How to Make Intensive Shea Butter Eye Cream (Recipe)

Katie Wells Avatar

Reading Time: 3 minutes

This post contains affiliate links.

Read my affiliate policy.

how-to-make-an-intensive-shea-butter-eye-cream
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » How to Make Intensive Shea Butter Eye Cream (Recipe)

Are you tired of your eyes looking, well…tired? You’ll find plenty of conventional eye creams that promise more youthful-looking skin. However, this DIY shea butter eye cream delivers the naturally protective benefits of shea butter, without a hefty dose of harmful chemicals on the side.

Skipping harmful ingredients is just one benefit of choosing a homemade eye cream over storebought. Let’s look at some of the drawbacks of conventional undereye creams.

The Problem With Most Eye Creams

Conventional eye creams work by temporarily constricting blood vessels or coating the skin in a film to artificially tone it. This might perk your eyes for the day but not deliver skin-deep results.

In contrast, shea butter penetrates with anti-inflammatory compounds (cinnamic acid), natural vitamins, and deeply moisturizing fatty acids for results over the long term.

Also, unlike other formulas, this eye cream doesn’t contain any water. While water-based creams make your skin feel moisturized at first, they end up drying out the delicate undereye area. A waterless eye cream also has a much longer shelf life (and is easier to make!).

The Benefits of Natural Shea Butter Eye Cream

Studies show shea butter naturally stimulates collagen production to increase skin firmness. This can improve the appearance of wrinkles around the eyes. Even better, it helps reduce inflammation to combat puffiness. You’re also getting a nourishing dose of vitamins A and E for healthier skin.

I also add coconut oil to this shea butter eye cream recipe. Coconut oil is also fabulous for skin since it’s rich in lauric acid and essential fats. Not only does it boost circulation to clear up undereye circles, but it keeps connective tissue strong and supple. This means fewer fine lines and wrinkles.

Finally, we add a few other skin-soothing ingredients:

  • The beeswax in this recipe prevents moisture loss that can cause wrinkles.
  • Rosehip seed oil is very nourishing for aging skin. Since it’s a dry oil, it helps to reduce the overall greasy feel of this eye cream.
  • To finish it off, we’re using geranium essential oil for its ability to help diminish wrinkles and inflammation and clear up dark circles.

DIY pro tip: Also try my DIY under eye cream made with coffee!

Other Anti-Aging Natural Recipes

Warning: Once you see how well they work (and how much money they save!), you might become addicted to making your own natural beauty products! These are some of my favorite easy-to-make recipes and beauty tips:

how-to-make-an-intensive-shea-butter-eye-cream
Print
3.83 from 103 votes

Shea Butter Eye Cream Recipe

Make your own luxurious shea butter and coconut oil eye cream with this all-natural recipe. Many expensive eye creams contain ingredients that don’t even work! DIY instead!
Active Time15 minutes
Yield: 2 oz
Author: Katie Wells

Instructions

  • In a wide-mouth mason jar, combine the shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax.
  • Fill a saucepan halfway with water and place it on the stove.
  • Place the mason jar in the pan of water.
  • Bring the water to a gentle simmer to melt the ingredients in the mason jar, swirling the jar ever so often to gently mix the ingredients.
  • As soon as the ingredients are melted and combined, remove the jar from the water bath.
  • Pour the mixture in a small mixing bowl and let it cool for 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the rosehip and geranium oils.
  • Scoop the mixture into a glass or steel jar and use a tiny amount under the eyebrow and under eye area at night.

Notes

  • If you prefer glass, use these 2 oz round jars.
  • No beeswax? Substitute with extra shea butter. The result will be softer but still nourishing!
  • You can also use this as a natural eye makeup remover.
  • As with anything that’s not specifically for the eyeball, do NOT get this into your eye!

Make your own luxurious eye cream with this all-natural recipe. Many expensive eye creams contain ingredients that don't even work! DIY instead!

Have you ever made an eye cream? What are your favorite ingredients to use? Share below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

158 responses to “How to Make Intensive Shea Butter Eye Cream (Recipe)”

  1. Anita Avatar

    I’m severely allergic to yellow jackets can I still use beeswax?

  2. Dabney Avatar

    Hi there,
    I do love your website as I am new at making lotions and potions! In your eye cream, is it possible to use other beneficial oils other than geranium. I was thinking about Frankincense, Rose, or Clary Sage?

  3. Megan Avatar

    Hi, wondering if cocoa butter and shea butter are interchangeable in this? I already have cocoa butter and am looking to try this and some body butters with it. Thanks!

  4. Avram Oana Avatar
    Avram Oana

    Dear Katie,i love your website and all of your . I’ve tried dozens of them and i stopped buying beauty products 🙂
    However, i have one problem and i ask your advice, you prepared hundreds of recipes and you have a lot of experience.
    My question is why some of the creams start to crystallize? Even this shea butter eye cream, It has a texture like a crystallized honey ( grainy, sandy type). Actually,it turns into very small sugar granules. Why this is happening?
    I would appreciate so much your answer. Thank you very much.

