Handmade Body Balm: Organic ingredients for skin health

I was inspired to make my own body balm after taking a course on aromatherapy reflexology when the instructor gave us a recipe for a basic body cream. My product doesn’t resemble the original recipe, but was the starting point for my research into the wonderful world of natural skincare.

I use only organic and / or natural ingredients in all my recipes, and buy from producers here in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. I love aromatherapy and include organic essential oils in my products as well.
The first product I made was my Organic Cocoa-Shea Body Balm, and I can’t think of anything I would rather use as a face and body moisturizer, or a lip-balm. The cocoa butter comes through really nicely, smelling like a rich dark chocolate bar. The ingredients are organic coconut oil, organic cocoa butter, organic shea butter, and beeswax.

Coconut oil is amazing for your whole body, inside and out! Containing antioxidants, vitamins E, D, and K, it is highly moisturizing for the skin and hair, as well as strengthening for your cuticles and nails. It also can reduce the appearance of skin infections, and blemishes. Suitable for all skin types, and is very good on toast.

Cocoa butter comes from the fat pressed out of cocoa bean pods, and is highly moisturizing and skin-softening. As well as super yummy, did I mention that it smells like chocolate? It’s perfect for chapped lips, dry cracked heels, sunburns, and makes a great lip balm. It stays good for up to two years due to the anti-oxidants it contains. If you have an allergy to chocolate, avoid using cocoa butter on your skin!

Shea butter is naturally rich in vitamins A and E, as well as various minerals, and is perfect for itchy, dry, chapped skin, stretch marks, rashes, sunburns, and for muscle aches and tension. It has a light, slightly nutty scent, and has a creamy texture. Shea butter also has a natural shelf life of up to two years.

Beeswax also contains vitamin A which softens and rehydrates skin. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, which can help minor skin irritations and also helps extend the shelf life of my balm. Beeswax helps your skin retain moisture which is so important for healthy, radiant skin.

I use my body balm in all my massage and reflexology sessions with my clients, and I sell 4oz jars of it as well, 9oz jars are available upon request. Try some and you will see how much better your skin looks and feels with every use!