During our visit last weekend, my best girl Leah and I made some homemade belly balm. We like to get "witchy" when we hang out, what can I say. Leah is very savvy when it comes to making homemade body care products -- she has taught me a lot, actually. Being that we're both a little wah-wah for potions and creams and the essential oils that are usually involved, we had a lot of fun with this project.
I am quite pleased with how our latest concoction turned out -- it's very smooth and silky, but not greasy, and it smells lovely which is always a must when you have a sensitive pregnancy nose like mine.
Homemade Belly Balm Recipe (roughly, we were gabbing the whole time).
Ingredients:
2 oz jojoba or grapeseed oil
2 oz coconut oil
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 oz cocoa butter
2 oz shea butter
scent with about 7-10 drops of vanilla essential oil
5-6 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of helycrisum oil (great for scar reduction)
Heat the first five ingredients in a double broiler until melted and mixed well, then remove from heat and add the essential oils. Pour into a container of your choice. Glass is best.
ETA: Leah says to add a little warm water (a Tablespoon or so) when melting all the ingredients. And five or ten more drops of helycrisum if you like the smell.
Here are a couple of great resources for buying the ingredients:
and
More soon,
Leya
I'm at 14 weeks and am going to have to give this a try. I love Mountain Rose Herbs, I think it's time for another purchase! Thanks!
Posted by: Julia Moya | January 20, 2010 at 04:53 PM
Good ol' belly balm. how's it treating you?
Posted by: Leah | January 22, 2010 at 04:27 PM
i love you all getting witchy!
Posted by: Jay | January 27, 2010 at 01:48 PM
This is wonderful! But I don't love the smell of vanilla, is that essential or could I substitute, say, sage?
Posted by: Sarah | February 23, 2010 at 03:57 PM
This is fantastic!
Two important questions:
1. How long will this last (ie, expiration date)?
2. Do you have any suggestions for natural preservatives? I would like for the products I make to last at least a year.
Thank you :)
Posted by: naima | September 21, 2011 at 03:02 AM