Bug bites and stings are an inevitable a part of summer season. Regardless of utilizing bug-repelling plants, citronella candles, and swatting away pesky mosquitoes, I can’t appear to keep away from these itchy bites! This 100% pure bug chunk balm, made with just a few easy components, supplies soothing reduction for redness, itching, and swelling.
And it doesn’t sting like different bug chunk cures, which is a large bonus. Oh, and—did I point out?—it additionally smells great!
For this balm, I selected components primarily based on how effectively they take the sting out of bug bites. In case you have kids (and even when you don’t), you understand how inconceivable it may be to get them to cease scratching! It’s all they wish to do!
So it’s essential to decide on important oils and butters which were proven to appease irritation, calm the hearth, and do away with the itch.
Bounce to:
Substances
- Calendula oil – Not solely is calendula tremendous soothing, nevertheless it’s additionally a serious anti-inflammatory that’s been used for hundreds of years to deal with wounds [source] that simply gained’t appear to heal. When you’re in a rush, you should purchase calendula oil on the retailer, however we advocate making your individual contemporary calendula oil for optimum skin-soothing advantages in case you have the time.
- Tea tree essential oil – Recognized for its anti-pain, anti-swelling, and anti-itching qualities, tea tree can also be antibacterial and antifungal, so it ought to assist preserve these annoying bug bites from getting contaminated [source].
- Lavender essential oil – Lavender is a strong anti-inflammatory [source] with soothing pain-relieving results [source] that shortly take the ache and itch out of bites.
- Beeswax – All-natural beeswax supplies therapeutic and moisturizing properties. Plus, it provides this bug chunk balm a stable, balmy consistency.
- Shea butter – Usually used as a pure physique lotion, shea butter accommodates many kinds of fatty acids that work as moisturizers, antioxidants, and a excessive vitamin E content material [source].
- Avocado oil – This oil has been proven to advertise collagen formation [source], moisturize chapped pores and skin, and cut back age spots. Plus it has a thick, soothing consistency that I really like.
See recipe card for portions.
Directions
To get began, soften shea butter, avocado oil, and beeswax in a small pan over low warmth and stir effectively.
Take away from warmth and stir in calendula, lavender, and tea tree oils. It does set shortly as soon as it’s off the warmth, so that you’ll wish to work quick.
Pour the melted oils right into a small glass jar and let cool for a number of hours or in a single day.
It makes about 5 ounces of balm, which ought to final one particular person all the summer season. To make use of, apply on to bug bites 2–3 instances a day, or as usually as wanted to maintain itching at bay.
Trace: This recipe makes a reasonably stable bug chunk balm that gained’t soften within the warmth of the summer season. When you want a softer cream, use half as a lot beeswax.
Substitutions
This recipe is fairly versatile. Whereas the components are tried and examined in my residence, they’re not the one ones you should utilize. It’s fairly onerous to mess this up, so be happy to check out totally different combos of oils till you discover one thing that works for you.
- Lavender important oil—Chamomile, peppermint, and rose geranium are all soothing important oils that may assist take the itch out of bug bites. See beneath for a whole checklist of oils. Simply ensure that to maintain the identical variety of complete drops within the recipe when switching out important oils.
- Avocado oil—Any impartial service oil will work, however you may strive olive, coconut, jojoba, or almond oil.
- Beeswax—When you’re vegan or would favor to make use of a less expensive various, you should utilize pure candelilla wax instead of beeswax.
Storage
I want to make use of a number of small jars which are straightforward to toss in my bag or preserve within the drugs cupboard, however your bug chunk balm can simply be poured into an empty lip balm tube (like these bug bite sticks) for hands-free software.
This balm ought to preserve for 6-12 months with out going dangerous. When you discover an off scent, the oils could have gone rancid, through which case it is best to make a contemporary batch.
Finest Important Oils for Bug Bites
A number of important oils are recognized for his or her anti-inflammatory properties that may soothe bug bites and supply reduction from itching, redness, and irritation.To make use of, combine 6 drops of oil with a tablespoon of carrier oil and therapeutic massage into the pores and skin.
