Make Your Own Beeswax Balm
Making a homemade beeswax balm is a great way to show our feet some love. The moisturizing properties of beeswax are well known. This recipe for foot balm with beeswax is a favorite for dry, cracked heels. It is easy to make and store and is a great gift too. One of many ways beeswax is used for skin care.
When beekeepers collect a honey harvest from their beehives, some beeswax is left over. This valuable substance must not be wasted. We can do so many wonderful things with it!
In addition to making beeswax candles, beeswax is used in the creation of many skin care products. These include beeswax lotions, ointments, salves and more.
Beeswax has been used in homemade projects for hundreds of years. From lip balm to furniture polish, beeswax brings some wonderful qualities to our homemade products.
Why Use Beeswax Heel Balm?
Do you suffer from rough cracked heels? I do, especially during the Winter – though it happens in the Summer too!
The use of a cream or balm with moisturizing properties can help. However, it never seems to be long lasting and I forget to apply it every day.
Then, I saw some recipes for a homemade balm using beeswax. Being a beekeeper, I have plenty of that on hand. So, I gave it try and was well pleased with the results.
With the recipe below, you can make your own beeswax foot balm to help your cracked heels feel better.
In order to create your beeswax masterpiece, you need to combine just a few ingredients. We start with raw beeswax .
If you have ever held a bar of beeswax, you will know that it is a solid that can not be rubbed on your skin. Our raw beeswax needs some help to become useful for skin care.
A good beeswax balm for skin is created by mixing solid ingredients like beeswax with softer oils such as coconut oil, shea butter etc.
The resulting combination is a product that is harder than lotion – yet pliable enough to spread.
Ingredients: Foot Balm Beeswax Balm for Heels
- 4 oz net weight of Raw Beeswax (1/2 cup)
- 4 oz net weight of Raw Shea Butter (1/2 cup)
- 5 oz net weight of Coconut Oil (1/2 cup)
- 3 drops of Vitamin E Oil (optional)
- 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (optional)
- 10 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (optional)
Making the Beeswax Balm Recipe
You will also need a double boiler (stove top) or glass container (microwave safe) for melting the ingredients.
I prefer to not use the microwave so my instructions will involve melting beeswax and other ingredients on the stove top.
I use a pot, a simple double boiler insert and a wax pouring pot. If you want to use a microwave, that is okay.
Go slow, using very short times to safely melt your ingredients – and constant supervision.
Step 1: If you do not have a standard “double boiler”, place the double boiler insert in a pot with heating water.
The melting container or “wax pot” sits on the insert- surrounded by water.
The hot water allows safe melting of our ingredients. Place the beeswax and shea butter in the melting container.
Once the beeswax and shea butter are half melted, you can add the coconut oil. Coconut oil melts very quickly.
The beeswax takes longer to melt. Cutting the beeswax into smaller chunks will speed melting.
Step 2: Prepare your working surface. Working with hot wax can be messy.
A large piece of aluminum foil makes clean up a breeze. You also need some type of containers to hold your finished product.
If you are making beeswax balm for yourself, a wide-mouth pint jar is fine. Smaller containers are good for gift-giving.
If you are using glass, pre-warm them with hot water and dry – before pouring hot wax into them.
Metal tins and plastic cups are other good choices for containers.
Step 3: When the ingredients have completely melted, remove from the heat source. Add Vitamin E and essential oils – if desired.
Carefully, pour your ingredients into their final containers. While the pouring pot is hot, a quick wipe with a paper towel to remove any residue left inside.
Step 4: Allow your beeswax balm to cool. It will return to a semi-solid state in an hour or less.
Put lids on your jars (or other containers) once the mixture is set. Your product is ready to use.
Change the Beeswax Balm Recipe to Fit Your Needs
This recipe is a general formula. It is very forgiving, you can remelt and tweak the ingredients a bit.
If you want a less solid product – remelt and add a bit more coconut oil.
Apply the beeswax balm to your dry heels before bed. Cover with socks to prevent stains on clothing or falls.
Benefits of Using Beeswax Balm for Skin Care
Using homemade recipes to making your own products is a good way to know exactly what you are putting on your body.
You do not have to worry about possibly dangerous chemicals being in your balms.
Creating natural beeswax products for home use is also a great lesson in sustainability.
Making use of every resource produced by our hives is one way of respecting the bees.
A beekeeper can make and sell beeswax balms or share the recipe with customers.
Educate others on the contributions of honey bees and the many ways to use beeswax and other hive products.
**This information is shared as one way to use beeswax for natural products. Use all safety precautions to avoid burns or other possible effects of using the beeswax balm. I am not a doctor – use this product at your own risk. **
Beekeeper Charlotte
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