Vanilla Oatmeal Whipped Belly Butter

Vanilla Oatmeal Whipped Belly Butter: a soothing and moisturizing body butter crafted to support stretching skin.

Oatmeal is a menu splendored thing. Not only does this tasty oat supply hungry bellies with warm, stick-to-your ribs breakfasts, its natural anti-inflammatory benefits have also made it a treasured ingredient for soothing dry and itchy skin. Many of us grew up soaking in oatmeal baths after getting a little too close to some mysterious patch of poison ivy or contracting one of the countless childhood maladies that come along with an itchy red rash. It’s magical stuff, really.

Oat Oil allows you to incorporate the soothing properties of oatmeal into oil-based formulations. Lotions, creams, and even cold processed soaps can be formulated to include Oat Oil. Body butters are one of our favorite places to feature this marvelous ingredient. Rich, creamy, whipped butters are perfect for conditioning dry skin. This particular formula was created with both dry winter air and a growing mama belly in mind.

That’s right! I’m having another baby, and just like last time, I plan to share the recipes and formulations that I create along the way with you all here on The Natural Beauty Workshop. The belly balm that I made during my son’s pregnancy was amazing, but this time around I wanted something with a soft, whipped texture as opposed to a stick balm. I started with Cupuacu Butter. This luscious vegetable butter is known for its ability to help retain moisture and support elasticity in the skin – both high priorities in winter body butters and in prenatal care.

I blended Cupuacu with Shea Butter, which is a classic ingredient in whipped butter formulations. It fluffs up beautifully and just like Cupuacu, is so great for your skin. If you have a sensitivity to shea or to latex (which shares a similar natural protein to shea) I suggest swapping the Shea for either extra Cupuacu or another semi-soft butter like Mango or Murumuru.

In addition ot Oat Oil, my formula includes two more highly nutritive carrier oils: Cold Pressed Carrot Seed Oil and Virgin Chia Seed Oil. Both oils are abundant in natural tocopherols, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. These superfood oils are wonderful for supporting sensitive prenatal skin or soothing and moisturizing chronically dry skin. A tiny bit of Helichrysum Italicum Essential Oil is also blended in to help fight scarring and encourage healthy recovery of the skin.

Finally, I chose to scent this whipped body butter with our gorgeous Organic Vanilla CO2 Extract. This beautiful oil blended perfectly into the whipped butter and brings a soft, highly floral aroma to the recipe. This vanilla is not overly sweet or childish, which makes it just right for everyday use. If you aren’t a big fan of vanilla, go ahead and swap out the CO2 Extract with any essential oil or fragrance oil you prefer. Just make sure whatever you use is skin-safe (and safe to use during pregnancy if you are using this recipe for prenatal care.)

Vanilla Oatmeal Whipped Body Butter
Makes about four 4-ounce (120 ml) jars by volume / 6 ounces (184 g) by weight

Ingredients

• 2 ounces (60 g) Cupuacu Butter
• 2 ounces (60 g) Shea Butter
• 1 ounce (30 ml) Oat Oil
• 1/2 ounce (15 ml) Cold Pressed Carrot Seed Oil
• 1/2 ounce (15 ml) Virgin Chia Seed Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) Organic Vanilla CO2 Extract
• 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml) Helichyrsum Italicum Essential Oil

Directions

1. Bring cupuacu and shea butter to room temperature. Place both butters in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl. Using a whisk attachment, beat the butters on a medium to high speed with electric mixer for about ten minutes – stopping halfway to scrap the sides down.
2. Meanwhile, combine the oils, essential oil, and CO2 extract in a second bowl.
3. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides once more. Set the mixer to a low speed, then slowly drizzle the oil mixture into the bowl. Once oils are blended into the butter, bring the speed back up to high and beat for another five minutes – or until the butter becomes light and fluffy.
4. Transfer the butter to jars by spoon or pastry bag.

Usage & Packaging

• Slather the body liberally with whipped butter and massage gently into the skin. Repeat as needed.
• Vanilla Oatmeal Whipped Body Butter looks lovely in our 4 ounce Flat PET Jars. You can also try packaging this recipe in Flint Glass or mason jars.

Shelf Life & Stability: Please note that the formulations featured here on The Natural Beauty Workshop have not been challenge tested for stability or shelf life, and may not be suitable for commercial use as-is. For more information on shelf life, stability, and working with preservatives, check out the following article from our Information Library.