DIY Moisturizing Hand Salve Recipe (2024)

DIY Moisturizing Hand Salve Recipe (1)

Loads of dishes, gardening, cold weather <<< Whatever’s got your hands feeling chapped and dry, this easy hand salve recipe is just the TLC they need. It’s perfect for chalky skin and cuticles, and making it is literally a simple melt-and-pour process. Although it’s based on mycalendula salve recipe, there are two important differences:

  • You don’t need any herbs to make it (although you can use them if you want to)
  • It’s a thicker, more intensive moisturizer than your typical salve

I’ve been applying it at night after I say goodnight to my littles, and once more at bedtime. I pop some cotton gloves on on my hands to keep my sheets clean, and by morning my dry hands are soft again.

So, what is hand salve?

Basically, it’s a mixture of oil and beeswax that acts as a deeply moisturizing, protective emollient. In this recipe I’ve also incorporated unrefined shea butter because it’s naturally rich in vitamin E and adds thickness.

You can use just about any oil you have in your kitchen or bathroom to make it – olive, avocado, almond, etc. If you have skin nourishing herbs like calendula, comfrey or plantain on hand for making tea or otherherbal preparations, you can infuse them into your oil for extra TLC.

Here are step-by-step instructions on making all three:

  • Calendula infused oil– Gentle enough for babies and yet potent enough todraw the attentionof researchers, calendula flowers are the “secret ingredient” behind many beloved face serums andlip balms.
  • Comfrey infused oil– Sometimes called knitbone or All Heal, comfrey has been used for centuries to support bone and wound healing. It’s also often used in skincare products due to its moisturizing properties.
  • Plantain infused oil– Plantain is sometimes called the “band aid” plant because – thanks to the presence of iridoids – it has a very soothing, anti-inflammatory effect on skin. It also contains allantoin, which supports skin healing.

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DIY Moisturizing Hand Salve Recipe

This moisturizing hand salve recipe is perfect for dry skin and cuticles. Just melt and pour the ingredients, and you're done!

Calories

Author Heather Dessinger

Equipment

  • double boiler (or stainless steel bowl and a pot large enough to set it in)

  • stirring spoon or fork

  • 2 oz tins or other containers

Ingredients

Instructions

How To Make Hand Salve

  • Gently heat the beeswax in a double boiler. (If you don’t have a double boiler you can use a stainless steel bowl set inside a pot of boiling water.)

  • When the beeswax is melted, add in the shea butter (if using) and allow it to fully melt.

  • When the shea butter is melted, add in the oil and let it warm up for 1-2 minutes. Stir everything until it is well combined and then remove the mixture from heat.

  • If you're adding essential oils, allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes before stirring them in. You want it to be warm and pourable but not hot.

  • Pour the salve into your container (or containers) and allow to cool fully before using. I used three ofthese 2 ounce tins.

How To Use Hand Salve

  • Apply to cuticles, hands, and dry skin patches as needed.

Notes

Shelf life: Approximately 6 months.

DIY Moisturizing Hand Salve Recipe (3)Tried this recipe?

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Want More DIY Recipes?

Here are a few of my most popular ones:

3- Ingredient Pure Coconut Oil Soap– When it comes to soap, this is probably the easiest recipe you’ll ever make, and it can be modified for use as a very effective laundry soap.

Easy Homemade Deodorant– Summer-tested and husband approved, this recipe takes less than 5 minutes to make and WORKS!

Magnesium Body Butter– Magnesium is often called the “magic mineral” due to it’s ability to relax muscles, help with stress, support restful sleep, and ease growing pains for littles Unfortunately for some people, magnesium oil can cause an itchy or uncomfortable sensation when applied in undiluted form. In this recipe, I’ve blended it with coconut oil and beeswax to ensure that it doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.

This body butter recipe incorporates magnesium, which is often called the “magic mineral” due to its ability to relax muscles and support restful sleep.

Dandelion Salve Recipe– Rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants, polyphenols and flavonoids, this salve works beautifully as an all-purpose healing balm for cuts, scrapes, burns, bug bites, chapped skin and more. According tothis study, both dandelion flower and leaf extracts protect against UVB-related photoaging and senescence (aging at the cellular level).

