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Dry or rough skin can be frustrating to deal with. Making a homemade skin salve with simple, natural ingredients is a great way to keep your skin feeling soft and nourished.
This is one of the first salves I ever made. Back when I first started experimenting with homemade skincare, I wanted something simple yet effective. Something I could throw together with ingredients I already had.
I remember standing in my kitchen, melting beeswax and oil on the stove, wondering if it would actually come together the way I hoped. It did, and I was hooked.
Since then, I’ve tweaked the recipe a bit, but the heart of it has stayed the same. An all-purpose salve that’s easy to make and great to have on hand.
Of course, since then, I’ve made several other salves, including my newest, a dandelion salve recipe made with homemade dandelion oil.
Homemade Salve Ingredients
- 1/2 cup shea butter
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup beeswax pellets
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 10 drops lavender
- 8 drops frankincense
- 5 drops Tea Tree
- 5 drops geranium
- Storage Tin
Directions:
- Melt shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in a double boiler.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Stir in raw honey and essential oils.
- Transfer to storage tin.
- Allow it to harden with the lid off.
- Apply to the area of concern.
Don’t forget to print off your free printable label. It can be found in the online resource library.
Recipe Tips
- All skin types are different. As a result, you must perform a patch test first before using this product.
- If you don’t have a double boiler, you can easily make your own by placing a heat-resistant bowl over the top of a saucepan of water and bringing it to a boil.
- This will be enough to fill two containers, depending on the size you use.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can absolutely omit the essential oils. The natural scent of shea butter gives the salve a light, pleasant fragrance on its own.
Homemade salves should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maintain their quality.
Adding a small amount of arrowroot powder or cornstarch can help reduce the greasiness.
If you tried this Homemade Skin Salve Tutorial or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Skin Salve
Equipment
- shallow storage tin
Ingredients
- ½ cup shea butter
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup beeswax
- 1 tablespoon raw honey
- 10 drops lavender
- 8 drops frankincense
- 5 drops tea tree
- 5 drops geranium
Instructions
- Melt shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Stir in honey and essential oils.
- Once ingredients are well combined, transfer the salve to metal storage tins.
- Allow the salve to harden completely before securing the lid.
- Apply to the area of concern.
Hi,
Can I use this on a 17 month old ?
Thank you for this recipe! Would you use it as is on an 8 month old?
Can the beeswax be omitted? Will it make it less effective?
I’d like to make this recipe today as I have all other ingredients at home, except the beeswax. My daughter is constantly itching with mild eczema.
You could omit but the texture may change a bit.
This salve helps my eczema so much. Thank you for this! It’s works better than other store bought creams.
Approximately, how many salve tins does this fill?
I would also like to know how many this makes?
Gosh thank you for posting this!! My son has had the most horrible outbreak. We are working to pinpoint the trigger but I needed just THIS to help with the flaky, painful itching. I made a double batch and it’s beautifully smooth and smells amazing. It’s easy for him to apply and I know with simple amazing ingredients will give him some much needed (& appreciated) relief! Thank you again!
I am so glad you like the recipe, you are so welcome!
Does the honey make your skin sticky when you use this salve?
I have not had any issues with that.