healing balm recipe Archives

Natural Eczema Treatment for Real Relief from Eczema & Dry Skin

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

January 21, 2019 By Rebecca D. Dillon 9 Comments

If you’ve ever suffered from eczema then you understand how awful it can be. Finding relief from over-the-counter topical eczema treatments, however, can be a challenge. Often times, I’ve found, these products make my eczema worse. This natural eczema treatment is different.

Formulated using only natural ingredients known for their ability to help relieve inflammation, itching and dryness, my natural eczema relief balm offers real relief for your eczema or dry skin – with or without essential oils.

The struggle to find a natural eczema treatment that works.

You may remember my anti-aging serum recipe I shared two weeks ago. The carrier oils used in that serum are also incorporated into my natural eczema treatment. So if you’re looking for more ways to use those ingredients, this natural eczema relief balm is the perfect recipe!

While I’ve been lucky and haven’t struggled with eczema since eliminating most dairy products from my diet, not all of us are able to escape our eczema through diet alone. In fact, my dear friend Cathy, recently had her eczema flare up so badly, she ended up with open wounds from scratching. And, like most of us, she went through an array of over-the-counter eczema treatment products. None of which actually offered any relief from her symptoms. A few of them, in fact, actually made her skin burn. While others made the itching worse.

As I had plans to meet up with Cathy for Wine & Art Wednesday, I quickly threw together a natural eczema remedy for her irritated skin. My natural eczema relief balm worked fabulously on Cathy’s eczema. While the anti-aging serum (sans the essential oils) I also created the same day, did wonders for the eczema on her face.

Crafting a natural eczema relief balm recipe.

Since making my natural eczema treatment for Cathy, I’ve revised my natural eczema relief balm recipe three more times. The recipe I’m presenting you with today, is the result of those changes. This natural eczema remedy has the consistency of a rich, creamy beauty balm. It fully absorbs into skin after about a minute or so. In addition to soothing itchy and inflamed skin, it also moisturizes and protects skin while still allowing skin to breathe.

I formulated my natural eczema treatment with essential oils. However, if fragrances or essential oils irritate your eczema, you can simply omit them from my natural eczema relief balm recipe. The remainder of my eczema repair balm is made up of other primarily plant based, natural ingredients with the exception of lanolin and beeswax. These ingredients include skin conditioning shea butter and murumuru butter as well as rosehip seed, moringa seed and borage carrier oils. 100% vitamin E oil is also added for its ability to promote healing.

About the ingredients in my natural eczema treatment.

Every ingredient used for my natural eczema relief balm was chosen with care for its ability to remedy eczema. Following are details on the skin care benefits of some of these ingredients.

Borage Oil

Borage oil is one of the key ingredients in my natural eczema relief balm much like my anti-aging serum. It offers a variety of natural skin care benefits especially for those who suffer from acne, eczema, skin reddening and rosacea. This natural oil is suitable for even the most sensitive skin and is a superior moisturizer. A common treatment for dry skin and cradle cap, borage oil helps fight skin inflammation and dryness to promote skin health. (Learn more about borage oil here.)

Moringa Seed Oil

A nutrient dense carrier oil, moringa seed oil is another prize ingredient for my natural eczema treatment. Like borage oil, it has anti-inflammatory properties when used in skin care. While naturally occurring antioxidants help promote cellular turnover for healthy looking skin. Its incredible moisturizing properties help to hydrate maturing skin as well as ease the symptoms of eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. (Discover more ways moringa seed oil is commonly used here.)

Murumuru Butter

Murumuru butter, similar to the carrier oils used in my natural eczema treatment, is also rich in essential fatty acids. It also contain pro-vitamin A. This makes this natural butter a popular product in anti-aging skin care formulations. In addition to its moisturizing properties, murumuru butter promotes moisture retention making it an especially useful addition when used for dry skin and eczema remedies. (Learn how to make a murumuru sugar scrub recipe for eczema and dry skin here.)

Manuka Essential oil

Manuka essential oil, like manuka honey, comes from the leaves of the popular New Zealand plant by the same name. This essential oil is non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing, making it suitable for all skin types. This also means it won’t irritate eczema prone skin. Like the other ingredients in my natural eczema relief balm recipe, this essential oil is also anti-inflammatory. It is commonly used to offer relief for itchy skin and dandruff, rashes and common skin diseases. (Learn more about manuka essential oil, and how to make a natural manuka deodorant recipe, here.)

