In our previous blog post, we shared tips on how to care for your skin naturally during the summer, without resorting to chemicals or plastic packaging. One of our suggestions was to use shea butter to repair areas most damaged by sun exposure, hot air, and pool or beach water.
On our website, in addition to products for specific care that contain shea butter, such as Matarrania's repairing cream for elbows and heels , or Clemence & Vivien's balms , with a scent of sweet citrus , summer flowers and We also have pure shea butter available in almond milk . You can apply it to any part of your body that needs extra hydration and repair, including your face if it's very dry. You can also make your own homemade products by mixing it with other ingredients.
Today we want to show you an example. We're going to teach you how to make a very simple balm that only requires two ingredients.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
- 50 grams of shea butter
- 50 grams of coconut oil
- 10 fresh calendula or dandelion flowers (OPTIONAL)
- Lavender essential oil (OPTIONAL)
- A saucepan
- A wooden spoon or chopstick for stirring
- Reusable glass jar for storing balm
ELABORATION
STEP 1
Place the shea butter in a saucepan over low heat to melt. If it's a very hot day, you can place the butter in the sun, on a heat-emitting surface, during the hottest hours of the day, and it will melt.
STEP 2
Add the coconut oil . If it's very hot it will be liquid; if not, heat over low heat until it dissolves.
STEP 3 (OPTIONAL)
Add about 10 calendula or dandelion flowers and let it steep for an hour. To prevent the oils from solidifying, keep it over very low heat. 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 and transfer it to a sterilized glass container for storage. Let it cool. In summer, as the coconut oil becomes more liquid, the balm will have a thinner consistency. In winter, it will harden, but upon contact with warm skin, the oils will melt, making it easy to apply.
PROPERTIES
The combination of these ingredients makes this balm a gem :
- Shea butter is ultra-hydrating, repairing and very nourishing, so it protects the skin from external agents and premature aging while regenerating damaged areas.
- Coconut oil is also very moisturizing, retaining the skin's natural moisture. It's 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.
- Calendula extract, obtained by macerating the flowers, offers a calming effect, reduces irritation, and is anti-inflammatory. Dandelion flowers , meanwhile, regenerate the skin after sun exposure and prevent premature aging.
As you can see, its properties are amazing ! Are you ready to try this simple recipe? If you do, don't forget to tag us on social media. We'd love to see it!
