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Homemade Beauty Recipes: The Most Loved Recipes from the Past Year

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December 31, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

My favorite part of blogging is being able to share my homemade beauty recipes with all of you, my readers. My hope is that we can explore new ways to create beauty and skin care products together – both for fun and as a more natural alternative to commercial products. Knowing that my readers enjoy and share my homemade beauty recipes helps to keep me inspired to create more homemade beauty recipes. And hopefully my recipes in turn inspire you to make some of your own natural skin care products.

I shared quite a few new natural skin care and homemade beauty recipes in 2018. And while I previously recapped my most pinned posts for 2018, they included crafts and homemaking projects in addition to my skin care, soap and beauty recipes. Surprisingly, none of those posts were actually written in 2018. Therefore, I wanted to create a second post with your most loved homemade beauty recipes from 2018.

It brings me so much joy to be able to share these beauty favorites with you once again. Every single one of these homemade beauty recipes had at least 1000 shares over the course of the year – all because of you! My number one post however, had over 12K shares this year alone. Crazy, right?! That article was for my natural shaving soap recipe. Some of the other recipes were guests posts from other beauty bloggers. These blogs included Everything Pretty and Country Hill Cottage. I’m so happy that all of you have been part of this journey that brought me to this point. Enjoy!

Most Loved Homemade Beauty Recipes

In no particular order, here are 20 of your favorite homemade beauty recipes and Pinterest favorites written over the past year.

#1 Soothing Moisture Whip Recipe

Formulated specifically to tackle my dry hands, this soothing moisture whip recipe is a dream for dry hands and skin. This homemade beauty recipe is made using all natural ingredients and melts instantly into skin when applied. Skin soothing butters, aloe vera and witch hazel extract work to both moisturize skin and promote skin health. While a blend of lavender and vanilla essential oils lend their calming aromatherapeutic properties. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#2 Tinted Moisture Lip Whip Recipe

When I put on lipstick, I want it stay put! Unfortunately, most lipsticks with any kind of staying power tend to leave my lips feeling dry afterwards. So I created a tinted lip whip recipe for days I don’t need long lasting wear. It helps to moisturize lips while still giving them that fresh pop of color. So they not only look healthy, but they also feel amazing! One of my all time favorite homemade beauty recipes, this tinted moisture lip whip recipe is formulated to smooth, protect and condition lips to help reduce your chance of chapped lips from regular use of long wear lipsticks. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#3 Aloe Vera Soap Recipe

Dry skin, maturing skin and especially eczema prone skin all need some extra love to keep it from becoming itchy and irritated. This includes what you use to wash your skin when you take a shower. Therefore, I created a natural skin soothing aloe vera soap recipe to gently cleanse skin without stripping it of natural beneficial oils. Therefore my cold process aloe vera soap uses aloe vera gel in place of water in the recipe for its natural skin care benefits. I also included neem oil for its ability to promote skin health. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#4 Raspberry Lemonade Melt & Pour Soap Recipe

With over 6k shares in under a year, it’s easy to see why this simple melt and pour soap is one of your favorite homemade beauty recipes. It’s incredibly easy to make and is perfect for last minute gifts. Crafted from start to finish in just 10 minutes. A guest post written by Cari Dunn of Everything Pretty, this articles delves into not just how to make this recipe, but also how to customize melt and pour soaps. Plus Cari also shares the ins and outs of additives you can use for your own homemade melt and pour soap recipes. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#5 Skin Softening Hand Scrub Recipe

With winter here, it’s more important than ever to wash your hands regularly to avoid getting sick. Unfortunately, that also means you are more likely to develop dry hands. And during winter, dry skin can quickly become cracked and painful. To help solve this common dilemma, I created this easy skin softening hand scrub recipe. To make this recipe super easy to make, I started with a basic liquid Castile soap then added a variety of natural ingredients proven to hydrate skin and promote skin health. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#6 Natural Shaving Soap Recipe

If you’ve been wanting to reduce household waste, then a shaving soap is a great place to start! Shaving soaps eliminate the need for packaging and aerosol cans. They also deliver a closer shave than most traditional shaving creams. I created my natural shaving soap recipe using lanolin and neem oil to help protect skin and promote skin health. So you can get a great shave while also taking care of your skin free of toxins and preservatives! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#7 Whipped Cucumber Hand Cream Recipe

If you had to pick just one of my handmade beauty recipes to make this weekend, I think this one would be it. Not only does this whipped hand cream recipe smell amazing, it’s an absolute delight for dry skin and hands. Made using cucumber hydrosol, this natural skin care recipe also contains bergamot essential oil, skin protecting lanolin and soothing aloe vera. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#8 Sea Salt Shampoo Bar Recipe

Finding the right no poo shampoo option can be a challenge. While shampoos free of both sulfates and surfactants are becoming more common, they can be expensive to buy on a regular basis. So why not make your own natural hair care recipes? This sea salt shampoo bar recipe is made with coconut oil, sea salt and real milk & egg as ingredients for a healthy, natural hair care alternative to commercial products. Another one of my waste free homemade beauty recipes, this shampoo bar is formulated to not only moisturize and condition hair, but also to strengthen hair and promote shine. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#9 Best Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment

Another guest post from Cari of Everything Pretty, this natural scar and stretch mark salve recipe is formulated using carrier and essential oils prized for their natural skin care benefits to promote healing and collagen production as well as reduce dark spots and boost cellular turnover. Plus its anti-aging properties also make it great for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#10 Arnica & Ginger Pain Relief Salve Recipe

