Category Archives: eczema

Friday, April 6, 2012

Cocoa and Shea Body Butter for Dry Skin and Eczema

I’m so excited to share this lotion with all of you!  It’s incredible in terms of healing.  I’ve been using it on Ethan’s skin for about 5 days and his dry eczema patches have nearly disappeared, and the rest of his skin feels like velvet.  My poor son has awful seasonal allergies and this exacerbates his eczema.  So during this time of the year I keep his immune system strong and keep him lubed up with healing lotion.  I am also using this lotion on my legs and back (where I tend to get dry this time of year).  I’m just really impressed with cocoa butter…and it’s fun to smell like chocolate. Oh, and I’m also using it as lip balm.  So fun!  If you’re searching for a healing lotion for your dry, itchy skin, this one might be for you!  I’ve included links below if you’re interested in making it.  I can’t stress how easy it is to make your own lotion.  I’m saving so much money; comes out to about $2.50 per jar (I was paying $10 – $15) for similar store bought lotions.
 Cocoa and Shea Body Butter 

Ingredients: 
-2.5 ounces Raw organic cocoa butter 
-3.5 ounces Raw organic unrefined shea butter 
-3 tablespoons organic apricot oil
-1 teaspoon teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, adds scent) 
-1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerine 

How To:
1.  Weigh out the butters.
2.  Shave the cocoa butter and add it to a glass Pyrex submerged in water and bring the water to a boil. This will melt the cocoa butter while keeping it raw.  This step is optional, you could also just shave it and add it to the food processor.  The heat from blending will melt it pretty well.  
3.  Add the shea butter to food processor, pulse few times to loosen up and warm the butter – it will become very smooth.
4.  Slowly drizzle in the coco butter, apricot oil vanilla, and vegetable glycerin.
5.  Blend until velvety and creamy.
6.  Transfer lotion mixture to glass jars.  The lotion will be soft and will harden as it cools.  It will last for MONTHS at room temp.  Yields about 12 ounces.

Raw cocoa butter
Mmmmm, looks good and smells outrageous!
I make two jars at a time. 
One for our room and one for Ethan’s.  
The small jar holds 4 ounces  
The large jar holds 8 ounces 
Click HERE for additional homemade lotions from The Tasty Alternative
Posted by Amber at 9:29 pm

Labels: beauty, eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies.

20 Comments

  • Ina April 6, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    This body butter looks wonderful. How much oil did you use? Or do you just pour in slowly until it becomes smooth? Also, instead of vegetable glycerin could you use Coconut oil?

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 1:30 am

      Hi There Ina,

      Thank you so much!

      Little oversight on my part there. I just added the info above. Thanks for the heads up. :-)

      And I’m sure coconut oil would be fine in place of vegetable glycerine (or just leave this ingredient out, it’s only 1/2 teaspoon). I added the glycerine in there because it has a ton of healing properties and makes the lotion very silky and smooth. But yes, play around with different ingredients. And if you can, drop me a message here with your modifications. Always fun to read what others come up with!

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
    • Anu July 21, 2012 at 3:15 am

      Hi Amber,
      Thanx for your wonderful recipe. One question.., should the lotion be stored in glass containers only?? If yes, why?

      Reply
  •  Curly J April 7, 2012 at 6:44 am

    I want to make this!!! I have eczema that comes and goes on my fingers/hands/wrists, legs, feet, and the back of my neck. It’s so annoying and irritating! :( I’m going to look into where I can buy what I need! :)

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 4:00 pm

      Hello There,

      I’m sorry to hear about your struggles with eczema! My husband gets eczema soooo bad on his hands! That’s a difficult place to get it too, as our hands are always in water and exposed to the elements. When it gets really bad, my husband finds it helpful to lather on my homemade lotion before bed and wear cotton gloves all night. :-)

      Reply
  • Tessa Domestic Diva April 7, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    Two questions my dear so i can make this…..how much should I expect to pay for shea butter? And what are some other ‘healing’ oil I could try in place of the jojoba?

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 3:55 pm

      Hi Tessa,

      Great questions.

      Check back up in the ingredients, there’s a link to where I buy the shea butter. :-)

      Other healing lotions, good for inflammation include:

      -Calendula Oil (one of my absolute favorites)
      -Almond Oil (use caution with nut allergies)
      -Coconut Oil (you’ll have to melt)
      -Olive Oil (the best you can find)
      -Witch Hazel Oil
      -100% pure aloe vera would also work
      -Emuo Oil

      More on Emuo oil (which can be found online):
      Emu oil is one of the best and most promising eczema home remedies you can find, because it has many potent natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that are perfect for eczema symptoms. The oil is soothing and will not clog your pores, and it provides fast relief for inflammation, itching, cracked and burning skin.

      Reply
    • Tessa Domestic Diva April 16, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      this was SO much fun to make! So creamy you want to taste it! I used coconutoil instead of veg glycerin, and I used half emu oil, and half of another soothing baby oil we had on hand (a mixture of several healing oils and essential oils too). i am not sure I want to share it with anyone!!

      Reply
  • Mary April 7, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    This is something that I really have to try. It sounds wonderfully soothing and from what you have said it’s very effective. This is my first visit to your site, but after spending some time browsing through your earlier posts I can tell you it will not be my last. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 3:56 pm

      Thanks Mary!

      Let me know if you try it. It’s super fun to make your own lotions. Fun to give as gifts too!

      Reply
  • Adrienne @ Whole New Mom April 7, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    I can’t wait to try this. I have the hardest time w/ dry lips. I’ve been using straight shea and a mix, but I’ve been meaning to make my own. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amber April 7, 2012 at 6:34 pm

      Hi Adrienne,

      It’s quite lovely as a lip balm! Hope you enjoy it. It’s really working wonders for our skin.

      Hugs

      Reply
  • Emily September 10, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    Thanks so much for this AWESOME recipe! I stumbled upon your site looking for a recipe for homemade body spray (love that one too!) and just finished making two batches of the lotion. My 4 year old daughter helped me put it together and we slathered her up before her nap. What fun to make lotion together! She has mild eczema patches which appear every winter and are so hard to get rid of (as does my 2 year old). Just last week I started to notice those patches coming back. :( I’m anxious to see the effects of this lotion. I have been looking for a more natural lotion that doesn’t cost a fortune and I’ve found a yummy one! Thanks for your post and your blog! :)

    Reply
  • Amber September 10, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    Hi Emily,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a message. I appreciate feedback from readers. :-)

    I hope the lotion works for you! Everyone responds differently. It works well on my son and husband (especially on my husband’s cracked, bleeding hands). Throughout the year I change up the lotions. In my latest batch I used avocado oil. I find that with eczema, lotion rotation is very important.