1. Lavender: A examine performed in 2015 discovered that lavender has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, for one use just like that of steroids [source], making it an ideal alternative for bug bites.
2. Rose geranium: Rose geranium important oil is an alternative choice that’s usually used to appease bug bites. It is recognized for its nice floral scent and potential skin-soothing properties to scale back the redness, swelling, and irritation of bites.
3. Lemongrass: Resulting from its anti-inflammatory properties [source], lemongrass may help calm the irritation and discomfort related to insect bites. Plus, it might probably assist keep bugs from biting within the first place!
4. Camphor: Because of its analgesic and anti inflammatory properties [source], camphor essential oil is good for treating even the worst insect bites. Moreover, it additionally accommodates insecticidal properties [source], making it helpful in serving to to maintain the bugs away to start with!
5. Chamomile: Each Roman and German chamomile oils have anti-inflammatory properties that may assist alleviate itching and irritation brought on by bug bites.
6. Tea Tree: Tea tree oil is a unbelievable oil to have readily available for any variety of pores and skin points. It is a light but highly effective oil that’s ceaselessly used to each forestall bug bites and deal with them after the actual fact.
7. Rosemary: Rosemary essential oil has potent anti-inflammatory results [source] that assist it to chill redness and irritation shortly.
8. Cypress: Cypress essential oil is used for varied pores and skin points, together with irritation. It accommodates antimicrobial properties [source] that may assist assist pores and skin well being and therapeutic, and it is also thought of to be extremely astringent.
9. Peppermint: Peppermint essential oil (and different oils containing menthol) creates a cooling sensation on the pores and skin that helps soothe the burn and itch you usually get with bites. Peppermint oil can also be antimicrobial [source], which helps cut back the chance of an infection related to some bites.
Variation: Soothing Bug Chunk Spray
As a substitute of a balm, you may make a bug chunk spray with important oils that work collectively to calm irritation, ease the itch, and preserve irritation at bay.
Pour service oil right into a small spray bottle. Add important oils, then change the lid and provides it a superb shake. Fill the remainder of the bottle with rose water.
Spritz 1–2 instances straight on bug bites, and gently therapeutic massage into the pores and skin. Wash your palms when completed.
Variation: All-Pure Bug Spray
Do that easy bug-repelling spray to maintain bugs away:
Pour jojoba oil into your spray bottle then add the important oils. Prime with witch hazel and glycerin. Shake very effectively earlier than utilizing because the components naturally separate.
When making use of, you do not want very a lot – just a few spritzes labored nice for every arm and leg. It does have to be reapplied extra usually than different repellants – each few hours or so.
FAQ
Certain, I don’t see why not! It’s also possible to use it to moisturize dry hair or soften parched pores and skin after spending time within the solar.
Sure, peppermint oil is great for soothing itchy, irritated pores and skin. Its scent is extremely robust, although, so solely add 2–3 drops at most.
No, after we say “calendula oil” on this recipe, we’re referring to a service oil, reminiscent of olive or jojoba, that has been infused with calendula, like the method here.
It’s measured by weight. An oz. of stable beeswax is roughly 2 tablespoons melted.
All-Pure Bug Chunk and Sting Balm
Made with 100% pure components to appease the itch and ache of bug bites and stings.
Yield: 5 ounces
Value: $7
Directions
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In a small pan, soften shea butter, avocado oil, and beeswax. Stir effectively.
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Take away from warmth and stir in calendula, lavender, and tea tree oils.
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Let cool barely, then pour into small jars or lip balm containers. Let cool utterly.
Notes
To make use of, apply on to bug bites 2–3 instances a day, or as usually as wanted to maintain itching at bay.
This balm ought to preserve for a minimum of a 12 months with out going dangerous. When you discover an off scent, the oils could have gone rancid, through which case it is best to make a contemporary batch.
This text was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified doctor who has greater than 20 years of observe expertise. Study extra about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As all the time, this isn’t private medical recommendation, and we advocate that you just speak along with your physician.
