I love making natural beauty products to use in our home or to gift to friends. This DIY shea butter moisturizer is one of my favorite homemade products because it uses simple natural ingredients, works beautifully for dry skin, and the scent can be adjusted for any season. Whenever I want to add something unique to my gifting list, this homemade lotion always wins. It’s nourishing, customizable, and looks adorable when stored in small glass jars or even thrifted canning jars.

If you’ve never made your own lotion before, the good news is that shea butter is extremely forgiving. Its rich fatty acids make it a great option for most skin types, and the texture becomes dreamy and fluffy once whipped. Even better? A little bit goes a long way because shea butter is one of the richest creamy body butters you can use.

Making DIY products is something I have been doing for awhile. When you go toxin free, you may notice that, even though ingredients lists go down in number, the price goes up! I love to pair this homemade body scrub after a bath (with a shea butter bath bomb of course!)

Why Shea Butter Works

Unrefined shea butter comes from the karité tree, and in its unrefined state, it’s packed with vitamins, soothing properties, and skin-loving fatty acids like stearic acid and oleic acid. Because your skin is the body’s largest organ, using products with pure, nourishing ingredients makes a huge difference in how your skin feels—especially for itchy skin, winter dryness, or irritation.

I also love this recipe because it’s a homemade whipped body butter that doesn’t require distilled water like many water-based lotions, so it naturally has a longer shelf life without the need for preservatives.

Choosing Your Liquid Oils & Carrier Oils

For this recipe, you can use several different carrier oil options depending on your needs:

• Sweet almond oil – light, hydrating, great for most skin types
• Jojoba oil – one of the best options for acne-prone skin
• Olive oil – extremely moisturizing (creates a rich oil mixture)
• Grapeseed oil – fast-absorbing, a great option for a more non-greasy lotion
• Avocado oil – deeply nourishing

Your liquid oil helps soften the shea butter and creates your final texture. Any single oil or blend works, so feel free to use your own experiences to adjust it over time.

Homemade Shea Butter Lotion Scent Ideas

The fun part of making your own shea butter lotion is customizing the scent. I often create different essential oil blends depending on the season or the purpose of the lotion. Just keep in mind that some citrus oils can cause sensitivity in direct sunlight, so choose steam distilled citrus if you plan to wear it outdoors.

Relaxing blends (bedtime body butter)

• Lavender
• Chamomile
• Blue tansy
• Clary sage
• Magnesium (not a scent but wonderful for sleep)

Favorite combos:

• 1 part chamomile + 2 parts lavender
• Equal parts lemon, lavender, peppermint
• 3 parts orange + 3 parts lemon + 1 part lime
• 2 parts vanilla + 1 part peppermint

If you’re using this on children, research drops of essential oil that are kid-safe. Peppermint and certain Eucalyptus varieties, for example, are some I avoid on little ones.

Eden’s Garden has a section on their website of essential oils that are “okay for kids” but be sure to read the fine print.

Why I Add Arrowroot Powder

Nobody wants the dreaded “slug trail.” Years ago, when I was experimenting with homemade deodorant, I discovered that arrowroot powder (or even tapioca starch) helps cut down the greasiness of butters and oils. Since this recipe contains only solid ingredients and oils, the final texture is much lighter with arrowroot added.

Ingredients for Homemade Shea Butter Lotion

• ½ cup of shea butter (or organic raw shea butter)
• ¼ cup coconut oil (virgin coconut oil works best)
• ¼ cup sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, or other carrier oil
• 20 drops of essential oil (your choice—see blends above)
• 1 tbsp arrowroot powder
• Optional: 1 tsp vitamin E oil for skin benefits + extended shelf life

How to Make Homemade Shea Butter Lotion

You’ll need a double boiler (or a glass bowl over a sauce pan) and a hand mixer or KitchenAid mixer to whip it.

1. Add the shea butter and coconut oil to your double boiler over medium heat.
2. Once melted, remove from heat and stir in your liquid oil (almond, jojoba, olive, etc.).
3. Let the mixture cool for about 5 minutes. Adding essential oils to hot ingredients may reduce their benefits.
4. Stir in the arrowroot powder.
5. Place the bowl in the fridge or freezer until the mixture is firm but still soft enough to press into.
6. Use a hand mixer to whip the mixture for 3–5 minutes until light and fluffy—this gives you that classic whipped body butter recipe texture.
7. Spoon into a clean glass jar and store in a cool, dark place.

This moisturizer lasts a long time because it contains no water, unlike a typical lotion bar or commercial lotion.

* If you add essential oils to a hot mixture, it will degrade the oils and they will lose some of their therapeutic properties.

*If you plan to use on children, make sure to research and look up essential oils that are safe for kiddos.

FAQs About DIY Shea Butter Moisturizer

How long does homemade shea butter lotion last?

Because this recipe contains no distilled water, it typically has a shelf life of 6–12 months. Store it in a cool, dark place and always use clean hands when dipping into it.

Why is my shea butter lotion grainy?

Graininess happens when shea butter cools too slowly. Chilling it to room temperature in the fridge and then whipping helps prevent the formation of grainy crystals before you whip.

Can I make a less greasy version?

Yes! Use lighter carrier oil options like grapeseed oil and add 1–2 tbsp of arrowroot powder. You can also add a small amount of melted cocoa butter or mango butter to adjust the texture.

Can this be used on the whole body?

Absolutely—this recipe works for the whole body, especially areas like elbows, legs, and hands. The high fatty acids make it wonderful for soft skin, but avoid the face if you have acne-prone skin.

Why isn’t my lotion whipping?

If the mixture is too warm, the oils won’t fluff. Chill it longer until it’s solid but scoopable.

Can I add water to make it more like store-bought lotion?

Not with this recipe. Adding water would require preservatives and emulsifiers to prevent spoilage. This is a butter-based moisturizer, not a water-based lotion.

What’s the best way to store homemade lotion?

Store in a sealed glass jar, away from direct sunlight, and avoid keeping it in hot spaces since butters can melt and lose their whipped texture.

Can I substitute the oils?

Yes, any carrier oil works. Great substitutions include jojoba oil, castor oil, avocado oil, or olive oil depending on your skin needs..