This post is part of the Humblebee & Me Archives
I’ve learned a ton since launching Humblebee & Me in 2011, so some older posts no longer live up to my formulation standards. This is one of those posts.
Rather than delete these posts I’ve moved them to the Humblebee & Me Archives so you can see the steps of my making journey—and hopefully avoid some of my missteps!
Scar Salve
This scar salve is designed to help your scars heal up, and it’s loaded with healing ingredients. The oil base features healing rock stars like pure Vitamin E, vitamin rich rosehip oil, and andiroba, tamanu, and emu oil—all traditional healers in their countries of origin.
I also included some herb infused oils—calendula and plantain in olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada). Both herbs are fantastic healers, and the infused oils have a really lovely herby scent to them as well.
For essential oils I chose a blend of healing lavender, calming chamomile, rejuvenating helichrysum, and stimulating carrot seed oil.
All these ingredients are combined into a super simple-to-make balm that can be poured into a tin or tubes (which make for especially easy application). I gifted a tube to my friend Robb, who is quite the wordsmith, so I’ll let him take it from here.
“After stupidly slamming my station wagon’s rear hatch onto my nose and splitting it open, I was left with six stitches and a nasty franken-scar. It was both bumpy and discolored. Being a dude, I was going to just ignore it, until I lucked upon a tube of this wonderful scar salve.
Applying it is something I would only do in the privacy of a bathroom, because anyone watching would no doubt wonder why this idiot would be applying lip balm to his nose. I mean, it is the same container, right? So I secretly dabbed it on, and waited dubiously for it to work its wonders.
I should mention that the salve is somewhat shiny when you apply it, so it’s probably something you’re going to put on in the evening, or at least when you’re not concerned about people staring at your glistening wound.
The scent is immediately reassuring. I’m picking up herbals and forest notes, and thinking how very spa-like I have become. I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as “manly,” but it does complement my after-shave, and the fact it is right on my nose means it needs to be appealing in a “scentsy” way. It is.
Okay, but does it work?
Two weeks into using the salve on a daily basis, I began noticing that the tissue itself was more even. A nose is never the place you want a scar, since there’s so little skin there and what does exist is paper-thin. Still, there was noticeable improvement in the texture and I might even describe my nose as “touchable” now. By that, I’m merely suggesting it has lost its gross-out factor because my wife does not say “ick!” when she presses her finger curiously onto the wound.
Perhaps even more than the textural improvement, I’ve seen the scar area return to a more natural skin tone. I no longer look like I’m permanently hammered, or that I just tossed back half a dozen gin martinis. From the right angle, and with the right equipment, my nose might even be photographable and not require a whole lot of Photoshop touchups. I attended my son’s high school grad and felt confident enough in front of the camera to look directly into the lens. Not once did someone shout out “freak!” or “alkie!” and I feel I owe a debt of thanks to that little tube.
You might even say it has been my salvation!”
Scar Salve
4g | 0.14oz Vitamin E MT-50 (USA / Canada)
4g | 0.14oz andiroba oil
5g | 0.17oz tamanu oil
5g | 0.17oz rosehip oil
4g | 0.14oz emu oil (can substitute with more andiroba oil)
10g | 0.35oz dried calendula petals (USA / Canada) infused olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada)
10g | 0.35oz plantain infused olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada)
11g | 0.38oz beeswax (USA / Canada)15 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops chamomile essential oil
10 drops helichrysum essential oil
5 drops carrot seed essential oilWeigh the oils and beeswax out into a glass measuring cup and melt in a water bath.
Once everything has melted together, add the essential oils and stir to combine.
Decant into tins or lip balm tubes and let it set up before capping and labelling. I found this recipe filled one 60mL/2oz tin and five 4.5g lip balm tubes.
Sounds wonderful:) I plan on making this for my sister-in-laws baby basket after she delivers for her c-section scar.