One of my personal favorites from among my herbal homemade beauty recipes, this arnica & ginger salve recipe! Made with just four simple ingredients, this herbal pain relief salve not only relieves pain from bumps and bruises, it also helps with muscle pain, arthritis, sprains and carpal tunnel. The moisturizing formula also makes it a lovely herbal salve or balm for dry hands, feet and elbows. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#11 Homemade Callus Balm Recipe

If you’ve ever used a foot peeling mask, then you’ll appreciate this homemade beauty recipe. Avoid the trauma of peeling feet and whip up this natural homemade callus treatment balm instead! It’s naturally formulated with herbs and essential oils to promote skin health and soften tough calluses for healthy looking feet. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#12 Wildflower Bath Tea Recipe

This natural herbal skin care recipe is perfect for self care any time of the year. A guest post from Irena of Country Hill Cottage, this indulgent herbal bath tea is made using a combination of herbs & botanicals, natural essential oils and skin soothing oatmeal & Dead Sea salt. This fragrant wildflower bath tea is a great way to relax and care for your skin. Plus it’s perfect for homemade gifts with Valentine’s Day right around the corner! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#13 Natural Gardeners Soap Recipe

Winter is the perfect time to make a homemade gardeners soap for spring! By making your soaps early, they have plenty of time to cure. An extended cure time not only makes your soap bars harder, but it also increases the lather and results in a gentler soap bar. This natural gardeners soap recipe is made using the cold process soapmaking method and is filled with scrubby bits of seeds and herbs to help scrub away dirt and grime. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#14 Snowflake Glitter Soap Recipe

Snow is one of my favorite things about the winter season. Unfortunately, living in Virginia we don’t see as much snow as the Northern states. However, that simply makes snow days even more enjoyable. These glitter snowflake soaps are a homage to winter and its natural glittering beauty. And these homemade melt and pour snowflake soaps are the perfect winter craft project when you find yourself in the midst of a snow day of your own! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#15 DIY Sensitive Skin Sheet Masks

If you’re ready to dive right into more homemade beauty recipes then make sure this DIY makes your to do list! Sheet masks are all the rage but they don’t have to expensive. This guest post from Cari of Everything Pretty illustrates how to make your own DIY sheet masks for sensitive skin for less than 10¢ each! Plus learn about the natural ingredients that go into caring for your sensitive skin. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#16 Natural Antifungal Foot Salve Recipe

Don’t let your feet keep you from wearing your favorite shoes! Help treat and prevent foot and toenail fungus with this antifungal foot salve recipe instead! Crafted using coconut oil, neem oil and a blend of organic essential oils that naturally fight fungus, this can help to treat fungal foot infections as well as prevent their recurrence when used daily. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#17 Essential Oil Lip Balm Recipe

No list of homemade beauty recipes would be complete without the ever popular lip balm. Learn how to make this ginger cardamom lip balm recipe using organic essential oils for less than 50¢ each! Plus explore 30 more homemade lip balm recipes to nourish and protect lips from chapping this winter. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#17 Bacuri Butter Body Balm Recipe

When I first started using bacuri butter as a natural ingredient in my homemade beauty recipes, I had no idea they would be so popular. Once you try bacuri butter for the first time, however, you’ll understand why. This natural bacuri butter body balm recipe not moisturizes dry skin and promotes healthy looking skin, it also reduces the appearance of aging! It truly is a magical beauty product. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#18 Bacuri Butter Body Butter Recipe

Like my bacuri butter body balm recipe, this 3-ingredient bacuri body butter recipes is also a natural beauty gem. In fact, it’s possible it will be the last only body butter your skin will ever need! Formulated to moisturize and nourish dry and maturing skin, this natural bacuri body butter recipe made with three simple ingredients from the Brazilian Amazon forest that possess unique anti-aging skin care properties. So skin looks and feels younger with every use. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#18 Natural Homemade Beauty Recipes

Rather than being a single recipe, this post highlights five natural homemade beauty recipes that you can make with ingredients from your kitchen. Using ingredients like turmeric, beet root powder, coconut oil, aloe vera leaf juice and activated charcoal you can make a variety of homemade beauty recipes to fit into your natural self care beauty regimen. Create your own charcoal face mask, natural blush powder, acne treatment stick, hydrating facial mist and a 2-in-1 lip & blush beauty stick. Learn to make them here. (Shop for similar products.)

#19 CBD Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe

You don’t need to take CBD oil internally to enjoy its natural pain relieving properties. You can also use it make a natural pain relieving salve. Learn how CBD oil can help with fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain, including arthritis. Plus how to make your own pain relief CBD oil salve. Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

#20 Triple Brazilian Butter Soap Recipe

Made with a fabulous combination of three Brazilian butters – cupuacu butter, tucuma seed butter & ucuuba butter – this natural soap recipe is a dream for dry winter skin. One of the very BEST homemade soaps for winter this natural beauty bar is made with skin conditioning ingredients that nourish dry skin without stripping it. Making it the perfect soap recipe for dry skin and eczema hands down! Learn to make it here. (Shop for similar products.)

Curious about other favorite homemade beauty recipes from years past? Check out these top bath and body recipes from 2015!

For more homemade beauty recipes, sign up my semi-weekly newsletter to discover more of my original beauty and skin care recipes and projects to try throughout the new year!

