Blissful Body Mousse (With Recipe!)

[EmmyFNWL]

This mousse has been really popular on my blog, and seeing as it is also one of my personal favorites I thought it would be nice to share on Craftster. This is a variation of classic Whipped Shea Butter.



Ingredients:
5 Ounces Shea Butter, Crushed and Refined
3 Ounces Peach Kernel Oil
3 Ounces Safflower Oil, High Linoleic
1 Ounce Jojoba Esters, 70 (MP70)
1 Teaspoon Cornstarch

Essential Oil Blend
15 drops Bourbon Vanilla Absolute
25 drops Bergamot Essential Oil
5 Drops Ylang Ylang Extra Essential Oil

Directions
In a double boiler, melt and heat the Shea Butter to approximately 175 Degrees Fahrenheit.  Hold the melted Shea Butter at this temperature for at least twenty minutes before adding the Jojoba Esters.  Holding the melted Shea Butter at this heat for twenty minutes will allow tiny crystals in the butter to fully melt, allowing a smooth, even texture to form when the butter has cooled.  As soon as the Jojoba Esters have melted remove the mixture from heat.  Depending on your double boiler you may have to transfer the mixture to a bowl.  Next, add the Peach Kernel and Safflower Oils, and the Cornstarch.  Stir the mixture well then begin to whip it.  I recommend using a hand or stand mixer for this step, as the whipping process can take a fairly long time.  Whip the mixture for 5 - 10 minutes then add the Essential Oil Blend.  Continue to whip the mixture for another 5 - 10 minutes.  As the mixture cools it will thicken, and firm up.  The finished mixture can be spooned or piped into containers.  Within a few hours, the Mousse should set and become stiff.

Packaging and Usage
The Blissful Body Mousse looks fabulous packed in Flat PET Jars.  It can also be stored in Flat or Dome Cream Jars.  This recipe will fill about 20 ounces of volume.  It should fill about five 4 Ounce Jars or ten 2 Ounce Jars.

NOTE: Shea Butter can sometimes be frustrating to work with due to its tendency to crystallize when heated and cooled. This gives the butter a gritty texture. Perfect tempering can avoid this, but if you prefer to make a more fool-proof butter try subbing Mango Butter, Illipe Butter, or Ultra Refined (deodorized) Cocoa Butter for the Shea Butter in this recipe.

Feel free to visit my blog for more recipes. 
http://www.naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/NaturalSkincarerecipes.html

[craftylittlemonkey]

sounds good but what is it used for? like a body butter, a hand cream, both, either?

have you got a good source for shea butter? it's ghastly expensive to purchase it at the health food store and i Know it's available somewhere online for way less.

thanks!

[SkyyAngel]

This is awesome! If I ever get around to ordering more stuff I'll definitely be whipping up a batch.

MonkeyThumb, IME I use body mousses the same as body butters, they're just lighter in consistency and soak in quicker. I typically use a mousse everyday and a butter once a week or so and for extra moisturizing on extra-dry spots.

[MareMare]

hey Emmy, can you explain what jojoba esters are? This sounds so yummy! Added it to the tutes list.

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=234242.msg2560642#msg2560642

[imajacobs]

I checked out your blog and you have some awesome looking recipes!  I can't wait to try out the candy cane sugar scrub!

[EmmyFNWL]

Thanks everybody!  You can use this mousse on your hands, feet, and all over your body. It is probably too heavy for your face, but otherwise go crazy!

Jojoba Esters are flakes or beads of hydrogenated Jojoba Oil. Jojoba Oil is actually a liquid wax, and it has a very similar composition to human sebum, your skin's natural lubricant and protective agent.  Jojoba Esters add stiffness to the mousse, but are less sticky and melt at a lower temperature than Beeswax. Plus, Jojoba Esters are vegan, making this recipe suitable for a wider range of users.

I got a lot of feedback from people who have made the mousse, and so far I've heard that several people encountered some graininess in their final product. To help avoid this, you can substitute Mango Butter for Shea Butter. Also, you may want to melt the Jojoba Esters first, before adding the Butter.

Thanks again everybody, I would love to see some pictures of finished mousses!

[glduran]

What a great recipe.  I went to your blog and am madly in love with the Coco-Lime Bath Cookies. 

I have been hanging out on bath and body etailers and spending waaay too much time on etsy.  Maybe this will help soothe my expensive cravings!

[mullerslanefarm]

have you got a good source for shea butter?

Hands down, the very best Shea I have used is from Agbanga Karite

This is FAIR TRADE Shea Butter from West Africa.  It is Unrefined Shea so it maintains the true healing and moisturizing properties of shea, unlike the white, refined shea. 

Read more about Fair Trade and the differences of unrefined and refined shea on the web site.

I am in no affliated with Agbanga Karite except that I am a long standing, very satisfied customer

[EmmyFNWL]

I'm glad you like the blog, Glduran! I have to warn you though, making your own bath goodies can quickly become an expensive habit of its own! But the bright side is that I find it about a million times more rewarding than just buying something off of the shelf. The coco-lime cookies are a great beginner recipe. Have fun and let me know if you have any questions!

[smittenheart]

looks yummy..I so have to try it..thanks for sharing..