Thanks! I’d love to hear how it works for your sister in law 🙂
I’m so excited to try this! My husband had open heart surgery and he ran out of an expensive tube of scar treatment that was probably filled with nasty chemicals. I hope to make this soon! 🙂
Exciting! Please tell me how it works for you 🙂
This looks wonderful! Just a quick question – would this work on facial acne scars? I have a few stubborn scars that just won’t fade, but I’m a bit reluctant to try this on my face just in case any of the ingredients clog my pores and cause me to break out more. Thanks!
Hi Poppy! I can’t see any reason why this wouldn’t work on your face. If you’re concerned about it clogging pores, I’d recommend making a liquid version (ditch the beeswax) and applying that with a q-tip 🙂
Hi! I live tropical island my lips and face look like a cocodrile need urgent your help! I drink a lot water and coconutwater but my skin is medium light always use sunblock but this wrinkle need to work!!!
Hi Arlene! My favourite thing for skin is always argan oil 🙂 My mother loves it, too!
I’m making this tonight (without the andiroba oil). I love Emu alone for woundcare, so adding it into a balm with other good ingredients makes it awesome and purpose! Question: I’m planning on ordering from Saffire blue for a few items that my U.S. Vendors don’t carry (red turkey, carmine, etc). I can’t find andiroba oil. Are there other names for it? Also, I just received my clays from new directions and have already tried out your lipstick and face product recipes. Everything is amazing and on the first try! I wish I had known about Australian clays a long time ago. I’m waiting on some mascara tubes to arrive and will try that recipe too.
Thank you for all you do!
The Latin for andiroba is Carapas guinanesis. I got mine from NDA and I can’t say I recall seeing it anywhere else. I’m so glad you’re enjoying all your homemade cosmetics, and thanks so much for DIYing with me!
Hi Marie! Here in Australia, I have never heard of andiroba oil, so I guess I’m subbing emu oil. We have lots of that! Also – loved Robb’s testimonial! Cheers, Jane
Hi Jane! Enjoy your emu-y salve 😉 Thanks for reading & DIYing with me!
Hi Marie,
I react to Tamanu oil unfortunately 🙁 I break it into hives. Can I sub it for something else?
More emu or andiroba oils would both be good options 🙂
Good stuff! Im using something that has a few of those now but I have a question about the lavender oil. I bought some to use in my serum but then I read an article about some study that said lavender essential oil destroys skin cells. Well given my amount of scars/stretch marks, (as well as my paranoid nature) I freaked out, figured better safe then sorry… and decided not to use it. Whats the story on this?? I would like to use it as 8 out of 10 things i read seem to recommend it, but im not sure!
Hi Jeff! I have never read anything about lavender EO destroying cells o_O. Do you have a source for that? I would like to check it out. SkinDeep gives Lavender EO a 1/10 for safety, which is very safe. It looks like the majority of the concerns with it are allergies, which would be true of the plant as well.
Also, this is a really dumb question, but Ive been applying my oils in the morning before work and in the evening after I shower. I was thinking of applying something simple like palmers cocoa butter in between (afternoon, and before i go to bed) just for a little extra moisturizing in between applications. My question is, since I dont shower in the morning, will the cocoa butter that I applied the night before somehow hinder the absorption of the oils that I apply in the morning? Basically, do the oils need to be applied to washed skin is what Im asking. Does this make any sense? lol. Please help a confused guy who knows nothing about skin care haha. Thanks
Hi Jeff! I must admit this is something I’ve never really worried about, so you may be over thinking things 😉 The oils will absorb into your skin over time. As long as you’re applying your oils to skin that feels dry (and not still oily from your previous application), your skin has room to absorb some more oils 🙂
Hi Marie! Thanks for the reply! Im trying to find the exact article i read it, I know though if you google “does lavender oil kill skin cells” the topic comes up alot. It seems like some people say its great, and others say stay away.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15144499
That wasnt the exact one but it does mention cytotoxicity. I dont know anything though, maybe im just reading it wrong….but I am Mr Paranoia so Im not sure.
