Although I sell it, lavender body balm is a natural skin care product that you can easily make yourself. It’s a rich oil-based product scented with soothing lavender essential oil that you melt and mix together then pour into tins to harden. You can use it to soften and moisturize your skin but also to calm nerves and tension. Rub a little on your temples at night and it can also help ease you into a peaceful slumber. It will take you less than half an hour to make this recipe and once poured and cooled you can use the balm immediately.
Lavender Body Balm Recipe
I’ve never shared one of my Lovely Greens Handmade product recipes before but now a handful of people (and now you!) know how to make Natural Lavender Body Balm. The reason and audience seemed fitting for the share — it was to remember my friend Leo by showing her friends and family how to make her favourite product. Leo passed away after her second battle with cancer and I think she’d have loved to be remembered in this way.
Saying Goodbye to a Friend
The last time I saw Leo was in the hospital. It was shortly before she passed and though Cancer really had taken its toll she was still as feisty as ever. I remember bringing a pot of the body balm as a gift and asking if she’d be able to get help to put it on later.
Even though she was tiny and weak she defiantly pulled back the blanket to show that she could reach her own toes. Leo loved to use the balm on her feet, especially after she went through chemotherapy and the skin on her hands and feet became dry and irritated.
She was gone within days of that last visit. I think about her often — every time I drive past her house, see handmade cards (her favourite hobby) or make a batch of lavender body balm. That got me thinking. Maybe others would find comfort and a bit of fun in making the balm.
I got in touch with Manx Cancer Help, a drop-in centre for anyone affected by Cancer. Leo was a huge fan of the aromatherapy, reflexology, and other services the centre provides and I asked to host a remembrance workshop. They were more than happy to host me and I had the honor of showing Leo’s closest friends how to make Lavender Body Balm.
How to Make Lavender Body Balm
The lesson was lively and chatty and everyone seemed amazed at how easy it is to make body balm. All it’s really made of is solid and liquid oils that work together to moisturise and protect. They are gently melted together, the essential oil is stirred in, and then it’s poured into containers. I enjoy teaching people how to make handmade skincare but this was even better because it’s so easy to do.
Throughout the lesson, we all spoke of Leo and remembered things she said and did. Everyone there knew her as a friend and her husband David was able to join us for the day. Even after I’d packed up and headed out the door I could hear the sound of laughter and chit-chat and know that most of all that’s what would make Leo smile. For her, I’d like to share the recipe and instructions for making Natural Lavender Balm with you as well.
* The sweet almond oil may be plain, or you could infuse it with lavender flowers first, making homemade lavender oil.
1. Over very low heat, or better yet, a double boiler, melt the beeswax and shea butter until liquid. Add the sweet almond oil and then wait for it to liquefy again. Keep stirring it during that time to help speed things up.
2. Take the oils off the heat and allow them to rest until the temperature is about 130F/ 54C. Stir in the Vitamin E and essential oil and then pour into containers. Allow to harden and cool, which can take two to three hours. Don’t put a lid on the container until the balm is hardened and at room temperature.
Shelf-life of up to two years and/or the closest use-by date of any of your ingredients. You should use the balm within these two years or within six months of opening.
Combine coconut oil, jojoba oil, and beeswax in a small heatproof bowl and place on top of a saucepan with an inch or two of water. Heat on the stove at medium-low. Stir until oils and wax are completely melted and combined. Remove from heat and add essential oil and vitamin E oil, stirring together.
Place lavender into a clean jar until three-quarters full (make sure your jar is totally dry!) Add enough base oil to completely cover the lavender, leaving some space at the top for expansion. Place on lid and give it a shake. Leave the jar in a warm place or sunny window sill for for 3-4 weeks.
Place beeswax in a double boiler and gently warm over low heat until the beeswax melts. Add herbal oils and stir over low heat until well-mixed. Remove from heat and add the essential oil(s). Quickly pour warm mixture into prepared tins, glass jars, or lip balm tubes and allow to cool completely.
Almond Oil: Almond oil is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, making it a great emollient and moisturizer for the skin. It can help improve complexion, reduce inflammation, and soothe dry and irritated skin.
You can mix a few drops into your favourite facial cleanser or moisturiser for a refreshing, calming boost. For a more targeted treatment, consider adding lavender essential oil to a carrier oil such as jojoba or rose hip oil, then applying it to specific areas of your face or body.
Lavender oil offers several potential benefits for your skin, including reduced inflammation and improved wound healing. But you'll want to avoid putting it directly on your skin without diluting it first.
Body balms are products that help lock in moisture while also giving your skin the nutrients it needs to glow and be healthy. Body balm is great for taking on the go, especially if you struggle with dry skin. Plus, you can free up space in your bag and not worry about a bulky bottle of lotion that could leak.
To make a salve or balm, simply heat 1 part beeswax with 3 to 5 parts natural oil of choice in a double-boiler until combined (see detailed instructions below). For example, ¼ cup of beeswax pastilles or shavings and about 1 cup of oil, or 1 cup of beeswax for every 3 to 5 cups of oil.
It's easy to adjust the consistency of a salve by adding a bit more oil to make it more spreadable or more beeswax to thicken or harden it. Homemade salves without any preservative agents will last about 6 to 8 months at room temperature out of direct heat and sunlight.Refrigerated, they'll keep for a year or more.
Lavender salve is a little miracle-worker in a tin. It heals and moisturizes skin, soothes irritation, burns and itching, and can even help heal acne, scrapes, and eczema.
Again, lavender relieves stress, calms the spirit and promotes emotional balance. It helps boost immunity, soothes skin disorders, and relaxes muscles. We all know that the daily stress from “living in the fast lane” can trigger any of the above-mentioned problems.
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Introduction: My name is Edmund Hettinger DC, I am a adventurous, colorful, gifted, determined, precious, open, colorful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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