The Nourished Life: Key Lime Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter Recipe

This whipped coconut oil recipe is the perfect moisturizer for summertime (or when you wish it was summertime!). Key lime pie is one of my favorite desserts, so it comes as no surprise that I rather enjoy smelling like key lime pie in the mornings after applying this whipped moisturizer. The sweet, tangy combination of lime and lemon essential oils brightens my mood, lifts my spirits, and makes me dream of lying in the sun on a tropical beach somewhere--even if it's below freezing outside!

A New and Improved Whipped Coconut Oil Recipe

My key lime coconut oil recipe contains a few extra ingredients that weren't in my original whipped coconut oil body butter recipe. One is a small amount of liquid oil, such as olive oil or castor oil. (I recommend a low-PUFA oil because vegetable oils aren't your friend--either in your body or on your skin). Another is aloe vera gel, which is soothing to the skin, and great for treating acne, wrinkles and scars. Both the liquid oil and the aloe vera gel keep the coconut oil on the softer side (even in frigid temperatures).

The lemon and lime essential oils not only give this whipped moisturizer its tantalizingly indulgent aroma, but they have beneficial properties as well. Both citrus oils have antiseptic, antiviral, antibacterial, disinfectant, and astringent properties. I notice they combine well with the moisturizing properties of coconut oil, and tend to keep it from feeling excessively greasy--a common complaint about using coconut oil as a moisturizer. The skin on my face absolutely glows after using this combination!

I'm quite impressed with the results, and am secretly pleased that this coconut oil recipe easily outperforms an expensive facial cream I tried recently. Just imagine: a facial moisturizer that contains only food-based ingredients and costs pennies on the dollar compared to department store creams. What's not to love?

Key Lime Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients
(Makes About 1 Cup of Whipped Coconut Oil)

1/2 cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon olive oil (or try castor or macadamia nut oil)
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
20 drops lime essential oil
20 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl. Note: Do not melt the coconut oil first. It will only whip up if it's solid.

2. Mix with an electric mixer on high speed with a wire whisk attachment for 3-7 minutes or until whipped into a light, airy consistency. (After 3 minutes, check back every minute or so until it reaches the right consistency.)

3. Spoon the whipped coconut oil body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly. Store at room temperature, or in the refrigerator if your house is so warm it melts the oil.

Tip: An electric hand mixer will work, but my KitchenAid stand mixer did the job quickly and easily with little effort on my part (love it!). A blender or food processor will not work with this coconut oil recipe, because they tend to warm the oil too much and prevent it from whipping up. If your coconut oil is too soft to whip, try putting the bowl in the freezer for a few minutes before mixing.