Now that you know a little more about the natural ingredients that went into my natural eczema treatment, let’s get started making it!

Natural Eczema Relief Balm Recipe

Ingredients:

3 oz. unrefined shea butter
1 oz. emulsifying wax
1.5 oz. murumuru butter
.75 oz. cosmetic beeswax
.5 oz. rosehip seed oil
.5 oz. borage oil
.5 oz. pharmaceutical grade lanolin
.25 oz. moringa seed oil
.05 oz. vitamin E oil
20 drops manuka essential oil
20 drops patchouli essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions:

You will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients for this natural eczema treatment.

Begin by weighing out the shea butter, emulsifying wax, murumuru butter, lanolin and beeswax. Combine the ingredients in a double boiler and heat over medium low heat until all the ingredients have melted.

Turn off the heat. Then weigh out the rosehip seed oil, borage oil and moringa seed oil. Stir into the melted butters, waxes and lanolin. Now remove the ingredients from heat.

Add the vitamin E oil and essential oils. Stir to combine. Then pour into your containers of choice.

I used a combination of 2 oz. glass amber jars and 1 oz. white polypropylene thick wall plastic jars.

Allow your natural eczema relief balm to cool completely. Once it has solidified, screw the caps onto your containers.

Usage:

To use your natural eczema treatment, simply massage onto affected area as desired. Allow the balm to sink in. (This may take a minute or two.) Then reapply as needed throughout the day.

Wet wrap therapy for moderate to severe eczema.

For really bad eczema, I also recommend using this natural eczema relief balm in conjunction with wet wrap therapy. Wet wrap therapy is another natural eczema treatment for moderate to severe eczema.

Eczema wet wrap therapy creates a physical moist barrier for your skin. When used in conjunction with an eczema relief balm or cream, it helps the moisturizer penetrate skin more deeply. This natural eczema treatment can significantly improve your skin’s condition in as few as two days. Learn more about wet wrap therapy for your eczema, along with instructions, here.

More Natural Eczema Treatments

If you like my natural eczema relief balm recipe, then you may want to consider one of these other natural eczema treatments.

What’s your favorite natural eczema treatment? Share your success stories – or struggles with eczema – in the comments.

To receive updates when there are new recipes available from Soap Deli News, sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter. You can also follow me on facebook and instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: body balm recipe, borage oil, dry skin, dry skin balm, eczema, essential oils, healing balm recipe, home remedies, home remedy, lanolin, manuka essential oil, moringa oil, murumuru butter, natural remedy, natural skin care, rosehip seed oil, salve recipe, shea butter

Simple Plantain Salve Recipe in Natural Cocoa Mint

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

October 16, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon Leave a Comment

This simple plantain salve recipe is naturally scented with a lovely cocoa mint fragrance. Lovingly crafted with ingredients like roasted cocoa butter and plantain herbal oil, this natural herbal salve is a must for your herbal apothecary. Use this multi-functional, natural skin care product on eczema prone or dry skin, minor cuts and scratches or as a natural lip balm for seasonal winter skin care.

When I was a little girl I used to pick the leaves from weeds to make play salads for my parents. What I didn’t realize then was that those leaves I picked were actually edible! It wasn’t until many years later, long after I stopped making dirt pots and grass dolls, that I discovered that the weed I was so fond of, was actually an herb. That herb was plantain.

What is Plantain?

Plantain is a common broad-leaf herb commonly mistaken for a weed. This healthy, hardy plant can be found in backyards across North America and is nutritionally similar to dandelion leaves. Used medicinally by cultures around the world, plantain is a common herbal home remedy for both nutritional and topical skin care applications.

Nutritional Benefits of Plantain

Plantain leaves are best consumed while still young and tender. They have a nutty asparagus like taste that is delicious when pan fried or when added to salads. A naturally healthy herb, plantain leaves offer the following nutritional support (source):

Maintains healthy cholesterol levels
Can offer relief from irritable bowel syndrome
Calms irritation from constipation or diarrhea
Offers relief from hemorrhoids
Helps with indigestion and ulcers
Supports healthy kidneys and bladder function

You don’t have to eat plantain leaves to enjoy their nutritional benefits, however. You can also get herbal support through tinctures for cleansing & detox. Or enjoy a natural herbal tea made using organic dried plantain leaves.

