Easy DIY skin repair body cream
If lavender is my favourite calming herb, then calendula would have to be my favourite skin healer. Calendula has a long history as a vulnerary herb, meaning that it stimulates tissue repair. We’ll start with an infused oil of this bright orange flower, then turn it into a totally clean alternative to commercial body moisturisers, loaded with bonus skin-healing benefits.
You will need:
- 3 teaspoons emulsifying wax
- 50 millilitres calendula infused oil (see page 60 for instructions)
- 90 millilitres water
- 10 millilitres calendula tincture (see page 57 for instructions)
- 10–20 drops lavender essential oil
Method:
- Create a double boiler by placing a pyrex bowl over a saucepan with a little water in it. Be careful to make sure that the water doesn’t reach the base of the bowl.
- Add the emulsifying wax and infused oil to the bowl and bring to a simmer over a low heat. Stir well until all the wax has melted and the two are well combined.
- In a second double boiler, combine the water and tincture. Heat the mixture to the same temperature as the wax and infused oil—you’ll need a kitchen thermometer to do this!
- Slowly (very slowly) add the water/tincture mix to the wax/oil, whisking as it cools to maintain the emulsion. If this step is rushed, or if the two components weren’t the same temperature to begin with, your cream may split and be ruined.
- Transfer to an amber glass jar, and give it an occasional stir until it has cooled and thickened.
- Stir through the lavender essential oil.
- Seal the jar and transfer to the fridge, to be used within two months.
TIP: I also make a chamomile and jasmine version of this cream, which is a much gentler anti- inflammatory and great for those with sensitive skin. Replace the calendula tincture and infused oil with those made from chamomile flowers, and substitute 5–10 drops of jasmine essential oil for the lavender oil.
This is an edited extract from The Garden Apothecary by Reece Carter (Harlequin $39.99).