Butters are thick, fatty substances extracted from various plant species, usually from nuts, beans and seeds. They are solid at room temperature (25°C) but melt to a liquid state when they are heated. Common examples of butters are mango butter, cocoa butter, and shea butter
Compared to carrier oils, butters typically contain higher amounts of saturated fatty acids (fatty acids that contain no double bonds), which gives them a solid structure.
Butters:
Are oil soluble.
Are solid at room temperature (25°C): they melt when applied to the skin or are heated.
Some are hard in texture and others are softer.
Fatty acid profiles vary.
Some are cold pressed/expeller pressed.
Some can be refined or deodorized.
Some are made via hydrogenation (e g avocado butter). Hydrogenation is a chemical process in which hydrogen atoms are added to fatty acids to turn the double bonds into single bonds. This turns unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids and increases their melting temperature, which in effect makes liquid oils become hard (butters) at room temperature.
TYPICAL USES AND USAGE RATES
Butters can be added to many different types of skincare products, including:
Anhydrous body butters: 70-100%
Balms: up to 20%
Lip balms: up to 50%
Lotion bars: up to 100%
Emulsion-based body butters: up to 20%
Creams and lotions: 0-20%
