Pin #2- Calv's Salve

This week's pin is short.   I ended up making a meal for one of our co-op preschool's families so that cut into my pin-producing time.   However, this pin was really important.   Pinhead #2 (The Calvinator) developed some serious skin issues during Christmas break- virtually overnight.  I was worried he ate something he was allergic to because he had red, rough, dry patches all over his little body.  I made a doctor's appointment and sure enough (just as I suspected) he said it was eczema.   A total catch all for skin problems.  He gave me some hydrocortisone cream and super thick petroleum based lotion (UGH!!!) and told me to lube him up 4-5 times a day.

  Yuck...I try really hard to keep chemicals out of my house and off of our skin and the only solution for my sweet baby's skin is petroleum?  UNACCEPTABLE!   Right around the same time this was happening good ol' Pinterest brought me a "how to make your own winter hand salve" from a sonoma garden.  SAAAWEET!  The answer I was searching for :)   So off I went to order some shea butter, mango butter, grape seed oil (instead of avacado oil), vitamin E oil (a bottle is much cheaper than the capsules and is used as the preservative) and some essential oils to add a little sent.   I chose sweet orange oil and patchouli for Calv's Salve.

I used the instructions (minus one step) from a sonoma garden but made a triple batch because I wanted to have some for myself.  I also chose grapeseed oil because it is a good skin moisturizer without clogging pores.

 For the whipping step I chilled my mixing bowl in the fridge while I melted the butter down.  Once it was melted I poured it into my mixing bowl and chilled it for about 15 more minutes.  Then I whipped it on high with my mixer for about 7 minutes (this is when I added my essential oils).

It literally goes on like butter and rubs in nicely...it smells like heaven too!   I feel so much better about putting this on his skin and it only took a few minutes to make.  We have officially converted to non-store bought lotion!

SAM I AM