    Thanks again, Emily. So nice to hear from you, and I hope this lotion works well for your family. I feel that cocoa butter is incredibly healing and does a great job soothing dry, irritated skin.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Emily September 12, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    Amber,
    It is fabulous! We love it! My 2 and 4 year olds’ skin was SO soft and those red patches disappeared after 1 application, which has never happened before! Usually I begin treating them with lotion (I’ve tried tons) and the eczema gets worse before I can get it under control (sometimes it’s months before I get it under control). Just a quick question – I’ve got some lumps, which it looks like might be normal based upon your photos. :) Is there any way to make the lotion more smooth so you don’t get any clumps? I tried gently warming the cocoa butter b/c I think it’s the culprit, but I’m not sure that helped all that much. Thanks again for your blog and this recipe! Love it!

    Reply
  • Amber September 13, 2012 at 4:37 am

    Hi Emily,

    Thank you so much for checking in and sharing your experience with the lotion. So wonderful that is working for your children. Hooray!

    So, about the lumps…

    I’ve found a way to get most the lumps out (the lumps are the cocoa butter). Before hand I shave the coconut butter with a knife. I shave it and shave it until it’s very fine. The next thing I do is when everything is mixed in the food processor, I let it run for a while. The friction creates a little warmth (but nothing hot) – just warm enough to melt everything together nicely. If I have any lumps in the lotion, they are very, very small.

    I hope this helps. Give it a go with your next batch and let me know if you can melt some of the lumps out.

    Thanks again for checking in. It warms my heart that your little ones are benefiting from the lotion.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous April 3, 2013 at 4:13 am

    This sounds wonderful…my 5 year old has eczema and i have been searching for a good recipe to try on her. if i were to add colloidal oatmeal to this recipe, how much do you recommend? thank you so much for sharing.. :) Emily

    Reply
    • Amber April 4, 2013 at 3:38 pm

      Hi There Emily,

      I would add about 1 teaspoon to start and see if it helps with the itching. Add in a little more if it’s not helping. You will need to dump everything in a food processor again to mix in the oatmeal if you need to add more. And be careful not to add too much, as it will have a drying affect, and negate the anti-itching. Hope this helps. Thanks and good luck!

      Reply
  • Yoges April 16, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Hi there Amber

    It has been lovely reading your blog and I admire how much you have turned things around on your own with such beautiful homemade remedies.Wish I was as great as you at such things! I have a question regarding your cocoa and shea body butter for dry and eczema skin. Will it not be oily and if one wears such food on one’s skin will it not stain and dirty all clothes and things one comes into contact with?

    Thank you loads!!!
    Yoges

    Reply
    • Amber April 16, 2014 at 10:02 pm

      Thanks so much. Yes, it’s oily when it first goes on, but it soaks into the skin rather quickly. With anything, just be sure you are not exposing sensitive fabrics to the lotion. I use it everyday on my face and body and it has never destroyed any of my clothing. Let me know if you have any more questions. Thanks.

      Reply

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

Homemade Coconut Shea Butter Lotion: for dry sky and eczema

After I made my first batch of lotion, I’ve been experimenting with different ingredients for different aliments.  For example, using colloidal oatmeal as an anti-itch relief.  It’s super fun and easy to make your own lotion.  It takes just a few minutes to mix the ingredients together and there you have it.  Today I’m sharing another variation for the dry/eczema prone skin.  I keep everything raw when making lotion.  I never heat the ingredients, which I feel is very important.  This batch includes shea butter as the base, with coconut oil, calendula oil, jojoba oil and a dash of eucalyptus (for its healing properties and fragrance).  Raw shea butter has a very interesting smell, almost smokey, and in the many batches I’ve purchased (on amazon) they have all varied in color and smell.  This is to be expected.  So have fun and experiment with essential oils!
Ingredients
-4.5 ounces organic, raw, unrefined shea butter
-1/4 cup raw, organic coconut oil
-3 tablespoons jojoba oil
-1 tablespoon calendula oil
-3/4 teaspoon eucalyptus oil*
How To
1.  Mix ingredients in bowl, initially by hand, then with electric mixer.
2.  Fill small glass jars and use within 2 months.
3.  Final product can be stored at room temperature during use, as it has great self life!  Store remaining unused shea butter in the refrigerator, or you could also store leftover lotion in the fridge if you won’t be using it right away (it will keep for months in the fridge).  This stuff is resilient and you’re good either way, no matter where you keep it.
Notes
*Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a powerful anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory essential oil that can help control eczema flare-ups.  Eucalyptus oil works by stimulating blood circulation and has a calming and cooling effect on irritated skin.  And like echinacea, eucalyptus also stimulates your immune function.  Before applying eucalyptus oil (or any essential oil) to the skin, the oil should be diluted in a carrier oil (i.e. sweet almond oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, etc.) to avoid further irritation and burning.  Eucalyptus can be applied throughout the day as needed for itch relief.  Eucalyptus is also great for treating a baby eczema rash.
*
Use hand mixer OR food processor.  Both work well.  I tend to use a hand mixer with soft ingredients.  When I make lotion with cocoa butter, I always use a food processor.  It’s difficult to incorporate cocoa butter with a hand mixer.  Something else that’s important to consider is that the heat from the friction (from running the food processor a while) will help melt the small chunks of cocoa butter and incorporate all the ingredients nicely.
Additional Homemade Lotions from The Tasty Alternative
*
Shared on: Healthy Second Wednesday 
Posted by Amber at 8:23 pm

Labels: beauty, eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies, how to.

28 Comments

  • Vicky February 20, 2012 at 12:20 am

    If we could buy these ingredients easily and a bit cheaper in the UK I’d be whipping up a batch today! Sounds amazing!

    Reply
  • Amber February 21, 2012 at 2:05 am

    Hi There Vicki,

    I’ve also heard this from a few other readers. Too bad things are so expensive for you in the UK. I can imagine this is very frustrating!!

