Homemade Skin-Soothing Salve Recipe

Author:

Mel loves creating and making her own herbals, cleaning products, air fresheners, bath, beauty, and body products.

Homemade Skin Soothing Salve
©Melissa Meadow

Winter Skin Woes

If you're like me, this time of year can really take a toll on your skin. The air is drier during the colder months, so your skin may become thirsty and dehydrated. This can quickly lead to irritation. Your skin may start to itch and burn, become red and angry. You may develop uncomfortable patches of rough and bumpy skin areas throughout your body that look and feel unpleasant and inflamed. This can be terribly annoying, and the itch and irritation can drive you crazy, especially at night when you're trying to sleep, and clothing is rubbing against your irritated skin.

I've battled this problem for my entire life. I have dry, sensitive skin that hates any sort of situation that it deems to be neglectful or harsh, or any type of extreme circumstances such as cold weather. At the first sign of crisp, cool air, my skin becomes a desert almost instantaneously. It gets angry quickly, and misery soon ensues.

I've tried dozens of store-bought lotions, creams, and salves over the years, some good, some not so good. One day as I was slathering on a popular name brand body lotion as a part of my daily morning routine, a thought occurred to me . . . I should make a cream of my own! And so, after doing some experimenting with different ingredients and after a few trial and error attempts, I made a salve that soothes and calms my angry, irritated skin amazingly well.

I fell in love with it because it works beautifully, it's made with my own two hands in my very own kitchen, and I know each and every ingredient that goes inside. If you've experienced similar skin ailments as I have mentioned here and have an interest in possibly making your own soothing skin salve, you've come to the right place. Now, let's get started!

Ingredients

2 cups of almond oil
2 Tbsp. dried lavender flowers
2 Tbsp. dried chamomile flowers
2 Tbsp. dried calendula flowers
2 Tbsp. dried comfrey leaf
2 Tbsp. dried plantain leaf
1 tsp. dried rosemary leaf
1 tsp. echinacea root
Approx. 1/4 cup of beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax
1/2–1 tsp. of vitamin E oil (used as a preservative)
Large canning jar with airtight lid (Mason or Ball)
Cheesecloth or a fine-wire handheld strainer
Double boiler
Small storage tins or clean glass jars for storing/keeping salve (Approx. 8–10 containers, depending on size) *It's always best to have more than you think you'll need on hand. It's better to have too many than not have enough*

Instructions

To begin, you will need to infuse the herbs into the almond oil. To do this, combine all herbs and almond oil (as well as the vitamin E oil) into a large canning jar and seal with an airtight lid. Allow to sit for 4–6 weeks, shaking daily. *Speedier method*: heat herbs and almond oil together over very low heat in a double broiler for approximately 2–4 hours or until the oil is very green to greenish-yellow in color. Make sure the temperature is very, very low!
Once herbs are infused into the oil, strain well either by pouring through the cheesecloth (make sure to squeeze out all remaining oil from the herbs) or by straining the oil mixture through a handheld fine wire kitchen strainer.
Discard the herbs.
Heat the well-strained infused oil in a double boiler with the beeswax until melted and mix well.
Pour immediately into small storage tins or clean glass jars. Allow to cool. Cover tightly. Congratulations, it's that easy! Your soothing skin salve is now complete.

How to Use Your Salve and Other Helpful Information

Dip fingertips into the salve and apply to needed areas. Rub into skin thoroughly. Use generously daily and as needed on legs, arms, hands, feet, back, stomach, chest, elbows, heels, knees, and even on your face. If you have irritated, chapped, windburned, or sunburned skin, this salve works wonderfully. I've had great success using this salve on my dry, cracked heels, too. My feet just love this stuff.

This salve can be used for a wide array of skin ailments and problems and can be used over almost all are of the body. Avoid getting into the eyes and do not apply to gaping or oozing wounds, surgical site areas, etc., just as a precaution.

Many ingredients used in this salve are said to be anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and also have antibiotic properties. This would certainly explain why it's so soothing, helpful, and calming to the skin.

This salve keeps almost indefinitely unless it's exposed to poor conditions such as excessive amounts of heat, water, debris, etc. Washing hands thoroughly before use and keeping salve free of contaminates/debris will greatly help to extend the shelf life. Store in a cool, dry area, tightly covered and away from direct sunlight for best results.

This recipe is very versatile. If there are ingredients that I've listed here that you do not like, by all means, omit them. If there are ingredients that you'd rather use that I did not include, feel free to experiment until your heart's content. This, of course, is just one way of many, but the sky is the limit here.

As with anything you use on your body, if you are allergic to or think that you may be allergic to any of these ingredients or ingredients like these, please do not use and exercise extreme caution. Discontinue use and consult a physician if irritation occurs or if you have a concern as to how something may affect you. Please use sensibly and with discretion.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Where did you get your tins for your salve? They are beautiful and I’d love to know where you get them.

Answer: I get my tins, along with many other supplies, at Mountain Rose Herbs online.

Comments

Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on February 27, 2019:

Interesting formulation.

Melissa Meadow (author) from United States on December 26, 2018:

You're very welcome, Tim.

I'm always trying to think of ways to make my own body care products and I love to experiment with different remedies. The natural way is awesome, isn't it?

Thanks so much for stopping by. I do hope you have great success with this salve if you do decide to give it a try.

Warm holiday wishes to you!

Melissa

Tim Truzy from U.S.A. on December 25, 2018:

Thanks, Melisa. This looks like worth the try.

I'm always looking at new ways to address itches and pains in a natural way.

Happy holidays to you.

sincerely,

Tim