If your skin always seems dry no matter how much lotion you use, this DIY colloidal oatmeal body butter might become one of your favorite recipes!

My youngest has always had incredibly sensitive skin. Every winter we’d deal with dry patches, and itchy skin that never seemed completely happy with store-bought lotions. I wanted something with simple ingredients that actually stayed on the skin instead of disappearing five minutes later.

That’s when I started making this homemade oatmeal body butter.

The combination of rich butters and finely ground colloidal oatmeal creates a thick, nourishing moisturizer that leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable. We keep a jar in our bathroom year-round, especially during the colder months when everyone’s skin needs a little extra help!

If you’ve never used colloidal oatmeal before, don’t let the name intimidate you. It’s simply oats that have been ground into an ultra-fine powder, making them easy to mix into skincare products while providing gentle skin-soothing properties.

Here is my simple colloidal oatmeal cream recipe 🙂

Why Use Colloidal Oatmeal?

Colloidal oatmeal has been used for generations to help soothe dry, uncomfortable skin, and today it’s even recognized by the FDA as a skin protectant ingredient in certain over-the-counter products.

I love adding it to homemade body butters because it helps create a cream that’s incredibly gentle while still feeling rich and moisturizing.

Some of my favorite reasons to use colloidal oatmeal include:

Helps soothe itchy, dry skin.
Supports the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated as it is a great protective barrier.
Gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Pairs beautifully with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter.
May have some anti-inflammatory properties too!
Oatmeal is a natural humectant, so it draws moisture to the skin!
Colloidal oatmeal has been shown effective in helping eczema [source]. That’s why I made an oatmeal milk bath for my son with it too!
The small powder of oatmeal gives it a nice gentle exfoliation. It’s why I include it in my coffee face scrub!

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DIY Colloidal Oatmeal Body Butter Recipe

Now that you know some of the benefits, here is how to make colloidal oatmeal lotion! This makes around 8 ounces, give or take.

Ingredients

¼ cup carrier oil (I like to use lavender infused oil)
¼ cup cocoa butter
¼ cup shea butter
¼ cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons colloidal oatmeal
20 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)
Glass jar

Instructions

In a double boiler, melt the carrier oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil. Stir until fully melted.

Put in the fridge for about 45 minutes or so until it is pretty firm.

Add in your essential oils and stir.

Add in your oatmeal and stir thoroughly. You can use a mixer to whip it if you prefer for a couple of minutes.

Pour into your container.

Notes and Tips

You can add in vitamin e oil to help it last longer or add a preservative.
When melting the ingredients together, use low heat and gentle methods, such as a double boiler or microwave in short intervals, to prevent overheating or burning. Stir frequently to ensure even melting and smooth blending.
Use any essential oils that you would like. I used lavender essential oil to further help with skin issues.
If you want add more benefits to this colloidal oatmeal cream recipe, add an herbal infused carrier oil instead. I used a lavender infused avocado oil for this recipe.
Store in a cool, dry place. If your home gets warm, keeping it in the refrigerator helps maintain the whipped texture.
If it is too greasy for you, add a small amount of arrowroot powder in the recipe.

Ways to Use Oatmeal Body Butter

This DIY oatmeal body butter is one of those recipes that quickly becomes a household staple. We use it for so many things.

Daily body moisturizer after showering
Dry elbows, knees, and heels
Hands that have been washed all day
After spending time in the sun
After shaving
Rough cuticles
Dry winter skin
Massage into feet before bed and cover with cotton socks overnight
For my son’s eczema/psoriasis

Whenever someone in our house starts complaining about itchy winter skin, this is usually the first jar I reach for.

Colloidal Oatmeal Body Butter

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Materials

¼ cup carrier oil
¼ cup cocoa butter
¼ cup shea butter
¼ cup coconut oil
2 tablespoons colloidal oatmeal
20 drops essential oil
Glass jar

Instructions

In a double boiler, melt the carrier oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut oil. Stir until fully melted.
Put in the fridge for about 45 minutes or so until it is pretty firm.
Add in your essential oils and stir.
Add in your oatmeal and stir thoroughly. You can use a mixer to whip it if you prefer.
Pour into your container.

Notes

You can add in vitamin e oil to help it last longer.
When melting the ingredients together, use low heat and gentle methods, such as a double boiler or microwave in short intervals, to prevent overheating or burning. Stir frequently to ensure even melting and smooth blending.
Because it has oatmeal, it doesn’t last as long as other lotions. You can always add a preservative or just keep it in the fridge.
Use any essential oils that you would like. I used lavender essential oil to further help with skin issues.
If you want add more benefits to this colloidal oatmeal cream recipe, add an herbal infused carrier oil instead. I used a lavender infused avocado oil for this recipe.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a simple homemade moisturizer made with nourishing ingredients, this colloidal oatmeal body butter is one of my favorites.

It’s rich without feeling greasy, easy to customize with infused oils, and has become one of those recipes I find myself making again and again.

Whether you’re dealing with dry winter skin or simply want a new homemade body butter, this recipe is one that’s well worth keeping in your DIY collection 🙂