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 chew balm, made with just a few easy elements, gives soothing aid for redness, itching, and swelling.
And it doesn’t sting like different bug chew treatments, which is a big bonus. Oh, and—did I point out?—it additionally smells great!
For this balm, I selected elements primarily based on how nicely they take the sting out of bug bites. If in case you have youngsters (and even for those who don’t), you know the way not possible it may be to get them to cease scratching! It’s all they need to do!
So it’s necessary to decide on important oils and butters which were proven to assuage irritation, calm the hearth, and eliminate the itch.
Soar to:
Components
- 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 received’t appear to heal. Should you’re in a rush, you should purchase calendula oil on the retailer, however we advocate making your personal recent calendula oil for optimum skin-soothing advantages in case you have the time.
- Tea tree essential oil – Identified for its anti-pain, anti-swelling, and anti-itching qualities, tea tree can 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 gives therapeutic and moisturizing properties. Plus, it offers this bug chew balm a strong, balmy consistency.
- Shea butter – Usually used as a pure physique lotion, shea butter comprises 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 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 nicely.
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 need 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 the whole summer season. To make use of, apply on to bug bites 2–3 occasions a day, or as usually as wanted to maintain itching at bay.
Trace: This recipe makes a reasonably strong bug chew balm that received’t soften within the warmth of the summer season. Should you want a softer cream, use half as a lot beeswax.
Substitutions
This recipe is fairly versatile. Whereas the elements are tried and examined in my house, they’re not the one ones you need to use. It’s fairly laborious to mess this up, so be at liberty to check out completely 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 an entire checklist of oils. Simply make sure that to maintain the identical variety of whole drops within the recipe when switching out important oils.
- Avocado oil—Any impartial service oil will work, however you possibly can attempt olive, coconut, jojoba, or almond oil.
- Beeswax—Should you’re vegan or would like to make use of a less expensive different, you need to use pure candelilla wax rather than beeswax.
Storage
I want to make use of a number of small jars which can be simple to toss in my bag or preserve within the medication cupboard, however your bug chew balm can simply be poured into an empty lip balm tube (like these bug bite sticks) for hands-free utility.
This balm ought to preserve for 6-12 months with out going unhealthy. Should you discover an off scent, the oils might have gone rancid, by which case you must make a recent batch.
Greatest Important Oils for Bug Bites
A number of important oils are identified for his or her anti-inflammatory properties that may soothe bug bites and supply aid 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 research carried out in 2015 discovered that lavender has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties, for one use much like that of steroids [source], making it an ideal selection for bug bites.
2. Rose geranium: Rose geranium important oil is an alternative choice that’s usually used to assuage bug bites. It is identified for its nice floral scent and potential skin-soothing properties to scale back the redness, swelling, and irritation of bites.
3. Lemongrass: On account of its anti-inflammatory properties [source], lemongrass may also help calm the irritation and discomfort related to insect bites. Plus, it may well assist keep bugs from biting within the first place!
4. Camphor: Because of its analgesic and anti inflammatory properties [source], camphor essential oil is right for treating even the worst insect bites. Moreover, it additionally comprises 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 improbable oil to have available for any variety of pores and skin points. It is a mild but highly effective oil that’s incessantly 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 numerous pores and skin points, together with irritation. It comprises antimicrobial properties [source] that may assist help 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 be antimicrobial [source], which helps cut back the danger of an infection related to some bites.
Variation: Soothing Bug Chew Spray
As a substitute of a balm, you may make a bug chew 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 great shake. Fill the remainder of the bottle with rose water.
Spritz 1–2 occasions immediately 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 nicely earlier than utilizing because the elements 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 must be reapplied extra usually than different repellants – each few hours or so.
FAQ
Certain, I don’t see why not! You may as well 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 sturdy, although, so solely add 2–3 drops at most.
No, once we say “calendula oil” on this recipe, we’re referring to a service oil, akin to olive or jojoba, that has been infused with calendula, like the method here.
It’s measured by weight. An oz. of strong beeswax is roughly 2 tablespoons melted.
All-Pure Bug Chew and Sting Balm
Made with 100% pure elements to assuage the itch and ache of bug bites and stings.
Yield: 5 ounces
Price: $7
Directions
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In a small pan, soften shea butter, avocado oil, and beeswax. Stir nicely.
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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 occasions a day, or as usually as wanted to maintain itching at bay.
This balm ought to preserve for not less than a 12 months with out going unhealthy. Should you discover an off scent, the oils might have gone rancid, by which case you must make a recent 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 together with your physician.
