Whipped Tallow Body Butter Recipe with Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter

There is something so satisfying about making a homemade body butter from simple, nourishing ingredients. I love knowing exactly what goes into it, and this body butter recipe has quickly become one of my favorite ways to care for dry skin at home. I also love keeping other old-fashioned skincare staples on hand, like my Deeply Hydrating Old-Fashioned Tallow Face Cream for the face and my Homemade Tallow Lip Balm Recipe (Nourishing & Long-Lasting) for everyday moisture.

This whipped body butter is rich, fluffy, and deeply moisturizing, but it still feels surprisingly non greasy once it absorbs into the skin. I make it with rendered tallow, shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and arrowroot powder for a soft texture that is easy to whip and easy to use. If you enjoy simple homemade products, this is a lovely one to keep on hand, especially paired with my Tallow Soap Bar Recipe (Nourishing, Creamy & Moisturizing! as part of an old-fashioned skincare routine.

If my skin starts feeling extra dry during the colder months, especially in February and through winter, a thicker whipped body butter can make such a difference. That is one reason I reach for a rich butter like this on my hands, elbows, legs, and feet whenever my skin needs more than a lightweight lotion.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Why This Whipped Body Butter Feels Non Greasy

Arrowroot powder is one of the key ingredients that helps this whipped body butter feel less greasy on the skin. Since tallow, shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil are all rich and deeply moisturizing, the arrowroot helps balance that richness so the finished body butter feels softer, silkier, and easier to use. It does not add moisture on its own the way the fats and oils do, but it improves the overall texture and helps the body butter absorb with a lighter feel. That is what gives this recipe more of a true whipped body butter texture instead of feeling like a heavy balm. If you have tried my natural deodorant recipe, then you know exactly what I'm talking about! I especially like using this tallow body butter for hands, arms, and legs because it leaves my skin feeling well moisturized without such a heavy, oily finish.

Why I Like Making This Whipped Body Butter

I already make face creams and tallow balms, but this recipe fills a different place. A true whipped body butter feels richer than a face cream and more luxurious than a basic balm. I like using it anywhere my skin needs extra moisture, especially on rough spots that need more than a lightweight lotion.

This recipe also gives me a way to make a natural moisturizer without adding water, which keeps the ingredient list simple. Since this is an anhydrous product, meaning it does not contain water, I do not need to worry about the same kind of preservation system that water-based products require. The FDA notes that cosmetic products can become harmful if they are contaminated and also notes that shelf life depends on how a product is formulated and stored.

I also like that I can customize it. I can leave it free of fragrance, add a little essential oil, or change the liquid oils depending on what I have on hand.

Quick Look at This Recipe

Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: None
Total time: 15 minutes, plus cooling time
Servings: About 10 ounces
Texture: Rich, fluffy, smooth
Best served: On dry skin after a bath or shower

Ingredients for Whipped Tallow Body Butter

193 g rendered tallow (about ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons)

57 g shea butter (about ¼ cup)

20 g jojoba oil (about 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon)

8.5 g cocoa butter (about 2 teaspoons)

5.5 g arrowroot powder (about 2 teaspoons)

2 g vitamin E oil (about ½ teaspoon)

2 g total essential oils (roughly ⅓ teaspoon)

Essential oils are optional. This balm is effective without them. When I link to essential oils, I’m linking to the brand I personally use and trust. Young Living offers a 10% share discount on orders of 50 PV or more with code SHAREYL, if you’d like to take advantage of it

Equipment

• Small saucepan
• Heat-safe glass bowl or double boiler
• Measuring spoons
• Measuring cups or kitchen scale
• Silicone spatula or spoon
• Immersion blender or hand mixer
• Mixing bowl
• Storage jar or airtight container

Ingredient Notes and Simple Substitutions

• Tallow gives this homemade body butter its base and makes it especially creamy once whipped.
• I like this combination because each part helps create a balanced butter that is rich but still pleasant to use.
• Shea butter adds softness and richness. It pairs beautifully with tallow and helps create that classic body butter feel.
• Cocoa butter gives the mixture more body and a little firmness. It also helps the finished butter hold its shape better.
• Jojoba oil is my favorite liquid oil here because it keeps the mixture from feeling too heavy. You could also use olive oil if that is what you have, though it will create a slightly heavier finish. A small amount of coconut oil can also be used, but I would not use too much or the body butter may become harder in cooler temperatures.
• Arrowroot powder helps reduce the heavy feeling and makes the finished butter more non greasy. If you do not have arrowroot starch, you could try tapioca starch, though I usually reach for arrowroot first.

If you want to experiment later, mango butter can be used in place of part of the shea butter for a slightly different texture.

How to Make Homemade Body Butter

Add the tallow, shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil to a heat-safe bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water and let everything melt slowly.

Once the mixture is fully melted, remove it from the heat. Whisk in the arrowroot powder until smooth.

Add the vitamin E and your essential oils if you are using them.

Transfer it to the refrigerator or freezer for a short time, just until partially firm. Let the mixture cool until it begins to thicken around the edges.

Using a hand mixer, whip the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy. Spoon the finished whipped body butter into clean jars.

Tips for the Best Body Butter Recipe

The most important thing is not to over-chill the mixture before you whip it. If it gets too hard, it will not whip as smoothly. I like to let it cool until it is opaque and soft enough for a mixer to work through easily.

If you want a softer butter, add just a little more jojoba oil. If you want a firmer butter for very dry skin, increase the cocoa butter slightly.

I also recommend starting with a small amount of essential oil. A little goes a long way in a product like this, especially when it is being used over larger areas of the body. If your skin is sensitive, you may prefer to leave it fragrance free.

Because this is a handmade cosmetic, I store it in a cool, dry place and use clean hands or a spoon when scooping from the jar.

Shelf Life

This homemade body butter should keep well for several months if stored properly in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture. The exact shelf life depends on the freshness of the ingredients you start with and how the product is handled during use. For homemade skincare, I always label the jar with the date I made it so I can keep track.

How I Use This Whipped Body Butter

I like using this body butter recipe after a bath or shower when my skin is still slightly damp. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying moisturizer after bathing to help with dry skin, and this is exactly the kind of rich butter I reach for when I want something more substantial than lotion.

It works especially well on hands, elbows, knees, and feet, but I also use it anywhere my skin feels dry or tight. If you deal with very sensitive or eczema-prone skin, you may also find it helpful to read more about how thicker creams and ointments compare to lighter lotions from the National Eczema Association.

Frequently Asked Questions About Whipped Tallow Body Butter