Cocoa Butter
Blend With Unique Carrier Oils and Butters
Creating body butters and essential oil blends with carrier oils has always brought me (and my skin) great pleasure! When creating an essential oil blend in a carrier, get creative. Choose from a wide variety of butters and oils. When deciding, think about consistency, the therapeutic properties of the carrier, and the intention of your blend
Here are a few of my favorite carrier oils:
Avocado oil (Laurus persea or Persea gratissima) is highly penetrating. It deeply nourishes and softens dry skin. It prevents chapping, cracks and stretch marks. It promotes cell regeneration (great with Helichrysum essential oil), is used for skin inflammation and used to clean the skin. I like to wash my face with warm water and a small amount of Avocado oil. It is also used as a carrier for arthritis pain blends. Avocado oil adds a vibrant green color to your blend!
Baobab oil (Adansonia digitata). The Baobab Tree is a traditional African tree whose seeds make an oil that is luscious and has a wonderful nutty aroma. The oil is deeply nourishing and softens dry skin. It is known to restore and re-moisturize the epidermis. I like to use it in blends for relieving Eczema and Psoriasis. Alleviates pain from burns and regenerates epithelial tissue quickly, especially when you add Lavender essential oil to it.
Cocoa butter (Theobroma nucifera) Cocoa butter is a beautiful, hard, solid aromatic butter pressed from the roasted seeds of the Cacao tree in West Africa It is highly protective of our skin and adds an incredibly silky texture to body butters. It contains about 5 IU of vitamin E per ounce and improves skin flexibility and health. Cocoa butter is particularly praised for its antioxidant properties. It is commonly used to treat wrinkles around the eyes and corners of the mouth.
Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera) has a fresh coconut aroma. It is moisturizing and serves as a protective layer, helping to retain the moisture in your skin. Coconut oil is mild and generally safe for people with inflamed, irritated and sensitive skin. It is used for nail and cuticle treatment, fungus treatment and for healing for dry, itchy skin. It adds a tropical aroma to Your Body butters, and blends beautifully with Cocoa Butter.
Kombo butter (Pycnanthus anglensis) offers many wonderful benefits for our skin. I like to melt it with other butters like shea butter and cocoa butter for a rich, aromatic, healing body butter. Kombo butter is anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antiseptic. It is used with essential oils for aching joints and muscles and for dry or irritated skin conditions. Kombo butter is high in Myristoleic acid. Myristoleic acid is used to treat pain in the muscles and joints for arthritis and gout.
Kpangnan butter (Pentadesma butyracea) is pronounced “Panya.” I have found this butter to be even more moisturizing than shea butter and has a slight warming effect on the skin when applied. Studies have found that Kpangnan contains a high amount of stigmasterol, an unsaturated plant sterol that contains anti-inflammatory and pain relieving agents. For a solid butter the texture is softer than expected and it adds a luscious feel to body butters. The aroma is gentle and nutty.
Marula oil (Sclerocarya birrea) is a wonderful golden carrier oil with a very light aroma (nice for people who do not want a strong aroma). It can be used on its own for massage or as a great base for essential oils or butter blends. It protects and nourishes the skin and is good for oily skin and hair. Relieves dermatitis, eczema and Psoriasis. It helps heal sunburns and heals chapped/irritated skin.
West African Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii) is obtained by cold pressing of the fruit of the Karite tree. Shea butter is known as an excellent moisturizer. It assist dryness, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and burns. Shea is used as a lip balm, salve base, and moisturizer for all dry skin conditions. It is also used for sun-damaged skin and for long-term health of the skin.
Tamanu oil (Calophyllum inophyllum), extracted from the fruit of the tree, is renowned for its remarkable skin healing properties. It greatly aids wound healing of severe cuts and burns. It acts as an effective germicide to kill or prevent infection. It is used for shingles and skin ulcers. Tamanu oil’s ability to heal damaged skin is well researched. Tamanu oil promotes new tissue formation, accelerating healing and healthy skin growth. It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal.
Palm kernel oil (Elaeis guineensis) is amazing. The aroma alone is rich, nutty, and unique. It lends a smooth texture to all body butters, soaps and salves. It is wonderfully emollient and has cooling properties. It prevents dry hair and lips and us used as a nail and cuticle treatment. Good for healing for dry, itchy skin. It softens and lubricates the skin.
Blending is my favorite part of an aromatherapy education! Please note: Be sure to buy raw, organic, unrefined and non-deodorized carriers and butters. The refining/deodorizing process uses heat and or solvents and can strip the butter/carrier of its natural vitamins and minerals.
About the Author
Andrea Butje teaches aromatherapy classes at the Aromahead Institute of Essential Oil Studies. She has pioneered online aromatherapy certification courses approved by NAHA and AIA.
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