If you’re still trying to pull off some homemade magic for the loved ones on your list, you know how important it is to keep things simple.
Today’s Simply Homemade project is perfect for that. It requires just two ingredients and less than five minutes of your time (and most of that time you can be doing something else, like wrapping presents or sipping cocoa).
The result of your minimal efforts is a luscious gift perfect for the cold, dry days of winter. It’s something I use every day to keep my skin from shriveling up like a prune here in the desert. I call it Whipped Coconut Body Butter infused with Peppermint.
Sounds like a mouthful, right? Don’t worry–I promise it will be easier than eating just one Christmas cookie.
Before we get started, let’s talk about the main ingredient in this gift: unrefined coconut oil. You might have some in your house right now. I hope you do. It is amazing stuff.
I use unrefined coconut oil for just about everything. I cook with it, bake with it, eat it raw, put it on my hair and skin, and even use it as a sunscreen.
As a skin moisturizer, unrefined coconut oil is unparalleled. Coconut oil is antifungal, antibacterial, and so full of antioxidants, it actually fights the free radicals that damage your skin. The oil soaks right into the skin on a cellular level, and all those antioxidants go to work protecting and even restoring the skin. I don’t know about you, but my skin isn’t getting any younger, and it could use a little restoration now and again.
All of that and unrefined coconut oil has no artificial colors or scents. It’s perfectly safe for babies and adults, not a bit harmful to the environment, and won’t even stain your clothes. Sounds fabulous, right?
The only problem is, coconut oil is a solid unless temperatures get about 76 degrees. I don’t know about you, but I don’t keep my house that warm in the winter. That means my coconut oil has an unfortunate tendency to turn rock hard whenever the temperature falls.
Chiseling coconut oil out of a container is not one of my favorite things.
That’s where this tutorial comes in. I have a very easy solution to the coconut-chipping dilemma: we whip it. Now, I know you thought I call this stuff “Whipped” Coconut Body Butter because it sounds fancy.
But no.
We really need to whip it. Aerating the coconut oil keeps it soft and supple when the temperatures dip. You don’t even need a tutorial for this (I mean, you kind of get the idea when I say we need to whip it) but since we’re here….
Whipped Coconut Body Butter with Peppermint
Ta-Da!
Ingredients
Peppermint Essential Oil, about 20 drops
Self-Explanatory Instructions You Really Don’t Need
Scoop (or chip) the coconut oil into a mixing bowl fitted with a whisk attachment. I did not even measure. We all know what one cup looks like, right?
Whip the coconut oil. It will turn fluffy and glossy, and soft peaks will form when you lift the whisk out of the bowl. This is good. The more air you can incorporate into the coconut oil, the softer it will stay.
I let my mixer run for a good five minutes, scraping down the bowl occasionally to make sure no little coconut oil bits were escaping.
When it has just about doubled in volume, add the peppermint essential oil.* I added about 20 drops to my coconut oil to get the scent and potency I wanted, but you can adjust according to your tastes. Just be aware that the peppermint scent will develop a bit as the mixture cures.
Whip the coconut oil just long enough to blend in the oils, and you’re done! Carefully scoop the coconut oil into pretty little Mason jars for giving, being careful not to compact the oil too much (remember, we want to keep those air bubbles fat and happy).
To use: Apply Whipped Coconut Body Butter like you would any other moisturizer. It’s great to put on right out of the shower or before bed. I also rub it into my hair and scalp before a shower as a per-conditioner, or to the ends of my hair as an after-shower treatment.
Allow the coconut oil to absorb and continue on with your regular Christmastime festivities!
A Word About Peppermint Essential Oil
*You can find peppermint essential oil at just about any health store or in the health section of many grocery stores. It is a fabulous oil to have on hand for home remedies (nothing treats a headache better). I added it to the Whipped Coconut Body Butter not only because it smells Christmas-y, but because peppermint essential oil increases circulation, restores tired feet and legs after too much shopping, soothes achy joints, treats heartburn and stomach yuckiness from eating too many Christmas goodies, and even helps to fight the colds that could ruin Christmas morning.
All around, it’s great stuff.
Just know this: if you’re serious about using peppermint, or any other essential oil, be sure to educate yourself and purchase the highest-quality oil you can. Quality oils do not necessarily cost any more than the stuff you can pick up at any store, but they are created using techniques that ensure the highest potency, so it’s worth doing some homework. I purchase my oils at Rocky Mountain Oils but there are many great companies to choose from.
Now, Back to the Body Butter
While you were reading about peppermint oil, I put a jar of Whipped Coconut Body Butter under the tree. That’s another gift, done.
Tomorrow’s Simply Homemade gift will involve fabric, scissors, and thread. Can’t sew? Don’t worry! You’ve totally got this.
*The posts in this series may contain affiliate links for your convenience.
Hi. I’ve made the whipped coconut body butter and love it. However, mine does return to the solid state. Do you have any other suggestions on keeping it like a thick cool whip consistency? Thanks
Kris, I’m afraid I’ve never had that happen. Even in the winter, it stays soft enough to scoop out. Now, when it’s really cold, it does get a little harder, but not as hard as it was originally, and certainly not so hard that I can’t get it out with my fingers. The only thought I have is that I whip it for a very long time on high speed. I try to get as much air into that stuff as possible! Also, I’m very careful not to compact it when I fill my jars. I scoop it in gently and leave it at that. You may already have tried all of those things–I’m just trying to sound helpful. 😉
Love this recipe! I was wondering how this is in hot weather. Does it leave a sticky feeling? Thanks!
No, it doesn’t leave a sticky feeling at all! Just make sure you don’t use too much. I rub it on, wait a few minutes, and then look for any spots that haven’t soaked in all the way so I can spread it out a little better. But the coconut oil should soak into your skin all the way. If it doesn’t, you’ve used a little too much. It doesn’t take a lot to do the job, but you’ll get a feel for it as you go.
You mention putting coconut oil in your hair, and I’m curious how you do it. My hair is extremely dry and the static is driving me crazy right now (thanks, Winter!). My sister-in-law tried some coconut oil in her hair once, and the only result was terribly greasy hair, and stained pillowcases and sheets. Is there some trick to doing it properly, or a specific kind to use?
I have very dry, curly hair so coconut oil always absorbs quickly in my hair as long as I don’t overdo it. I do it two ways: I apply a little to the ends of my hair after I put gel in my hair. Usually, I’ve already let it air dry a bit or blown it dry. Then, I put the coconut oil in my palms to warm it and scrunch it into my hair. Often, I blow it dry for a second longer just to let the heat help it to soak in. The other way I do it is to use the coconut oil as a hair mask. I apply it generously to my hair before I go to bed. Now, I don’t do it RIGHT before bed because it does need some time to soak in (20 minutes or so?). Then, I braid my hair and sleep with it in. In the morning, I wash my hair. It is amazing! I’ve never had trouble with the coconut oil staining my pillowcases, but I do wash my pillowcases after I do a hair mask just because I don’t want to sleep with all those extra oils against my face. I wonder if this is because curly hair tends to be dry and porous. It just soaks the coconut oil right up. But, do give it some time to soak in if you’re concerned about staining. Also, less is more, at least until you get the hang of it. I hope that helps! Winter can be brutal on the hair!