Lyndsay Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Ok I need help! I found this recipe on here...I cant find it again though. Anyways, when I made this and put it in a jar. A few days later I used it and it had hard "grains" in it, They melted with the heat of my hands but still...why is it doing this and how do I fix it?When I make the butter I make sure everything is fully melted... cocoa butter - 28gshea butter - 28ggrapeseed oil - 24gsao - 32gjojoba - 14galoe butter - 14gbeeswax - 36gfragrance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smacky Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Try softening your hard butters instead of melting them.Melt your beeswax with your grapeseed, sao and jojoba.Then add the softened butters and the rest of your ingredients to a cooled down beeswax and oil combination.You could then whip it if you choose or dispense it into containers. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyndsay Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 Ok....what do you mean by "soften"? Just warm them till they're soft but not melted? Thanks so much!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smacky Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Exactly, just like you would with real butter. I sometimes make a whipped herb butter.I let it soften on the counter and then put it in the mixing bowl. It is still opaque and has body, but not melted into an oil.Oh yes, you can do this in a microwave if you have low power settings.Just be patient and not try to do it too fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ah-soy Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Sounds like your shea butter is 'fractionating' (as shea is prone to do with temp changes). You can try tempering it as you would chocolate. The grainies don't hurt anything, but they seem to be a cosmetic 'feel' issue with users.Smacky's idea sounds good too, I may just give it a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Or you can do what I do, feature the grains as "shea beads for extra moisturizing".If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyndsay Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 Great ideas! Carrie...do you actually advertise that it has shea beads for extra moisturizing? Shoooot with my luck, Id say that and there'd be no grains!! Thats when it'd be sooo smooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Yes, in my lip balm. It goes grainy within a week or two. I make a whipped shea that doesn't go grainy, I don't know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystical_angel1219 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Shea butter does strange things over time. Especially with temperature variance. It all depends on what type of element [storage, heat and exposure to air] touches the finished product, after the sale. Sometimes a customer [one of us] can receive shea that is already grainy. Same thing- storage and shipping conditions. You can temper the shea a few time's and get a great result. Less heat and room temp cooling. Low heat will not kill all the natural qualities.I've tested countless formulation's with shea butter. It does have some amazing qualities. All those natural BIG BRAND companies use shea butter in SMALL quantity/percentage, thus the smoother feel for the end user. They are emulsified formulations. Not a true "whipped" butter. More like a thick cream~ stabilizers bind it together. The feel is slick/wet/cold [and stable d/t paraben preservative] but it removes some [if not all] of the healing properties of natural shea d/t heat exposure. Thus the shea is for label appeal. The FDA label guidelines regulate these companies just like food. A true shea butter "lover" has appreciation for it's natural qualities. No water in the product, thus the change over time~ but not usually visible mold or gram positive. Shea is stable until you add water to the mix or heat. The marketplace right now is very focused on green/eco type consumer spending. It is all the rage. Lush started in a basement or garage. Look at them now!Something to ponder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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