I've read about butters going grainy. I wonder how my store bought intensive lotion keeps from going grainy, then, because shea butter definitely is a featured ingredient.
I can't tell from the ingredient list because there are soooo many ingredients. Honestly, I cannot use it anymore because I get a temporary burning sensation every time I use it now. It's unscented so I know it isn't fragrance or colorants that are causing this reaction. I see urea as the third ingredient, though, so maybe that's the culprit?@VikingChick Thanks for sharing your subs - so helpful! Did you have any trouble with the shea going grainy? The few lotions I've done with shea have all done that - probably because I keep them at my bathroom sink, where they are exposed to regular fluctuations in temperature and humidity. But if I keep them elsewhere, I never remember to use them.
@Servant4Christ I was also wondering if perhaps your store-bought lotion with shea only uses a tiny amount for label appeal. Can you tell from the ingredient list?
I hope you find a recipe that suits you!
it hasn’t gone grainy for me, but I don’t keep it in the bathroom. This one I keep out in my kitchen/living room area, where I usually use it after washing dishes.@VikingChick Thanks for sharing your subs - so helpful! Did you have any trouble with the shea going grainy? The few lotions I've done with shea have all done that - probably because I keep them at my bathroom sink, where they are exposed to regular fluctuations in temperature and humidity. But if I keep them elsewhere, I never remember to use them.
A while back I made a face lotion and added some sodium lactate as a mild AHA, thinking it would be helpful as an exfoliant as my skin begins that transition into the “aging” category.
I don’t use it much, though, because I’ve found it stings my skin a little. I don’t know if Na lac is something that’s commonly used in commercial lotions, but I do think there are probably other AHAs (or BHAs) in several. Maybe that’s what’s bothering you?
For reference: Triglycerides: Why coconut oil & shea butter don’t mix! Part one! – Point of Interest@Servant4Christ I do use that base, but I switched to using mango instead of shea due to the graininess problem.
Wow, that is such great intel, @Misschief, thank you! My lotions with shea also had fractionated coconut oil in them; I had no idea that could be the problem. I'm very excited that I might be able to still use shea but avoid graininess by subbing out the FCO, rather than buying yet another ingredient to prevent that. Thank you!!
