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The perception that us ‘naturalistas’ can’t (or won’t) enjoy the same type of glamour and luxury as those women who slather toxic skincare on their body is absolutely false. You don’t need chemicals to look great, smell great and even shimmer. There is nothing as glamorous as this shimmering rose body butter and it is completely natural and free of harsh chemicals or toxins.
The ingredients
This rose body butter is made with rose infused sweet almond oil, shea butter, golden mica powder and even a few drops of rose essential oil. I achieved the slightly pink color by adding beetroot powder to the infusing sweet almond oil.
Rose petals
Roses are beneficial for all skin types but particularly great for dry or sensitive skin. Rose petals are rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which helps protect our skin from free radicals. The natural oils in rose petals help hydrate and moisturize the skin. They also have anti-inflammatory properties and help reduce acne.
Sweet almond oil
Sweet almond oil is another natural power house. It is rich in vitamin E and A and nourishes the skin by sealing the moisture in the skin. It was also found that almond oil has photoprotective effects, meaning that it reduces the effects of sun-induced aging of the skin (source).
Shea butter
As I already mentioned in my lotion bar recipe, shea butter contains vitamin A and E and is incredibly moisturizing. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and is thus good for damaged or irritated skin. Finally, shea butter has anti-ageing properties through aiding the production of collagen. What is there not to love?
Mica Powder
Confession time: Ever since I got gold mica powder (get yours here), I can’t get enough of making stuff glitter :P. Mica powders are naturally occurring mineral pigments. They are most often used in make-up. While mica is safe for your skin, try not to inhale it while making the body butter, since the very fine particles can irritate your lungs.
Rose essential oil (optional)
Rose oil is one of the most expensive essential oils as it takes a lot of roses to make just a little amount of this oil. However, it is super concentrated, so you only need a tiny amount. I was lucky since I got my bottle from my mother who got it directly from Morocco. You can also buy it on Amazon. If you don’t have any or don’t want to spend the money, simply omit the rose oil. In this case, your body butter won’t have as strong a rose scent.
How to make rose infused oil
To make this recipe, I infused almond oil with rose petals. I also added a spoon of beetroot powder to the oil to color it slightly pink.
You can either sun infuse or heat infuse the oil. Either way, make sure you have organic rose petals. Commercial roses are often heavily sprayed with pesticides which would then leach into the oil you are infusing and end up on your skin.
Sun infusion
Sun infusion is gentler (thus retains more of the valuable properties), but takes longer. To sun infuse, simply fill a jar with rose petals. Cover the rose petals in an oil of your choice, making sure there is enough to submerge them (don’t worry if they float). Then, let the jar sit in a warm/sunny spot for 4-6 weeks. Every couple of days give it a gentle swig to release any air bubbles and to help the infusion process. I used sweet almond oil, but you can use any oil that works well on you skin, such as grapeseed, olive oil, wheat germ etc.
Heat infusion
In order to heat infuse the oil, place the oil in a double boiler or water bath. Bring to a low simmer and allow to heat for 30 – 60 minutes. It is important to keep the heat as low as possible to avoid burning off the beneficial properties.
Once the oil is infused, strain out the rose petals (use them in a scrub or other recipe or compost them) and store the oil in an airtight bottle or jar until ready to use.
How to use this rose body butter
I use this rose body butter instead of a lotion all over my body. It is perfect for a night out or for any day you want a little extra glam and shine. Be aware that since this is a natural and an oil-based product, you will need much less than you would of a commercial lotion.
Use clean and dry hands to remove the butter from its jar, in order to ensure that it keeps as long as possible. Moreover, try not to introduce any water to the jar as this can cause mold and bacteria growth. If you ever see mold in your body butter (which is unlikely), discard the entire jar.Check out my post on safety in homemade skincare for more information on this topic. Follow these steps and the rose body butter should keep in an airtight container up to six month without trouble.
How to make it
This luxurious rose body butter is made with rose infused almond oil, shea butter, mica powder and rose essential oil. It is all natural, chemical and preservative free.
- 2 oz shea butter (60 g)
- 1 oz almond oil rose infused (30 g, see instructions above)
- 5 drops rose essential oil (optional)
- 1/8 tsp gold mica powder (optional)
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Melt butter in a water bath or double boiler.
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Once the butter are melted mix the almond oil into the butter.
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Set the bowl/jar into the fridge just until the mix is semisolid (about 30 min to 1 hour)
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Once the mix has solidified, take it out of the fridge and add the rose essential oil and mica powder (if using).
Use a handmixer or standmixer to whip the butter until it becomes creamy. Test a little bit and see if it shimmers enough, otherwise add slightly more mica.
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Store in an airtight jar or container and use as desired. Avoid getting water into the butter and it should last up to 6 months.
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