How to make a herbal cream

Learning how to make a herbal cream is a wonderful way of including your home grown herbs into your skincare routine. This simple but nourishing cream can be used in a few different ways – from soothing dry skin to providing a natural remedy for minor irritations. Follow our step-by-step guide below.

What is a herbal cream?

Herbal cream is very similar to making a herbal salve – the key difference is that it includes water (or hydrosol) to create a more smooth consistency that absorbs more quickly, feels less greasy, and is better for daily moisturising or sensitive skin. Like a herbal salve, a herbal cream is often made using a combination of infused herbal oils and beeswax; we recommend reading our blog post on how to make an infused herbal oil before making your cream.

What is a herbal cream used for?

Herbal cream has many uses thanks to its soothing nature. Common applications include:

• Moisturising dry skin: The natural oils and beeswax in the cream provide deep hydration and create a protective barrier.
• Soothing irritations: Herbs like chamomile and calendula have anti-inflammatory properties that can help calm irritated or sensitive skin.
• Healing minor cuts and scrapes: The antiseptic qualities of herbs such as lavender and rosemary aid in the healing process of minor wounds.
• Relieving muscle aches: A blend of peppermint or arnica can provide relief from sore muscles and joint pain.

Which herbs can I use to make a herbal cream?

Below is a list of herbs that you can find on our website that can be made into herbal creams. These are our favourites:

There are of course many more plants that can be made into herbal cream:

Other herbs that can be made into herbal creams include comfrey, rosemary and peppermint.

How do I make herbal cream?

The recipe below is based on our simple recipe for making a herbal salve. The bold writing indicates the different steps that are required for making a herbal cream:

Ingredients (per batch)

• Infused herbal oil: 4 parts (e.g., 100 ml). See our blog on how to make an infused massage oil for more details.
• Beeswax: 1 part (e.g., 25 g; adjust for desired firmness)
• Optional: shea butter, cocoa butter, or coconut oil – up to 1 part (e.g., 25 g) for extra creaminess
• Distilled water or hydrosol: 4 parts (e.g., 100 ml) to create a cream base
• Optional: essential oils – a few drops for scent or added herbal benefits
• Optional: Natural emulsifier such as lecithin: ~0.5–1 part of total oil weight to help blend oil and water

Equipment

• Clean cream jars or tins
• Heatproof bowl or bain-marie
• Small ladle or heat-proof funnel for pouring into jars
• Immersion blender or whisk to emulsify the cream

Method

1. Prepare your infused oil: Measure the amount of infused oil you want to use.
2. Melt the beeswax and optional butters: Place the oil in a heatproof bowl over gently simmering water. Add beeswax (and any optional butters) and stir occasionally until fully melted.
3. Heat water phase: Gently warm the distilled water or hydrosol in a separate heatproof bowl to a similar temperature as the melted oils.
4. Combine phases: Slowly pour the warm water into the oil mixture while whisking continuously, or use an immersion blender to create a smooth cream. Add emulsifier if using.
5. Add essential oils: Remove from heat and stir in a few drops of essential oils if desired.
6. Pour into containers: Carefully fill clean jars or tins, leaving a little space at the top.
7. Cool and store: Allow the cream to solidify at room temperature. Once cooled, seal the containers and store in a cool, dry place.
   

Your homemade herbal cream is now ready to use! It should last 4–6 weeks without preservatives, or longer if you include natural preservatives like vitamin E or rosemary extract.

Tips

• Apply as needed a few times a day.
• To test consistency: take a teaspoon of the warm cream, place it on a saucer, and let it cool. Adjust beeswax or butters next batch if it’s too soft or firm.
• Always use clean equipment to reduce contamination and extend shelf life.