Ointments and cream contain medicinal properties that can help improve the skin condition. Depending on the oils you choose these topical preparations can be healing or comforting. An ointment contains oils or fats, but not water. Petroleum jelly or paraffin wax may be used, but a wonderful natural method is to use vegetable oil, such as Coconut, Olive, Sweet Almond or Sunflower oil, with beeswax. Making an organic cream is very similar to making an ointment, again using beeswax. This is also very easy to make at home.

a. How to make ointment:

Standard Quantities: Materials:

• 25 g beeswax
• 100 ml vegetable oil.
• If adding essential oil, use 20-30 drops for this amount, but only 10 drops if skin is very sensitive.

Procedure:

1. Place the beeswax and oil in a glass bowl over a saucepan of water. Bring the water to the boil and simmer until the wax has melted into the oil. Remove from the heat.
2. Stir continually as the oil/wax mixture cools and stiffens; essential oils may be added at this stage, as recommended, and stirred into the mixture.
3. Pour or spoon into small, clean ointment jars, seal tightly and store in a cool, dry place.
4. Put a label (with content and date) to the jars.
5. This may keep for a few months (about 3 months) under good conditions, but should be made in small amount as needed

Tips and Precaution:

• If ointment is too soft, reheat and add more beeswax. If it's too hard, reheat and add a small amount of oil until you get the desired effect.
• Adding a little benzoin can help preserve the ointment, and the benzoin will help sooth chapped skin.
• Test oils before using them to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction.

b. How to make cream:

Standard Quantities:

• 25 g beeswax
• 25 ml water and
• 100 ml vegetable oil.
• If adding essential oils, use 20 -30 drops at the most for this amount of cream.

Procedure:

1. Place beeswax and oil in a glass bowl in a saucepan of water. Bring water to the boil and until the wax has melted. Place water in another glass bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove both glass bowls from the heat.
2. Add water to the melted wax / oil mixture, drop by drop, stirring all the time until the cream thickens and cools.
3. At this stage essential oils may be added, as recommended, and gently stirred into the cream.
4. Pour or spoon into small, clean ointment jars, seal and store. Make small amounts as required. This cream may keep for a few months under good conditions.

How to Make Lavender-Tea Tree Ointment

Good antiseptic properties and soothing to skin problems.

Materials:

• 2 oz oil
• ½ oz beeswax
• 5 drops lavender oil
• 3 drops tea tree oil
• 400 IU vitamin E

Procedure:

1. Combine oil and beeswax in top of double boiler over low heat till wax melts.
2. Remove from heat and add lavender and tea tree oils.
3. Cut the vitamin E capsule and squeeze contents into the mixture.
4. Place in ointment jar and allow to setup before capping

How to Make Cocoa Butter Body Cream

Materials:

• 1 1/2 cups glycerin
• 1 cup stearic acid
• 1/2 oz. cocoa butter (food grade)
• 1/2 oz. spirits of ammonia
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 tsp. boric acid
• 60 drops of essential oil (optional)

Procedure:

1. Heat your cream base. In a pot, combine the glycerin, stearic acid and cocoa butter. Melt the ingredients over low heat, stirring constantly and being careful not to burn the mixture.
2. Heat the water. While the mixture in is melting, heat your 2 cups of water on the stove or in the microwave. You do not need this water to be boiling, so remove it from the heat just before it boils. Set aside.
3. Add the ammonia. Remove the melted cocoa butter, glycerin and stearic acid from the heat and transfer the mixture into a mixing bowl. Add the ammonia, stirring with a spoon or whisk until the mixture becomes milky.
4. Mix the water and boric acid. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the boric acid with your reserved warm water. Stir until thoroughly combined.
5. Add the boric acid mixture to the cocoa butter mixture and, with an electric beater, beat on high speed for 10 minutes.
6. Add your desired scent. If you're using a mixture of essential oils, combine them in a bowl before adding them to the cream mixture. If you prefer to use one essential oil, you can add it directly to the mixture.
7. Store the cream. Use an airtight container, preferably with a wide-mouthed top to store your mixture and set in a cool dry place. Let the mixture age for 2 weeks before using on your skin.