It’s finally spring again and I couldn’t be happier! This winter felt longer, colder and more desolate then usual. As I write this, I am enjoying my green view with the windows open and the birds singing! However, all this new beauty and warmer temps inevitably bring the “itchies”. So much of nature, while beautiful, can cause skin reactions. Rashes and bug bites can cause much discomfort so a natural remedy is definitely needed as we embark on a new season.
DIY calamine lotion is super easy to make and great at relieving inflammation and itching caused by poison oak, poison ivy, sumac, bug bites, eczema, measles, chicken pocks and even blemishes! Of course my version is totally natural and safe to be used on the skin.
Ingredients for DIY Calamine Lotion
Real calamine lotion contains zinc oxide-this ingredient helps to reduce inflammation. I decided not to add it to mine because I was out. Also, real calamine lotion is pink-using rose clay would achieve the pink color but it’s not necessary since we’re using a stronger, move aggressive clay, bentonite. If you have sensitive skin, rose clay is a nice alternative though.
Bentonite clay: Clay helps draw out impurities like oil from poison ivy or venom from bug bites. It also draws blood to the wound which helps accelerate healing.
Aluminum Free Baking soda: Baking soda is alkaline. When you get a bug bite it is higher in acidity. Adding baking soda neutralizes the acid and thus relieves the discomfort from itchiness and irritation.
Tea tree, Lavender & Chamomile essential oil: Tea tree is a strong anti bacterial oil and can help kill impurities from wounds. Lavender and chamomile are extremely calming. All three work together to sooth itchy, inflamed skin.
Sea salt: Sea salt sloughs away dead or dying skin cells and can help relieve swelling.
Glycerin (optional): The glycerin makes the calamine a little smoother and softer, as it traps in moisture and also draws moisture to your skin.
Witch Hazel – Witch hazel helps cleanse a wound. It’s also great at soothing the itch and reducing inflammation.
DIY Calamine Lotion:
1 tbsp. Sea Salt (find it HERE)
1 tbsp. Aluminum Free Baking Soda (find it HERE)
1 tbsp. Bentonite Clay (find it HERE)
5 drops each Lavender, Chamomile & Peppermint Essential Oils
Enough Witch Hazel to form a paste (find it HERE)
Directions:
- Add dry ingredients and essential oils to a 2 ounce air tight, glass container.
- You can add the witch hazel to the full amount but I’m leary of preservation. Because we’re using witch hazel that is already preserved, I believe the shelf life will be around 2 months due to the “lotion” drying out.
- To be totally safe, I suggest keeping the ingredients free from witch hazel until you need to use the lotion.
- Measure out a teaspoon of the dry ingredients and add enough witch hazel so that it’s spreadable on the wound.
To Use:
- Apply a thin layer to a wound.
- Leave on until dried then remove with a wet wash cloth.
You can use this recipe as a spot treatment as well! Leaving it on your skin over night will be fine.
If you’d like to add the non-nano zinc oxide I would add 1 tbsp. to the recipe.
I hope you enjoyed this recipe and can add it to your natural medicine cabinet!
More Natural Medicine Cabinet DIYs
- Pain Killer Headache Stick
- Activated Charcoal Healing Salve
- Homemade Tiger Balm
- Natural Ear Ache Remedy
- Bug Bite Balm
- Bug Bite Repellent
- Sunburn Relief Spritzer
- Vaseline
- DIY Allergy Relief Salve
- DIY Peppermint Eucalyptus Vapor Rub
- Homemade Neosporin Recipe
- DIY Badger Sleep Balm
- Ring Worm Remedy
- DIY Eczema Cream
xx, Jenni
