Perfect Gift for Mom! DIY Skin Care for Gardeners & Everyone Else

I embrace dirty hands, I do!  Truthfully, it's so much easier for me to plant (wrangle iPhones) gloveless.  But I know that I'll be sorry if I do, I know this.  My hands will get dry and rough as tree bark from repeated digging then washing, it's a never ending vicious cycle.  


Every Spring the quest for moisturizers begins.  I read reviews (I love reviews).  Then I start ordering from Amazon, or stopping the flow of traffic in Whole Foods searching, ever searching for something that's natural and works!  I just want something that works! 

Another motivation was the dollar factor.  I needed to reign myself in, get back to basics.  If I can make pie, bread, fire starters and fabric softener surely I can DIY this too.

So I did!  I experimented with several ingredients and added lots of essential oil which in my opinion is the stand out ingredient.


Let me show you what I came up with.

I came up with two different versions for us.  One for strictly moisturizing with aromatherapy benefits. Plus an antiseptic salve for moisturizing AND healing.  I love, LOVE both of them!  The basic ingredients are the same, but different essential oils are used depending on your needs.

Moisturizing Salve

Feel free to use your choice of essential oils but, I prefer doTERRA*

1 C. Organic extra virgin olive oil
1/2 C. Organic coconut oil
1/2 C. Beeswax pastilles (for easier melting)
4  Capsules vitamin E or 1/2 teaspoon

doTERRA Essential Oils*

16 drops Lavender

8   drops Balance (blend of spruce, rosewood, frankincense   and blue tansy)
4   drops Bergamot

Antiseptic Ointment

Melalueca & Lemon essential oils create the antiseptic properties.  Again, I prefer doTERRA*

1/2 C. Organic extra virgin olive oil

1/2 C. Organic coconut oil

2 to 3 T. Beeswax pastilles 

4 Capsules vitamin E or 1/2 teaspoon

doTERRA Essential Oils*

1/2 t. Melalueca/tea tree oil

20  drops Lavender

10  drops Lemon

Each formula will make approximately 1 pint of salve.  To save time on clean up, I melt all ingredients together  except the oils in a pint jar then separate the liquid salve into 2 half pint jars.  

Fill pan 2/3 full with water, set heat to med/low and stir occasionally until melted.  Be careful not to get water in the jar.

Have your 1/2 pints jars at the ready.  I like to add the oils into the empty jars at this stage, they will mix well with the melted oils upon filling.

This photo is horrible but notice the vitamin e caps.  Right after you've filled your half pint jars, pierce your capsules and add with a stir now.

As the oils cool, they will solidify.  Don't put lids on until they have completely cooled.

I love the moisturizing effects so much that I put it on my lips and face (sparingly) for those really dry days.  I also love it on my legs after a shower, it lasts longer than any lotion I've ever slathered on.  


These salves are economical because they do what they're supposed to do, moisturize and nourish.  The initial purchase of supplies may feel a little extravagant but once you invest in them, they will last a long, long time as you only need such a little bit and so will the moisturizers!  I've linked to Amazon as I found them to have the best prices.  Remember, a little goes a long way and every ingredient is GOOD for you!  The shelf life is approximately one year.

For more information on doTERRA products, here is a link to their virtual product catalog and the history of doTERRA.






I'm excited for you to try these!  Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions okay?  I love hearing from my visitors, you guys are the best!

Rebecca