This Whipped Amber Bronzing Butter is sure to become a summer beauty staple. It’s fluffy, moisturizing *and* sparkly – basically, a trifecta of awesome. First avocado and coffee butters are whipped until smooth. Melted cocoa butter is incorporated, along with a warm and sophisticated scent blend of Amber and Ancient Sedona Fragrance Oil. Once whipped, the butters have a mousse-like texture that spreads easily and absorbs quickly. Tapioca powder is added to help cut the oily feel on the skin.
This whipped body butter contains Copper Sparkle Mica for a slight tint. The amount in the recipe below is great for fair skin, but if you’d like more color feel free to add more! See the bottom of the post for an example of the color. Because it is made of butters, it does have the possibility to melt in high temperatures. I recommend keeping this butter in a cool, dark place and if you ship your products mail order, don’t ship during the summer unless you’re shipping with cool packs. This recipe does not contain any water, which means it does not need a preservative. Click here to learn more about preservatives for bath and beauty products.
What You’ll Need:
Three 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jars
6 oz. Avocado Butter
6 oz. Coffee Butter
4 oz. Cocoa Butter
8 mL Amber Fragrance Oil
3 mL Ancient Sedona Fragrance Oil
2 Tbs. Tapioca Powder
4 tsp. Copper Sparkle Mica
Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
ONE: In a heat safe container, add the cocoa butter and melt in the microwave using 1 minute bursts until the butter is liquid. Make sure your container can withstand high heat, as cocoa butter melts around 100 degrees F. Once melted, set aside to cool. Be careful when removing from the microwave, the container will be very hot. If you are working with large chunks of cocoa butter, cut it into small pieces for easier melting.
TWO: In a large mixing bowl, add the avocado and coffee butters. Use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to whip the butters together until completely smooth. Scrape the edges of the bowl to ensure the entire mixture is incorporated. Continue to whip the mixture on medium for several minutes to ensure a smooth texture.
THREE: Check the temperature of your cocoa butter. You want it to be around 120 degrees or below. Very slowly, add about 1/4 of the melted cocoa butter, and whip until fully incorporated.
FOUR: Continue adding small amounts of the melted cocoa butter to the mixture, whipping between each addition until all the cocoa butter has been added. Whip the mixture for several minutes to ensure the butters are fully mixed and completely smooth.
FIVE: Add the Amber and Ancient Sedona Fragrance Oils. Whip for several seconds to fully mix in the fragrances. You can see that as the butter cools, it becomes lighter in color.
SIX: Add the tapioca powder, and use a spatula to incorporate. Once it has been mixed in, whip with the hand mixer to further blend in the powder.
SEVEN: Add the Copper Sparkle Mica, and use the hand mixer to blend in until completely incorporated. Test the color on your skin. If you prefer a deeper color, add more Copper Sparkle Mica into the mixture 1 teaspoon at a time until you are happy with the color. Transfer the body butter into jars and seal.
Store the body butter in a dry, cool place. As the body butter cools, it tends to take on a foamy, lightweight texture similar to mousse. This body butter may begin to melt when exposed to high temperatures (90 ° F or above). Below is an example of what the butter looks like on fair skin. Once worked into the skin and blended, the color lightens. I’ve been wearing it on my legs as a faux-nylon and it gives such a nice shimmer and a hint of color.
What is your go-to recipe for body butter? This might be my new favorite!
- Three 8 oz. Bail Jars
- 6 oz. Avocado Butter
- 6 oz. Coffee Butter
- 4 oz. Cocoa Butter
- 8 mL Amber Fragrance Oil
- 3 mL Ancient Sedona Fragrance Oil
- 2 Tbs. Tapioca Powder
- 4 tsp. Copper Sparkle Mica
- In a heat safe container, add the cocoa butter and melt in the microwave using 1 minute bursts until the butter is liquid. Make sure your container can withstand high heat, as cocoa butter melts around 100 degrees F. Once melted, set aside to cool. If you are working with large chunks of cocoa butter, cut it into small pieces for easier melting.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the avocado and coffee butters. Use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to whip the butters together until completely smooth. Scrap the edges of the bowl to ensure the entire mixture is incorporated. Continue to whip the mixture on medium to ensure a smooth texture.
