Winter is well and truly here. It’s cold and dry and this means dry and dehydrated skin.

I’ve been making, and perfecting, a special balm for almost seven years now. This balm was my go-to moisturizer for my big girl’s eczema when she first got it.

I now use this balm for chapped lips, cuts, burns, scrapes, rough heels and palms, dry skin, nappy rash, etc. It’s easy to make and has multiple uses. People I have given this balm to have used it to help with their children’s eczema. Some have said it helps with psoriasis.

It’s a base for my DIY sunscreen, lip balm, leather conditioner and chopping board conditioner.

It’s pretty simple to make and with some assistance, even kids can make it.

With all the hand sanitising and hand washing that the world is recommended to do at the moment, this will help that dry skin to regain and retain its moisture and prevent cracking.

I’ve got a little bottle in all my first aid kits, got some in the car, got some in each bathroom and bedside tables.

This balm contains no water, so it will last a very long time (read ‘years’!)

It’s a base for anything you might want to put into it – add different oils, herbs, etc. but just follow the formula.

Balm formula for winter

Prep time – 5 mins

Cook time – 20 mins

Yield – 600 gms of balm

Ingredients

Beeswax – 100 gms

Coconut oil – 220 gms

Almond oil – 660 gms

In summer, you need to follow a different formula.

Balm formula for summer

Prep time – 5 mins

Cook time – 20 mins

Yield – 600 gms of balm

Ingredients

Beeswax – 100 gms

Coconut oil – 150 gms

Almond oil – 150 gms

Method

1. Melt beeswax in a double boiler
2. Once the beeswax has melted, add the coconut oil and stir well until the coconut oil has melted and been incorporated with the melted beeswax
3. Turn the heat off and add the remaining oils and stir well until it is mixed through
4. Add any additional extras you want at this stage
5. Pour the liquid into jars and let it set without lids
6. Close the lids and your balm is ready to go

The key thing to remember is that when it is summer, your balm will most likely melt, so you increase the ratio of the beeswax to other oils.

In winter, you don’t want your balm rock solid, so you decrease the ratio of the beeswax to other oils.

I usually add other healing oils as well – these include rosehip, chickweed, hemp, etc. If you are adding these, decrease the amount of almond oil used. All the oils need to add up to the total of almond oil given in the formula.

You could add essential oils at the end of the melting stage, but don’t add too much. 20 drops for the whole lot would do.

Get creative and adventurous – add some calendula or rose petals, Vitamin E, chamomile flowers, etc.

Things to remember

• Do not use direct heat to melt the oils and beeswax
• Do not let any water / steam get into the beeswax mix
• You need to stir the coconut oil until it melts and gets mixed thoroughly with the beeswax, or you will end up with lumps of balm, rather than a smooth creamy balm
• Use this as a base for lip balm, leather conditioner, sun screen, etc. The options are endless.