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes Tagged With: bath and beauty, bath tutorial, beauty diy, beauty recipes, body butter recipe, essential oils, hand cream, herbal salve recipe, lip balm recipe, moisturizer, natural remedy, natural skin care, pain relief salve, salve recipe, soap recipe

CBD Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe

September 29, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Learn how CBD oil can help with fibromyalgia and other types of chronic pain, including arthritis. Beneficial for both people and their pets alike, CBD oil is an important adaptogen that helps to regulate our bodies state of balance. Plus learn how you can use CBD oil to make your own CBD natural pain relief salve recipe for everyday aches and pains.

CBD Oil for Fibromyalgia.

Not all CBD oil is created equal. Trust me, I know. In my quest to find natural alternatives to pain relief for my fibromyalgia, I tried more than six different brands of CBD oil. While they all worked great at reducing anxiety and inflammation, finding one that tackled my worst pain was a challenge.

In part, this was because not all brands of CBD oil were geared specifically toward fighting pain. On the other side of that, fibromyalgia pain is tricky. This is because pinpointing the origin of fibromyalgia pain is challenging. Fibro pain moves throughout various points of the body. It’s not specifically in your joints. Or your muscles. It’s widespread and goes where it pleases.

What causes fibromyalgia?

It’s theorized that fibromyalgia, in layman’s terms, is caused by the brain misinterpreting signals from our body. So when we are particularly stressed, or in fear of a negative or painful outcome (whether physical or emotional,) our brains react to that stress or fear by sending out pain signals to various parts of our body. This is why, the majority (if not all) of the people who experience fibromyalgia pain, have experienced either a physical or emotional trauma at some point in their lives. The prior (or ongoing) abuse changes the way our brain handles stress and pain. (Source.)

This is also why, reducing stress and practicing meditation, can help fibromyalgia pain. And why, when we get upset, our pain increases. It’s also why the practices you learn through alternative treatments, such as the Curable app, can help reduce that pain. The methods primarily focus on retraining how your brain thinks and handles stress. It’s also why some fibromyalgia sufferers find relief with SSRI drugs. SSRI’s are able to reduce our stress and anxiety chemically. For others, however, an infection or an illness can also lead to the development of fibromyalgia.

Fibro is not well understood and many doctors are still uncertain about how to treat it. However, short and even long term use of synthetic opioid pain relievers, such as Tramadol, are both addictive and cause worsening severity of pain over time. I’ve found, personally, that pain killers absolutely do lead to increased sensitivity to pain. Therefore, when I stopped taking pain killers and instead focused on natural supplements that targeted inflammation, anxiety and healthy stress response, my pain actually decreased.

How does CBD oil benefit the body?

This is what led me to explore adaptogens. Like adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha, maca and holy basil, CBD oil is also an adaptogen. Or, basically, a non-specific remedy that increases our bodies resistance to a broad spectrum of harmful factors of different physical, chemical and biological natures.

CBD oil works because it interacts with our bodies through the endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) or endocannabinoid system. Discovered in the 1980’s, the endocannabinoid system regulates the body’s general state of balance. It has a positive impact on mood, sleep, appetite and hormone regulation as well as our bodies pain and immune response. As such, the endocannabinoid system is an extremely important regulator within our bodies. However, few of us take steps to support this system as cannabinoids are not a part of our normal daily diet. (Learn more about the endocannabinoid system.)

In addition to its benefit as an herbal supplement, CBD oil also has numerous medical indications including anxiety, epilepsy, inflammation, cancer and chronic pain. And it’s not just for people either. All mammals, including dogs and cats, benefit in the same way we do. My 9 1/2 year old dachshund has been able to jump onto the couch again despite arthritis in his front knees since taking CBD oil for pets. You can even find CBD oil infused edible treats for both cats and dogs so even picky eaters can get the endocannabinoids they benefit from.

How much CBD oil do I need?

I’ve found that taking a daily CBD oil supplement at a lower dose works best for long term maintenance of my fibromyalgia. It helps with anxiety, stress and insomnia. However, when I have a pain flare up, that maintenance dosage isn’t enough to bring my pain level back down. Therefore, for flare ups, I have typically take between a 50 mg to 100 mg serving twice a day until the pain dissipates.

The packaging of your CBD oil should indicate on the back how many mg are in a serving. Most oils offer between 6 mg and 35 mg per serving. The amount of CBD oil per serving is also indicative of how much more you’ll pay for your CBD oil.

If you can’t find the amount of CBD oil per serving on your packaging, you can determine the amount yourself. For example, if a 30 ml bottle of CBD oil contains 700 mg of CBD oil, simply divide the total amount of CBD in mg by the number of ml of oil in the bottle. Therefore, 700mg divided 30ml equals 24 mg per 1 ml dose, or one dropper full. While CBD 1500 mg will have 50 mg of CBD per 1 ml serving.

How you will react to CBD oil varies. It is different for everyone. Factors such as age, sex, weight and diet all determine how CBD oil influences your body. As does the way in which CBD oil is administered. Women tend to experience more pain relief from CBD oil than men. And applying CBD oil under your tongue versus consuming it by way of an edible product changes the time frame in which your body processes and reacts to it. However, for most people, you’ll notice the full effects of your CBD oil dosage about 45 minutes to an hour after consumption.

Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil

I recently had the opportunity to try the new full spectrum hemp CBD oil from Spark Naturals. I am really pleased at how much this product helps with my pain compared to other CBD oils. Not only does it tackle my fibro flare ups, I was also able to use less of this CBD oil than other brands and yet also experience better pain relief.

Their full strength CBD oil comes in strengths of 1000 mg and 1500 mg. These offer 33.3% CBD oil and 50mg CBD per 1 mL dose. In addition, they also offer a sample size dram for those interested in trying CBD oil. This sample size makes it affordable to try to CBD oil for the first time to see if it’s right for you.

