Infused Skin Salve Recipe for Spring

As we look forward to spring, it’s time to take a deep breath and refresh our bodies internally and externally from the cold of winter. Our daily rituals and habits provide us with a luxury moment of serenity, self love, and gratitude. What we nourish externally has the same effect as what we nourish internally.

Salves and Infused Oils are a great way to deliver the power of herbs to the largest organ of the body: the skin.

As the seasons change, so does our skin. Let your skin heal with this super herb skin salve and enjoy the healing power of plants. This beautiful recipe was created to bottle the beauty of spring for nourishing body care and to celebrate the re-awakening of the earth.
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This is a multi-step, step-by-step, herbal infused oil recipe. Skip step #2 if you have an existing herbal infused oil that you’d like to use. Otherwise, you’ll need to follow the steps outlined below to create an infused oil that’s rich in herbs to promote healthy skin. You can store the infused oil for massages, bath salts, or salt scrubs. Or, you can continue down the line and make a salve out of it, as we have done in this recipe.

INFUSED SKIN SALVE RECIPE
Makes about: 8 1-oz jars
Step 1: Making herbal infused oils
Materials needed:

• 8-10 tins or jars with lids: 1-2 oz sizes, depending on your preference
• Long wooden spoon
• Grater with large holes (for beeswax)
• Liquid measuring cup
• Double boiler (or makeshift double boiler)
• Cheesecloth

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups dried herbs (We used equal parts dried calendula, red clover, plantain, and cleavers). Of course we recommend using the organically grown herbs we have selected at Breeze Botanicals, free of synthetic pesticides or herbicides.
• 2 cups organic olive oil (or other carrier oil of choice: jojoba, avocado, apricot, etc.)

If you are using your own freshly harvested herbs, they will need to be dried first to avoid the growth of any mold from the moisture of the plants. You can dry herbs in a dehydrator if you have one, or in an oven at low temperature (start at 120°F, then reduce to 100°F after a few hours) to dry them completely. It’s best to process the herbs before drying by removing any large stems or parts that need to be composted. Here’s more information on storing dried herbs.
Directions:

1. Add water to the bottom pot of your double boiler until half full. Place herbs and oil into the top pot and place above.
2. Once water is boiling, turn to low heat, and let the herbs and oils infuse for about 60 minutes.
3. Take care to keep attended and not to get any water into your herbal oil.
4. Once infused, pour the oil through a cheesecloth into a glass jar.
5. Once drained, gather the cheesecloth with clean, dry hands and squeeze out the remaining oil, discard the herbs, and retain the oil.
6. Store in a dry place for up to 6 months, or use as we have in this spring salve.

Double Boiler

Step 2: Making the salve
Ingredients:

• ¾ cup infused herbal oil
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 oz beeswax
• Optional: 15-18 drops essential oils of your choice – we used geranium and orange essential oils for a fresh and grounded scent.

Directions:

1. Add water to the bottom pot of your double boiler, and then pour your infused oil into the top pot and place above. You can also create a ​makeshift double boiler if you don’t have one. The main goal is to provide non-direct and even heat without burning.
2. Bring your double boiler to low heat and grate in your beeswax; then add coconut oil. Once everything has melted, add your essential oils.
3. Stir the mixture, and then quickly turn off your burner.
4. Now you can put this mixture into a liquid measuring cup to make pouring your final product easy. Slowly pour into each tin, and allow the salves to cool for an hour or two.

​When the finished salve has cooled, generously apply the salve to the appropriate body parts needing relief, being careful not to get any in the eyes. To strengthen and cleanse the skin, we recommend rubbing the oil into the skin in circular movements, traveling in the direction of the heart.

Let's embrace our inner and outer beauty and be our best selves!