Skin Care Benefits of Plantain

In addition to nutritional support, plantain leaves are also lovely when infused in a carrier oil for topical skin care applications. There are a number of natural skin care products that would benefit from the inclusion of plantain herbal oil. These products include after sun moisturizers, burn relief balms, creams or lotions for eczema or dry skin, and anti-itch salves for insect and spider bites.

Dr. Christopher’s Stings and Bites, for example, is a top selling plantain ointment. It’s crafted with natural herb constituents like plantain leaf, extra virgin olive oil and beeswax to reduce and relieve the pain, swelling and itching caused by insect stings and bites.

Due to plantain’s herbal skin care properties, it’s often used as a key ingredient for the following topical skin care applications to promote skin health:

Minor burns and sunburns
Minor cuts, scratches and lesions
Rashes and skin inflammation
Psoriasis and eczema
Dry or chapped skin or lips

To learn more about medicinal plants and herbs, be sure to check out the book, Making Plant Medicine, by Richo Chec.

Formulating An Herbal Plantain Salve Recipe

Mountain Rose Herbs has a new roasted cocoa butter available that I really wanted to try. So I was really pleased when it arrived at my doorstep last week. This stuff smells amazing. I love that it’s suited for both food and cosmetic use.

As it smells so wonderful, however, I really wanted to create a product that would highlight the natural scent of the roasted cocoa butter. I also knew I wanted something to create a natural skin care product that would be suitable for seasonal skin care and gift giving. Therefore, in the end, I opted for crafting a simple plantain salve recipe with a cocoa mint scent.

I love the simplicity of my natural plantain salve recipe. It’s formulated using just five simple ingredients – roasted cocoa butter, plantain herbal oil, beeswax, rosehip seed oil and peppermint essential oil. The cocoa mint scent, of course, is naturally derived from the inclusion of the organic peppermint essential oil and roasted cocoa butter.

Roasted Cocoa Butter

The roasted cocoa butter wafers from Mountain Rose Herbs aren’t deodorized. Therefore they retain their natural cocoa scent. Expeller pressed from the roasted seeds of the cocoa tree, these cocoa butter wafers are naturally rich in vitamin E. They can be combined with cocoa powder to make chocolate, but also make a nice addition to recipes for lip balms, body butters, homemade soaps and salves.

Plantain Herbal Oil

While plantain herbal oil is easy to make, you can also enjoy the convenience of buying pre-made plantain herbal oil. This is especially helpful if you’re wanting to make natural skin care products using plantain herbal oil right away. Or if plantain is out of season throughout the cold winter months.

I used plantain herbal oil from Mountain Rose Herbs for my simple plantain salve recipe. An emollient oil formulated using solar infused plantain olive oil and vitamin E, this herbal plantain oil is especially nourishing for dry hands and skin. Crafted with certified organic Plantago major leaves, this natural herbal oil is perfect for gardeners, wild harvesters, climbers – or anyone else who works with their hands frequently. I also like to use this herbal oil, as is, on my dog’s minor cuts and irritation for a simple and safe natural remedy for his skin.

Rosehip Seed Oil

As I have both maturing skin, as well as skin that tends to dry out more in the winter, I also used rosehip seed oil for my plantain salve recipe. While this may shorten the shelf life of your salve somewhat, I highly recommend this unique carrier oil for its essential fatty acids. Popular in natural anti-aging skin care recipes, rosehip seed oil offers marvelous hydration for dry skin and a quick absorption rate. It can also be used solo as a natural daily facial cleanser or hydrating oil.

Beeswax

A key ingredient in homemade salve recipes, beeswax gives this plantain salve recipe its thick, rich texture. It also acts as a natural skin protectant while still allowing skin to breathe. In addition to its skin protectant properties, beeswax is also a humectant (meaning it attracts water to hydrate skin) and helps to temporarily reduce and soothe itching.

