Moisturize your skin while providing a thick, protective barrier to prevent skin from drying out with this thick, creamy body butter. This recipe is rich in oils and butters but it is made up mostly of water-based ingredients. (It's an oil-in-water emulsion.)
Combine the oil-phase ingredients in a heat-safe container.
Combine the water phase ingredients in another heat-safe container.
Heat both containers over a water bath (or double boiler) until the waxes and butters have fully melted.
Remove the containers from the water bath and, while still hot (ideally around 70º-75ºC/160º-170ºF), combine the ingredients in a container that is large enough to comfortably hold the ingredients with room for beating with an immersion blender. Whisk or blend the ingredients together. Using an immersion blender will help ensure a more stable emulsion.
Allow the mixture to cool slightly. As the mixture cools, the liquid will get thicker and more opaque. Whisk or blend the ingredients together again several times throughout the cooling process.
Once the mixture has cooled (to around 30ºC/85ºF) and thickened slightly, you can add the cool down phase ingredients. This includes the preservative and any delicate, heat-sensitive ingredients you want to use.
Blend again until all ingredients are fully combined and pour the mixture into the final storage containers.