Today, I want to share a valuable tip that I wish I'd known at the start of my business journey. If you're a craftsperson specializing in handmade beauty products and have been struggling with your soft butter formulations turning grainy, this post is here to help.
The issue arises because when you're working with soft butters, the oils and butters cool at different rates, causing them to separate. Shea butter, in particular, tends to be troublesome in this regard. However, this technique can assist you in creating smooth products with any type of soft butter and can even salvage a batch that didn't turn out as expected.
If you've ever made soap from scratch, you'll catch on quickly! After melting your butters and adding carrier oils and any other ingredients to your formulation, place your container in an ice bath and stir. The goal is to achieve a "light trace," which means there are no visible streaks of oil in the mixture, and it resembles the consistency of thin cake batter—a slightly thickened mixture that's no longer transparent. Be attentive as it thickens, especially for formulations containing wax, as this process will happen much faster.
If you're trying to rescue a grainy batch, gently reheat it until it becomes transparent again, then follow these steps to achieve a smooth, creamy product.
A quick sidenote: Never use the microwave to heat your product; always opt for the double boiler method without exceptions. Additionally, when reheating a batch that contains additives like vitamin E, essential oils, or fragrances, take care to do it on the lowest simmer possible, handling it as gently as you can to preserve your formulation.
I hope this has helped with your handcrafting journey! Check out our new Ink Balm and join our email list to stay in touch!