Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Whip It Good - tips on whipped butters!

After a few experiments, using many different butter and oil combinations I had amazing successes and some sad and ugly results.
Even though you should think first of the amazing properties of the products you are whipping, your whipped butter should also be pleasurable to your senses.

Skin: in order to have a somewhat firm whipped butter you need a butter with a higher melting point, I use Cocoa butter or Ucuuba butter. Cocoa butter has a bit of a draggy feel and Ucuuba is very hard and brown. So it is a matter of personal taste.
This harder butter should be at least 1/3 of your recipe.

For hair I use MuruMuru and Cupuacu, a hair butter needs to be lighter, but it will melt faster if left in warm conditions.

For your other butter you can choose something that you love, taking in consideration the butter skin/hair properties, the feel, smell and color of it.

For example: I love unrefined shea butter but can't stand the smell of it, refined shea butter loses some of its properties and it is a lot greasier.

I usually like mixing all of my butters for skin. On this recipe you can see the cocoa butter wafers in the bottom, then I added Cupuacu, Shea, MuruMuru and, the amazing but ugly, Bacuri.


A lot of recipes call for coconut oil being 1/3 of your whipped butter, but when using oils with a lower melting point (liquid oils) you need to use less of them.

I never make more than 12-24 oz of butter at time, I use a very clean (sometimes it takes 10 washes and some soaking) glass jar to melt the butters.



After the butters are all melted I add the oils, I have so many amazing oils I can afford to skip coconut oil. Since my oils are liquid, they make up just about 20% of my recipe.



When I use Bacuri butter the melted result, as you can see, is very dark, even if Bacuri is just 10% of my recipe, don't worry, once it is whipped it will become a yellow/beige butter.

After mixing the oils with your butter, you need to pour the mix into the container you will use to whip it, and put in the fridge until it is cooler and semi-solid (at least the top).

I use a regular mixer, since they are kinda cheap I recommend you have one just for your butters. You don't want pieces of food falling into you creation.



I just found out that a cylinder container will work A WHOLE LOT better for your whipping, I was amazed how much faster my butter was ready once I tried this container:


It was just luck, I was being lazy and wanted to whip in the same container I would keep the butter, but from now on I will never whip on a regular bowl again.

This is my hair butter with Muru Muru, Cupuacu, Babassu and Pracaxi, it is fluffy, light, almost white, but I would not trust it in room temperature here in Florida...


Listen, I have read a lot on whipped butters, but ultimately, it is not an exact science. It is supposed to be fun and good for you, you need to like the feel, look and smell of it and you need to enjoy making it!

If you have skin conditions some of these butters and oils can help, Pracaxi oil, for example, is amazing for scars and hyper-pigmentation, Bacuri oil helps with eczema, most of them will help with the prevention of stretch marks and help to diminish the appearances of them.

If you want a scent in your butter, use a good quality essential oil, just a few drops should be enough, I mix it right before I am about to whip.

I think that is it, please contact me to add to this post, ask anything, thank me or tell me I am full of sh*t and your recipe exploded!! 

In my Etsy store I sell a Six Oil Sampler and a Five Butter Samples, 1 oz of each one of my oils or  butters.

 Five Butter Sample 

You can also use most butters on your puppies and cats with skin conditions...

Now for the small print:

I only work with Amazonian Rainforest products. My products don't go through 2-3 different warehouses before getting to you. I bring them straight from their origin in small quantities, to assure freshness and quality. Besides being a great product, the manufacturing of my oils and butters protect the Rainforest and helps the indigenous and local people

My oils and butters are are wild harvested grown naturally in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest without any pesticides, they are fair trade and self sustainable.
Product for cosmetic use only, not suited for human consumption!
This product is not marketed with therapeutic claims. This product does not contain color additives or the presence of poisonous or deleterious substances, such as pathogenic microorganisms. This product does not contain TSE/BSE contamination.



Friday, January 3, 2014

Pracaxi Oil - Benefits and Uses

Pracaxi oil (Pentaclethra macroloba) has a delicious nutty smell and it is viscous, having a melting point of 65.3 °F. 


Pracaxi seed oil has been used for generations for treatment of skin spots, depigmentation, severe acne and acne scars, it helps to hydrate and promote cellular renewal.
As a powerful antiseptic it is often used in hospital to cleanse skin after surgery also to treat bites from snakes and the healing of ulcers.
Helps in the prevention of stretch marks. Ideal to treat skin infections. Useful in treating dry and tired skin, to avoid wrinkles and pigmentation marks by speeding up the healing process. Suitable for  all kinds of skin.

 
Benefits 
Pracaxi oil has one of the highest level of behenic acid among natural products.
- promotes conditioning action to the hair;
- promotes smooth feel to the hair and skin;
- improves wet compatibility;of hair and skin care pro-ducts,
- increases hair brightness;



My Pracaxi oil comes straight from Brazil and is sold in 2oz and 0.5 oz. bottles. I do accept custom orders!  I also have an Oil Sampler, 1 oz each of Brazil Nut, Pracaxi, Buriti, Passion-Fruit and Andiroba oils.

My oils and butters are are wild harvested grown naturally in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest without any pesticides, they are fair trade and self sustainable.
Buy it HERE!

Buriti Oil - Benefits and Uses

Buriti Oil (Mauritia flexuosa, Arecaceae) is a redish brown, dry oil with an earthy smell.



The Buriti Oil is considered to be the richest natural source in beta-carotene, exceeding 5 times what is found in carrots (6,6 milligrams/100 g pulp).  Beta-carotene is one of the most powerful antioxidants, known for its ability to renew cells, and serves as an excellent natural skin exfoliator. Due to its ability to absorb radiation in the range of visible and ultraviolet light, Buriti oil is used by the cosmetic industry as a solar filter that reduces the dryness of the skin. In anti-aging formulas this oil increases the elasticity of the skin.
Buriti Oil possesses the remarkable ability to nourish, moisturize and repair the epidermis and improve the elasticity of maturing skin. It is highly beneficial in formulations intended to treat and heal burns and sun damaged skin. Buriti Oil has strong antioxidant properties and protects the skin from free radical damage.

Buriti Fruit Oil Properties:

  • Highly Emollient
  • Exceptionally Rich in Beta-carotene
  • High in Essential Fatty Acids
  • Potent Antioxidant
  • Rich in Vitamin C
  • Improves Skin Elasticity
  • Reduces Redness
  • Offers Sun Protection from UV Rays
  • Protects Skin from Free Radicals
Buriti Fruit Oil is a highly recommended ingredient in products for:

  • Mature, Aging Skin
  • Dry, Cracked Skin
  • Eczema, Psoriasis and Other Skin Conditions
  • Burns
  • Sun Exposed or Damaged Skin
  • Dry, Brittle and Damaged Hair
  • Lip Care
 My Buriti Oil comes straight from Brazil and, for now, is sold in 2oz bottles. I do accept custom orders!  I also have an Oil Sampler, 1 oz each of Andiroba, Brazil Nut, Pracaxi, Buriti, Passion Fruit and Acai oils.

My oils and butters are are wild harvested grown naturally in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest without any pesticides, they are fair trade and self sustainable.

Buy it here!