Lavender and Calendula Hand Salve Recipe

Healing Hand Salve Recipe

My skin gets really dry in the winter. I use a humidifier to get moisture back into the air, but it's not enough to combat my dry skin.

I use a lot of lotion in the winter during the day, and I use this beeswax hand salve recipe at night so it has time to penetrate into my skin and work to relieve my dry skin.

Salves are oilier than lotions, so I use it at night when I'm not going to be on my computer or where I would transfer the oils to things I'm using to work.

For more dry skin recipes, check out these posts:

• Chamomile and Calendula Soothing Herbal Bath Bombs
• How to Make Milk Bath Bombs
• Chamomile Lotion Bars
• Rose Salve for Dry Skin
• Calendula Soap for Dry Skin
• Rose Milk Bath Tea
• Lavender Chamomile Tub Tea
• Hot Chocolate Milk Bath
• Bath Melt Recipe With Emulsifier
• Calendula Salve Recipe

What is a Natural Salve?

A salve is a type of lotion that contains an oil and a wax, usually beeswax. The beeswax is used to harden it and to form a protective barrier on top of the skin.

This helps hold the oil on your skin, and the beeswax is also good for your skin.

A homemade salve recipe can also contain butters or coconut oil. Adding hard butters or solid coconut oil can make the salve harder, so you'll need less beeswax.

Since a beeswax hand salve recipe doesn't have water in it, it doesn't need a preservative. Salves are great DIYs for beginners because they don't need a preservative or emulsifier.

Simply Earth has two great courses for learning how to formulate skin care products. Their Butters and Balms course also has salves and cleansing balms.

For water based lotions and creams, they also have a Lotions and Creams course with information about emulsions and preservatives.

Lavender and Calendula Go Together?

Yes, lavender and calendula are two of my favorite herbs to put together. Both promote skin health when used topically.

They are also gentle herbs, so they are well tolerated by most people, including those with sensitive skin.

I use them either as a dried herb or by making an infused oil (more on that below).

I used both of the herbs to make this calendula and lavender fluffy whipped soap.

Lavender and Calendula Salve Benefits for Skin

Lavender and calendula both promote healing. When you infuse the dried herbs in oil, the active ingredients are pulled from the herbs to the oil.

Then you can strain the large pieces out and reserve the oil to use it to make a lavender and calendula salve.

Lavender is naturally anti-inflammatory due to the beta-caryophyllene in the plant, so it can reduce inflammation from dry skin or eczema. It can also reduce redness on the skin.

Lavender can promote healing of the skin. In a study on rats, wounds were significantly decreased compared to the control group.

When used topically, lavender helped promote collagen production to help the skin heal.

Calendula can also promote healing. In one study, using aloe and calendula helped women heal quicker than the control group.

Another study found that calendula helped promote firmness and hydration when used topically.

What is the Best Oil for Making Salves?

You can use any liquid carrier oil to make this healing hand salve recipe. There are several carrier oils, and each has its own unique benefits. Learn more about carrier oils and their benefits to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Here are some good ones to try:

• Sweet almond oil is a great all purpose carrier oil. It has vitamins A and C to nourish your skin. It soaks into the skin fairly quickly, so it won't leave your skin feeling oily after using it.
• Jojoba oil is actually a wax, and it's excellent for dry skin. It's high in ceramides that can improve dry skin. It's a more expensive carrier oil, but you can combine it with another oil.
• Safflower oil also has ceramides. It's a lighter oil, so it soaks in quickly.
• Hemp seed oil is nourishing and has ceramides for dry skin. It's a heavier oil, so it will make this hand salve recipe oily.
• Wheat germ oil is nourishing, but it's also a heavy oil.

I get my carrier oils from Crafty Bubbles, Mountain Rose Herbs, or The Plant Guru.

How Do You Make Homemade Salve Less Greasy?

This beeswax hand salve recipe is a little greasy because it's made with mainly oils. I also added shea butter because it's not greasy on your skin.

You can use a lighter oil that soaks in quickly like safflower oil or grapeseed oil. However, if your skin is really dry or cracked, then I recommend using a heavier oil for its benefits.

You can also add up to 1/2 teaspoon of arrowroot powder to the oils to make this lavender and calendula salve less greasy.

Sprinkle it in the oil and stir well to prevent clumps. Don't add it all at once or it will clump.

Best Essential Oils for Lavender and Calendula Salve

I used my favorite skin care blend called Bumps and Boo Boos. It's a blend of tea tree, lemon, lavender, and helichrysum.

You can also use one of the following essential oils:

• Lavender essential oil
• Frankincense essential oil
• Carrot seed essential oil (this smells strong, I suggest using it in a blend)
• Helichrysum essential oil

I also like Soft Skin from Plant Therapy and Skin Care Blend from Mountain Rose Herbs.

How to Infuse Herbs and a Carrier Oil for Homemade Salve Recipe

Infusing herbs and oils is a great way to get the benefits from the herbs into the oil without having bits of the flower in the oil.

To infuse the oil and herbs, fill a mason jar about half way with the dried herbs or flowers. Then cover with the oil.

I usually use an 8 ounce jar or a pint jar, depending on how much infused oil I want. Just be sure that the herbs or flowers you use are dry and not fresh.

Then cover and let the jar sit for 2 to 4 weeks. Shake it gently every few days to help the infusion.

Then strain out the plant material and reserve the oil.

You can combine lavender and calendula in equal amounts and infuse the oil at the same time. Or you can make it separate to use the oils in other DIY recipes.

Don't want to make your own infusion? You can buy calendula infused oil or lavender infused oil.

How Long Do Homemade Salves Last?

Generally, the salve will last as long as the oil. Oils can go rancid, so use a fresh carrier oil for a longer shelf life.

Beeswax Hand Salve Recipe Ingredients

You will need the following to make a healing hand salve recipe:

• 1/2 cup lavender infused oil
• 1/2 cup calendula infused oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoon beeswax pastilles
• 1 1/2 tablespoon shea butter
• 10 drops Bumps and Boo Boos essential oil blend
• Double boiler
• Spatula
• 3 2-ounce tins

Place the infused oils, shea butter, and beeswax pellets in a double boiler. Heat over medium heat until melted. Stir occasionally until the beeswax is melted.

Carefully remove from heat and stir in the essential oils.

Carefully pour into tins or other heat proof containers. Let sit until hardened. Then put the lid on.

I hope you enjoy this healing hand salve recipe!

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