- Check the temperature of your cocoa butter. You want it to be around 120 degrees or below. Very slowly, add about ¼ of the melted cocoa butter, and whip until fully incorporated.
- Continue adding small amounts of the cocoa butter to the mixture, whipping between each addition until all the cocoa butter has been added. Continue to whip the mixture for several minutes to ensure the butters are fully mixed and completely smooth.
- Add the Amber and Ancient Sedona Fragrance Oils. Whip for several seconds to fully mix in the fragrances.
- Add the tapioca powder, and use a spatula to incorporate. Once it has been mixed in, whip with the hand mixer to further blend in the powder.
- Add the Copper Sparkle Mica, and use the hand mixer to blend in until completely incorporated. Test the color on your skin. If you prefer a deeper color, add more Copper Sparkle Mica into the mixture 1 teaspoon at a time until you are happy with the color. Transfer the body butter into jars, and seal.
This recipe was wonderful. I finally got around to making it for Christmas gifts. I didn’t have large jars, so I used baby food jars. It was a great way to introduce my friends to the body butter. It was also my first time doing something like this. I will definitely order again, and experiment with some new stuff. The most compliments I received were the fact that the formula wasn’t greasy. It blended right in to the skin. 🙂
hello,
this recipe sounds amazing but i only have cocoa butter and shea butter would i be able to replace them in the recipe ? and how much ? this is perfect for fall !
You can use shea butter in place of the avocado and coffee butter in this recipe! I would recommend chopping it into small pieces before whipping to prevent any chunks of shea. Also, shea butter is firmer than avocado and coffee butter, so the recipe will be more firm. After it’s all mixed together, test some on your arm. If you want it softer, you can add a lightweight liquid oil like avocado, sweet almond or meadowfoam. I would start with about .5 ounces and go from there. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Shea Butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
Avocado Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Sweet Almond Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
Meadowfoam Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Meadowfoam-Oil-P4978.aspx
Hello,
I have tried a body butter last summer, (Shea butter, Cocoa & Coffee butter) but when I was ready to deliver it, it had all melted down because of the hot temperature. Is it because I didn’t whip it long enough? I didn’t use tapioca or Arrowroot powder. Only BTMS-50. I am in California, so technically the weather could be a problem a big part of the year. I am trying to avoid waxes as I heard it prevents skin from breathing. If you have a suggestion. Would tapioca help?
Thank you!!
Hi Ginny!
In the hot weather, those butters will melt, even with tapioca powder and lots of whipping. It’s just a natural thing they do in the hot sun!
There are several things you can do to help keep those butters cool during delivery though, like packing them with ice packs. You can also arrange a delivery time and place with your customers so the butters aren’t sitting in the hot sun. Get more tips in the soaping in the summer heat post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
For your current recipe, you can also up the cocoa butter. Cocoa butter has a higher melting point, so it’s a bit more sturdy than shea butter and may help prevent too much melting. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi! i was wondering do butters that has oils, essential oil and/or fragrance oil NEED a preservative? I’ve watch some of your videos which really stress the importance of a preservative, but you do not have one for this butter recipe.
Also, do you know how long a lotion (the one with water) will last if i used your recommended amount of Optiphen? DO you have a video on making lotion with Optiphen rather than the one you favor?
…
——–Thanks so much for all you help with! I really appreciate you teachings.
Hi Kia!
That’s a great question! As a general rule of thumb, preservatives are needed when a product has water (lotion) or will have water introduced during use (scrub stored in the shower).
This recipe doesn’t contain water, and will likely be stored in a dry place. That means it doesn’t need a preservative. 🙂
Read more about preservatives and when to use them here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
The shelf life of lotion depends on a number of factors. With a preservative like Optiphen and oils with long shelf lives, the lotion will last about a year. With a preservative and oils with shorter shelf lives (hazelnut oil), the lotion will last about as long as the oil does. With no preservative, the lotion will last a couple of weeks (a bit longer in the fridge).
You can use Optiphen in place of Phenonip in lotion! Some people prefer it because it’s paraben and formaldehyde free. You can use it at .5-1.5% in your recipe.
Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx
We used Optiphen in this Rose and Aloe In-Shower Lotion and it works great: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/rose-aloe-shower-lotion/
This video has lots of great information on preservatives as well: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/make-lotion-scratch-soap-queen-tv/
Hope that helps! If you have any other questions let me know. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I was wondering if the butter are measured by weight or by volume?
Hi Danielle!
The butter amounts are measured by weight! The powders, colorants and fragrance are measured by volume, but the butters are by weight. 🙂
Read more about weight vs. volume here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/a-guide-to-weight-vs-volume/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I add arrowroot powder instead of Tapioca powder?
Hi Pooja!
You can! I would recommend adding the same amount (2 tablespoons) as the tapioca powder, then testing some on your skin. If you want a bit more, you can add from there. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Arrowroot powder: https://www.brambleberry.com/Arrowroot-Powder-P3706.aspx
thanks a ton #:) it did turn out pretty nice & it is light & fluffy but holding firm, so not melting at room temperature, plus adding arrowroot has made it less greasy. gives a nice finish & moves easily on the skin! Loving my new butter 🙂 big thank you.
You’re welcome Pooja! So glad to hear you’re loving the butter. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’ve had trouble twice now in my whipped shea batches — I keep getting little clumps of shea butter! I’m letting this whip for a long time and I do pause and scrape the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is getting whipped but I still wind up with clumps of shea. Suggestions?
Hi Natasha!
Oh no, I’m sorry about that! If you’re noticing clumps of butter, it may help to chop it up into tiny pieces before whipping. That will help the mixer get every piece of butter and whip it until smooth. 🙂
If you’re still having clumps, you may try melting the shea butter before adding it. That may help prevent clumps as well. Just make sure not to overheat the shea, as it can cause graininess. Learn more about that here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Well for example when making your whipped body butters with shea, I do cut into tiny pieces but since I’m mixing it with coconut oil, I didn’t think melting it would work?
Hi Natasha!
I think cutting it into small pieces will really help, as it will help the mixer reach all of them so they can whip together. Melting the shea butter will mean the shea starts at an even liquid consistency. As you whip, it will harden and whip into a fluffy texture.
For instance, in this recipe we whipped the coffee and avocado butter together, then added the melted cocoa butter and whipped more. You can do something similar – whip the coconut oil, then add the melted shea.
I would recommend cutting the shea butter into little pieces first. I think that will help a lot. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made this bronzing lotion strictly according to the directions, save using less mica, as I am extremely fair. When I applied it to my skin it literally scratched, almost as though it had pumice in it rather than the mica that it came with. I was highly disappointed, as I have a difficult time with Bronzers and tanning products; I thought this would be my salvation, being able to adjust the actual amount of color in the product before I applied it. I am aware of what a mica is; however I didn’t believe it would be suggested for use in a recipe that would actually hurt my skin. I do love the coffee butter though; however I am disappointed I wasted expensive products to no avail.
Hi Jen!
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that! We had several people in the office test this butter with the suggested amount of mica and didn’t notice any scratching! Micas are a very fine powder and don’t have any exfoliating properties.
Sometimes butters can get grainy during the hot summer months. I’m wondering if that may be the reason the texture is rather rough? You can find how to temper the butters to avoid graininess in the Soaping in the Summer Heat post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
Do you notice any graininess in your butter? Was the cocoa butter melted before being added?
Again, sorry for any inconvenience. Let me know and we’ll get this figured out. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi!
This looks like a really fun project however, I was wondering, does copper mica stain clothing? If it gets on carpet (say my toddler gets a hold of it -_-), will it wash out easily?
Thanks!
Hi Alyssa!
If you apply this butter right before getting dressed, some of that color may transfer over. However, if you let it absorb before getting dressed, that will lessen the chance of color transfer. Also, I got a bit of this butter on my shirt. I rubbed some dish soap on it before washing and it came out just fine. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I just made this and it’s amazing! I substituted Shea Butter for Avocado Butter, as I was out. I love the natural coffee-cocoa scent, so I put some in smaller jars for fans of unscented products. The rest I scented with Espresso FO (in place of Amber) and Turkish Mocha (instead of Sedona). I think the scent is to die for!!
My Shea butter was grainy, so even after almost an hour of whipping there is still a little bit of graininess to it, but I think it’s okay – I knew I was taking a chance starting with grainy butter.