The beeswax pastilles from Mountain Rose Herbs have a deep, golden color and aroma. Globally sourced from less-developed countries like South America and Africa, their beeswax helps sustain the local economy of these areas while using traditional (less-modern) processing techniques.

Peppermint Essential Oil

A sweet, candy-like scented peppermint, the organic peppermint oil from Mountain Rose Herbs helps bump my simple plantain salve recipe into peppermint patty like status. This naturally steam distilled, certified organic essential oil has a fresh, very minty, hot, herbaceous fragrance with a vegetative back note. Perfect for all types of recipes including cleaning sprays, perfumes, aroma mists and natural skin care, this is a truly aromatic essential oil.

Peppermint essential oils is commonly included in natural skincare recipes and homemade salves and balms for topical pain relief, its anti-itch properties and the cooling sensation. It also supports circulation and can calm acne inflammation.

Ready to learn how to make a plantain salve? You’ll find my simple and easy plantain salve recipe below.

Simple Plantain Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

1 oz. roasted cocoa butter
1 oz. plantain herbal oil
1 oz. beeswax
.5 oz. rosehip seed oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

You will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients for my plantain salve recipe. In addition you’ll also need a one or two cup heat safe glass measuring cup (such as Pyrex) and a utensil to stir your salve. I typically use a fork. You’ll also need containers for your plantain herbal salve. I used 1 oz. metal tins with rolled edge covers.

Once you’ve gathered the ingredients and supplies you’ll need, you’re ready to begin.

Start by weighing out the roasted cocoa butter wafers and beeswax. Combine in a heat safe glass container. Then heat either on the stove top using the double boiler method or in your microwave at 30% power until halfway melted.

Next, weigh out the rosehip seed oil and the plantain herbal oil. Add these ingredients to the same container as the cocoa butter and beeswax. Continue gently heating the ingredients until all of the ingredients for the plantain salve recipe have completely melted.

Once melted, remove the plantain salve mixture from heat and stir to combine. Then stir in 20 drops of organic peppermint essential oils.

Now pour your plantain herbal salve evenly into five 1 oz. tins. Allow the salve to cool completely then pop on the lids and it’s ready to go.

To use, simply apply to affected area as desired and massage in. You can also keep my plantain salve tucked inside your purse to use a natural cocoa mint lip balm throughout the year.

If desired, you can decorate the lids of your tins. I used nature stickers from Art By Sharell to decorate the lids of my plantain salve containers. However, washi tape also makes a fun addition and makes a simple, yet pretty package decorating idea.

Should you wish to sell the products you make from my plantain salve recipe, there is important information that you need to know if you live in the United States. Not only do you need to follow all FDA guidelines for labeling your products, you’ll also need to refrain from making any medical claims in regards to said product. It can all be very confusing. However, Marie Gale has a great book, titled Soap and Cosmetic Labeling, that can help steer you in the right direction.

More Ways to Use Plantain Herbal Oil

If you love my simple plantain salve recipe as much as I do, then I encourage you to give these other natural skin care recipes a try. Each one is made using plantain herbal oil for nourishing natural skin care that you can make and gift.

For more great natural skin care and herbal salve recipes, as well as updates from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice and is provided for informational purposes only. Information on products mentioned are based on my own personal experience and have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please consult a physician prior to making any changes that may impact your health.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Holiday DIY, Homemade Gift Ideas Tagged With: balm, beauty balm, body balm recipe, clean, cocoa butter, dry skin balm, dry skin recipe, eczema, essential oils, gift idea, healing balm recipe, healing salve, herbal oil infusion, herbal salve recipe, holiday gift, lip balm recipe, natural alternative, natural remedy, natural skin care, plantain, rosehip seed oil, salve recipe, stocking stuffers

Matcha All Over Moisture Stick Recipe (A Simple & Affordable Skin Care Solution)

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

May 17, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This budget friendly DIY for crafting your own organic matcha all over moisture stick is a simple and affordable skin care solution that really works! Homemade with just three natural ingredients, this moisturizing stick nourishes, conditions and protects skin all over your body – lips included!

My dad recently made a trip to the hospital only to discover he had several clogged arteries. Two arteries were partially blocked, while a third was blocked completely. Lucky for him medicine is advancing.

The doctors were able to clear out the two partially blocked arteries at our local hospital without surgery. However, my dad is headed to UVA later this month to have the fully blocked artery handled. Roto-rooter style. Seriously. Apparently doctors are now able to clear out clogged arteries completely. So bypass surgery, for my dad at least, won’t be needed.

With my own set of health issues along with some recent weight gain, I thought it was time I scheduled a doctor visit as well. So yesterday I visited my physician to have my thyroid checked along with a panel of blood work to check my cholesterol and basically everything else.

As I’m already a few years into my forties, it seemed like a good idea regardless of the weight gain. I mean if there are changes I can make now to avoid being in my dad’s shoes when I’m 70, then I’m all for it.

Of course my doctor had questions for me. As he’d prescribed medication for anxiety the last time I’d been there, and I’d recently gone off that medication on my own, he got the mini life spiel. This included the divorce and of course my current financial struggles.

Being a single woman – especially a divorced single women – can be hard. We are often at a financial disadvantage. Men are often the breadwinners in a marriage. While this isn’t true in all cases, it was in mine.

Not only had I recently ventured into full time self-employment, but while married I racked up a bit of debt to furnish the house and so forth. So when my husband and I split I lost his share of income. I not only had substantially more debt than I did going into the marriage, my expenses also tripled. After all, I needed a place to live.

I’m sure there are many of you who have gone through similar situations. Even if you’ve never been married, women’s wages still tend to be lower than men’s. And I can’t even imagine the staggering amount of student loan debt many of you have if nothing else.

As a DIY blogger my lack of disposable income of course becomes an issue. Gone are the days of wine induced online supply shopping. Instead I’ve been slowly using up my dwindling supply of bath and beauty ingredients.

My natural soap and skin care recipes have started to become simpler with a nod back to some of the more common ingredients used in skin care. And I’ve become more conscious that there is a need for quality, budget friendly recipes. This simple 3-ingredient matcha all over moisture stick recipe is just that.

Simple & Affordable Natural Skin Care

Inspired by the MYMATCHA All-Over Moisture Stick from cocokind, my matcha all over stick recipe contains the same three ingredients as the original – organic virgin coconut oil, organic cosmetic beeswax and organic matcha green tea powder.

Packaged in eco-friendly, biodegradable paperboard push up tubes, my matcha all over moisture stick works great as a spot treatment for dry hands, feet and elbows. It can also be used as a moisturizing lip balm, an eyeshadow primer, an under eye balm and a dark circle corrector.

If you’re allergic to coconut oil, you can still make my matcha all over moisture stick recipe. Simply substitute the coconut oil with organic babassu oil. (For more information on making substitutions in your homemade natural skin care recipes, I recommend the book, Carrier Oils: A beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and beauty recipes, by Cari Dunn.)

Following you’ll find my recipe for making your own natural matcha all over moisture stick. I hope you enjoy it as a much as I do. Don’t stop there however. Keep reading after the recipe to learn where you can buy the MYMATCHA All-Over Moisture Stick from cocokind at a discounted price.

I also share more natural skin care recipes that use just two, three and four simple ingredients to help you stay on budget at the end of this article.

Matcha All Over Moisture Stick Recipe

Ingredients:

3 oz. organic virgin coconut oil
1 oz. organic cosmetic beeswax
.05 oz. organic matcha green tea powder

Instructions:

Weigh out the ingredients.

Using a digital scale weigh out the coconut oil, beeswax and matcha green tea powder.

Combine and melt the beeswax and coconut oil.

Combine the coconut oil and beeswax in a universal double boiler and heat until melted.

Mix in the matcha green tea powder.

Once melted, remove from heat and stir in the matcha green tea powder.

Pour into your containers.

Pour the liquid matcha all over moisture stick into your containers of choice.

If doubled, my recipe fills five biodegradable 1.5 oz. paperboard push up tubes. Alternately, you can also half my matcha all over moisture stick recipe and fill around six smaller .3 oz. paperboard tubes. Or simply use empty lip balm containers.

Label or decorate your packaging.

Once the ingredients for your matcha all over moisture stick have solidified, cap the product containers and label as desired for personal use or gifting.

I diagonally wrapped patterned washi tape around my paperboard push up tubes, then trimmed off the excess with an X-ACTO knife.

More Ways to Make This Recipe

In addition to the MYMATCHA All-Over Moisture Stick, cocokind also makes a TURMERIC Spot Treatment Stick and a MACABEET Tinted Moisture Stick.

Naturally fight acne and brighten skin.

The TURMERIC Spot Treatment Stick contains five simple ingredients that work together to fight acne and brighten skin.

To make your own homemade dupe of this product, simply substitute the coconut oil in my Matcha All Over Moisture Stick Recipe with organic sunflower oil. Then add .025 oz. each of organic turmeric root powder and organic ginger root powder in place of the matcha green tea powder. Finally, polish off this recipe with 2mL (measured with a graduated transfer pipette) or about 40 drops of organic tea tree oil.

Moisturize and add natural color to lips and cheeks.

The MACABEET Tinted Moisture Stick from cocokind is basically a natural tinted cheek and lip balm that revitalizes and moisturizes dry skin and lips with a pop of color.

To recreate the MACABEET Tinted Moisture Stick yourself, substitute the coconut oil in my Matcha All Over Moisture Stick Recipe with organic virgin olive oil. Then add .025 oz. of organic maca root powder and .1 oz. (or more for deeper color) of organic beet root powder in place of the matcha green tea powder.

More Simple Natural Skin Care Recipes

If you like my Matcha All Over Moisture Stick Recipe, then you may also enjoy my Matcha Body Butter Recipe and my Matcha Green Tea Butter Bars Recipe. Or try one of these budget friendly skin care recipes that use no more than four ingredients each.

3-Ingredient Coffee Lip Balm Recipe
2-Ingredient Natural Lip Butter Recipe
3-Ingredient Pain Relief Massage Oil Recipe
4-Ingredient Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe
Easy 3-Ingredient Deodorant Recipe
4-Ingredient Customizable All Purpose Salve Recipe
Natural Essential Oil Skin Care Recipes (Four basic skin care recipes all with 4-ingredients or less.)

Discover More from Soap Deli News Blog

Discover more of my natural skin care recipes by keeping in touch with Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find and follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: bath and beauty, body balm recipe, coconut oil, crafts, diy, dry skin balm, gift idea, healing balm recipe, lip balm recipe, matcha, salve recipe, simple, skin care, washi tape

Natural Neem Butter Recipe to Promote Healing

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

February 3, 2016 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This natural neem butter recipe is wonderful for helping to heal minor (closed) wounds and abrasions as well as to help minimize scarring. Created for my dear friend, Bambi, who is currently fighting breast cancer, this neem butter recipe was formulated to help with the final healing stages from her surgery, once the incision is mostly healed, to further promote the healing process, reduce scarring and minimize pain.

Unlike my other neem oil recipes, I created a soothing neem butter balm that melts immediately into skin that may be sensitive due to pain. Not only does the butter texture of this natural neem butter recipe mean that very little pressure is needed for application, but it also includes arnica infused oil. Arnica, like neem oil, not only has analgesic properties, but it also helps with inflammation as well. It’s been found to relieve pain caused by sprains, bruises and other injuries. However, it should not be used in open wounds.

Natural Neem Butter Recipe

Ingredients:

.05 oz. cocoa butter
1.6 oz. shea butter
.6 oz. Arnica infused fractionated coconut oil
.4 oz. 100% neem oil
18 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops tea tree oil
1 mL vitamin E oil, optional

Instructions:

Begin by making your Arnica infused oil. I infused mine in fractionated coconut oil to keep this healing neem butter from feeling greasy. Simply fill the bottom half of a mason jar with Arnica flowers then cover with fractionated coconut oil. Seal and store in a cool, dark location, turning occasionally for several weeks. Or you can speed up the process by gently heating the fractionated coconut oil and Arnica flowers in a double boiler for an extended time on the stove over low to medium-low heat. Then strain with cheesecloth before use. (See how it’s done in this post on how to make a homemade chamomile balm.) Alternately, you can also purchase Arnica Herbal Oil which is made with Arnica infused olive oil and a touch of vitamin E.

Using a digital scale weigh out the cocoa and shea butter. Heat either in a double boiler or at reduced heat in a glass Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave until melted.

Now weigh out the prepared Arnica infused fractionated coconut oil and neem oil and stir into the melted butters.

