Nursing Butter

The requirements for a product used on the skin during nursing are unusually strict: no essential oils, no synthetic fragrance, no lanolin (a common allergen), and no ingredients that are not clearly traceable and safe for sensitive skin. Most commercial nursing butters contain at least one of these, which is why a two-ingredient DIY version is such a practical alternative. This Nursing Butter contains only shea butter and Traditional Coconut Oil — both whole, unrefined ingredients with long histories of use in skincare and a fatty acid profile well-suited to dry or sensitive skin.

The formula takes about ten minutes to make, yields 120ml, and lasts eight months. Because it contains only two ingredients, it is straightforward to verify both the sourcing and the full contents — something most commercial alternatives do not make easy. As with any product used during nursing, consult your healthcare provider or lactation consultant if you have any concerns about specific ingredients.

What This Recipe Helps With

• Daily skin conditioning for nursing mothers — breast and body skin
• Comfort support for dry or sensitive skin in the nursing period
• General winter body conditioning with a gentle, clean formula
• A clean, traceable alternative to commercial nursing butters containing lanolin or synthetic ingredients
• Everyday skin conditioning for anyone with sensitivity to fragrance, essential oils, or complex ingredient lists

Why This Is a Great DIY Recipe

Commercial nursing butters typically contain lanolin, a wool-derived ingredient that is one of the more common contact allergens, alongside synthetic emollients and sometimes fragrance or essential oils. For anyone who wants to avoid those ingredients — whether for allergy concerns, personal preference, or a desire for full ingredient transparency — a two-ingredient DIY alternative is difficult to beat. This recipe uses only two ingredients, both of which are traceable to their source and free from synthetic additives.

Skill Level: Beginner.

Both ingredients are melted together, combined, and poured into a jar. There is no technique to manage and no ingredient-handling precision required. The refrigerator step accelerates setting and produces a firmer, creamier texture than room-temperature setting alone — though allowing it to set naturally at room temperature also works and produces a slightly softer result.

Each batch yields 120ml in a single wide-mouth glass jar. The two-ingredient formula makes it easy to scale up or adjust ratios for personal preference, and because the ingredients are so simple, variations are straightforward to experiment with.

Why These Ingredients Work Together

Shea butter provides the conditioning depth and the firm body-butter texture that makes this product substantial enough for dedicated skin conditioning use. Its stearic and oleic fatty acid content delivers sustained nourishment and sits well on sensitive skin, which is one of the reasons it has been used traditionally for exactly this kind of application in West Africa for centuries. Traditional Coconut Oil lightens the texture, improves spreadability, and contributes its own lauric acid conditioning profile. Without coconut oil, pure shea butter can feel thick and slow to absorb; the addition of coconut oil at a 3:1 ratio produces a balanced, creamy texture that spreads evenly and absorbs comfortably.

Hero Ingredient Benefits

• Shea Butter: The primary conditioning ingredient in this formula — and the one that makes it particularly well-suited to sensitive or reactive skin. Shea butter's naturally high content of unsaponifiables (the conditioning fraction of the butter) and its gentle fatty acid profile make it one of the most used ingredients in products designed for sensitive skin areas. It also carries no known contact allergens for the vast majority of users, making it a genuinely clean alternative to lanolin-based products.
• Traditional Coconut Oil: Provides the lighter counterpart to shea butter's density. Its lauric acid content contributes conditioning properties and improves the spreadability and absorption of the finished butter. At 30ml against 90ml of shea, it is the supporting rather than lead ingredient — enough to lighten the texture meaningfully without diluting the conditioning quality of the shea butter.

Ingredients

Makes approximately 120ml — 1 small wide-mouth glass jar

• Shea Butter: 90ml (6 tablespoons)
• Traditional Coconut Oil: 30ml (2 tablespoons)

Directions

1. Set up a double boiler — a heatproof bowl over a small saucepan with 3–4cm of simmering water. Have your glass jar ready before you start.
2. Add shea butter and Traditional Coconut Oil to the bowl together. Both melt at similar temperatures and can be combined from the start. Stir gently until both are completely liquid and combined — approximately 3–4 minutes.
3. Remove the bowl from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Pour into a small wide-mouth glass jar in one smooth, continuous motion. A wide-mouth jar is important — this makes the butter easy to scoop with clean fingers.
5. Place the uncovered jar in the refrigerator for 45–60 minutes to accelerate setting. The refrigerator step produces a firmer, creamier texture than room-temperature setting alone.
6. Once fully set, remove from the refrigerator, seal with a lid, label with the date of making, and store at room temperature.