All of the CBD oil from Spark Naturals comes in a base of MCT oil (also known as fractionated coconut oil.) MCT is quickly absorbed in the body. It also has its own benefits for the body as it is stored as fuel and is a natural source of energy. In addition, their CBD oil is free of synthetic fillers or preservatives. Spark Naturals Full Strength Premium CBD Oil is also 100% Vegan, contains a legal amount of THC, is gluten-free, non-GMO and contains no alcohol.

Make your own CBD natural pain relief salve recipe.

In addition to purchasing premade pain relief products, you can also make your own CBD natural pain relief salve recipe. My CBD natural pain relief salve recipe is extremely easy to make. Formulated with neem oil, a natural analgesic (pain relieving) carrier oil, CBD oil and anti-inflammatory andiroba oil, this simple natural remedy is perfect for relieving joint pain and tension topically.

CBD Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

.25 oz. neem oil
.25 oz. andiroba oil (or arnica herbal oil)
.25 oz. Spark Naturals CBD Oil (in strength of choice)
.25 oz. white cosmetic beeswax
12 drops rosemary essential oil

Instructions:

You will need a digital scale to weigh out the ingredients for this CBD natural pain relief salve recipe.

Weigh out and combine the beeswax, neem oil and andiroba oil in a small glass Pyrex measuring cup or similar. Slowly heat over low using the double boiler method.

Once all of the beeswax has melted, remove from heat. Then weigh out and stir in the CBD oil. Using a dropper or graduated plastic transfer pipette, add 12 drops of rosemary essential oil.

Mix again, then pour into two .5 oz. containers of your choice. I used two 1/2 oz. white polypropylene double wall radius jars for my CBD natural pain relief salve recipe. (You can find these containers at SKS Bottle & Packaging here.)

Once your CBD natural pain relief salve cools, screw the lids onto the jars and label as desired for personal use or gifting. (I used labels with a fake company name simply for demonstration purposes.)

To use, simply massage onto areas of pain as desired.

More Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipes

If you like my CBD natural pain relief salve recipe, then you you’ll also love my other pain relief salve recipes.

Have you tried Spark Naturals CBD oil for your chronic pain? I’d love to hear your experiences! Also be sure to let me know how you like my CBD natural pain relief salve recipe. Simply share your thoughts in the comments.

If you’d like to receive notification of new articles from Soap Deli News blog, be sure to follow me across all of your favorite social media platforms. You can find me on G+, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’ and Instagram. Or, alternately, you can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle Tagged With: andiroba oil, arnica, cbd oil, essential oils, health and wellness, healthy living, herbal salve recipe, home remedies, home remedy, natural alternative, natural remedy, neem oil, pain relief, pain relief salve, salve recipe

Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe with Arnica & Ginger Essential Oil

May 2, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

This natural pain relief salve recipe with arnica and ginger essential oil is made with just four simple ingredients. So whether you’re short on money or simply need a quick and “painless” DIY, then this natural pain remedy was created just for you.

Formulated to relieve inflammation and ease pain, this natural pain relief salve recipe combines the medicinal skin care properties of arnica flowers with the warming sensation of ginger essential oil. Both arnica and ginger essential oil are powerhouses at reducing inflammation when applied topically. Therefore this natural pain relief salve recipe is able to fight pain associated not only with bumps and bruises, but it’s also able to target muscle pain, arthritis, sprains and carpal tunnel.

Learn more about the properties of arnica here.

I personally use this natural pain relief salve to ease muscle tension associated with my fibromyalgia. It doesn’t irritate my skin like capsicum (or cayenne) pain relief salves do. And I can apply it pretty much anywhere I need it without the unfortunate side effects that occur if it accidentally comes in contact with nasal passages or other sensitive areas.

Similar in some aspects to my arnica pain relief salve recipe, this natural pain relief salve recipe calls for just four simple ingredients. So you’re able to spend less money if you’re on a budget. Additionally you’ll find that you can whip up my natural pain relief salve recipe in just ten minutes or less. This makes my natural pain relief salve recipe perfect for busy families.

If you or your children are involved in sports, you will definitely appreciate not only the simplicity of my natural pain relief salve recipe, but also the effectiveness. This recipe is perfect for both adults and children (age 12 and over) who are experiencing sore muscles due to workouts, sports or an otherwise active lifestyle.

Natural Pain Relief Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

3 oz. arnica infused fractionated coconut oil (or arnica herbal oil)
1 oz. white cosmetic beeswax (or natural beeswax)
48 drops (about 2 mL) ginger or fresh ginger essential oil

Instructions:

Begin by infusing arnica flowers in fractionated coconut oil to create an herbal infused oil. To do this you can use either the solar infused method or the quick heat method to create your arnica infused coconut oil. (You can find a tutorial for both methods at the Mountain Rose Herbs blog here.)

Once the arnica infused fractionated coconut oil is ready, you can make my natural pain relief salve recipe. To do this, weigh out the arnica infused oil and beeswax using a digital scale. Then combine in a small 1- cup glass Pyrex measuring cup.

Gently heat the oil and beeswax in a double boiler until melted. Once melted, remove from heat.

Now add the ginger essential oil. You can do this by either measuring out 2 mL essential oil with a transfer pipette, or by using a dropper to add the amount of drops called for.

Stir to combine, then evenly pour into three 2 oz. glass jars or metal tins of your choice. (I used 2.3 oz. clear glass thick wall cosmetic jar from SKS Bottle & Packaging. If you double my natural pain relief salve recipe you will be able to fill around five of these jars.)