After filling the jars, I put them in the fridge, hoping that will keep them whipped up & stiff longer.
I would like to keep it refrigerated, as temps where I live are in the 90’s for summer.
I appreciate any input on this.
Thanks for the wonderful recipe!!!
Hi Sly!
So glad you’re loving the butter! The Espresso and Turkish Mocha blend sounds amazing. 🙂
This butter can melt if it gets too hot, so I think keeping it in the refrigerator is a good idea!
Also, to prevent graininess in your shea butter, you can temper it. To temper it, melt your butter completely and then pour into a mold. Put it into the fridge or freezer to cool very quickly. When it’s fully cool, take it out and store in a cool dark place. Then, use when you need it. This should eliminate the grains you’re finding in your products. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Espresso Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Espresso-Fragrance-Oil-P5889.aspx
Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Turkish-Mocha-Fragrance-Oil-P3353.aspx
This recipe looks wonderful and I am anxious to try it.
I have Coffee Butter and Cocoa Butter, but no Avocado Butter. I have only 3 oz of Mango butter left, but lots of Shea butter. What would you recommend for a replacement?
Would the coffee & cocoa scents come out if I left it unscented?
Thank you for your help.
Hi Sly!
This butter feels amazing, I think you’ll love it!
You can definitely use shea butter in this recipe. Just make sure to cut it into little pieces before whipping so it whips evenly. Also, shea butter is a bit more firm than avocado butter. You may want to test a little on your skin after it’s made. If you want it a bit softer, you can add more coffee butter.
Also, the coffee and cocoa butters will scent the butter slightly. They will add a subtle mocha smell to your butter. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
Kelsey:
Thank you for the information on tempering….I have never tried that because what I have read about tempering is that it must be kept at a certain temperature (can’t remember what that is right now) for 45 minutes.
So if I just warm up my Shea Butter in the microwave, pour into molds & refrigerate/ freeze, that will tempor it and get rid of the graininess?
Does that work will all butters?
Thank you for the further clarification.
Hi Sly!
You can do either method! One involves heating the butters (especially cocoa, shea and mango) and maintaining that heat for 45-60 minutes. The other involves melting the butter fully and putting it in the freezer to cool down quickly. Then, remove the butter to a cool, dry place and use as needed. Read about those methods in the Soaping in the Summer Heat post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
I’ve found both methods work great for getting rid of those grains. You may want to try both and see which one you prefer. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
What would be a good substitution for the Coffee Butter? I Would LOVE to make this, but i can’t do the smell of Coffee. =(
Would Mango Butter work?
Thanks in Advance!
Hi Jennifer!
You can use mango butter if you like! It’s a little bit more firm, so I would recommend melting it as well. Then, you can add the melted mango and cocoa butter to the whipped avocado butter.
You may find the butter is a bit more firm. A small test batch would help, as you could check the consistency. If you want it softer, you can add more avocado butter. 🙂
You can also add shea butter instead! With that butter, it doesn’t need to be melted but we do recommend cutting it into small pieces so it whips more easily. Then, add the melted cocoa butter.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Mango butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Mango-Butter-P3221.aspx
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
Wow, I’m definitely going to make a small batch of this!!!
I have a small 2 oz bottle of amber and ancient Sedona that I can use, plus this product is perfect for summer!!!
That’s awesome, it’s so nice to have the scents already on hand! Have fun making it Robin. I have some at my desk and wear it every day for a fun summer glow. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This recipe looks terrific! I’m really excited about it and do want to try it as is but for the moment I don’t have any avocado butter, would orange butter work? The chocolate coffee orange scent from the three butters makes a fantastic fragrance all on its own. I also have some new tapioca powder I’ve been looking forwardt to trying in a butter (I got it to make dusting powder), this is going to be a wonderful experiment.
Hi Grey Dove!
So glad you like the recipe! We didn’t try orange butter, but I imagine it would work great in this recipe! The smell would be amazing too. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
why is there tapioca powder in this? What’s it’s purpose?
Thanks!
Hi Meg!
Because this recipe is made of entirely butter, it can feel a bit heavy or greasy on the skin. The tapioca powder helps cut down on that greasiness, and adds a nice silky feeling. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry