Explaining the Ingredients: Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion or Oil Recipe

As a massage therapist, in the Winter months, I see many clients come in with super dry skin, even to the point of being cracked and itchy.  Time to whip up some thick and soothing Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion!

First, I created a tincture of burdock root, yellow dock, plantain, and calendula.  Then, I whip it up into a thick cream by adding the carrier oils of jojoba, wheat germ, and shea butter.  Finally, I drop in a few healing dashes of sea buckthorn essential oil, German chamomile essential oil, and geranium essential oil.

Here are reasons for the addition of each of these items into the Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion Recipe.

Pictured: Burdock

Explaining the Ingredients: Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion

• Burdock root
  • This study demonstrated Arctium lappa as useful in reducing dry skin and itching as an ingredient in topical cream.  (1)
  • Burdock fruit extract applied topically significantly improved the metabolism of the dermal extracellular matrix and thus a visible wrinkle reduction in vivo.  (2)
• Yellow dock
  • Antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of differing yellow dock preparations (ether, ethanol, or hot water) were analyzed.  (3)
  • Essential oils from R. crispus and R. cristatus showed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.  (4)
• Plantain Leaf
  •  Leaves of the Plantago major plant affected human complement proteins, likely the reason for the reported wound healing capabilities of the plant.  (5)
  • Plantain extracts stimulated wound healing in porcine skin.  (6)
• Calendula
  • Extracts of Calendula officinalis stimulated proliferation and migration of fibroblasts at low concentrations.  (7)
  • Wound healing was accelerated among patients with venous leg ulcers who used an ointment with C. officinalis.  (8)
  • The calendula plant demonstrated anti-inflammatory and wound healing activity.  (9)
• Jojoba oil – This carrier oil is light and absorbs well into the skin.
• Wheat germ oil – High in vitamin E; great for dry skin, aged, or damaged skin
• Shea butter – Nourishing and deeply moisturizing for the skin
• Sea buckthorn oil
  • Rich in vitamins E and A as well as carotenoids and palmitoleic acid; these ingredients are known for improving skin.  (10)
  • Topical application of sea buckthorn oil increased cutaneous thickness of human skin.  (11)
• German Chamomile essential oil
  • Chamomile extract as a rubbing oil accelerated  burn wound healing in rats.  (12)
  • This study concluded that chamomile in comparison to corticosteroids promoted a faster wound healing process.  (13)
• Geranium essential oil
  • Geranium and its phenolic compounds displayed anti-inflammatory activity.  (14)
  • Strong antioxidant activity was demonstrated by P. graveolens.  (15)

Pictured: calendula infusion

Recipe for Thick Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion or Oil

• ​Tincture ingredients:
  • 1 ounce of dried burdock root
  • 1 ounce of dried yellow dock
  • 1 ounce of dried plantain leaf
  • 1 ounce of dried calendula blooms
  • 3 pints of Vodka (at least 40% alcohol)
  • Large glass jar
• Next set of ingredients:
  • 3 ounces of jojoba, apricot kernel, grapeseed, or sweet almond oil
  • 3 ounces of wheat germ, castor, or coconut oil
  • 20 drops of sea buckthorn essential oil
  • 20 drops of helichrysum OR German chamomile essential oil
  • 20 drops of geranium or rose essential oil
  • 2 ounces of the tincture made above
  • Optional – for a lotion add 2 cup of minced shea butter

​

Thick Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion or Oil Instructions

Tincture: Mix the first five ingredients in a large glass jar.  Then, shake three times a day for two weeks, setting by the sun during the day.  Finally, strain all plant parts from the alcohol using cheesecloth or a coffee filter.  The remaining alcohol is the tincture.

Lotion or Oil: The next step is to mix all of the rest of the ingredients together with 1/4 cup of the tincture. OR… For a thick creamy lotion, add 2 cups of shea butter and mix on low for 5 minutes.  Then, mix on high for 5 minutes (for a total of 10 minutes).

If making the lotion and adding 2 cups of shea butter, you may double the amount of essential oils for the recipe, not to exceed 150 drops of essential oil total for the whole recipe.

Use: Adults, apply 1/4 teaspoon on to dry or irritated skin up to three times a day.  Great for burns, wounds, and very dry skin.  Discontinue use if any irritation occurs.

Since no water is being added, this recipe should last as long as the expiration date of the ingredients used, however with making the lotion, the whipped consistency may change.  Discard if color or aroma changes.