Allow the pain salve to cool completely. Then screw on the lids and label as desired for personal use or gifting.

Notes on making ingredient substitutions to my natural pain relief salve recipe.

I chose to use fractionated coconut oil in my natural pain relief salve recipe so it would absorb quickly and not feel greasy. However you’re welcome to use another carrier oil of your choice or simply purchase pre-made arnica herbal oil.

Alternately, you can also use Mountain Rose Herbs Warming Ginger Massage Oil in place of the fractionated coconut oil and omit the ginger essential oil entirely. However you will still need to infuse the arnica in the warming ginger massage oil if you choose to make this substitution.

Additionally, if your skin is easily irritated, I highly recommend using Mountain Rose Herbs fresh ginger essential oil over their ginger essential oil which is extracted from the dried, rather than a fresh root and doesn’t cause skin irritation.

A caution on the use of arnica.

Due to the nature of arnica and its compounds, never use arnica on broken skin. Best suited for occasional topical use, you should avoid using arnica for extended periods of time. It is important to note as well, that if you are allergic or sensitive to ragweed, daisies, marigolds and other flowers in the Asteraceae or Compositae family, arnica may cause an allergic reaction. Or, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, arnica should simply be avoided all together.

If you are sensitive or allergic to arnica there are a number of other typically non-irritating herbs that can help to reduce pain caused by inflammation. These include St. John’s Wort, green tea, rosemary, sage and turmeric. (You may also be interested in Mountain Rose Herbs Arnica St. John’s Herbal Oil.) Additionally, herbs such as neem leaf, St. John’s Wort, lavender, peppermint, marjoram, chamomile and eucalyptus are all also effective at relieving pain symptoms. You can simply infuse one or more of these organic herbs into your carrier oil in place of the arnica.

Easy ways to decorate the jars for your pain relief salve.

I used round cactus stickers to decorate the lids of my jars. You can also use washi tape to “seal” the jars closed, running the washi tape across the lid and down the sides of the jar. Then place a round sticker label over the washi tape on top of the lid. Alternately wrapping washi tape around your jars is another easy idea.

If you’re looking for cute stickers, I’m currently crushing on this collection of succulents stickers from Art by Sharell. Sharell incidentally just happens to live in my hometown of Roanoke, VA. I met her at an indie craft fair last year that raises money for a local non-profit, Girls Rock Roanoke. In addition to her lovely illustrated stickers, Sharell also paints beautiful nature inspired wood wall art.

More natural pain relief recipes & home remedies.

Want to explore other home remedies for natural pain relief options in addition to my natural pain relief salve recipe? Check out these other natural pain remedies you can make at home.

You’ll also want to check this collection of summertime remedies from the garden for recipes that include a sunburn relief spray, herbal liniment, herbal massage oil and more.

Where to buy natural pain relief salves.

If you’re not quite ready to make my natural pain relief salve recipe, you can purchase natural artisan pain relief salves from a number of sellers on Etsy. Following are a few of my favorites.

Pain Salve with Turmeric, Cayenne, Arnica & St. John’s Wort from Herbal Moon Apothecary (Pictured above.)
Ginger Kelp Arthritis Pain Relief Balm from Momma B’s Naturals
Anti-Inflammatory Pain Relaxer Cream from Adorani Organics
Peace Out Pain Relief Balm from In The Weeds Apothecary
Sore Muscle & Joint Rub from Morning Song Gardens
Arnica & Belladonna Salve from Soaps & Beyond
Natural Headache Balm with Pine & Peppermint from Body & Soul Goods

For more pain relief salves and natural home remedies you can buy, be sure to explore my collection of favorite handmade natural home remedies here.

Discover more natural skin care recipes.

Follow my best homemade salve recipes board and my natural home remedies & herbal health care board on Pinterest for more natural skin care recipes similar to my natural pain relief salve recipe.

You can also follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms! Find and follow me on G+, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. You can also subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and skin care 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, Lifestyle Tagged With: arnica, diy, ginger essential oil, health and wellness, herbal salve recipe, home remedies, home remedy, natural alternative, natural remedy, pain relief salve, pain remedy, salve recipe, skin care

Best Herbal Salve Recipes for Every Ailment (Plus An Easy Customizable All Purpose Salve Recipe!)

April 10, 2018 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Herbal salves have a long history of medicinal use as natural home remedies. Typically crafted from plant based ingredients that include a combination of carrier or herbal infused oils, essential oils and beeswax, I’ve rounded up some of the best herbal salve recipes for every ailment.

Plus learn how to create your own simple, yet affordable all purpose salve that can be easily customized for your skin specific needs.

Why choose herbal salves over modern skin care treatments?

Having grown up with a variety of frustrating skin issues, including eczema and dry skin, I’ve found that the best herbal salve recipes are also some of the best home remedies one can use. Not only are herbal salves effective at soothing itching and skin irritation, they also promote skin health. So skin not only looks and feels better after use, it can actually repair damage for healthier skin overall.

More importantly, when you make one of these best herbal salve recipes, you don’t have to worry about potentially harmful or synthetic ingredients found in many prescription and commercial over-the-counter products. I believe it’s important to know exactly what you’re putting onto your skin. After all, your skin is the largest organ on your body. So it’s just as important to take care of your skin as it is to say, take care of your eye health.