Application Tips

Apply a rice-grain-sized amount to clean, dry skin as needed throughout the day. A small amount goes a long way — this formula is concentrated, and a larger quantity is not more effective than a smaller one applied consistently. For body conditioning outside of nursing use, apply more generously to dry areas after bathing. As with any product used during the nursing period, consult your healthcare provider or lactation consultant regarding any skin care products applied to the breast area.

Storage & Shelf Life

Store in a small wide-mouth glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, away from direct sunlight and heat. Keep at room temperature — a bathroom cabinet or bedside table works well. Do not store in a car or anywhere that experiences significant temperature variation. Shelf life is 8 months from the date of making. Label the jar clearly with the date of making and the two ingredients — particularly useful for a product used during nursing.

Customisation Ideas

• Firmer texture version: Increase shea butter to 105ml and reduce Traditional Coconut Oil to 15ml for a harder finished butter — better for warm conditions or for those who prefer a firmer product that is easier to scoop a small, precise amount from.
• Vitamin E addition: Add ½ teaspoon of vitamin E oil at Step 3 after removing from heat for a version with additional antioxidant support for shelf stability and a slightly different conditioning profile.
• Single-use portions: Pour the warm liquid into silicone ice cube trays rather than a jar for easy single-use portions. Pop them out once set and store in a sealed container. A convenient format if you prefer to keep one portion at each location.
• Softer summer version: Use 60ml shea butter and 60ml Traditional Coconut Oil for a softer formula with a lower melting point — better suited to use in warm weather where the standard formula may become very firm.

Shop the Baraka Ingredients in This Recipe

Pure. Natural. Ethically sourced. Hand-crafted by women's cooperatives in West Africa. These are the ingredients trusted throughout Baraka's DIY guides and recipes.

• Shea Butter | Shop Now | Rich and deeply moisturising, naturally high in vitamins A and E. Nourishes dry skin and helps protect the skin barrier without clogging pores. A versatile base for balms, creams, and body butters.
• Traditional Coconut Oil | Shop Now | Lightweight and versatile, softens skin and supports gentle cleansing. Adds slip and glide to balms, soaps, and body products. Absorbs well and helps protect hair proteins.

Voice Search FAQ

How do I make a two-ingredient nursing butter at home?

Melt shea butter and Traditional Coconut Oil together in a double boiler, stir until combined, then pour into a small glass jar. Refrigerate for 45–60 minutes to set, then store at room temperature. This Nursing Butter takes around 10 minutes to make and yields 120ml from just two ingredients.

What's a good natural alternative to commercial nipple cream?

A blend of shea butter and Traditional Coconut Oil makes a simple, two-ingredient alternative to commercial nursing butters that often contain lanolin or synthetic ingredients. Both ingredients are whole, unrefined, and traceable to source. As with any product used during nursing, consult your healthcare provider with any ingredient-specific questions.

Can I use shea butter during breastfeeding?

Shea butter is one of the most widely used ingredients in products for sensitive skin during nursing. It contains no known common contact allergens, is free from essential oils and synthetic fragrance, and has a long history of use on sensitive skin. Consult your healthcare provider for guidance.

How long does homemade nursing butter last?

This Nursing Butter has a shelf life of 8 months when stored in a sealed glass jar at room temperature, away from direct heat and sunlight. Label with the date of making. The two-ingredient formula is highly stable — no preservatives are required at this scale.

The Impact of Making Your Own Skincare

When you make skincare with Baraka ingredients, you're supporting women's cooperatives in Ghana who earn fair wages and preserve traditional processing methods. According to Baraka's 2025 Social & Environmental Impact Report, this direct trade model provided income for over 1,000 women and prevented 47 metric tons of CO2 emissions. You also gain complete transparency — knowing exactly what touches your skin and your family's skin, without hidden synthetics or uncertain supply chains.

Authority Attribution

This recipe is expanded from our comprehensive DIY Winter Skincare: 10 Essential Natural Recipes to Protect Your Skin All Season, which explores additional formulations, ingredient options, and variations. Visit the full guide for more approaches to gentle winter skin conditioning.