Want an easier recipe?

If you want a quick and easy skin serum recipe, click here: uhRohMuh: Can Helichrysum Essential Oil Help Improve Skin.

Pictured: Sea Buckthorn

Thick Skin Moisturizing Herbal Lotion or Oil

References:

(1) Lee, D. H., Seo, E. S., Hong, J. T., Lee, G. T., You, Y. K., Lee, K. K., … & Kim, N. K. (2013). The efficacy and safety of a proposed herbal moisturising cream for dry skin and itch relief: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial-study protocol. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 13(1), 330.

(2) Knott, A., Reuschlein, K., Mielke, H., Wensorra, U., Mummert, C., Koop, U., … & Wenck, H. (2008). Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin. Journal of cosmetic dermatology, 7(4), 281-289.

(3) Yıldırım, A., Mavi, A., & Kara, A. A. (2001). Determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Rumex crispus L. extracts. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 49(8), 4083-4089.

(4) Avci, E., Avci, G. A., Kose, D. A., Emniyet, A. A., & Suicmez, M. (2014). In vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and GC/MS analysis of the essential oils of Rumex crispus and Rumex cristatus. Hacettepe J. Biol. & Chem, 42(2), 193-199.

(5) Michaelsen, T. E., Gilje, A., Samuelsen, A. B., Høgåsen, K., & Paulsen, B. S. (2000). Interaction between human complement and a pectin type polysaccharide fraction, PMII, from the leaves of Plantago major L. Scandinavian journal of immunology, 52(5), 483-490.

(6) Zubair, M., Nybom, H., Lindholm, C., Brandner, J. M., & Rumpunen, K. (2016). Promotion of wound healing by Plantago major L. leaf extracts–ex-vivo experiments confirm experiences from traditional medicine. Natural product research, 30(5), 622-624.

(7) Fronza, M., Heinzmann, B., Hamburger, M., Laufer, S., & Merfort, I. (2009). Determination of the wound healing effect of Calendula extracts using the scratch assay with 3T3 fibroblasts. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 126(3), 463-467.

(8) Duran, V., Matic, M., Jovanovć, M., Mimica, N., Gajinov, Z., Poljacki, M., & Boza, P. (2004). Results of the clinical examination of an ointment with marigold (Calendula officinalis) extract in the treatment of venous leg ulcers. International journal of tissue reactions, 27(3), 101-106

(9) Preethi, K. C., & Kuttan, R. (2009). Wound healing activity of flower extract of Calendula offlcinalis. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology, 20(1), 73-80.

(10) Zeb, A. (2004). Important therapeutic uses of sea buckthorn (Hippophae): a review. Journal of Biological Sciences, 4(5), 687-693.

(11) Yang, B., Bonfigli, A., Pagani, V., Isohanni, T., von-Knorring, A., Jutila, A., & Judin, V. P. (2009). Effects of oral supplementation and topical application of supercritical CO2 extracted sea buckthorn oil on skin ageing of female subjects. Journal of Applied Cosmetology, 27(1), 13.

(12) Jarrahi, M. (2008). An experimental study of the effects of Matricaria chamomilla extract on cutaneous burn wound healing in albino rats. Natural product research, 22(5), 422-427.

(13) Martins, M. D., Marques, M. M., Bussadori, S. K., Martins, M. A. T., Pavesi, V. C. S., Mesquita‐Ferrari, R. A., & Fernandes, K. P. S. (2009). Comparative analysis between Chamomilla recutita and corticosteroids on wound healing. An in vitro and in vivo study. Phytotherapy Research, 23(2), 274-278.

(14) Küpeli, E., Tatli, I. I., Akdemir, Z. S., & Yesilada, E. (2007). Estimation of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity on Geranium pratense subsp. finitimum and its phenolic compounds. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 114(2), 234-240.

(15) Ćavar, S., & Maksimović, M. (2012). Antioxidant activity of essential oil and aqueous extract of Pelargonium graveolens L’Her. Food Control, 23(1), 263-267

Pictured: Geranium

Article By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, RA (ARC), NAHA and AIA Professional Member, LMT

Updated 11/13/18

The listings of research represent a compilation of scientific articles found on the species, with a very brief overview description of each article/study.  Research found is catalogued by therapeutic action.  This categorized compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use. These statements are not meant to diagnose, treat, or cure any diseases. The information at this page has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult a Doctor before using herbs and essential oils if you have medical conditions, are taking medications, or have questions.