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Beat Dry Winter Skin with This Homemade Salve

Being outside during the winter can have its challenges, and for me, it’s cold hands. My frosty fingers tend to develop into dry, withered appendages more reminiscent of sticks to light the fire with, rather than actual fingers.

And while water-based lotions and moisturizers are good for the face, in winter, I prefer to use oil-based salves on my hands and feet, especially in our dry climate.

What Oils Can You Use to Beat Dry Winter Skin?

Let’s consider carrier oils, lipids and fatty acids first.

The kinked, fatty-acid chains in both olive oil and soybean oil work in combination for deeper skin penetration. Olive oil improves skin penetration of the dermis (outer skin layers) thanks to the monounsaturated fatty acids found in oleic acid, which technically disrupt the skin barrier. Soybean oil, on the other hand, increases penetration into the deeper skin layers.

Coconut oil helps to retain moisture on the surface of the skin due to the straight-chained, unsaturated fatty acids, mostly in the form of lauric acid (usually over 40%). Lauric acid is a lipid that is found in the skin, so adding coconut oil to your salve will increase the surface lipids, thereby increasing skin hydration. It also happens to be antibacterial and antifungal, so it’s always a good addition to any salve for dry, weather-damaged skin.

Borage seed oil and flaxseed oil both contain a high level of linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is the main polyunsaturated fatty acid found in the skin, so choosing ingredients that are naturally high in it can assist with repairing and maintaining your skin.

Shea butter is loaded with triterpenes which are important for skin repair.

Got some sesame or peanut oil in the kitchen? You can even add a small amount of these oils to your salve, just don’t be too heavy-handed, otherwise, the odor can be a bit overpowering.Beat Dry Winter Skin with This Homemade Salve- oils

There are plenty of hydrating plant-based oils found in other plants, so don’t be shy about being adventurous.

What Plant Compounds Combine Well with Carrier Oils?

Now that we have covered a few carrier oils, we can look into some other hydrating plant compounds which are soluble in our carrier oils.

You can add essential oils at the end of the process, but there is also the option to infuse dried plant material into your carrier oil, such as:

Soy (Glycine max) contains a number of phytoestrogens such as genistein aglycone, daidzein and coumestrol, all of which have positive effects on your skin and are soluble in oil.

Marigold (Calendula officinalis) was shown in a small study to improve skin hydration and firmness but only after 6 weeks of usage. You can get your own premium Calendula seeds here.

Birch bark (Betula spp.) is high in betulin, a triterpene known to help with skin repair and wound healing. Simply peel the outer layer of bark from a green branch (less than the width of a pencil) and allow to dry for at least a week.Beat Dry Winter Skin with This Homemade Salve- soy, marigold, birch

No matter which carrier oils you decide on, which dried plant matter you choose to infuse into it, or which essential oils you add, you can always find a fragrance and texture that suits your tastes by tweaking the ratios below. Just be sure not to increase the concentration of the essential oils and maintain roughly a 1:6 ratio of beeswax to carrier oils.

IngredientsBeat Dry Winter Skin with This Homemade Salve- ingredients
  • 0.4 oz (12 g) of virgin olive oil
  • 0.4 oz (12 g) of coconut oil
  • 0.4 oz (12 g) of soy oil
  • 0.4 oz (12 g) of shea butter
  • 2 teaspoons of dried calendula flowers
  • 2 teaspoons of dried soybeans or leaves
  • 2 teaspoons of dried birch bark
  • 0.3 oz (9 g) of beeswax
  • 20 drops of essential oils such as lavender, rose hip or eucalyptus
Method
  1. Place all of the ingredients except the beeswax and the essential oils into a glass jar and sit it in a pot of warm water (100 °F or 37 °C). Allow it to infuse for 2 – 3 hours (the long time is due to the birch bark) and stir every half hour or so.
  2. Strain the mixture and increase the temperature of the water to no more than 150 °F (65 °C). Add the beeswax then stir until it has melted. It’s easy to test the consistency by dipping a cold spoon into the mix.
  3. Remove from the pot of warm water, stir in the essential oils and allow to cool and solidify.
Application

Apply after showering or washing your hands.


Storage And Shelf-life

Store in a cool location and it will last for a year.

Enjoy!

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Method
Please could you give more specifics in # 2. I’m having a hard time understanding the process. Many thanks.

Your ingredients are in a jar in a Watergate pot that is heated as specified. Add beeswax into strained liquid in jar.

Can absorbing phytoestrogen through your skin disrupt your hormones?

Hello Toni,

Thank you for your comment.
You can read detailed information about this topic in the article below:
https://www.healthline.com/health/phytoestrogens

Many blessings and good health!

I understand that water and oil do not mix well together, they separate unless you have some high powered machinery to emulsify. I guess the beeswax will pull things together but I don´t quite understand the recipe being very successful…..

The ingredients go in a jar. That jar sits in a water bath. No water in recipe.

You are not mixing water and oils, you are putting your jar of oils in a water bath…

Hi Lindsay, there’s no water in the salve. The water is used to melt the wax and fused the herbs. You will have to put the herbs and oils in a jar. Then put that jar in a pot of hot water. The water will be on the outside of the jar not the inside. It’s called double boil method. Hope that helps.

Does this relieve Shins from itching?

Hello Tom,

Thank you for your comment.
For itchy skin we recommend the recipes below. We hope they’re helpful:
https://thelostherbs.com/how-to-make-a-healing-soap-for-eczema-and-skin-rashes/
https://thelostherbs.com/how-to-treat-eczema-naturally/
https://thelostherbs.com/diy-skin-soothing-chickweed-and-vinegar-bath-for-rashes/

Many blessings and good health!

Hello, Does it matter when we harvest the bark? Thank you

Hello Dušan

It is best to harvest birch bark in the spring, when the sap is running in the trees. Also, harvest only from the pruned lower branches using sharp tools. More tree harvesting do’s & don’ts here: https://theherbalacademy.com/harvest-bark-correctly/

Many blessings and good health!

Hello!
Any issues with using grape seed oil? I have used it for massaging. It does not leave a greasy film and absorbs well. But, do you know if combining it with other ingredients may cause any issues? Thanks in advance!

Hello Theo,

Thank you for your interest in this recipe.
You can mix any oils you prefer in this salve. You can replace the soy oil with grape seed oil, which is soothing and moisturizing for the skin.

Many blessings and good health!

Hello all,
Soy is a BIG NO for me.
Recks havoc on the hormones.

Hello Charlotte,

Thank you for your comment.
If you want to avoid soy oil, you can add to the mix any hydrating oil you prefer.

Many blessings and good health!

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