Hmm. Interesting. That study was done on skin cells in a petri dish, which (of course) isn’t the situation we use lavender in—whatever that’s worth. If it’s the linalool that’s the active compound, it’s worth noting that many essential oils contain linalool, and you can also buy it in its pure form as a fragrance. I certainly won’t be avoiding lavender essential oil—it’s been used for centuries, and is generally acknowledged as one of the safest, gentlest essential oils available. It’s never burned a hole in my epidermis 😛
I recently tried this balm on a surgical scar that was not fading as quickly as I would have liked. I have been using it for only two weeks and I am already seeing a noticeable difference in the colour and size of the scar. The skin is smoother and less purple, and the incision line is getting thinner and thinner. I am always a bit sceptical of “healing” products, but in this case I am a total convert! Make it, use it, you will love it!
Awesome! I’m so glad you’re loving it and that it’s working for you 🙂 WOO!
I’m curious about the effects on old scarring. I have a friend with severe scarring on her leg from a car accident 20+ years ago. I wonder if this could help.
It’s hard to say with a scar that old, but it can’t hurt 🙂 Let me know if they try it!
Marie, I’m going to get my hands on andiroba, if it matters that much, and make this for my husband.
We have plenty of time before I can smear it on him. He had colon surgery a month ago and it’s one of those wounds they won’t allow to heal normally. Has to be open, raw and heal slowly from inside to outside. Never seen anything like it in my life.
The scar will be 9″ long by at least 1″ wide.
This will be fun updating you on the progress but only after its completely closed.
A great testimonial is what it’ll be.
I know it will make him feel better about himself and that’s so important.
Yikes! That sounds like quite the wound. I look forward to hearing how the salve works—I know it has helped a friend’s surgery scar heal quite a lot 🙂
HI MARIE, Thanks so much for your recipes. Can you tell me, if I substitute some butter (kokum or other) for 10-15g of the oil, how should I reduce the beeswax to get the same consistency? Thanks!!
Hey Shauna—this is impossible to say without actually trying it out, sorry! You’ll need less beeswax, but I really can’t say how much. Start with less than you think you’ll need and work up to it.
I cut my chin open down to the bone last October, and made this the week after. I applied it to the healing wound and then the scar pretty much every night after the stitches came out.
Nine months later, and the scars are thin and white and barely noticeable (though I’m lucky that they’re positioned under the curve of my chin, and generally not visible when you’re looking straight at my face).
One of the scars was also a little puffy and puckered for a while, since that was the particularly deep cut. It smoothed out after six months or so, and continues to improve.
I’ve dabbed it on other wounds during the same time period that have healed up pretty quickly and cleanly, too — I get a lot of scratches and on my hands and legs as a normal thing.
In short, this is pretty impressive stuff. What’s particularly impressive is that my husband is a paramedic who comes from a medical family, and who is very skeptical of anything labeled “natural” healing, and he is impressed with the results of this and some of your other products. This October, I’ll also be seeing the friend who did the stitches (it’s a long story), and I expect he’ll be impressed, too.
OUCH! I’m so glad my recipe was able to help, though—that sounds like a doozy of a wound (my chin hurts just thinking about it). Thanks so much for reading & DIYing with me, and for sharing your experiences and results—it’s hugely appreciated!
I have a question about Carrot Seed Oil. When shopping, I’m finding Carrot Seed Essential Oil which is very strong and sometimes I can find Carrot Seed Oil which is more like a pressed oil. In many recipes, I’m not sure which one to use. Most often, I’m having this issue in sunscreen recipes. THANKS!
Hey Sarah! I’ve only ever used the EO, and find its scent pungent enough that I am unlikely to ever shell out for the pressed version. You are definitely best off to ask the person who wrote the recipe what they actually meant in any given situation; if it’s me it’ll always be the EO.
In any case, please, for the love of your skin and not getting melanoma, don’t make your own sunscreen! SERIOUSLY, I cannot stress this enough. There are few things I get very worked up about in the DIY world, and this is one. PLEASE DON’T. PLEASE.
This scar salve has helped diminish an old surgical scar across my abdomen. It’s a great salve and putting it in lip tubes is super practical for ease of use. Well done on this recipe!!! The results are impressive.
Yay! I’m so thrilled to hear it 🙂 Thanks for reading and DIYing with me!