DIY Moisturizing Hand Salve Recipe (4)

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DIY Moisturizing Hand Salve Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make moisturizing salve? ›

You need:
  1. 1 cup distilled water or rosewater.
  2. 3/4 cup carrier oil (almond, or an herb-infused oil)
  3. 1/2 oz. –1 oz. beeswax (less for a thinner consistency, more for a firmer cream)
  4. a double boiler.
  5. blender or immersion blender.
  6. clean glass jars.
  7. essential oils, if desired.
Feb 21, 2019

What oil is best for hand salve? ›

Oil of choice

To make a salve or balm, you can use any high-quality natural oil you prefer – or a combination of two or more! Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil are some of my favorites. Olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil are also popular choices.

What is the best oil for hand moisturizer? ›

Olive, Lavender, Almond, Vitamin E and Grapeseed Oils.

What is the difference between hand balm and salve? ›

Salves tend to be more oily and thinner in consistency, while balms are more thick and waxy. Salves can be better for moisturizing dry skin or treating specific conditions, while balms are better at sealing in moisture and creating a barrier against environmental irritants for general skincare.

How do you make skin healing salve? ›

Method
  1. First you will need to make an infused oil. ...
  2. Take 100ml of your infused herbal oil.
  3. Warm in a bain-marie, add 15g beeswax until it has melted.
  4. Take it off the heat.
  5. Whilst it is still warm add any essential oils you want to.
  6. Pour this into some salve jars.
  7. Allow to cool and then add a lid, label and store.

What is the best DIY for dry hands? ›

11 home remedies
  • Use moisturizers. Many moisturizers are designed for the hands and are available commercially. ...
  • Protect the skin. The sun can dry skin out, cause burns, and lead to other, more severe health problems. ...
  • Try overnight treatments. ...
  • Apply aloe vera. ...
  • Avoid soap. ...
  • Wear gloves. ...
  • Use a humidifier. ...
  • Decrease stress.
Mar 15, 2018

What is a 3 ingredient DIY moisturizer? ›

Moisturizing Body Lotion
  • 1 cup water.
  • 3/4 cup olive oil.
  • 3 tablespoons grated beeswax.

How can I moisturize my hands naturally? ›

To treat the dryness and cracks on your hands, simply apply aloe vera gel all over clean hands. It is best to apply it right after showering to lock in moisture better.

What is a good hand salve? ›

Best Overall Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Best Value Jergens Ultra Healing Hand & Body Cream. Luxurious Scent Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm. Travel-Friendly Bath & Body Works Shea Butter Hand Cream.

What is the best oil for aging hands? ›

Argan Oil is rich in Omega Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Antioxidants, Minerals and Sterols which make it an excellent beauty elixir for the Skin and Hair. It is top of the line in Beauty Oils for Anti-aging.

What do surgeons use to moisturize hands? ›

Because of this, I rely on L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream and Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Both leave my hands well-hydrated without a greasy residue or unpleasant scent, and they're easy to carry in every bag.” Add this one to your list of travel-friendly products.” Read the full article on Glamour.

What makes a good hand moisturizer? ›

Ingredients to Look for in Lotions for Dry, Cracked Hands

When seeking a lotion to treat dry, chafed, chaffed, or cracked skin, look for products that provide moisturizing ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, and natural oils. Look for dermatologically tested or proven effective lotions for dry skin.

Is olive oil or coconut oil better for dry hands? ›

Dry Skin: Both olive oil and coconut oil can be beneficial for dry skin. Olive oil's rich emollient properties make it an effective moisturizer, while coconut oil's deep-penetrating abilities can help alleviate dryness and restore moisture balance.

What is a moisturizing salve? ›

But unlike lotion which has a high water content, salves are an anhydrous formulation, i.e. waterless moisturizer. Their consistency is soft enough to penetrate the skin but also thick enough to create a protective barrier and lock in moisture.

How do you make moisture balm? ›

Place shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil in a small pourable pot over very low heat, and stir until melted into a liquid. Remove from heat. Stir in jojoba oil and vitamin e oil. Add your choice of essential oils (10-20 drops) to the 2-ounce jar and pour in the warm balm, stirring with a toothpick or chopstick.

What is the ratio for homemade salve? ›

Mixing Your Salve

Now you mix the oil and beeswax together to make the salve. I typically make my salve with an oil to beeswax ratio of 3:1 or 4:1, which results in a thick but still easily spreadable texture. For example, in my latest batch I had about 100 mL of melted beeswax so I added about 300 mL of oil.

How do you make self heal salve? ›

To make: Combine about 1/3 cup crumbled dried self heal with about 3/4 cup oil of your choice (olive or sunflower works well for salves). Leave uncovered and set the jar in a saucepan with a few inches of water; heat over medium low for 2 to 3 hours.

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