By learning about the benefits that each ingredient in this collection of best herbal salve recipes has to offer, you can easily start to customize your own herbal salve recipes. A great way to start doing this is to simply swap out the carrier oils called for in a recipe with either another carrier oil or your own herbal infused oil.

Or you can also add your own blend of essential oils. This knowledge can not only help you avoid a potential allergic reaction, but it can ensure you’re getting the right combination of ingredients for your specific skin issues.

What are the skin care benefits of the best herbal salve recipes?

I previously mentioned that herbal salves are great at tackling bothersome skin issues and maladies. However, you may be unsure if herbal salves are suited for your particular concern. Following are some of popular concerns that herbal salves are most commonly used to address.

Rashes and fungal infections like ringworm or even parasitic infections like scabies or flea dermatitis.
Natural pain relief due to bruising, sore muscles and even arthritis.
To treat poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac.
Sunburns and minor burns.
Eczema, psoriasis or even hives.
Minor wounds, scrapes and cuts.
Blisters and boils as well as abscesses and skin ulcers.
Dry or cracked skin as well windburned skin.
Insect bites and stings.
Inflamed bunions or bedsores.

How can I learn more about natural ingredients used in the best herbal salve recipes?

Mountain Rose Herbs is a wonderful source of knowledge for learning about a vast array of organic herbs, carrier oils and essential oils. In addition to information on the natural products they offer, you can also learn more about creating your own herbal salves on the Mountain Rose Herbs blog.

I also highly recommend the book by renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar titled, Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use.

The books Alchemy of Herbs, The Herbal Apothecary, and Essential Oils Natural Remedies: The Complete A-Z Reference of Essential Oils for Health and Healing are also great places to start your introductory journey.

About my all purpose salve recipe.

Whether you want to test the waters by making a simple salve or want to learn how to create your own custom salve recipes, my all purpose salve recipe is a great springing board for developing your own herbal salve recipes.

Why I love this easy customizable all purpose salve recipe.

It’s non-greasy. Formulated using fractionated coconut oil in lieu of other common carrier oils such as olive, this all purpose salve is less greasy than other herbal salve recipes you commonly come across.
It’s moisturizing and nourishing. Rather than combing simply beeswax and a carrier oil to create this salve, I also used a combination of cocoa butter and shea butter to moisturize skin and promote skin health.
It protects skin. As beeswax is a wax, it forms a protective barrier when applied to skin as part of a homemade or herbal salve. This protective barrier not only locks in moisture, but it also helps to keep out environmental assaults like wind and dry air.

It’s naturally antibacterial and antifungal. Often when we have skin issues there’s more to the story than just dry or irritated skin. Because coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, this all purpose salve recipe can help tackle problems we aren’t entirely aware of.
It’s perfect for sensitive skin. While customizable, this all purpose salve recipe is unscented and contains just four simple ingredients to nourish and protect skin. Even without the addition of an infused carrier oil or even essential oils, this salve still works wonders for most skin types as is. (Extra sensitive skin users can go even simpler with this all purpose salve recipe and simply combine 3 parts carrier oil of choice with 1 part beeswax. As beeswax is anti-allergenic, just about everyone can enjoy the benefits of this natural ingredient combined with just one simple carrier oil.)
It soothes and calms itching. Because this all purpose salve recipe contains beeswax, it does a bang up job of soothing itching – especially when it’s associated with dry skin.

Aside of adding essential oils to this all purpose salve recipe based on your own skin care needs, you can also substitute the fractionated coconut oil with another carrier oil of your choice.

Sea Buckthorn Oil is one of my favorite carrier oils. Not only is sea buckthorn oil rich in nutrients that skin craves, this gentle carrier oil is also a great fit for sensitive skin. Not only does it nourish, soothe and protect skin but it also helps to promote skin health.

When used in an herbal salve recipe, sea buckthorn oil helps to speed healing and damage to skin cells. It also calms inflammation caused by common skin conditions such as sunburns and even psoriasis. Additionally, the high vitamin E content makes sea buckthorn a great choice for anti-aging products and salves.

You’ll also find that sea buckthorn oil is a great choice for fading acne scars and blemishes. This is one of the reasons it’s a must have ingredient in this best scar and stretch mark treatment from my fellow blogger, Cari Dunn.

To learn more about the benefits of other carrier oils you may wish to use in your own all purpose salve recipes, be sure to check out the book, Carrier Oils: A beginner’s guide to using over 40 carrier oils in bath and body recipes, by Cari Dunn in addition to some of the other great resources I mentioned above.

Keep reading to learn how to make my simple, customizable all purpose salve recipe as well as for a list of the best herbal salve recipes for a variety of everyday ailments and skin complaints.

Customizable All Purpose Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

1 oz. cocoa butter
1 oz. shea butter
1 oz. cosmetic beeswax
.5 oz. fractionated coconut oil

Directions:

Step #1:

Using a digital scale, weigh out the beeswax, cocoa butter and shea butter.

Step #2:

Combine these ingredients in a double boiler and heat until melted. Then remove from heat.

Step #3:

Next weigh out the fractionated coconut oil and stir into the melted beeswax and butters.

Step #4:

If desired, customize your salve by adding essential oils. Typically it’s safe to add up to 12 drops of an essential oil per ounce of your recipe. However, some essential oils should be used in smaller quantities.

To be safe always check to see what the skin safe recommended usage for your essential oil of choice is. And be sure to research your essential oils beforehand as not all of them are safe for use by pregnant women or children.

Additionally, as there are what are essentially fake essential oils on the market falsely claiming to be 100% pure therapeutic essential oils, I recommend purchasing essential oils from either Mountain Rose Herbs or Spark Naturals. Both of these companies have been independently tested by industry watch groups and have been found to only ever sell the real deal.