Hi Marie! I would love to make this for a scar of my own which is 3 yrd old ( spider bite which required 4 surgeries to clean up the dead tissue) and also for a friend with a very recent scar from surgery to remove a metal plate and screws around her collar bone. I don’t have andiroba oil or emu oil. I do have tamanu, plantain, calendula and even arnica infused oils. I have mango, Shea and cocoa butters. What would you recommend subbing out for the emu and andiroba oils? I just don’t have access to these oils. I do have other essential oils and many herbs that i can infuse if you think any may work. Thank you so much for all you do to help all us diy-ers who want to stay natural! You are always the 1st person I go to for questions and answers because you are the greatest! Thanks again!
Crystal
Hmm. Probably tamanu? Both emu and andiroba are very unique, but I know tamanu has been traditionally used for bug bites, so hopefully that works! Keep me posted 🙂
Thanks for such a quick reply! Would you think just using the Tamanu oil or actually to replace the amounts of the other 2 oils with it? I have a small bottle so wondering if I should order more… as always thanks for all you do!
You’ll need to replace the other oils with something of a similar viscosity or you’ll risk getting an end product with a very different consistency 🙂 Check this out for more info!
Love it!!!! I made it about 2 weeks ago. Gave a container to my sister-in-law, who just had surgery, and she loves how well it’s helping her heal. Personally, iI use it on minor scratches and bug bites, and it makes them feel better and go away fast.
Next time I make it, I’ll use a little less wax or try cera bellina.
Thank you!
Yay! I’m so glad 😀 I hope your SIL heals up fast 🙂
Hey Marie! Can’t wait to do this salve! I wanted to ask if you’ve used here a pure helichrysum EO, or was it diluted in jojoba oil? I have the pure thing, so I’m wondering that if you’ve used the diluted one, which amount should I use? Or should I dilute first in jojoba oil (5 or 10%?) and then use 10 drops of the diluted version?
Knowing me, it must’ve been a 10% dilution . I can’t imagine I would’ve used the pure stuff as I’m rather cheap haha.
Got ya! Tnx 🙂
So when I called my step son and asked him what he wanted me to make him for Christmas, he asked for something to help with getting rid of his acne scars. I didn’t have all the ingredients in this recipe but had lots of good carrier oils in my collection to use as substitutes. I finally got to put my emu oil to use. Anyway by the time I got finished, I couldn’t resist rubbing some over my own scars. I have a few facial scars from getting some moles removed by the dermatologist earlier this year. I got thinking about your primrose and cetyl alcohol serum and wondering if cetyl alcohol would be another approach to doing a face friendly version of scar ointment that you could keep in a jar.
Oooh, good idea! You might consider blending in some stearic acid as well for a creamier end product, too 🙂 I hope you and your son see good results!
Did you make this? I’m making this as soon as my herbs are delivered.
I have been doing straight oil lately for a face serum and reformulated it to include more scar healing oils. I am loving the results. When it runs out, I’m going to remake it with the cetyl alcohol and steric acid.
I’m going to play with it once my Mountain Rose package comes in. I’ll comment back and let you know! I have so many acne scars and streach marks from pregnancy.
I have a nasty shinjury wound (gotta get those feet all the way up when you do box jumps) AND almost all these ingredients! Definitely trying this!
Ouch! Good luck and happy making 🙂
Hi Marie! I would love to make this salve, however im limited with oils and herbs in our locality. Also, Im still a beginner with essential oils and stuff. hehe. If it is not too much to ask, do you sell this scar salve online? Can i buy pls. . . Thank you!
Hey Therese! I’ve got an FAQ on this 🙂
I made a sort of conglomeration of this and palm balm. Since I didn’t have any andiroba or emu oil, I just used a bit more of the infused olive oils that palm balm calls for (and the tamanu oil). Also added a few more skin-healing essential oils (in all I used chamomile, neroli, helichrysum, lavender, cedarwood, bergamot, juniper, and tea tree). It sounds like a TON of essential oils haha, but the end product is soooo worth it. Smells heavenly and started to heal some old acne scars within a couple days. Thank you so much for giving me the starting point, dunno what I’d do without your awesome DIYs!
