How to Make DIY Herbal-Infused Camper's Body Salve for Outdoor Activities
You might be planning for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or fishing but the sunburn can leave you tanned and scorched afterwards. What if you get a life saver that gonna change your life. Learn how to make DIY herbal-infused camper's body salve for outdoor activities. Before we get out let's arm ourselves to the teeth. 👏Now let's go!
DIY SKINCARE
When you're planning for outdoor activities, you're happy and bubbly to go outside and touch grass you might underestimate or forget about insect bites, allergens or sunburn especially after a long winter you are very eager to be outdoors. But hold on dear, tread carefully! This post got you covered to protect yourself from harsh elements from pollution but also its-bitsy hear and there.
Read More: Misconceptions And Myths About Sunblock/Sunscreens In Skincare
Camper's Body Salve
This recipe is about making soothing and healing body salve. Before making this recipe you need to prepare herbal-infused oil. In this recipe you'll need to use lemon balm, chickweed, dried calendula flowers and comfrey leaf or root, whatever you find that might work for you. These combination of herbs can work synergistically to soothe calm, and heal skin from sunburn and insect bites. This body salve can be part of your first aid kit.
If you don't have herbal-infused oil at hand, then here is a quick method on how to make herbal-infused carrier oil than waiting for months for your carrier oil to be infused you can make it within hours like this. To start, you'll need
lemon balm
chickweed
dried calendula flowers
dried comfrey root or leaf
A carrier oil
Steps
Place your lemon balm, chickweed, dried calendula flowers and comfrey leaf or root in the double boiler. For those of you if you don't have a double boiler, get a glass measuring cup then put your herbs in and place the measuring cup in a saucepan with simmering water bath on stove top.
Next, pour your carrier oil to cover the dried herb mixture by at least an inch, Find a carrier oil that has bland odor like fractionated coconut oil, olive oil or jojoba oil are best options so far. You can use any carrier oil of your choice, get a carrier oil that has longer shelf-life so that when you make your infused oil it doesn't go rancid too soon.
Gently heat your mixture which you placed in a saucepan with water from temperature 95-120 Fahrenheit frequently swirling the oil-herbs mixture, so that the oil can be infused with antioxidants from the herbs, you gonna do it for 8 hours! Yeah, 8 whole hours! You don't need to be siting there for those all hours just stir every 15 to 30 minutes and continue with other things. Just do this in your free day, gal!
Now after all those excruciating 8 hours, strain your oil from the spent herbs with a cheesecloth and put it in a clean sterile jar.
Store the jar in a cool and dry place, and use your herbal-infused oil within six months.
After you're done with these steps then you can use it to make your body salve, If you had one already, good luck skipping these steps. Now let's go!
Selecting Ingredients
Herbal-infused oil: If you have this oil then its well and good. Herbal-infused oil can help to soothe and calm the skin. This oil can help with the sunburn healing process. But also act as anti-repellent for insect bites.
Lemon balm: Its botanical name is known as (Melissa officinalis). It contains skin-soothing properties that is included in many salve recipes. It can help to heal cold sores, lesions and sunburn.
Dried calendula flowers: Apart from being beautiful flowers in your bouquet, it can be used in natural skincare recipes. Calendula botanical name is (Calendula officinalis). It has healing properties which can be good for dry and damaged skin especially the one with sores, rash from touching grass, sunburn or a certain allergic reaction from touching stuff outdoors.
Comfrey roots or leaves: Its botanical name (Symphytum officinale). It makes a good base for any infused oil that aims to deal with skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. It can also help with sunburn.
Note: Due to its potent nature, it should not be used in open or dirty wounds.
A carrier oil: There are many options but find a carrier oil with longer shelf-life like 18 to 24 months. Find a carrier oil with bland odor so that it may not overwhelm your end product. I find jojoba oil, MCT coconut oil or olive oil better than other oils but look around for what you like.
Beeswax: If you prefer having a vegan-friendly recipe then use another substitute wax like candelilla wax, soy wax or carnauba wax. Filled with essential fatty acids, beeswax is good for restoring and moisturizing the skin.
Vitamin E oil: It is also known as tocopherol. Vitamin E oil can be very beneficial for the skin. It fights off free radicals on the skin exposed with UV rays, pollution and other harsh elements.
German chamomile essential oil: It can be very soothing for a dry and inflamed skin, that's why I included it in this recipe. I like this combination of lavender and German chamomile essential oil.
Lavender essential oil: It is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-septic and aromatic properties. It is soothing for sunburned skin so it is good to include it in the recipe.
Myrrh essential oil: Myrrh is good for skin rejuvenation after it is going to help you heal the skin. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Its woody earthy scent will stick with you.
Chickweed: Its botanical name is (Stellaria media). It has healing and anti-inflammatory properties that when included in the infused oil can help in healing and protect the skin that is damaged by harsh elements like sunrays, allergens and pollution.
Ingredients
¼ cup of herbal-infused oil(we just made it already)
2 heaping tablespoons f grated beeswax
a quarter (¼) teaspoon of Vitamin E oil
10 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of German chamomile essential oil
10 drops of myrrh essential oil
Instructions
Pour your infused-carrier oil and beeswax gratings into a glass measuring cup and sit in this in a saucepan containing a few inches of simmering water, stir occasionally, until melted. Replace a saucepan with water with a double boiler.
Remove from the stove top and turn off.
Now add Vitamin E oil and essential oils at this stage, drop by drop. Mix it well.
Carefully pour your mixture in a small jar or any other designated clean and well-sanitized container.
Wait to cool and it is ready to use.
About me
Hello, my dear gorgeous! Welcome to my blog and learn with me as you walk in your skincare journey. I'm skincare enthusiast and a student. I like sharing my passion of beauty and skincare with the world. I like blogging, reading and binge watching YouTube vlogs and Netflix during my leisure time.