You can also purchase fractionated coconut oil from Spark Naturals in addition to their own base foundation salve. Similar to my all purpose salve recipe, this unscented salve base is designed to be easily customized by adding your own blend of essential oils.

To customize this all purpose salve recipe one step further, infuse herbs in the fractionated coconut oil (or another carrier oil) to create an herbal oil infusion. Then simply use the herbal infused oil in place of the fractionated coconut oil in this or any of the best herbal salve recipes that can be found below.

You can learn how to make your own herbal oil infusions along with the various methods for infusing herbs in oil via this tutorial from the Mountain Rose Herbs blog. This instructional guide walks you through the traditional folk process of making solar infused oils as well as the quick method for heat infusing oils.

The final consistency of this all purpose salve is mostly solid at room temperature – it also makes a great solid lotion bar – but quickly and easily melts right into skin. You’ll love it for cracked, dry winter hands as well as a multitude of other uses!

To use your all purpose salve, simply apply to your hands, feets, lips and other problem areas as desired.

Best Herbal Salve Recipes to Make at Home

Now that you’ve gotten your feet wet with my easy all purpose salve recipes, here’s a collection of the best herbal salve recipes that you can make at home. I hope you’ll love them as much as I do. And once you’ve tried a few for yourself, I hope that I will have inspired you to custom create your own best herbal salve recipe for your family!

To discover more of the best herbal salve recipes, be sure to check out and follow my Best Homemade Salve Recipes board on Pinterest in addition to my other Pinterest boards.

Not ready to make your own best herbal salve recipes?

If you’d like to try an herbal salve but aren’t quite ready to tackle my list of the best herbal salve recipes, no worries. You can totally buy just about any herbal salve your heart desires from an array of handmade artisans. Following are some of my favorite homemade herbal salves that you can purchase online from sellers on Etsy.

Herbal Prairie Rose Salve from Prairie Folk Supply Co. (Pictured above.)
Oregano & Lavender Herbal Salve for Acne from Kimberly’s Kupboard
Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Herbal Salve from Owens Acres
Nature’s Revenge Herbal Salve from WaiKe Botanicals
Hemp Seed Pain Salve from Botanical Delights

Dandelion Wild Harvested Herbal Salve from Wandering Wildcraft (Pictured above.)
Moisturizing Herbal Salve from HumbleLove
Calendula Healing Herbal Salve from NakedPagan
St. John’s Wort Healing Herbal Salve from TheBEEKEEPERshop
Herbal Black Drawing Salve from Essence of Earth

If you’re still interested in exploring more of the best herbal salves, you can browse Etsy for even more herbal salves that you can buy. Or shop from among some of my other handmade, artisan favorites!

For more natural beauty and skin care recipes, also be sure to follow Soap Deli News across all of your favorite social media platforms! You can find and follow me on G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram as well as subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.

Filed Under: Bath & Beauty Recipes, Health & Wellness Tagged With: crafts, diy, healing salve, herbal, herbal remedies, herbal salve recipe, home remedy, natural alternative, natural remedy, pain relief salve, salve recipe, salves, skin care, skin nourishing salve

Arnica Pain Relief Salve Recipe for Muscle Pain & Inflammation

October 31, 2017 By Rebecca D. Dillon

Whether you suffer from pain due to occasional bumps, bruises and sore muscles or as a result of chronic conditions such as arthritis or carpal tunnel, this arnica pain relief salve recipe is the perfect natural remedy for muscle pain and inflammation!

Pain is something we all experience at some point in our lives. And whether it’s a bump or a bruise, sore muscles, arthritis or even a chronic illness, that pain can range from uncomfortable to debilitating. While commercial over-the-counter and prescription medications offer relief, the side effects and damage caused from chronic use of these medications can begin outweigh the benefits. Therefore, if your pain is manageable, I highly recommend trying natural alternatives.

As someone with fibromyalgia, I found that changing my diet and eating healthier made a tremendous difference. In addition to diet, herbal supplements (keep reading for more on that further down) and staying active, I was able to significantly reduce my symptoms. However, for those tough days when none of those things seem to matter, my arnica pain relief salve really helps to ease muscle pain, stiffness and calm inflammation. In addition, if you’re like me and suffer from cold hands and feet in the winter (or year round!) this salve also helps to warm skin and improve circulation to those areas as well.

What is arnica?

Often referred to as mountain tobacco, leopard’s bane and wolf’s bane, Arnica montana is a flowering perennial native to the mountains of both Europe and Siberia. Its vibrant flowers look similar daisies and contain the compound helenalin, a powerful anti-inflammatory. Used medicinally since the 1500’s, arnica is also rich in fatty acids, including thymol, which is shown to have antibacterial properties. It’s common not only in ointments, cream, liniments and salves but can also be found in anti-dandruff hair care products and tonics.

Due to the nature of arnica and its compounds, you should not use arnica on broken skin or for extended periods of time. It’s best suited for occasional topical use. In addition it’s important to note that those who are allergic or sensitive to ragweed, daisies, marigolds and other flowers in the Asteraceae or Compositae family, arnica may cause an allergic reaction. It should not be taken internally and, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, arnica should be avoided all together.

Other ingredients in my arnica pain relief salve.

