Soothing & Healing Hand Cream for Farmers/Gardeners
Gardeners and farmers have hard-working hands that need a little TLC at the end of a long day. This homemade hand cream helps moisturize and soothe rough, achy hands. The best part is that it only takes minutes to make a batch and it lasts a long time. After buying the initial supplies, this hand cream costs less than $1 to make.
You can make this recipe in the microwave, but I prefer to do it in a makeshift double boiler on the stovetop. What I found works best is to put a jelly jar into a saucepan and fill the saucepan (not the jar) with water, leaving room for the water to simmer without overflowing.
Hand Cream Ingredients
For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients. Feel free to switch out the essential oil (maybe lavender?) and/or flower petals (calendula is nice) if you don’t have these ones on hand.
- 3 tbsp. Beeswax (I like to use pastilles)
- 1/2 c. Sesame Oil
- 2 tbsp. Dandelion Tea (see below)
- 1 tbsp. Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp. Honey
- 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
- 3 drops Thyme Essential Oil
Making Dandelion Tea
To make dandelion tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried dandelion petals (or 4 dried dandelion heads). Steep until cooled. Any leftover tea can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks.
Making Hand Cream on the Stove
Using the above-mentioned double boiler setup, melt the beeswax. Once the beeswax has melted, add the sesame oil and coconut oil. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients. Stir slowly to incorporate.
Making Hand Cream in the Microwave
Let me start by saying that beeswax doesn’t always perform as expected in the microwave, which is why I prefer the stove. If beeswax has been overheated, it gives off an odd scent. It won’t affect the final product, but I prefer the control of the stove.
In a small microwave-safe bowl or large glass measuring cup, mix all the ingredients. Adjust the microwave so it heats on a medium setting for 30 seconds +/- until the beeswax has melted. Slowly stir the melted mixture to combine.
Storing Your Hand Cream
Once your cream has cooled enough to safely handle, pour it into a sterilized jar with a tight-fitting top. I like these 4 oz jelly jars for storing things like this. Store in a cool, dark place until ready to use. Because of the vegetable oils, the hand cream does not have a long shelf life (one month or so with proper storage). Feel free to share it with a friend!
If your lips are getting dry and chapped, check out these heavenly handmade lip scrubs.
