How to Make Intensive Shea Butter Eye Cream (Recipe)

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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:

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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. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Hi, is there any difference between using refined and raw shea butter and does that affect the nutrients in any way?

  2. Sylviane Avatar

    Made it, LOVE it! Smells wonderful! Use it on morning, night. On eyes, lips, hands and face! Then I pass my hands on my hair! Oily? Maybe but in a good way. Rich! Wellness mama is a gem. Thanks!

  3. sharron Avatar

    Thank you, going to try this without the coconut oil, my skin isn’t a fan of that. I already make one with shea butter, vit e, frankincense eo and olive oil from our own trees but better suited to night time as it’s a tad oily for make-up!

  4. Tyla Avatar

    What can I sun coconut oil with? I can’t use it on my face. I was wondering if I could just use more shea butter or cocoa butter?

  5. olga Avatar

    Lately I’ve been using organic cultured butter around my 50 year old eyes and they don;t look too bad– considering- I used it in a pinch when I felt dry and crepey and wanted a little moisture without having to leave kitchen where I was rushing to fix son’s breakfast. It does not irritate,

  6. Sandi Avatar

    Thanks for this recipe! I’ve washed my face with herbal coconut oil and moisturized with rosehip for over a year and my face loves both. I’ve wanted something a little bit richer for my eyes, and this is perfect!! I made it last night and I love it! I used it last night after oil washing my face, and again this morning. The skin around my eyes feel still feels super soft and moisturized hours later, much better than rosehip alone. I think it’s even non-oily enough that I could put on a bit of makeup if I wanted to (something I rarely do now that my skin is so much happier).

  7. Alecia Avatar

    I have a tree but allergy. What do you recommend as a coconut oil substitute?

  8. Camille Avatar

    This sounds wonderful! But, is there a substitute for the coconut oil? It’s known to encourage acne, which i’m already battling, so I don’t want to make it worse.

  9. Susan Avatar

    Do you have a favored brand of rosehip seed oil that you recommend? I have lots of rose bushes and some grow ‘hips’. I may have to research how to make my own! I’ve been using homemade lotion (coconut oil, shea butter, a bit of food grade vegetable glycerin) exclusively for well over a year and I love it. Looking forward to trying this blend for my eye area.

      1. Tammy Avatar

        Wow, you lost me when you recommended Radha products. The terms natural, pure and therapeutic mean nothing because there is no standard by which to measure them and anyone can use them. Radha sells 4 oz. of
        frankincense (for example) for $16.95. It’s crazy to think that while other legitimate companies that sell the real thing charge that much for 10 ml. But Radha manages to give you 4 oz for the same amount. That’s a definite red flag that their product is synthetic. I suggest only using essential oils from companies that offer the results from third party testing. Otherwise, they may have something to hide and can contain dangerous toxic substances.

        1. Katie - Wellness Mama Avatar

          I agree and I don’t link to their essential oils for that reason. That said, the rosehip oil is certified organic and I’ve personally used it and had good results. There are also limited great options for it. I’ll definitely be trying out other brands though!

  10. Elizabeth Avatar
    Elizabeth

    Does it matter whether you use raw or refined shea butter? The raw has such a strong smell I’ve had a hard time using it alone, but it might be countered by the heating process and adding the oils 🙂 Just wondering if there are any nutrients lost by the refining process/if that would be different with heating this way.

    1. Danni Avatar

      I have a hard time with the smell of raw shea butter too. It actually makes me gag a little, and I almost returned jar I bought, but I ended up really liking it in recipes. You can definitely still smell it, even after adding essential oils and cooling, but it’s toned down enough to make it pleasant instead of pungent.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      In this recipe, you can actually omit it or use extra shea butter instead. You’ll have a slightly softer final product but it should still work just as well.

      1. Cheryl Avatar

        I take a plant based omega that has sea buckthorn berry oil along with some other healthy oils (algal, pomegranate, etc). Could I use it as well?

      2. Rebecca Avatar

        Could you use ylang ylang oil in place of the two oils in thus recipe?

    1. Camille Avatar
      Camille

      Tamanu oil has healing properties and can be substituted for rosehip oil. It has a strong scent though, so use it sparingly and maybe add some vanilla to counteract.

  11. Korinne Avatar

    What would be good substitute options for the geranium EO? (I don’t have that one.)

      1. Jan Avatar

        I’ve been told no lavender for us estrogen dominant gals, especially those of us having to deal with breast cancer. Your thoughts on this?

  12. Laura Avatar

    Nice recipe! I normally just use aloe gel, but I’m going to try it! I have everything but the rosehip oil, what would you suggest as a substitute? Thanks

    1. Dez Avatar

      Hey love, depending on your skin type for face, no. The beeswax and Shea Butter together would be to occlusive (heavy) on the skin which would then create congestion (Black Heads/Whiteheads) or even worse, acne. But the lips would be fine in my opinion because most commercial lip balms are beeswax based. ?

      1. Raine Avatar

        Actually, on the comdogenic scale, (0-5), shea butter is a 0 (will not clog pores), beeswax is a 2 (mild possibility it will clog pores).

        However, coconut oil is a 4 (likely to clog pores). I’m one of those that can’t use coconut oil, even if it should be amazing.

        You can make this without the coconut oil and it’s just fine :).

          1. Elizabeth Avatar

            Hi,
            I’m not sure if this is helpful to anyone or will work in the recipe with Shea butter, but I would suggest almond oil or this Jason vitamin e oil that is very good for skin, not pricey and however is quite thick so you may want to change the ratio of oil to Shea butter.
            Also, I have read that beeswax is too occlusive for kip products for some people and can dry their skin out – I use a coconut oil based lip balm from Hurrah that I am absolutely obsessed with, as well as castor oil for various parts of the face.
            Other alternatives could be avocado oil or maracuja oil (more slip); argan oil (IMO just ok, but might work as a less comedogenic substitute); and the ever popular marula oil (seems differently fragranced depending on the brand: Acure makes an affordable one but it seems thicker/smells like sesame oil to me).
            I also find coconut oil extremely comedogenic and only use it in lip balm, hair and the occasional body spray. The area around the eyes doesn’t have the same pores as the rest of the face but almost all eye creams do migrate whereas a lip balm often doesn’t for whatever reason.
            I hope people will update if they try anything!

      2. Tee Cee Avatar
        Tee Cee

        Actually, you shouldn’t ingest rose hip/rose hip seed oil, so putting this on your lips would probably not be a good idea. 🙂

        Looks like a great cream for the eye area though – I’m going try this out today. Thanks, Katie!

  13. Katie Campbell Avatar
    Katie Campbell

    Sounds amazing! Can’t wait to make and use this! Thanks for posting!

  14. Carolyn Allen Russell Avatar
    Carolyn Allen Russell

    I just wanted to point out that at the end you say you can skip the whipping process . . . . but a whipping step was never actually noted 😉 But I plan to make this soon!

      1. Andrea Avatar

        It doesn’t say when to add the rose hip oil. I’m assuming it would be added after the mixture is melted through? Or at the time the EO is added?

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