Shea butter and Jamaican Black Castor Oil are two of my favourite natural ingredients for DIY body care products. Both provide a plethora of benefits to skin and hair, which can make them essential components of a beauty routine.

Benefits of Shea Butter

Shea butter is a natural emollient, that has been extracted from the nuts of the African Shea (Karite) tree. Known for its hydrating properties, shea butter is readily absorbed by the skin, promoting softness and suppleness. 

It contains a high percentage of unsaponifiables, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties,T making it a popular choice in both the cosmetic and medical industries. Historical records suggest that even Cleopatra used shea butter and its use dates back to around A.D. 100.

Benefits of Jamaican Black Castor Oil

My other favourite, Jamaican Black Castor Oil or JBCO, has been a staple in my life since 2010, when I embarked on a ‘hair journey‘ to take better care of my hair – today, I am still a devoted user of this incredible product.

JBCO is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air to hydrate the skin. Its anti-microbial properties make it effective against acne and eczema.

I use it regularly in my hair and scalp products,  in my DIY makeup remover, to seal in moisture after a shower, and of course, I use it in my soaps.

I love Jamaican Black Castor Oil and I am particularly loyal to the Topic Isle Brand for high-quality JBCO.

Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Without further ado, here is your recipe for making this luxurious body butter. This recipe yields enough whipped body butter to fill two 4 oz jars.

Note: The following measurements are by weight using a digital kitchen scale that can measure a minimum of 0.1 grams and 0.01 ounces.

DIY Body Butter with Jamaican Black Castor Oil

Ingredients

Ingredients to Make Body Butter

Directions

Place your shea butter in a double boiler on low heat and allow it to start melting.

Melting Shea Butter

When it is about halfway melted, remove it from the heat and let it continue melting with the residual heat from the bowl to avoid overheating.

Melting Shea Butter

Add the grapeseed and Jamaican Black Castor oil to the melted shea butter. Stir to blend the oils, then add the rose clay powder.

Adding Oils to Shea Butter
Adding Rose Clay to Body Butter

Stir well to dissolve completely.

Dissolve Rose Clay

Put the bowl in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes to allow it to cool and set a bit. Stir the mixture to mix the textures evenly. As you may be able to see below, the edges set up while the center was still liquid underneath.

Slightly Cooled Body Butter

Add a few drops of lavender essential oil for fragrance, if desired.

Adding Lavender Essential Oil

Next, using a hand mixer, blend the mixture for about 3 minutes to achieve a fluffy whipped butter texture.

Whipped Jamaican Black Castor Oil Body Butter

Place your body butter into clean dry jars, cover and store in a cool dry place.

Jamaican Black Castor Oil Body Butter

Usage Tip

This body butter works wonders on extremely dry skin and has a shelf life of up to six months.

For extra moisturization, apply to slightly damp skin after a shower to seal in moisture and keep skin soft throughout the day.

It also makes an excellent foot cream for dry, cracked heels when paired with socks overnight.

DIY Body Butter with Jamaican Black Castor Oil