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Laura February 21, 2012 at 6:16 am

    Ahh Amber this lotion sounds heavenly! My hands get dry this time of year in the Rocky Mountains and this lotion sounds perfect for them. I love the combination of coconut and shea butter you used.

    Reply
    • Amber April 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm

      Thanks Laura!

      Reply
  • Tracy March 16, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    Does the finished lotion need to be refrigerated? Or can it stay in my bathroom?

    Reply
  • Amber March 16, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    Hi Tracy,

    Great question!

    This can stay out at room temp for weeks, perhaps months. It has a great shelf life. We keep a jar in my son’s room, one in our bedroom, some in my bag, and a jar in the kitchen.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Tracy March 16, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    Awesome! Thanks for such an awesome recipe! I have been using straight coconut oil on my skin, but wanted something more true to an actual lotion with the great benefits of coconut oil. I will be ordering some shea butter online soon! Any particular brand or site you recommend?

    Reply
  • Amber March 16, 2012 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Tracy,

    For sure, I ordered mine from Amazon. It’s a great price and goes a long way! You’ll get a TON of lotion. If you’re making just a little bit, purchase the smallest quantity you can. But this link will get you started and you can browse through different options.

    Have fun and play around with the ingredients. You might want to add in more shea, or more coconut, etc. Either way, this combination of ingredients is very healing and really helps my son’s skin!

    link: http://www.amazon.com/100%25-Organic-West-African-Butter/dp/B0009JQFF6/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1331919531&sr=8-7

    Let me know how it goes for you.

    P.S. I just bought some raw cocoa butter (from amazon), oh my, it smells soooo good. I’m making some lotion with this next. Recipe coming soon! :-)

    Reply
  • T. D. Mayers April 14, 2012 at 10:59 am

    I’m not a mixtress…yet, I guess. I’d usually see others mixing shea with just an EO. But never with coconut oil. The benefits for the skin are definitely increased. Great recipe. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    • Amber April 14, 2012 at 4:44 pm

      My pleasure!

      Reply
  • Anonymous June 30, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    It it oily on the skin? Does it absorb quickly?

    Reply
    • Amber June 30, 2012 at 7:49 pm

      Hello anonymous,

      Good question. I can tell you that this doesn’t stay oily. It does eventually soak in the skin. I would not use it as a facial lotion, however. :-)

      Reply
  • Amber July 23, 2012 at 5:01 am

    A reader left me a comment on this post, and it came through my email, but it’s not showing up here? So here is the question:

    Hi Amber,
    Thanx for your wonderful recipe. One question.., should the lotion be stored in glass containers only?? If yes, why? –Anu

    My Answer:

    Good question, Anu. I firmly believe that glass containers are the best for oily and high fat ingredients (such as coconut oil and shea butter). Fats and oils leach out toxins in plastic, and you just don’t want to take the risk. This lotion can last months and months (very long shelf life) so I really recommend storing in a glass container. I use old glass bottles from the store (from previous lotions) or ask friends if they have any around. You can also find little glass lotion containers at most stores. Thanks, –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous July 23, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    Hi Amber,

    I saw this recipe and will try it tonight! I have eczema as well and have become more conscious of what I put on my skin. I’m crossing my fingers that this recipe will work for me! Have you ever experimented with Neem? I’ve done a little research and it seems that neem may be very beneficial for people with eczema. I might try adding a few drops of neem oil into your recipe and see how it works. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply
  • Amber July 23, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    Hello Anonymous,

    Thanks for your note.

    I just want to add a few things about healing and eczema. First, not every lotion is going to work and overtime they seem to sort of lose their benefit. I recommend making different lotions throughout the year and finding which ingredients(s) work the best (overall). It’s trial and error. For my husband, currently, the best combo for his eczema is shea butter, cocoa butter, vegetable glycerine, and coconut oil. I mix all three of these together and it heals the cracked, bleeding skin. It’s still red, but it’s getting better.

    In addition, and this is very important, I recommend modifying any diet with eczema. Food is a big trigger, so lotions aren’t going to work as well if skin is always contending with the aggravating affects of food. lastly, add in fish oils and other healing supplements to the diet.

    I truly believe a holistic approach to eating and remedies can dramatically improve eczema. It’s been 3 years, but for the FIRST time my son’s eczema is in remission! We never gave up on the diet, the supplements and lotions.

    Good luck to you on your healing journey.

    P.S. We’ve never tried Neem, but I certainly recommend this oil! Very healing and I’ve heard great things.

    Reply
    • Anonymous July 23, 2012 at 7:45 pm

      Hi Amber,

      Thank you for the response! I was actually just looking through your recipes. I’ve been trying to adjust my diet but it’s been harder than I thought. I think your recipes will give me a great selection to choose from and help with my attempt at a healthier diet.

      I’m so glad to hear that your son’s eczema is doing better! That’s really great. I hope the trend continues!

      Thanks again, reading your blog has been very inspiring!

      Reply
  • Amber July 27, 2012 at 5:31 am

    Thank you so much. It’s nice to see the inflammation finally under control.

    And thank you for your kind words.

    Good luck on your healing journey. Check back and let me know how you’re doing!

    Reply
  • Krista October 10, 2012 at 1:22 pm

    Thanks for posting this recipe. I’m hoping it will help my dry, peeling fingertips this winter. Question for you: I just made a batch of this for the first time and it is runny, not thick like the lotion looks in your pictures. Any ideas as to why, or how to get it to thicken? I tried putting it in the refrigerator but it just solidified and was hard to get out of the jar.

    Reply
  • Ramona November 29, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    Hi! I look forward to trying this recipe for winter/dry skin season. I made something similar as a diaper cream for my baby (only difference is it included corn starch and no calendula or eucalyptus oil) I am wondering why it must be used within 2 months. I have been using the same batch on my 5 month old baby since she was born…I am only now running out.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Amber November 30, 2012 at 1:12 am

      Hi Ramona,

      Sounds great! Oh I’m sure this lasts forever. I use mine up in about 2 months, so I can’t speak for how it holds up after that. As a rule I only recommend what I experience, rather than assuming. So great to hear yours has lasted so long! Thanks for sharing. I’n sure this is helpful for others. :-)

      Reply
  • Ramona November 29, 2012 at 4:27 pm

    Also! Can I add 2 tsp. Of colloidal oatmeal to this recipe for the anti-itch healing factor?