This sounds so very lovely! Nice work, and thanks so much for sharing and DIYing with me! 🙂
Hey Marie! i just wanted to interject w/my 2cents.
i’ve been reading about 2 ingredients that help w/scars:pracaxi oil, & alpha-lipoic acid, which is an oil-soluble active.Both can be bought through Amazon..in fact, the pracaxi oil’s available @new directions aromatics, i think,& you can buy pure a-la @bulk supplements.com.
Not that i have the studies’ links or anything! But i feel sure it would be worthwhile to just type in 1 or the other & ‘scars’ into pubmed.
Anyways,this looks like an exceptional formula, as usual..can’t wait to put it together!
Thank you for all you do!
Muchlove, suki
I’ve been using ALA in a serum from The Ordinary—it sure makes the skin glow! I do find I tend to get… remarks… from using fancier actives like that, though. Mostly a dozen versions of “what can I use instead?!” lol. I’ve definitely looked at pracaxi oil before and told myself I’m not allowed to buy it until my collection of carrier oils thins out a bit LOL.
Ugg..i know what you mean! Especially just knowing that they do not get any fresher! For some unknowable reason (bulk sale price?), i bought a full pint of Neem Oil! It really does smell like butt! & not clean, fresh butt(??), but like old, dirty rancid butt!
Definitely hard to justify buying more special oils, when i have a full pound of rancid, old, dirty butt oil..yup, gonna learn ever-y-thi-ng i can possibly add that stuff to! Christmas gon’be real wierd this year.
Come New Years, i’m making some damn resolutions for next year!No more impulse-sales buys!
Lov,suki
Oh my goodness, I’m snorting over here with laughter bwahahahaha. “Not clean, fresh butt(??), but like old, dirty rancid butt!” Oh my lady, you have a way with words!
I say bin the neem oil. I did! I’ve never regretted it, lol. After I tossed it somebody protested that it’s amazing for hair growth, which could be true… but it would take truly Rapunzel levels of hair growth to get me to put neem oil on my scalp!
You are not kidding!
Can you just imagine cuddling up with a really good friend..i guarantee he, or she would not be whispering ‘Gee, your hair smells terrific!’..if you had neem oil coating your tresses, it’d be like, ‘Gee, Suki, I really thought I liked you,’til I smelled your ol’ rancid dirt-butt head..let’s just correspond online, m’kay?’
That’s literally EVERY Saturday night for me..i’m good, though, because not only did i get rid of my fleas & bedbugs, & boyfriends, but my hair is growing a mile a day & my dogs can’t stop sniffing me!
Next year:hide all the plastic!
Hope you have a splendid holiday,if its Boxing Day or something..i’m gonna go hide in a corner with my nose in my bottle of labdanum.
Muchlove, suki–san
Oh my goodness, hahahahaha! You should definitely market this! It is absolute Pinterest life hack territory bwahahahahahah.
Hi,
How do you feel about using extracts in place of the helichrysum and chamomile essential oils?
Extracts for EOs is a tricky business. For starters, they would need to be oil soluble extracts, otherwise they won’t mix with this recipe. Second—most extracts are significantly less potent, so while we might be happy using 0.05% of an essential oil you’d need 10–100x as much extract (refer to the recommended usage rates from your supplier for a general idea of how much to use). If you’re suddenly using significantly more of something than the recipe is designed to accommodate you’ll need to make room for those things elsewhere so the recipe doesn’t get thrown out of whack and end up being a very different consistency. You’ll also likey get different chemical components of the plant in an extract vs. EO.
So, basically—it likely can be done, but you will need to make some adjustments 🙂 Happy making!
Hi Marie,
Have you had any testimonials on anyone who have used it on old scars
Nothing beyond what you’ll find on this page, I’m afraid.
Hello. I can’t find the Andiroba oil. where can I get this ingredient? I tried both the USA and Canadian New Directions Aromatics, to no avail.
Thank you.
You do respond to comments, yes?
As it appears my original source has discontinued the product, I can only recommend looking through the shops on this page: Where to Buy Ingredients. I hope you can appreciate that I do not keep a mental log of the inventories of all the shops that sell ingredients around the world 🙂 Happy making!