CACAO & CUPUACU BODY BUTTER June 21 2015, 1 Comment

I saw a recipe on a French site a few weeks ago that asked for "black cocoa butter", that got me curious, I called my people in Brazil and they said there was no such a thing.  After little research, I found it on Ebay (what can't you find there?), but when it finally reached me, I realized it isn't cocoa butter, it was what we call in Brazil "cacao mass", raw cacao, what is left behind after removing the butter.

I wasn't sure how that would work on a skin product, but I am happy to say, the results were very nice. It spreads nicely, the skin looks and smells wonderful, I do not recommend it for hair, as it is a bit too thick. Here is my Brazilian version of the French recipe.

Cupuacu Butter - 2 oz.
Pracaxi Oil - 0.25 oz.
Brazil Nut Oil - 0.25 oz.
100% Cacao - 0.5 oz. 

Melt the Cupuacu Butter in a double boiler over low heat heat. Mix the oils in. Separate it into two equal parts and transfer them into two different containers. In one of the two containers, add the cocoa butter cut in very small pieces and heat if necessary to melt. Let cool a bit and then put the two preparations in the freezer for a few minutes.
Take them out and mix them well again, you can use an electrical mixer. Put back in the freezer.Transfer both butters into a container keeping them separate.

I did mix mine to a whipped butter consistency. For that you definitely need a electrical mixer.

The dark butter will be slightly harder because of the cacao. Use that side for body and the other for neck and face. 

DIY - GLOW BUTTER June 21 2015, 0 Comments

This amazing butter nourishes the driest skin, gives it an instant glow and prolongs your tan. It can be used before sun exposure and to bring some extra glow to your Summer skin. 
It does not replace sunscreen for prolonged exposure. 

INGREDIENTS
Tucuma Butter - 2 oz.
Buriti Oil - 0.5 oz.
Cupuacu Butter - 1.5 oz.
Mica Pigment bronze or brown - as much as you want, depending on how dark you want to go.
optional - Vitamin E (for longer shelf life) - 8 drops

Melt Tucuma and Cupuacu using a double boiler, when melted add Buriti oil. Put in fridge, when it starts to solidify add the other ingredients mixing well to form a smooth even colored paste.
Transfer to your container and let it finish cooling down either in room temperature or fridge.
It may stain light fabrics. 

SUMMERTIME BUTTER BAR March 14 2015, 0 Comments

SUMMER is FINALLY almost here!!!

This Butter Bar is full of beta-carotene and has healing, moisturizing and calming properties. Perfect for before and after the sun. Apply to tanned legs to show them off in your Summer outfits. Leave it in the fridge for an extra relief when you do too much sun.

"Lotion Bar"  or, a "Butter Bar", is a mix of your favorite butters and oils made harder (higher melting point) by a wax.

The end result is a solid bar that you apply on your skin much like a surfer puts wax on her board

Advantages of a Lotion Bar: no liquid oil mess, no having to melt butter in your hands before applying, super easy to apply, added advantages of Beeswax, fun to make!

Disadvantages of a Lotion Bar: it will melt under high heat making a HUGE mess if you don't have it in a container, if you do, then it will be impossible to get it out of container without melting it again, the beeswax may feel a little heavy on your skin, finding the perfect recipe may be a bit like making a cake without proper measure of ingredients.

Yep, I am still in favor.

You will need:

• Medium sized pan

• Very clean glass jar with lid.

• Waxed paper cups for molds (I use the 5 oz. cups).

• A clean rag or kitchen towel.

Ingredients (for Two just under 3 oz. bars or TWO 1.25 oz. bars, I like making mine smaller)

• Bacuri Butter 1.5 oz.

• Murumuru Butter 1.5 oz.

• Buriti Oil 1 oz. 

• Beeswax (organic raw is my favorite) 1 oz.

How to Make:
Melt wax first, after it is all melted add butters and then after the mix is liquid add oil, check if the oil have hardened the wax, if it does melt for a bit longer, if not take out of the heat.

JAR WILL BE HOT! Dry the jar well so o water gets in your bar and pour melted contents into your mold. Bars should be hard in no time, if you live in a hot place pop them in the fridge for a few minutes.

You will need a little container to take them around, if you are using them at home, you can keep them in the cup, keep one in the bathroom and one in the fridge.

DO NOT LET IT MELT IN YOUR CAR OR PURSE, BIG MESS!

SUMMER LOTION BAR August 04 2014, 0 Comments

 This super easy to make lotion bar is perfect for after sun care, it will make your skin glow and your tan last a LOT longer. As a Brazilian woman who loves the sun and tans easily but still has sensitive skin I really need something to make sure that my beautiful brown skin will not dry, flake or peel. 

Just melt all these ingredients on a double boiler or a makeshift one - just use a VERY clean and dry glass jar and a pot with water. After everything is well melted pour into a mold, put in the fridge and voila! 

I like unrefined beeswax much better but I only had the white one handy, for a vegan version you can use candelilla wax, but use 2/3 to 1/2 of the quantity as it is a harder wax.

1 oz. Beeswax

1.5 oz. Bacuri Butter

0.5 oz. Ucuuba Butter

0.25 oz. Buriti Oil  

 You can add essential oils but keep in mind any citrus oil (tangerine, grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime) is photosensitizing, they may cause your skin to stain or burn in the sun. If adding essential oils, make sure you do after the ingredients are all dissolved and twirl the jar a few times.

I use the 9 oz. paper cups as mold and the 4 oz. tin can to take my butter around.

The result bar is hard enough to be taken out with you, but do not leave it under direct sunlight. 

It also adds a subtle tinted effect to your skin (right leg), it can also stain fabrics, make sure your clothing is dark or the butter is totally absorbed.