    Reply
    • Amber November 30, 2012 at 1:15 am

      Hi Ramona,

      In my experience, too much is drying, so start by mixing just a small amount with another batch of the lotion (start with like 1 teaspoon). I believe very little is in the store bought variety and it seems to really help with the itching. I made a batch once with too much of the oatmeal and it was not very beneficial. You just need a touch of it in there for the anti-itch factor. Let me know how it works out and what ratios you found helpful. :-)

      Thanks and have a great rest of your week.

      Reply
  • Jessica December 6, 2012 at 3:54 am

    Thanks so much for sharing your journey! I’ve read that putting handmade creams for eczema in jars that you put your hand into and apply to the skin and then put back into the container isn’t good as it reintroduces bacteria. Have you heard this? I’d like to try this recipe, but I’m wondering if it would be too thick to try with a pump in order to not be putting your hand into the cream.

    Reply
    • Amber December 25, 2012 at 11:57 pm

      Hi Jessica,

      Oh wow – I have never heard of this. I suggest to wash hands well before dipping into the jar if you’re worried about introducing bacteria. I’ve been making lotions for years and never encountered any bacterial problems. And yes, far too thick to add into a pump. The lotion turns very solid in cool temps. Good luck and let me know what you end up doing. Thanks.

      Reply
  • 100wui June 2, 2013 at 6:47 am

    Hi, thanks for sharing tips on making eczema friendly creams.
    I am about to start making some for my son and myself.
    I am planning to use unrefined coconut oil, jojoba oil according to the recipe.
    But I am wondering if I could add in evening primrose oil, almond oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E as well in same recipe… Or do you think it is too much oil….
    let me know. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Amber June 2, 2013 at 2:30 pm

      Hi There,

      I would stick with the almond oil, primrose, and vit. E. I don’t think it hurts to add in more oils, especially if they are beneficial. This will be mighty oily, so it’s good you have the shea butter as a base. Come on back and let us know how it all worked out for you.

      Thanks.

      Reply
    • 100wui August 5, 2013 at 8:58 am

      Hi Amber,

      I just tried it out with jojoba oil, coconut oil and sweet allmond oil. I stay in hot climate country. Maybe I added a bit too much coconut oil… It seems to be in liquid form. Do I need to put it in the fridge to make it solid?

      Reply
  • 100wui August 6, 2013 at 3:01 am

    Hi Amber,

    It solidifies itself overnight. Problem solved. Thanks.

    Reply

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Monday, December 5, 2011

What is Colloidal Oatmeal? And How Does it Help Eczema?

Please read my disclaimer before you continue reading.  
Thank you!

Simply speaking, colloidal oatmeal is very finely ground oatmeal.  Pretty easy explanation right!  

So what in the world is this stuff used for? 

First let me tell you that I ran across colloidal oatmeal from reading the ingredients off a bottle of Eucerin.  I’ve never purchased Eucerin, but I was curious why it is so popular and why so many people recommend it for my son’s eczema and dry skin.  First, check out the ingredients in Eucerin.  I’ve linked research and information to some of the concerning ingredients from The Skin Deep Database: 

Glycerin, Cetyl Palmitate, Mineral Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Octyldodecanol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Colloidal Oatmeal, Dimethicone, PEG – 40 Stearate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phexoxyethanol, DMDM Hydantion, Iodopropynyl, Butylcarbarmate.

I was very curious about this oatmeal so I did some research.

I ran across this great site dedicated to colloidal oatmeal.  I recommend checking it out, but I will also share information from this site here.  All quotes are from site link.

So back to the original question: 
What in the world is this stuff used for?

The popular use for colloidal oatmeal is in the bath.  
I have used this with my son.  I grind 2 cups of oatmeal in a coffee grinder and add it to his bath water.  Works great.  Please use oatmeal with caution if you have issues with gluten (or even if you aren’t sure).  It’s best to purchase certified gluten-free oats to avoid any averse reactions.  Please discuss the use of oatmeal as a means for holistic healing with a medical professional or holistic practitioner before using.     

“Colloidal oatmeal has properties that comfort itching, so it is a good choice for relieving the pains of eczema. Simply run your bath with lukewarm water, and while the tub is filling, add a packet (two to three cups) of colloidal oatmeal under the faucet to help disperse the oatmeal. Soak in the bath for ten to fifteen minutes. When you are ready to get out of the bath, Be Careful. The bathtub will be slick from the oatmeal. When drying, don’t rub your skin since this can irritate the sore areas. Instead, pat yourself dry with a clean towel. This treatment can be taken up to three times daily to help ease the dry, itchy skin of eczema”

What a great holistic remedy for children and babies suffering from eczema (or adults for that matter).  My son’s skin looks awful in the bath (like burns all over his legs) and so this is a great addition to bath time.  Wish I had this information when he was 6 months old with weepy eczema patches all over his body.  

How does it work?
“Colloidal oatmeal is simply oats ground into an extremely fine powder. When added to bathwater, it creates a milky dispersion that prevents the oatmeal from settling rapidly. So the oatmeal stays in the water and doesn’t just sink to the bottom of the bath. When you get into the tub, the colloidal oatmeal feels silky, as it coats, moisturizes, softens, and protects your skin.”

How do I use it?
“Run your bath with lukewarm water, and while the tub is filling, add a packet (two to three cups) of colloidal oatmeal under the faucet to help disperse the oatmeal. You may have the urge to take a hot bath, but this will only irritate the skin and remove moisture from your body, so a warm bath is preferable. Soak in the bath for ten to fifteen minutes. When you are ready to get out of the bath, BE CAREFUL. The bathtub will be slick from the oatmeal. When drying, don’t rub your skin since this can irritate the sore areas. Instead, pat yourself dry with a clean towel.”

I added colloidal oatmeal to my latest homemade eczema lotion (recipe coming soon) as a dry-skin remedy this winter.  

Check this out if you are interested in making large amounts of colloidal oatmeal.  But a coffee grinder or other blender will suffice.  

Colloidal oatmeal is also used for:
Poison Ivy
Chickenpox
Diaper Rash
Pets
Insect Bites
picture credit
Shared on: Homestead Barn Hop & Traditional Tuesdays
Posted by Amber at 5:17 am

Labels: eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies.