Using a graduated transfer pipette, measure out and add the Vitamin E oil. (If you’re using the Arnica Herbal Oil you can omit the Vitamin E oil from this healing neem butter recipe.) Then use two new pipettes to add the drops of both essential oils. Stir well, then pour into your desired container and allow to solidify.

As this is a soft butter it may take 24-48 hours to reach its final consistency. You can put this in the refrigerator for several hours to overnight to speed up the process. You will need to store the final healing neem butter in a temperature controlled environment.

To use simply apply to affected area as needed at least twice daily or as needed.

If you like this natural neem butter recipe, then you’ll also like my second recipe I created for Bambi for her upcoming radiation treatments for a natural burn relief spray. It also uses Arnica infused fractionated coconut oil but also includes shea nut oil and of course, neem oil.

And just as a reminder, PLEASE remember to get your mammograms, ladies! Bambi’s, breast cancer was detected at her first mammogram at age 40. Changes to breast tissue, however, were not detected by her GYN just prior to her preventative mammogram.

To discover more of my homemade bath and body recipes and craft projects, be sure to follow me on Pinterest. You can also find me on Blog Lovin’, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: arnica, body butter recipe, breast cancer, crafts, diy, healing balm recipe, neem oil, skin care

Homemade Lanolin Skin Care Recipes

I may receive compensation from links on this site. See my disclosure policy.

January 23, 2016 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Learn about the benefits of lanolin and discover sixteen fantastic homemade lanolin skin care recipes that can help to protect and moisturize skin all winter long!

What is lanolin and what benefits can be gained from lanolin in skin care applications?

So, what is lanolin? Lanolin is a naturally occurring wax that is secreted by the glands of sheep and other wool bearing animals that helps them shed water from their coats. When sheep are sheared in order to use their wool for textiles such as yarn or felt, the wool is first run through rollers in order to extract the lanolin. Because lanolin is very similar in composition to the oils secreted by our own skin it’s able to provide a protective moisture barrier when used in skin care products. It acts as an excellent moisturizer and skin smoother as it’s capable of not only penetrating the outer layers of our own skin while still allowing it to breathe, but it is also a humectant able to attract and absorb up to 300% water.

According to Wikipedia lanolin is superior to both petroleum and glycerin with its emollient effects lasting for an eight hour period after the first application and up to 72 hours after a fifth day of consecutive use. Therefore this natural skin salve is perfect for severely dry and cracked skin, eczema and psoriasis. Convinced? Then check out my collection of sixteen homemade lanolin skin care recipes below to discover what are sure to become a few of your new favorites!

Homemade lanolin skin care recipes to nurture and nourish skin through winter.

1. Healing Winter Body Balm Recipe (plus a snowflake label tutorial!)
2. Homemade Chocolate Orange Body Butter Recipe and Sugar Scrub Recipe
3. Cinnamon Sugar Homemade Non-Greasy Body Butter Recipe
4. Vanilla & Fig Non-Greasy Body Butter Recipe
5. Natural Rosemary & Neem Oil Foot Salve Recipe
6. Natural Lanolin & Neem Salve Recipe
7. Natural Lanolin Shaving Soap Recipe
8. Handmade Natural Lanolin Salve Recipe

9. Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips Dupe
10. Merlot Tinted Lip Balm Recipe with Lanolin
11. Bee Pollen Soap Recipe with Lanolin
12. Heal and Protect Winter Lip Balm Recipe with Lanolin
13. Neem Oil and Bee Pollen Skin Cream Recipe with Lanolin
14. Lemon Verbena Body Butter Recipe with Lanolin
15. Non-greasy Lavender Body Butter Recipe with Lanolin
16. Vanilla & Fig Homemade Shaving Soap Recipe with Lanolin

If you like these homemade lanolin skin care recipes, then you’ll also love my natural neem oil skin care recipes. (Found here.) Also be sure to follow me on Pinterest for even more fabulous natural homemade skin care recipes including homemade soap recipes, homemade salves, body butter and sugar scrub recipes! You can also find and follow me on Blog Lovin’, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, G+ and Instagram.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: body butter, healing balm recipe, lanolin, natural, salve recipe, skin care, soap recipe, sugar scrub recipe, winter