Homemade Coconut Oil and Cocoa Butter Moisturizer

By now, you've probably heard of all the different ways you can use coconut oil. It can make damaged hair feel soft again, be used to remove eye makeup, and is a great cheap alternative to shaving cream. Despite its many uses, the best and probably most common use of coconut oil is still as a moisturizer.

Coconut oil is a hot commodity in the beauty industry these days, but cocoa butter is a hydrator that many communities around the world have used for centuries. Like coconut oil, cocoa butter is packed with anti-inflammatory antioxidants. But cocoa butter has a superpower: many beauty enthusiasts claim the cacao bean-derived butter can help prevent stretch marks and fade scars. What we do know for sure is cocoa butter protects the skin from free radicals, and helps soothe dry, parched skin.

There are many coconut and cocoa butter-infused moisturizers on the market, but as many of us lean into cleaner beauty options, knowing what is in our products is easiest when we make them ourselves. Before you say no to this idea, whipping up your own coconut, cocoa butter concoction is relatively simple, even for those of us that aren't DIYers. 

Coconut oil is usually easy to work with, but cocoa butter, in its unrefined form, can be challenging to remove from its packaging. So we recommend a cocoa butter cut into blocks and packaged like this. 

To craft your signature moisturizer, you need a few ingredients that can be easily sourced from your local market or even online. The recipe below combines coconut oil with cocoa butter and olive oil to create an extremely hydrating full body moisturizer.

If your skin is acne-prone, you may want to refrain from using this on your face or areas that are susceptible to breakouts. You can also replace the cocoa butter with shea butter: Unlike cocoa butter, shea butter is generally considered to be non-comedogenic.

For added self-care benefits, you can add a few drops of essential oils. For anxiety, try, lavender. To combat body breakouts, try tea tree oil. 

Keep reading to whip up our DIY body butter recipe using coconut, cocoa butter, and olive oil moisturizer.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin coconut oil
• 3/4 cup cocoa butter
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Essential oil (rose, lavender, or eucalyptus), optional

Instructions

Place all the ingredients in a small pan and microwave just a few seconds until the cocoa butter and coconut oil is fully melted. Pour the ingredients in a small round bowl with a tight lid. Shake vigorously a few times as the mixture cools. When the mixture comes to room temperature it should be the consistency of the coconut oil before it melted. Scoop out a dollop with your finger and apply to your face and/or body.

Prefer your body butter whipped? Set the room temperature mixture in the freezer for 20 minutes, or in the refrigerator for an hour; you want it to be firm, but not solid. Mix the body butter for 5-10 minutes, using a hand mixer set to medium-high.

Et voilà! You've just whipped up your new go-to moisturizer!