Calendula Hand cream

[pigletwillie]

Calendula Hand Cream

Olive oil 300 ml
Beeswax 100 gm
Calendula 1 big handfull of flowers

Put the oil and beeswax in a double saucepan (like for melting chocolate in) and bring to a simmer. Add a big handfull of calendula flowers and simmer for 10 minutes. Filter the flowers out and put the ointment into jars to cool. You can add a few drops of any essential oil if you wish to add a fragrance.

You can add more or less beeswax to alter the consistency to your ointment if you so wish. It is brilliant on dry hands, well dry skin anywhere really and especially after gardening.

Enjoy.

[nick the grief]

oooh thank you pigsy just what i needed for my delicate pinkies

[JennieAtkinson]

Piglet - Beeswax as in that you would use for candles?

I make lots of beeswax candles and have loads of wax, but hadn't thought about using it for handcream.

[pigletwillie]

I get if from France Jennie from a bee keeper and its pure beeswax so I presume its the same thing.

[dexterdoglancashire]

PW if you decide to go into business and sell this - put me first on your list! sounds just the job for my poor, wrinkled, sore, chillblained fingers! DDL

[Earthbabe]

Jennie you should be able to get it from a local beekeeper. Or if not try one of the essential oil suppliers which also sell cosmetic supplies. There are a number. Aromantic is based in Forbes (I think that is how it is spelt). They are at www.aromantic.co.uk and can supply a huge variety of stuff for making your own skincare and cosmetic products.

[JennieAtkinson]

I'll have a look Earthbabe. Thanks. I know when I make the candles, my hands are lovely and soft for a while afterwards (same with spinning wool).

[wellie]

Ooh, I'd LOVE to learn how to make Candles!

Is it difficult Jennie ?

[vicki lorraine]

PW can you explaine the double saucepan. Do you mean a pan with water in it and then a second pan inside that for the oil, wax and calendula?

[rustylady]

PW can you explaine the double saucepan. Do you mean a pan with water in it and then a second pan inside that for the oil, wax and calendula?

Think so Vicki - A double saucepan is usually used for melting wax, and it's exactly as you say. One pan with water in it which is placed on the heat, and then another pan inside it which contains the wax (or whatever) to be melted. It saves the wax getting burnt or overheated.

[vicki lorraine]

Thanks RL. Will have a go at making this cream. Where would i buy the wax?

[pigletwillie]

Find a local beekeeper and buy it from him. I get mine from France as there is a guy there with over 800 hives. I buy beeswax from him that comes from the lavender fields, not that you can smell it really in the wax. Its 6 or 7 euros a kilo.

[vicki lorraine]

Thanks PW will contact local beekeepers society. Fancy having a go at making the cream.

[Earthbabe]

I only use a double saucepan method when using hydrosols and emulsifiers. If just melting oils and wax I use a heavy bottomed milk pan over a very low heat, stirring regularly and loitering as once it starts to cool you have quite a short window for adding essential oils. If you want it to cool quicker you can sit the pan or bowl in cold water.

[Herbaholic]

Find a local beekeeper and buy it from him. I get mine from France as there is a guy there with over 800 hives. I buy beeswax from him that comes from the lavender fields, not that you can smell it really in the wax. Its 6 or 7 euros a kilo.

Hi Pigletwillie, any chance this guy in France could supply others as well as your good self? If so can we have details? I'd certainly be interested as I use beeswax to make furniture polish and some hand creams etc it gets a bit pricey buying the tiny blocks and the little beeswax chips that some suppliers sell just don't seem to cut the mustard.

Cheers ahead of thyme