11 Comments

  • gfe--gluten free easily January 2, 2012 at 3:57 pm

    Just found this in my In Box, Amber. Colloidal oatmeal can indeed be helpful to some, but for those with gluten issues (and often folks don’t know they have them) it can do more harm than good. Certified gluten-free oats should be used when making colloidal oatmeal to comfort anyone with gluten issues, and some folks can’t even do certified gluten-free oats–ingested or topically. Don’t mean to be a party pooper, but felt the need to point that out.

    Hope you are having a splendid new year, dear! xo,
    Shirley

    Reply
  • Amber January 2, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Hi There Shirley. You’re so funny, you’re not a party pooper at all! I appreciate the comment. I did make a note in the post about the gluten-free factor. Thanks!

    You make an excellent point and I could not agree more! I use only certified gluten-free oats when making colloidal oatmeal for my son (although he is not gluten intolerant, I still prefer this version of oats). I also use the certified gluten free oats in his (and our) itch-relief lotion. I just like the fact that certified gluten free is available, and you’re so right, colloidal oatmeal is so wonderful for those with eczema and such a nice alternative to the steroids that are offered. The colloidal oatmeal lotion I made this winter has saved my sons’s skin (and my husbands’s poor hands). An alternative diet along with holistic remedies (such as these) has put my son’t eczema into a nice state of remission. It flares from time to time with certain foods, or certain times of the year, but overall, I’m so glad my little guy is doing better!

    Thanks again Shirley for your wise insights! They are always appreciated on this end. :-)

    Hugs to you,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Jennifer May 8, 2012 at 6:11 pm

    Lots of great info! My 6 month old has awful eczema. I would love to know your colloidal oatmeal recipe if you’re willing to share. I’ve been using calendula oil which is helpful but gets a bit pricey.

    Reply
    • Amber June 15, 2012 at 4:04 am

      Hi Jennifer,

      Great question. colloidal oatmeal can be added to any cream. Just a few teaspoons. It works for anti-itch relief, but too much can also dry out the skin (so be careful). If you’re looking for an anti-itch relief cream, you can make your own by adding to homemade lotions. See my homemade link above. For every 8 ounces of lotion, add 2 teaspoons oatmeal. :-)

      I hope this helps.

      Reply
    • Anonymous July 6, 2013 at 2:37 pm

      Do you have any colloidal oatmeal bathoil recipe? Thank you very much

      -danica

      Reply
  • Anonymous November 14, 2012 at 11:17 pm

    My hands flare up in the winter and I have found vitamen e oil to be one of the only things that doesn’t make things worse.

    Reply
  • Anonymous February 13, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Hi, I got one question for the oatmeal bath. Will the grounded oatmeal clog the drainage system? I do not have a bath tub and plan to soak myself in the small baby bath tub I use when I was younger but I am worried that after I soaked it and pour away, it will clog the bathroom.

    Also,do you have any other remedies for eczema? I am suffering from severe eczema when I turn 18 and have visited expensive skin centre, applied steroid creams for over 3 years, tried expensive pills with severe side effects and photo therapy but nothing works.

    Reply
  • Amber February 13, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    Hi There,

    I can’t say for sure if the oatmeal will clog your drainage. You only put in a small amount. It’ meant to stop severe itching. It will have drying affect on the skin. I would start by just adding in 1/4 cup. See how that goes for you. If you feel no difference, try more next time and keep an eye out on your drainage.

    As for eczema remedies. I can’t stress how important it is to change your diet (remove refined sugar, and cut down on other sugars such as fruit sugars or honey/maple syrup, remove dairy and perhaps soy). You have to know your food triggers. you might want to try an elimination diet. For example, eggs and citrus triggered my son’s eczema at one time. Chocolate was triggering my husbands. But when we removed gluten and dairy from his diet, his eczema dramatically improved.

    Weather and climate also trigger symptoms. My husband and son cannot live in a very dry climate. My father-in-law lives my the coast here in California for his skin, and the humidity help it very much.

    I would also add in some pro-biotics, fish oils, and other healthy oils (such as coconut if you can eat it).

    Some research strongly suggests that skin conditions such as eczema is a response from an unhealthy gut. So focus should be on healing the gut, eating very healthy, managing stress (which can affect your immune system, and thus trigger an response).

    Lastly, you will want to use healing lotions (as a last remedy in your healing).

    visit this link to my website for a few different homemade lotions:
    https://thetastyalternative.com/p/homemade.html

    I hope this information was helpful. Let me know how it works for you.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous April 25, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    My son will be two in June and has eczema since he was three months I have tried everything including the oatmeal bath it helps! At bed time he does nothing but scratch we can we do at bed time to prevent him from itching so bad??

    Reply
    • Amber June 5, 2013 at 12:34 am

      Hi Anonymous,

      I’m sorry to hear that your son is in such agony. My son did not itch like that before bed. We did not bathe him every night, kept his nails short, and extremely lathered up with lotion. We also used lanolin. It’s a great barrier. But I cannot offer you any other advice. I’m not a doctor and cannot legally tell you to do anything. I can only suggest what’s helped for our son and that’s about it. I would speak to a holistic doctor about his skin condition. Good luck!

      Reply
  • Stephanie September 7, 2013 at 9:28 pm

    Hi great info here! I tried making an “eczema body butter” but it’s very grainy, is it always like that, or is there a way to make the powered even finer? I used my Vitamix so it’s very fine powdered but once mixed with other stuff it makes it grainy. Any suggestions? Thanks a lot!

    Reply

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Homemade Jojoba Shea Butter Lotion: for dry skin and eczema

When my son Ethan was 5 months old he developed eczema all over his body.  It wasn’t entirely a surprise.  My husband develops terrible eczema on his hands during the summer/winter months.  So when it started showing up on Ethan it was all about holistic healing and comfort…and time.   
 
I started with food. I was nursing Ethan so I would systematically cut out foods from my diet that I suspected might be aggravating his skin.  Food didn’t seem to change his skin much.  Already 100% dairy free, sugar free, soy free, etc, I cut out eggs for a while.  I also experimented with wheat and nuts.  We noticed that during the cold months his skin was dry and susceptible and during the hot months his skin was dry and susceptible.  I would say that staying on a allergy free diet helped his skin from becoming worse than it already was, and allowed time and other natural remedies to work and heal the inflammation. 
 
Our pediatrician, like most pediatricians, suggested the steroid cream.  Scott never had much success with this sort of cream and he also didn’t particularly like the ingredients - very intense stuff.  So we both knew this just wasn’t an option…or for us a very last resort option.  For the most part Ethan was smiley, happy and easy going.  He appeared comfortable.  He wasn’t distressed or preoccupied with itching his skin.  So that being said, we continued with holistic/homeopathic remedies including:
 
1.  Keeping his nails trimmed 
2.  Always covering the weepy patches of skin, but also allowing the skin time to breathe now and then
3.  Dressing in only 100% cotton or organic cotton clothes
4.  Gentle soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) to wash his clothes
5.  We did not bathe him every night
6.  During baths I would often put chamomile tea in with his bath water (steap about 8 cups of water with 8 tablespoons loose chamomile flowers )
7.  Moisturize, moisturize and moisturize!  We kept his skin very lubricated, especially during the winter months.
Side note: I’m not kidding when I tell you we used just about every organic, natural cream on the market.  We found these at our local Coop and I also found products on-line from small organic companies (this is a great blog for such a purpose).  I was very picky about what I put on his skin, obviously.  We did not use lotions filled with preservatives, parabens, SLS, phthalates, glycols, petroleum, artificial fragrances, PEGS, PGG, MEA, TEA, DEA, etc…the list goes on and on…and so the list of what you can use gets smaller and smaller.
 
I didn’t think about making my own lotion at the time.  I wish I had because we all know those organic creams are EXPENSIVE!  
In time his eczema decreased, starting with his face.  By his first birthday his face looked great.  Next his arms improved to zero areas of inflammation much like his face, his back and stomach followed.  His legs improved greatly but this is still the area of concern.
 
Last summer I purchased my last store-bought cream/oil.  I was determined to make my own dry skin/eczema remedy and found three ingredients that target inflammation 
(and ingredients I frequently saw in the store-bought brands):
1.  Jojoba Oil
2.  Chamomile Flowers
3.  Organic Raw Shea Butter
So here is what I did…
 
1: Purchased 16 oz. of raw, organic shea butter ($10).
2: Purchased 8 oz. of organic jojoba oil 
(from bulk at our Coop – $5)
 
3: Purchased 1/2 cup dried chamomile flowers 
(from bulk at our Coop – $1.50)
 
4: Infused jojoba with chamomile for 2 weeks
5: Strained through cheese cloth and TADA…chamomile infused jojoba oil! 
6: Raw shea butter is super hard so I placed it in a glass bowl and let it sit in the sun for a few hours to soften.  Worked great.  Above picture is a few hand stirs with a spoon after the sun bath
 
7: I added the strained oil to the shea butter and whipped with a hand mixer until well incorporated
Notes:
1.  This lotion is oily.  Take caution when applying it around fabric you love, as oil may transfer
2.  It soaks into skin after a bit and should be noted it’s much less oily than just applying straight oil
2.  This would be a terrific hand treatment at night with cotton gloves
3.  Apply immediately after shower/bath to affected areas
4.  This mixture of ingredients has a fantastic shelf life
5.  Experiment with other healing herbs/oil 
 
Here are some pictures of Ethan’s skin.  I never took any of his body because it was usually covered.  I look back at these and smile ear to ear.  He was such a chubby little thing! To give you an idea, he weighed 17 lbs. at 4 months old! And I’m not kidding when I tell you he was a happy little thing too – always a smile on that red little face.  Mommy kept him very comfortable!
Overall, his legs were the worst.  He had many patches of skin that were weepy, he also had these patches on his arms.  Keeping these patches covered prevented itching and aided in healing.
And, here he is in 2010:
This face looks so much better.  His cheeks healed with time, as did his arms, back and stomach.  We are happy about declining the steroid cream.  This this was a personal choice and every parent should decide what will be best for their child and what they are comfortable administering.  I would say he outgrew the worst of it. Keeping him on an allergy-free diet is very important despite the little change we noticed in his symptoms early on.  He is currently dairy free, gluten free, sugar free, soy free, chocolate free and nightshade free.  And we keep that skin super-duper moisturized with our awesome new lotion.  


Still a very smiley little guy!!  

See HERE for a list of all my homemade lotions 
Posted by Amber at 10:48 pm

Labels: beauty, eczema, Holistic healing, homemade remedies, how to.

26 Comments

  • Tessa October 27, 2011 at 3:41 am

    My son too has struggled with eczema…and I have figured out several of the triggers. One thing I learned from a holistic nutritionist, after his eczema started getting better around 9 months is that babies are born with very porous intestines to allow the to digest the large protein found in breastmilk. At around 8 or 9 months, as their bodies ready for weaning, the gut begins to close those gaps, thus making them less reactive to everything. It is such a long and arduous journey as a mommy trying to figure it all though, isn’t it!!?? I am happy your son is doing better!

    Reply
  • Amber October 27, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Hi There Tessa~

    Thank you for this holistic wisdom! I love that you have a holistic healer. How wonderful. That makes total sense about the intestines because his face was very clear at 1 year, with flare-ups here and there – weather and food induced of course.

    This month I noticed that oranges really aggravated his skin.

    speaking of food and eczema, my husband had some chocolate last week (he’s a total chocoholic, but has toned it down drastically over these past few months). Anyway, he had just a little bit of dark chocolate and his hands were a mess in the morning. He was so surprised to see this connection loud and clear. Amazing how food can have such a tangible affect on our bodies.

    Thanks again for your comment. It’s comforting to know others have gone through similar issues with their children.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Tessa October 28, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    Of course! We are STILL dealing with it! We had a major reaction yesterday, poor little guy was screeching and writhing in pain from what looked like 2nd degree burns on his bum. The only new food was a bit of egg in some grain-free mini muffins we made, he had one! hopefully we can figure out how to truly heal his little gut so he can tolerate more foods, because as of now, it is a very frustrating journey. To make it worse, lots of people look at you like you have two heads when you mention food sensitivities or try to explain why your child won’t be having those Goldfish crackers or that cupcake with the rest of the class!

    Reply
  • Amber October 30, 2011 at 4:54 am

    Hi There Tessa~

    Oh, I hear you with the goldfish crackers! And it is hard to explain why you are saying no. With Ethan though, people take one look at his legs and they can see his condition and why I have him on an allergy free diet. It’s definitely a struggle and difficult for parents. One never wants to see their child suffering! You just want to make it all go away.

