Soothing Skincare Balm

ingredients

› ¼ cup melted beeswax

› ½ cup cooking oil, minus 2 tbsp if adding your own infused oil (recipe to the right) – use a low-odour oil, such as sunflower or canola (not olive oil)

› 2 tbsp marigold- or lavender-infused oil (or a few drops of a store-bought essential oil)

Method

1. Melt the beeswax over a double boiler.

2. Stir in the cooking oil. (If you are adding a store-bought essential oil, up the cooking oil measure to a full ½ cup.)

3. Heat gently to amalgamate.

4. test the consistency of the balm by coating the back of a metal spoon with the liquid and letting it cool. if the result is too hard, add more cooking oil ( just 2 teaspoons at a time). stir again and apply the spoon test. repeat until you are happy with the consistency of the balm. 5. transfer the liquid to a heatproof jug.

6. Stir in your flower-infused oil (or a few drops of a storebought essential oil). 7. if you are using glass jars, heat them with hot water to prevent them cracking when you fill them. Remove the hot water and dry the jar. Gently fill your chosen containers with the balm. leave to set.

how to Make a Marigold- or lavender-infused oil

1. Pick marigold or lavender flowers on a warm, dry day. 2. Gently remove the petals from the flowers and spread them out on a clean towel.

3. leave in a warm place, such as on a sunny window ledge, for 24–48 hours to dry.

4. Pack the petals into a glass jar.

5. Cover the petals with a low-odour oil, such as sunflower or canola (not olive oil).

6. screw the lid on the jar, and leave it in a warm place for three to six weeks, shaking every few days.

7. When you are ready to use the oil, sieve it through a fine strainer, discard the petals, and store it in an air-tight jar.