    1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

      It actually isn’t sugar but likely the butters or beeswax hardening. It is most often temperature dependent. To avoid it, this can be stored in the fridge but I find that those small pieces dissolve with skin heat and I don’t mind them

  5. Sabrina Avatar
    Sabrina

    Hi Katie,

    Thanks for posting this great-looking recipe. I am wondering if this is better as a night cream than a day cream and how this looks under make up.

    Thank you!

    Sabrina

    1. Sandi Avatar

      I definitely put it on more generously at night than in the morning. After I wash my face in the morning, I put a tiny bit under my eyes, then allow time for it to absorb before putting on my makeup. I’ve been using it for about six months now and I love it! Much better than all of the eye creams I’ve purchased through the years.

  6. Clare Avatar

    Hi. Sorry if this is obvious but what does the “T’ stand for when using Shea and Coconut oil? Love your site by the way and thanks.

  7. Becky Avatar

    Love your site!! I think I will try substituting squalane oil instead of the rosehip. (the plant derived not the shark). Thanks for all you do!

  8. Ann Avatar

    Would it be OK to substitute emulsifying wax pastilles for the bees wax? Thanks.

  9. Asha Avatar

    Hi, I loved the moisturizer that you had posted and it has saved my skin during the last two winters. I had bought this set of essential oils which contains the following EOs: 1. Eucalyptus
    2. Grapefruit
    3. Lavender
    4. Lemon
    5. Lemongrass
    6. Lime
    7. Patchouli
    8. Peppermint
    9. Pine/Fir
    10. Rosemary
    11. Spearmint
    12. Sweet Orange
    13. Tangerine
    14. Tea Tree

    Can any of the above be used instead of the EOs that you have mentioned?

  10. Amy Avatar

    Do you have an etsy shop or something where you sell this? If not, I wish you did! 🙂

  11. Maggie Avatar

    Made this eye cream as per the instructions. I tried it for about a week. I have used all of these ingredients in other products and never had a problem. But, for some reason, every time I used it, my eyes burned, teared, and became swollen. I love the texture of it though. So, I put it to good use as a hand moisturizer. It absorbs quickly and makes my hands feel so soft. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

  12. Monica Avatar

    Is there a reason not to use plastic jars, or are you just staying away from plastic because its plastic? Id like to make as gifts because it would work well with a pile of small plastic jars i have.

      1. Carolyn Russell Avatar
        Carolyn Russell

        I thought items with essential oils in them were supposed to be kept in glass instead of plastic containers?

    1. Sandi Avatar

      Really hot water, dish soap, and a bottle brush worked for me. Set the jar in a pan of hot water for a few minutes to make sure all of the residue is soft first.

    2. Susan Avatar

      I just put mine in the dishwasher and slip the lids into the silverware holder. Run it through with a regular full load.

  13. Susan Fisher Avatar
    Susan Fisher

    I just made a batch (multiplying the recipe by 10) and put in pretty little pots to give as gives (and to keep!). I typically get everything unscented, but I did add the rosehip geranium oil. It smells wonderful! I put it on my face, hands and even on my legs. I’ll keep you posted on how it does on my crow’s feet. My hands feel amazing. Thank you for the easy and great recipe, Mama!

    1. Amanda Avatar

      Can you provide some little pots like the photo? I need that style and size and can’t find any! Thank you!

      1. Susan Fisher Avatar
        Susan Fisher

        You can find tiny plastic jars with snap on lids at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby. I buy them in a size that holds about 1 tsp and larger ones that hold about 1 tblsp to tuck into my purse, briefcase, make-up bag. Great for travel, and for stocking stuffers, too. I’ve never had one leak. I ordered pretty dark blue glass jars with screw-on lids on Amazon, and also found some lovely little pale peach, pink, green and blue translucent diamond cut glass jars that hold about 1/4 cup (which lasts forever!!!) at Michael’s crafts store.

        I tucked them in Christmas stockings last year and have had no less than 5 requests for more this year.

        After personally using this daily for the past year, I really do think it has helped on my smile lines (I am 60) and my hands look like a 40-year-old’s hands. Plus it acts as a natural sunscreen. I live in Las Vegas, NV and am in the pool a lot in Summer and in my garden all day, every day on weekends throughout the year. I never got a sunburn once!!! And I am allergic to ALL store bought sunscreens, even so-called hyper allergenic ones from the dermatologist.

  14. Camila Avatar

    First of all I would like to thank you Katie for all the valuable information you share. I have made the shea butter eye cream and I really liked it. However I noticed some white spots in it which appeared some days after I made it. The surface is not smooth anymore. What could it be? No changes in smell. Do you think it might be some problem during the melting process? Thanks a lot!

  15. Tina Avatar

    I just made this eye cream, but with Lavender and Cypress EO (because I wanted something geared toward firming as well), and it is so easy and delightful! I use almost the same recipe for various body creams that also have Kokum Butter in them and I was able to make them all in one night!

    Thanks!

    1. Vickey S Avatar

      I, too, need the firming. What was the amount you used of the Lavender and Cypress EO? (The rosehip and geranium in the original recipe are different amounts).

  16. shanshan Avatar

    I have a question 2T Shea butter, T means tablespoon?
    always enjoy your recipes. thank you so much. hope to try this one soon.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating