Calendula & beeswax hand and lip balm
For dry hands, lips and cuticles.
Easy 20 min (plus a 2-week or 3-hour infusion) About 120 ml (4 small tins) Keeps 12 monthsCost $
Calendula (pot marigold) has been a cottage-garden skin-care favourite for centuries. Infuse the petals in olive oil, set it with beeswax, and you have a rich balm that lives in your bag for a year.
Method
- 1
Slow infusion: fill a jar with the petals, cover with olive oil, put the lid on and leave on a sunny windowsill for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Fast infusion: petals and oil in a double boiler on the lowest heat for 3 hours.
- 2
Strain through muslin, squeezing out every drop. You need 100 ml of infused oil.
- 3
Melt the beeswax into the infused oil over the double boiler. Off the heat, stir in the vitamin E.
- 4
Pour into tins straight away — it sets quickly. Leave the lids off until firm.
How to use
- Warm a little between your fingers, then press onto dry patches, cuticles or lips.
- For very dry hands, apply at night under cotton gloves.
Tips
- For a softer balm use 15 g beeswax; for firmer lip tins, 25 g.
- Vegan: swap the beeswax for 12 g candelilla wax.
Safety
- Calendula is in the daisy family — skip it if you react to chamomile or ragweed.
- Patch-test before first use.