Olive oil hand salve

My hands always get so dry during the winter, so I make a simple three-ingredient salve to keep them moisturized.  It works so much better than lotion in a plastic bottle, creates a lot less waste and is less expensive.  

(Side note: Has anyone else noticed that some commercial lotions will tout things like "Made with real shea butter!" or "Soothing oatmeal!", when the actual amount of those ingredients in the product
is minimal?)

Supplies:

Small pot

Glass measuring cup

Measuring spoon

Cheese grater

Small glass jar 

Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 heaping tablespoon grated beeswax

15-20 drops lavender essential oil

Directions:

1. Measure a 1/4 cup of oil in your glass measuring cup.

2. Grate your beeswax. You'll need about one heaping tablespoon. Put it in the measuring cup with the olive oil.

3. Heat a small amount of water in your pot, and put your glass measuring cup inside creating a double boiler.

4. Heat the olive oil and beeswax gently until combined. Stir.

5. Take the olive oil-beeswax mixture off the heat, and add several drops of the essential oil. Pour into glass jars and let cool.

Note: For a firmer salve, use more beeswax, for a softer salve, use less beeswax.
         This recipe is easily doubled or tripled.

Other things I have used this salve for:

Lip balm

My husband uses it on his face after he shaves

To protect/condition my leather boots
I exchange walnut oil for olive oil, and use it to condition butcher block counters
As gifts for family and friends