Wellness
This Homemade Hand Salve Recipe Will Save Your Skin
When the cold dry winter starts taking a toll on my skin, I make a large batch of this beeswax hand salve recipe to stay moisturized. This simple and versatile homemade salve recipe is made with all-natural ingredients and essential oils. I always keep a jar of this salve in my purse or desk drawer during the colder months. It's a great DIY beauty product without any harsh chemicals, does wonders for dry hands, and makes for a fantastic stocking stuffer or homemade holiday gift.
As a beekeeper, I love turning my extra beeswax into great home and beauty products. This winter hand salve is one of my staple beeswax recipes, and it's always been a huge hit. I first made this hand salve to sell at a holiday market a few years ago, and it completely sold out. I had customers contacting me after asking for large batches to give away as gifts to family and friends.
Great DIY Holiday Gifts for Everyone
Even if you're not a big DIY-er, this simple hand salve is easy for even beginners to make. All you need is a small pot, a glass bowl, a few natural ingredients, essential oils, and jars to put the salve in. My favorite essential oils to add are peppermint, rosemary, or balsam fir for a holiday vibe. This recipe is truly versatile and can be made with any essential oil — so add your favorite blend and gift away!
The main ingredient in this hand salve is olive oil, which is a fantastic skin moisturizer. I also add shea butter and cocoa butter, which have natural vitamins and fatty acids. You can find all the ingredients you need in a health food store or online. They're fairly inexpensive and great to stock up on if you plan to make a few batches as gifts.
When the hand salve is finished, I usually like pouring it into small 4 ounce quilted mason jars to give away to family and friends. You can use any decorative-size jar you like for the finished product. I like to gift it alongside my beeswax lip balm and a small jar of honey for the perfect handmade holiday basket.
Beeswax Hand Salve Recipe
Photo Credit: maramorosz/Shutterstock
Ingredients
- 4 cups olive oil
- ½ cup shea butter
- ½ cup cocoa butter
- 1 cup beeswax pellets
- 30 drops essential oils of choice
Instructions
Fill a small pot with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
Place a large glass bowl or double boiler on top of the pot so it covers the entire pot opening. The steam from the boiling water will heat the bottom of the bowl, so the ingredients will melt in the bowl and not burn.
In the glass bowl, add the olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and beeswax. Gently stir the mixture in the bowl, until the butters and all the beeswax have melted.
Turn off the heat and stir in the essential oils. Using a ladle, carefully pour the hot salve into small jars and set on the counter to cool. The salve will cool completely in about 45 minutes.
Seal the jars with lids, and store in a cool place — or gift away!
Sign in to save article
Written By
CircleAround is owned by One GS Media, a subsidiary of Girl Scouts of the USA, and we make financial distributions to benefit the next generation of Girl Scouts. We strive to make the world a better place by supporting each other today and emboldening the women leaders of tomorrow.