A Remedy for Grainy Shea Butter
What are those gritty molecules that you find in your homemade skin products? After having prepared them meticulously, how did they come to be there?
They occur when some molecules become cool quicker than the rest of the product. Due to that, you are left with grainy body butter. If the entire product had cooled down at the same temperature, you would have a velvety soft product.
The problem of grain formation is to be expected when you’re making body butter that is free of synthetics. However, in the labs, these are added to the recipe to prevent the grains. So, what can you do to solve this problem?
Why Do the Grains Form?
First, let’s take a look at exactly how the grains form.
These are the normal quantities of fatty acids in good quality, unrefined shea butter:
Oleic acid (43-56%)
Stearic acid (31%-45%)
Linoleic acid and Palmitic acid (4-8% each)
Lauric acid, Linolenic acid, Arachidic acid (about 1% or even lesser)
All these fatty acids melt at different temperatures (melting points), after which they solidify. Manufacturers state the melting point of a single butter to be the same. For instance, shea butter melts between 31°C and 37°C and cocoa butter melts between 33°C and 38°C.
However, each fatty acid within that butter has a different melting point.
The Solution
In order to prevent this problem, you must first melt your butter and then add it to the recipe. Then put it inside a fridge, freezer or an ice bath to ensure that it becomes solid quickly.
If you would like to whip your Better Butter Company's Shea Butter, you will need to take it out before it is completely solid. This is the perfect point to whip the product because you will achieve the right consistency and not face the problem of grain formation either.
What Next?
After your product has become solid, store it away in a cool place. If the area’s temperature rises above 26°C, it is best to store it in a fridge. It is best to keep the product away from any moisture or heat.
With these tips, you are ready to make a variety of grain-free skin products including, but not limited to, lotion bars, body butter, moisturizer, sugar scrub and lip balms!
So you see, grainy shea butter is a common occurrence but can be remedied in a simple, straightforward way.
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