One of my recommendations for taking care of your skin throughout the year is to use shea butter after the summer to repair areas most damaged by sun exposure, hot air, and pool or beach water, and during the winter to protect against cold and dryness.

On our website, in addition to specific care products containing shea butter such as strengthening shampoo , hand and foot cream, or eye contour cream, we also have pure shea butter available.

If you opt for pure shea butter, you can apply it to any part of the body that feels like it needs extra hydration and repair, including the face if it is very dry. But you can also make your own homemade products by mixing it with other ingredients.

Today we want to show you an example. We are going to teach you how to make a very simple balm that can have just 2 ingredients

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• 50 grams of shea butter
• 50 grams of coconut oil
• 10 calendula or dandelion flowers (OPTIONAL)
• Lavender essential oil (OPTIONAL) (you can use another essential oil of your choice)
• A saucepan
• A wooden spoon or stick for stirring
• Reusable glass jar to store the balm

If 50 grams seems like too much, reduce the amount to 30 grams of shea butter and coconut oil.

A small note: if you want to macerate with plants, it is preferable to use well-dried flowers or plants, not fresh ones. Fresh plants contain water and can affect the shelf life of a homemade preparation of this type.

PREPARATION

STEP 1

Place the shea butter over low heat in a saucepan to melt. If it is a day with very high temperatures, you can place the butter in the sun, on a heat-radiating surface, during the middle hours of the day, and it will also melt.

STEP 2

Add the coconut oil. If it is very hot, it will be liquid; otherwise, heat it over low heat until it melts.

STEP 3 (OPTIONAL)

Add about 10 calendula or dandelion flowers and let them macerate for an hour. Keep it over very low heat so the oils do not solidify. It should not boil.

Instead of flowers, you can also add a few drops of essential oil, for example, lavender.

STEP 4

Strain the mixture, transfer it to a sterilized glass container in which you want to store it, and let it cool. In summer, since coconut oil becomes liquid, the balm will have a more fluid consistency. In winter, it will harden, but upon contact with warm skin, the oils will melt and it can be applied easily.

PROPERTIES

The blend of these ingredients makes this balm a gem:

• Shea butter is ultra-hydrating, restorative, and very nourishing, protecting the skin from external agents and premature aging while regenerating damaged areas.
• Coconut oil is also very hydrating and retains the skin's natural moisture. It is rich in lauric acid, which gives it regenerative properties. Furthermore, it prevents the proliferation of fungi and bacteria, making it a natural preservative that will help the balm last longer.
• The calendula extract obtained by macerating the flowers offers a soothing effect, reduces irritation, and is anti-inflammatory. Dandelion flowers, on the other hand, regenerate the skin after sun exposure and prevent premature aging.

How is it used?

This balm is intended for areas of the skin that need extra nourishment, such as hands, elbows, knees, heels, or particularly dry areas.

Take a small amount with your hands and massage onto the skin until it melts and is absorbed.

As it is quite a nourishing balm, less is more: start with a small amount and add more if you need to.

How long does it last?

Since we are making a homemade cosmetic without preservatives and without added water, it is important to work with very clean and dry utensils and containers, and to avoid introducing water into the jar.

Always use clean hands or a dry spatula to take the product and store it closed, protected from heat and direct light.

As a guide, I would prepare an amount you can use in about 3-6 months, especially if it is your first time making the recipe.

If you notice changes in smell, color, or texture that make you suspect the product has deteriorated, it is best not to use it.

And remember: as it is a homemade preparation, it does not have the same stability or the same controls as a commercial cosmetic formulated and preserved professionally.

A simple balm, the kind we like

Two ingredients, a reusable jar, and that's it. No need to complicate things too much to prepare a nourishing balm at home for those areas that occasionally ask us for a little extra pampering.

As you can see, its properties are wonderful. Are you encouraged to make this very simple recipe? If you make it, don't forget to tag us on our social media. We'd love to see it!