When it comes to skin care and bathroom products – I’m all about keeping it simple and natural, and a nice oil (coconut, olive, almond or avocado oil), beeswax and honey balm is my go-to for everything skin related.
Prior to industrial times, balms made from oils, honey and beeswax, clay and plants were used both as beauty and as healing products and these types of basic balms are still useful today and much more nurturing when void of unnecessary and sometimes quite nasty ingredients.
This easy homemade balm recipe contains just three simple ingredients, coconut oil, beeswax and manuka honey. It’s so quick and easy to make, taking me fewer than 30 minutes to whip up a batch.
This is perfect for dry skin (I even use it on my face), great for little scrapes, irritations and insect bites, gentle enough for the kids’ skin, and because I make it with no fragrance, even my husband is happy to use a bit when his skin gets dry.
You will need:
- 4 tablespoons of coconut oil (available from Amazon here)
- 1 tablespoon of beeswax (available from Amazon here)
- 1 teaspoon of manuka honey (available from Amazon here)
If you have a double boiler – great! If you don’t, a make shift one works fine. I just popped a smaller saucepan inside a larger one and that worked perfectly. If you are going to put glass in the top level make sure it’s heat proof glass and be very careful that the bottom doesn’t fall out when moving it.
Fill the bottom pan with a few inches of water. Combine the coconut oil and beeswax in the top pan and over medium-low heat, stir continuously until both are melted and combined well.
Take off the heat and add in the honey. Stir for a several minutes then allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes and give it another really good stir. It takes a bit of elbow grease getting the honey properly combined with the beeswax and coconut oil but you’ll want to make sure you’ve really stirred it in so that they honey doesn’t separate out again later.
Scoop out into a small glass container. When it’s totally cool, cap and store in the bathroom cupboard.
Why this is a wonder balm
Coconut oil – coconut oil is a fabulous natural moisturizer, smoothing out wrinkles and reducing cellulite, stretch marks and scars. It’s naturally antibacterial and is an excellent cleanser and make up remover.
Beeswax – beeswax provides a protective barrier for the skin and because it’s an anti-allergenic it is tolerated by most skin types, even skin that is usually quite sensitive. In addition, beeswax is a humectant (attracts water, so it’s hydrating), is a natural exfoliant and is very soothing on itches.
Manuka honey – manuka honey is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, reduces redness and is extremely hydrating and soothing so it’s awesome on irritated and acne prone skin without harshly drying out the skin.
Variations on this balm
I like this mix because it’s really plain and simple, but if you’ve got a favorite essential oil go ahead an add a few drops of your choice.
The consistency of this balm is quite light if you want to make a thicker balm or to put it in a lip balm tube, then add more beeswax.
If you’re using the mixture as lipbalm, you may want to add flavor. Adding vanilla extract would make it tasty! (available from Amazon here).
You can also naturally tint your balm with beetroot powder, cocoa powder, turmeric or cinnamon.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is general in nature and for informational purposes. It is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. None of the statements on this site are a recommendation as to how to treat any particular disease or health-related condition. If you suspect you have a disease or health-related condition of any kind, you should contact your health care professional immediately. Please read all product packaging carefully and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise, supplementation or medication program. Cosmetic products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
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