    Ethan’s legs look terrible, not like they did when he was an infant, but they are very red, blotchy and look sunburned (mostly on he back). It’s curious why the inflammation is isolated to his legs? I do see a huge connection with eggs. Luckily he doesn’t seem distressed by the flare up.

    Good luck to you on this healing journey. Stayed tuned. I will be posting about holistic healing for eczema very soon.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Anonymous November 16, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    This is great! I felt so sad looking at his little red face as all three of my kids had that same little red face (and red bodies) when they were small. My other two seem to have outgrown it, my littest still struggles. We have discovered gluten and sugar are triggers for her but even then it’s not perfect. Waiting until after the holidays to make any more major dietary changes since it’s at least manageable. We always took eczema as just this “thing” that happened and you medicate it. I look at things very differently now and I see it as definite sign of what is going on in the body so we are doing good probiotics, healthy fats, etc. to help as well. Anyhow, my husband also has eczema and I’ll definitely be making this cream for both! Thanks!
    P.S. I have two kids with food allergies and I hear you about the treats in class. Makes things very difficult all around, and it always amazes me that in a day where there’s so much more talk about food allergies, people still seem to glaze over and look at you like you’re crazy or a mean mom for depriving your kid!

    Reply
  • Amber November 16, 2011 at 10:30 pm

    Hello There A,

    Thank you so much for your comment.
    First, I could not agree more with you about the perceived judgement from others. I’m constantly saying “no” to foods people hand my 2 year old son. But then I quickly pull out a healthy homemade treat and all is good, but you can’t help but feel bad (and judged). Sometimes I show people Ethan’s legs and share that foods trigger inflammation/eczema and we take it very seriously, and thank you for understanding. Birthday parties are hard right now, as I’m sure you can empathize.

    I have to say, this cream is great! But please stay tuned. As we speak I am making a new lotion that includes these original ingredients and two new healing properties: coconut oil and colloidal oatmeal. I should have this up by next week.

    Good for you for including probiotics. I started Ethan on fish oils a while back and I believe it has really helped! Ah, there is so much to think about. You just take it day by day and keep experimenting. Good luck on your healing journey. I appreciate your attitude about starting a diet change when it feels right…and perhaps more likely to work. The Holidays can be very tricky.

    Thanks again for sharing your story!

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • Wendi and Matt December 11, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    I just found your site. Love it!!!
    If I don’t have jojoba I can use olive oil right?? I’m thinking yes but want to make sure :)

    Reply
  • Amber December 12, 2011 at 1:06 am

    Hello There Wendi and Matt~

    Thanks!!

    Absolutely. Any oil you can find or have on hand that’s good for problem skin will work great.

    I also recommend coconut oil or calendula if you can’t find jojoba. :-)

    Happy Holidays.

    Be Well,
    –Amber

    Reply
  • itchylittleworld December 30, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    Hi Amber –

    So glad you found my site and now I’m happy to have found yours! Our stories sound really similar. I wound up making my own eczema salve as well, but had terrible trouble with it ruining all my son’s clothes and he also developed an allergy to it over time. Thankfully he is free of eczema, most days, because we identified food allergies as his triggers, as well as heat. I’m happy to see that you have found relief for your son as well!

    Have a great holiday!

    Reply
  • Kristina May 17, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    My son looks almost identical to your son (his main eczema problem is face and right behind one knee) I too only use handmade lotions (chamomile is a fav of ours too) and they work so much better than any of the conventional stuff. Your son’s face gives me hope as my little guy’s face is still very red and itchy. Glad he’s better!! :)

    Reply
    • Amber May 17, 2012 at 8:18 pm

      Hi Kristina,

      I’m so sorry to hear about your son’s eczema. Us mommies need to stick together and exchange ideas and resources! I do hope your son’s skin improves over time.

      My son turned three on Tuesday, and while his legs are still covered with dry skin that flares up from time to time, I’m convinced a healthy, allergy-free diet, homemade lotions, healthy fats, fish oils, probiotics, and time have all helped his skin from getting worse. But I just can’t compete with seasonal allergies. They really spark his skin flares.

      You have a great rest of your week Kristina.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Teri Magaruh June 21, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Hi Amber,
    Thank you so much for this information. My son is 25 and still has problems with eczema. He is currently living on his own and really broken out and itchy (especially his legs and feet). So which of these creams you have listed, is the most effective? Currently I have on hand and ready to use: shea butter, cocoa butter, almond oil, jojoba oil, apricot oil,calendula oil and avocado oil. Should I order the eucalyptus as well? Thanks! Teri

    Reply
    • Amber June 21, 2012 at 3:17 am

      Hi Teri,

      Thanks for your email. I’m sorry your son suffers from this skin condition!! My husband (who is 36) still gets eczema flares on his hands (and really bad)! My lotions really help, better than anything from the store.

      So, it sounds like you have some great stuff on hand there. Here are a few combinations:

      -shea butter
      -cocoa butter
      -calendula oil
      -jojoba oil

      -shea butter
      -almond oil
      -avocado oil

      -cocoa butter
      -apricot oil
      -calendula oil

      -shea butter
      -cocoa butter
      -avocado oil

      (get some coconut oil if you can…another great healing oil for eczema).

      The combinations are really endless. For each lotion I try and stick with two oils and one or two base creams for each batch (and so in your case those would be the shea and cocoa).

      The thing about thesevlotions are they all help my son, but I found that rotating the lotions works best. So, when I run out of one, I make a new one with different ingredients. I’ve heard this from other mothers too. Their child will get sort of desensitized to one. I think this is pretty typical with skin.

      And no, the eucalyptus is not necessary. I used it for a bit of scent, but found that it was also okay, beneficial even, for eczema (in small diluted amounts.

      Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Glad to help anyway I can :-)

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • vini August 8, 2012 at 6:19 am

    Hi Please try using 100% pure unrefined coconut oil
    It heals skin like magic.
    Hope it helps :)
    What an adorable little boy

    Vinitha

    Reply
  • Amber August 8, 2012 at 6:42 am

    Hi Vini,

    Thank you!

    I do use raw organic unrefined coconut oil in one of my lotions that works really well for my son and husband.
    You can see the recipe here:
    https://thetastyalternative.com/2012/02/homemade-coconut-shea-butter-lotion-for.html

    Reply
  • Edna November 25, 2012 at 6:35 am

    Thanks for telling the recipe! Going to do that for myself.
    The moisturisers on the market usually contain petroleum and those organic ones are so ex.
    Do more of this!!!! Haha

    Reply
  • Tanya Otero November 30, 2012 at 11:35 pm

    I have been searching for homemade lotion recipes specifically for eczema on hands. I found many for toddlers but not for adults, and wasn’t sure if the severity or type of eczema was different. Thank you for mentioning your husband’s hand eczema, it sounds exactly like what I have. The tips on diet are very true, I’ve cut out dairy and noticed that new flare ups have completely stopped. I have found sweets to also be a trigger.
    A homeopath recommended I take Omega 3 and 6 oils, as a deficiency in those essential fatty acids apparently can also be a cause. Just a suggestion for anyone who is searching for anything other than a steroid cream that will prevent eczema, rather than act as a temporary fix.

    Reply
    • Amber December 3, 2012 at 5:44 am

      Hello Tanya,

      Thank you so much for stopping by and for your insights. They are much appreciated. :-)

      Sugar really does trigger my husband’s eczema, but I think weather is the worst. When we are in dry climates his hands will become red and cracked within a few hours (for example, when we drive to the mountains to go snowboarding).

      I do believe citrus triggers my son’s eczema. I’ve been giving him fish oils and this seems to help his skin during the dry winter months.

      It’s all so individual. Crazy! We do what we can to try and figure out the triggers (foods, stress, weather, etc).

      Good luck on your healing journey. And thanks again for stopping by.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Anonymous February 20, 2013 at 6:26 pm

    My little 5 month old daughter has severe to moderate eczema. For someone who ate healthy, organic whole foods, I am @ my wits ends trying to figure this out. The hubs does have chronic eczema.so I am really worried. I dont know what it feels like, but my daughter went from being the perfect baby to screaming and itching right around 4 months when I went back to work.
    I have been so stressed about her condition and feel awful putting steroidal creams on her which just subsides the condition. It does not cure it. It treats the symptoms in other words not the cause.
    My older son had no such condition so this was a surprise.
    thank you Amber for the posts, I have been reading and am going to trying holistic approach to this.

    Mom to R&R

    Reply
    • Amber March 5, 2013 at 11:39 pm

      I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter. I remember when my son’s skin flared around that time.

      I’m no expert when it comes to eczema, but I can tell you that my son’s is nearly GONE. But it did take time, and he will be 4 in May. He’s been on a gluten, dairy, cane/refined sugar free, soy free diet all his life. When he was old enough, I started introducing probiotics and fish oils. I also feel it helped to nurse him as long as possible to help colonize his gut and digestive system (so I nursed him for 2 years and followed the same diet as mentioned above). Homemade creams have been such a great defense. Also look into lanolin. It’s such a great barrier and will prevent water from drying out those nearly weepy patches (my son had a TON of pus and weepy patches all over). If the itch is out of control, grind up some oatmeal into a powder and add a few tablespoons to warm bath water. This may help the itching a bit, and always follow up with lotion right out of the bath. There are so many thing to think about, and when they are young it’s a little more difficult. Comfort measures are most important at the 5 month age. I’m glad you are looking into more of the cause, rather than just masking symptoms. And I’m glad these posts are helpful for you. You’re not alone. Good luck to you and your baby’s healing.

      Be Well,
      –Amber

      Reply
  • Anonymous March 7, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    I know this is random but can you post a link to where you bought your carafe? I love it!

    Thank you :)

    Tricia

    Reply
    • Amber March 7, 2013 at 7:07 pm

      Not random at all. I found it at Ross Department store in the kitchen section. :-)

      Reply
  • M. Inez March 21, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Hi there. I just stumbled upon your blog while searching for body butter recipes. I’ve recently started making my own after about a year of paying $15 each for 8 oz of body butter. My great niece and a few people at my church suffer from eczema. I will definitely be making this for my niece and sharing the recipe with others. Thanks so much for sharing your journey.

    Reply
  • Anonymous May 16, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    THANK YOU!

    My daughter is almost 8 and really struggles with eczema… not on her face, but pretty much everywhere else. Like your son, the heat/extreme dry cold/seasonal allergies really get her going.

    We were keeping Eucerin in business and slathering her with cream twice and day, and I started suspecting that it was causing issues of its own. I’ve switched her to all natural emollients over the past 3 weeks or so and even though she’s still a mess, the oils/butters we’ve used are a relief to her. The eucerin would cause a round of itching/burning despite how well it moisturizes and we were just going backwards. Not so with almond oil/cocoa butter.

    I’m just really tired of steroids and immunosuppressants and chemicals/preservatives! I can’t help but worry about the long term consequences.

    I’m going to get brave and take it a step further upon finding your site, and try to make a batch of body butter tonight. Thanks!

    Reply
  • Anonymous May 17, 2013 at 1:38 pm

    Hi Amber!
    I’m the anonymous from yesterday, just wanted to report back that I followed through and made my food processor super oily last night and gave it a try. I feel like I’ve finally got it right… The cocoa butter and almond oil were both working well for her, but oily on their own. Thanks to your suggestions I think we’ve found a mixture that’ll really do some good. Can’t wait to see how she feels/looks in a few weeks. She rode her bike outside in the heat for 3 hours last night, and then came in for a shower… normally she’d be a MESS after that. But we covered her in her new homemade cream and she looked amazing at bedtime.
    I used 4 oz. cocoa butter, 7 oz. shea butter, and about 5 T. sweet almond oil. Good, good stuff!
    Thanks.

    Reply
  • jmneuge May 24, 2013 at 5:00 pm

    Your recipes for lotions and sprays are awesome! I stumbled upon your website while looking for a simple trellis for my bean plants. Thanks for sharing all your amazing ideas!

    One tip I can share to your readers in return, for dry skin I swear by lanolin! We live in Utah where it is very dry year round, but especially in the winter. Before bed I slather my kids up in lanolin, especially their cheeks, and their skin looks great in the morning. This helped a lot when they were babies and their skin was irritated from drool and spit up. But be careful lanolin definitely will stain fabrics.

    Cheers!

    Judith

    Reply

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