Herbal Salves

This winter, I started to make own Herbal Salves to avoid the dry skin. After gathering all the ingredients and making the "Herb Oil", it's the easiest thing in the world to make.

There are many good things to make your own Salves.
It's so easy and don't take long time. I don't need to buy any creams, eye creams, hand creams or lip balm anymore, because the Salve replaces all of those. It's a bit greasy when you apply, but soon it gets sucked into your skin:) The ingredients are not that expensive, the shea butter may be a bit expensive, but once you buy, you can make many times. (& If you buy a fair trade you are helping the economy in Africa) It's good for sensitive skin or area like lips and around eyes, since there are no harsh chemicals in it. If you are only using it for body, it's fun to add some essential oils, too. You can play around with variety of herbs and other ingredients depend on what kind of treatment and aromatherapy effect you'd like. I also carry the salves in a little tin can, so I can carry it with me
all the time. You can use jam jar for the container, and you can reuse it every time you make new Salves. t's a great money and resource saver after all. etc.

How To Make Herbal Salves

Ingredients: "Herb Oil" (55%*), Shea Butter (30%*), Beeswax (15%*), Vitamin E (optional -but good for you), Your favorite Oil (optional - but I like adding Evening Primrose Oil or Apricot Kernel Oil to boost the antioxidant)
*The percentages are just an example, Can be adjust it for your desired texture. I usually use 1 teaspoon to measure 10%, so it's very easy to measure. (i.e. 55% = 5.5 tsp)
*I bought the most of ingredients from this company.

Making Time: 15mins (+ 2 weeks soaking the herb in oil)

*2 weeks (or more) before you make Salve, soak some fresh or dried herb (such as lavender, rosemary, calendula, camomile, comfrey, mint, etc) into oil (such as Grapeseed Oil, Olive Oil, etc).
When you use fresh herb, make sure you pour enough oil to cover the herb, it'll get moldy if it's not covered. For dried herb, you don't have to worry about the mold. Filter the oil before you use for Salves. (You can also use this oil for cooking if you are using the culinary quality herb.)

1. Place a metal spoon into your freezer. You'll need it later.

2. Boil some water in a shallow pot, place the jars in the hot water, boil 3 minutes to disinfect the jars. Dry the jars.

3. Place a dry, heat resistant glass measuring cup into the hot water in the same pot from step 2. Pour all Oils you are using in the measuring cup, then mix Shea Butter and let it melt. Meanwhile, chop the Beeswax into small pieces, this will make it easier to melt. (or you can buy the small pieces as well - this way is safer. Beeswax is really hard to cut into - I cut my finger instead!) Add Beeswax, slowly let it melt. Be careful to not let water in the mixture.

4. Take out the cold spoon from freezer. Drop some mixture on the spoon to check if the salve is at your desired firmness. If it's too soft, add more Bees Wax. If it's too hard, add more oils.

5. When the mixture becomes your desired texture, pour the mixture into the jar. Let it cool down, then it's ready to use! Store in cool place without direct sunlight.