Calendula Salve Recipe for Diaper Rash and More

This DIY all-natural Calendula Salve Recipe is the perfect solution for diaper rash, scrapes, cuts and other skin ailments. This salve contains organic gentle and healing ingredients that are safe for babies sensitive skin.

When I became a mom is when I really started to pay attention to what exactly goes into the products we were using and what was going onto my newborn baby’s skin. Unfortunately what I discovered is that MOST products that are conveniently available contain toxic harmful ingredients. If you are curious, I encourage you to check out the EWG’s Skin Deep Database to research some of your household and baby items to see how healthy or unhealthy the ingredients in them are.

This was extremely eye-opening to me and led me down a path to research all sorts of things we were consuming, cleaning with and putting on ourselves in the form of soap, fragrances, hair products, laundry detergent, etc. I wanted to be able to use products that were safe for my baby and for myself.

Finding products that were clean, organic and safe came at a higher price point than what I was used to. That is one of the main reasons I began making my own products. I found that it was significantly less expensive to buy bulk items that would work for multiple products.

Two children later, I have continued my “Clean Journey” and have enjoyed creating different recipes that work really well at a fraction of the cost. This calendula salve recipe works wonders for any skin irritations such as diaper rash, scrapes, eczema and other wounds. I love that I can use this salve on my baby’s skin and not worry at all about any unwanted ingredients. I hope you love it, too!

Calendula Salve Recipe FAQ’s:

How do you make calendula flower salve?

To make calendula flower salve, you combine the beeswax, coconut oil and cocoa butter and melt it down using a double boiler or a glass bowl over boiling water. Once the oils have melted down, allow the mixture to cool for a few minutes and then add the calendula oil, castor oil, vitamin E oil and essential oils. Mix to combine and then pour into a glass jar. Let the salve cool and harden. Use as needed on clean skin to treat diaper rash, eczema, and other wounds.

What do you use calendula salve for?

This calendula salve is made using calendula oil, which is oil that has been infused with calendula, or marigold, flowers. Calendula oil is filled with antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory qualities, so using it in a salve is very beneficial when treating skin irritations such as rashes, eczema and many other wounds.

What oil is good for calendula oil?

To make calendula oil, pour good organic oil such as olive oil, avocado oil, or sweet almond oil over the calendula flowers in a glass jar. Close with a lid and allow the oil to sit in a sunny spot in your home for 3-4 weeks, giving the oil sufficient time to become infused with the calendula flower.

How long does calendula infused oil last?

Depending on the carrier oil that is used, calendula infused oil typically has a shelf life of 1 year to 18 months. Since it is such a simple process to make calendula oil, I prefer to make small batches to ensure I use it within the recommended shelf life of the oil.

What is the difference between a salve and a balm?

Salves and balms typically are made with similar ingredients, oil and beeswax, however, the balm will have a higher amount of beeswax than the salve, making it harder in consistency. Balms will stay on the skin longer because of the higher beeswax content, whereas salves absorb into the skin quicker, which makes them an excellent choice for treating irritations and wounds.

Calendula Salve Recipe

Materials:

• Double Boiler or Glass bowl and small saucepan
• Measuring spoons
• Glass Jar for storing salve – these amber glass jars are my favorite for all my homemade lotions, balms and salves
• whisk

Ingredients for calendula salve:

• 2 TBS Calendula Oil – purchase here or make your own with dried calendula flowers & oil of choice
• 2 TBS Coconut Oil
• 1 TBS Beeswax pellets
• 1 TBS Cocoa Butter
• 1 TBS Castor Oil
• 5 drops Vitamin E Oil
• Roman Chamomile Essential Oil – 5 drops
• Lavender Essential Oil – 5 drops

The Process:

1. Add the Coconut Oil, Beeswax Pellets, and Cocoa Butter to a glass bowl or double boiler pot.
2. Heat over boiling water until the ingredients melt together (about 10 minutes)
3. Once melted, take off the double boiler and allow to cool for a few minutes.
4. Add in Calendula Oil, Castor oil, Vitamin E Oil and essential oil drops. Stir to combine.
5. While still warm and liquidy, pour into glass jar for storage. Allow to cool completely before use. It will harden once it is cooled, so avoid disturbing the salve while it cools or it may result in chunky pieces within the salve.

A note on the ingredients for this calendula salve recipe…

Calendula Oil

As mentioned above, calendula oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It is soothing to the skin and rich in healing components, making this so helpful for this salve.

Coconut Oil

I love using coconut oil in this salve recipe because I always have it on hand! We cook with coconut oil frequently, so I can always count on having it for any DIY recipes. Including coconut oil in skin products is excellent because it, too, contains antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It absorbs into the skin easily and promotes healing to irritated areas.

Beeswax

Beeswax is the component which will give this salve a less liquidy texture. For this recipe to be a salve, the beeswax amount is smaller, however if you wanted to make more of a balm, you could add a little more beeswax.

Beeswax is hydrating and soothing to the skin. It has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties as well which makes it work so well in this healing salve recipe.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is extremely hydrating, creating a barrier on the skin as it is high in fatty acids. It is frequently used in lotions and creams as it has so many benefits to the skin, including treating rashes and eczema. Cocoa butter also contains high amounts of antioxidants and can help fight off free-radicals.

Castor Oil

Castor oil is certainly having a moment (and rightfully so!) in the natural beauty world for promoting hair and eyelash growth. It is a thick and rich oil that also has many benefits for the skin as the main fatty acid found in it, ricinoleic acid, is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and is extremely hydrating. I think it adds a lot to this salve.

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E Oil is a powerhouse of an oil and has many benefits. It is often used in face creams as it has been shown to reduce wrinkles. Moisturizing and soothing to the skin, vitamin E oil can help to reduce itchiness and promote healing of wounds and other skin rashes such as psoriasis, eczema, and diaper rash.

Essential Oils

For this recipe, I chose to add Roman Chamomile and Lavender essential oils. Both of these essential oils are gentle and calming to the skin and are used to help soothe many irritations. Roman Chamomile helps reduce inflammation and repairs the skin. Lavender is my go-to essential oil for almost everything. It is antibacterial and gentle enough for the skin. Not to mention it smells like heaven and is so calming. If there is a problem in our home, lavender is my first oil I go to, and I make sure we never run out!

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If you try this DIY recipe and love it, I would love to know! Come back and leave a review! Tag me on Instagram @oursimplegraces