I formulated my arnica pain relief salve recipe using a combination of arnica infused herbal oil, baobab oil, shea butter and beeswax. Baobab oil, like arnica, has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It’s fast absorption rate makes this African carrier oil especially nice as a component of this recipe. Used in combination with beeswax, it helps to protect and insulate skin as well as moisturize without feeling greasy. Fresh ginger essential oil and chili seed essential oil then gently warm skin to soothe overworked muscles, while just a touch of orange gives this salve its lovely scent.

I purchased the arnica herbal oil that I used for my arnica pain relief recipe at Mountain Rose Herbs. However, you can also purchase dried arnica flowers to create your own herbal oil infusion for this recipe if desired.

Arnica Pain Relief Salve Recipe

Ingredients:

.75 oz. arnica herbal oil
.5 oz. baobab oil
.5 oz. white cosmetic or natural beeswax
.25 oz. refined shea butter
20 drops fresh ginger essential oil
12 drops 5-fold orange essential oil
10 drops chili seed essential oil

Instructions:

Using a digital scale weigh out the beeswax and shea butter. Combine in a small scientific glass beaker or glass Pyrex measuring cup. Then heat in either a microwave at 30% power or in a double boiler until melted.

Remove from heat, then weigh out and stir in the baobab oil and the arnica infused herbal oil. Follow with the essential oils using a dropper or graduated transfer pipettes to measure out the drops called for in the recipe.

Stir well to combine then pour into a 2 oz. glass amber glass jar. (I got mine from SKS Bottle & Packaging here.) Allow your arnica pain relief salve to solidify, then screw on the lid and label your salve as desired for personal use of gifting.

To use massage desired amount of your arnica pain relief salve onto unbroken skin as needed to help soothe muscles, alleviate the severity of pain and reduce inflammation. Take care to keep your arnica pain relief salve away from eyes and nasal passages as well as other delicate areas of skin.

If you like my arnica pain relief salve recipe, then may also like my neem oil body butter recipe with arnica infused coconut oil or my collection of six other natural pain relief remedies which you can find here.

For dry itchy skin, also be sure to try my dry skin salve recipe with baobab oil via my guest post at The Nourished Life blog. Not only do I share the amazing skin care uses for baobab oil, but you’ll also learn how to make your own homemade salve for dry winter skin or troublesome skin conditions such as eczema, dry psoriasis and actinic keratosis.

Other natural options for managing pain.

As previously mentioned, I’ve also been using herbal supplements to help manage my pain and its underlying causes. Those supplements include Gaia Herbs Daily Wellbeing for Women, Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme: Pain and Gaia Herbs Turmeric Supreme: Pain P.M. In addition I also drink Natural Vitality’s Natural Calm Anti-Stress Drink daily to help restore healthy magnesium levels in my body which in turn naturally reduces stress.

(I purchase all of these products for myself at Thrive Market which saves me a substantial amount of money, however most of these products should be available at your local co-op or health food store as well.)

As I am currently going through perimenopause (learn more about perimenopause here) and my fibromyalgia symptoms worsen during hormonal changes and periods of stress or anxiety, I am taking both Gaia Herbs Daily Wellbeing and evening primrose supplements in order to avoid hormone therapy (and still feel sane.)

Within the past two years one of my friends was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40, another with both uterine and ovarian cancer and then my mother with ovarian cancer. My mother’s cancer, for which she had her ovaries surgically removed, was a result of using hormone therapy after a hysterectomy for longer than recommended (and with the ok of her doctor.) Thus the hesitation of turning to prescription medication and instead trying natural alternatives instead.

Gaia’s Daily Wellbeing for Women works to support immune health, stress management, inflammatory response and women’s health. Formulated using proprietary herbal blends, these supplements, taken daily, also promote normal sleep patterns and calm occasional nervousness. While evening primrose (this is the brand I use) is a superior source of Gamma-Linolenic Acid, an important omega-6 fatty acid, needed for the production of beneficial prostaglandins (hormone-like compounds), which play an important role in promoting immune regulation.

I started taking the evening primrose prior to Gaia Herbs Daily Wellbeing and noticed almost immediately that it helped significantly with perimenopausal hot flashes and mood swings. The addition of Gaia Herbs Daily Wellbeing has further aided with overall stress reduction and supplies my daily intake of D3.

Low magnesium on the other hand can cause irritability, insomnia, muscle soreness and spasms, anxiety or depression, noise sensitivity, high stress, headaches and even chronic fatigue. (Learn more about low magnesium here.) Studies have shown that many adults aren’t getting enough magnesium. So in order to boost my own magnesium levels I switched to a natural magnesium deodorant (find my recipe for making your own here) and I also started drinking Natural Vitality’s Natural Calm.

I then also take Turmeric Supreme Pain, which contains turmeric root, ginger root, rosemary, black pepper and a proprietary extract blend to tackle pain and inflammation as they occur. And I take Turmeric Supreme Pain P.M. to help me sleep better throughout the night when pain symptoms make sleep difficult.

These are all my experiences with these supplements however and everyone is different. If you are experiencing undiagnosed pain or are currently being treated for a chronic condition, you should obviously consult a doctor before making any changes to your lifestyle or taking herbal supplements. To explore more home remedies and natural pain relief alternatives, be sure to follow my Natural Home Remedies and Herbal Health Care Pinterest board. (And don’t forget to check out the benefits of a Thrive Market membership here.)

For more from Soap Deli News, you can find and follow me on all of your favorite social media platforms including Pinterest, G+, Tumblr, 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, Lifestyle Tagged With: arnica, diy, health and wellness, herbal supplements, herbs, home remedies, home remedy, natural, natural alternative, pain relief, pain relief salve, plant based, skin care