How to Make Dandelion Salve for Dry Skin

If you’ve been wondering How to Make Dandelion Salve, you’re in the right place. This simple, soothing DIY salve harnesses the natural anti-inflammatory and healing benefits of dandelions.

Whether you suffer from cracked hands, seasonal dry patches, or muscle soreness, dandelion-infused oil can bring real relief, without synthetic ingredients.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make your own dandelion salve using just a few ingredients and a quick infusion method. Perfect for beginners and herbal enthusiasts alike, this recipe is nourishing, affordable, and totally natural.

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Quick Summary: How to Make Dandelion Salve

• Step 1: Harvest fresh dandelion flowers and remove stems and greenery.
• Step 2: Dry the flowers completely to prevent mold.
• Step 3: Lightly chop the dried flowers and place them in a clean jar.
• Step 4: Cover with carrier oil and infuse using gentle heat for several hours.
• Step 5: Strain out the plant material and reserve the infused oil.
• Step 6: Melt beeswax and combine with the infused oil in a double boiler
• Step 7: Pour into tins or jars and let cool completely before sealing.

Benefits and Uses of Dandelion Salve

Dandelions are more beneficial than people give them credit for. They aren’t just pesky weeds, they have herbal properties that your skin will love. You can use them to make salves, oils, balms, or even use them to make tea.

The dandelion flowers are anti-inflammatory, which means they can help calm irritated skin caused by dryness, eczema, bug bites, and minor rashes. Dandelion salve can also be used to ease some muscle tension and achy joints!

This versatile salve is gentle enough for sensitive skin and nourishing enough to fight chapped skin and cracked hands, and feet. You can pair dandelions with different carrier oils based on what your skin’s needs and concerns are.

Supplies & Ingredients You’ll Need

Depending on where you are in the process of making your dandelion salve, you may need some extra supplies. Between drying, infusing, and combining all of your ingredients, this list of supplies and ingredients should help you out!

Supplies for a Quick Infusion of Dandelion Oil

• Dried Dandelion Flowers – These sunny blossoms are rich in anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties. Dry them completely to prevent mold during infusion. Learn How To Dry Dandelions here.
• Carrier Oil – Acts as the base for your infused oil. Choose one with a long shelf life and skin-friendly benefits. Olive Oil is popular for its richness; Grapeseed Oil is lighter and fast-absorbing.
• Glass Jar (Quart Size) – Used to hold your chopped dandelions and oil during infusion. A wide-mouth mason jar works best for easy stirring and straining. You can use a half-pint or pint, depending on how many dandelions you have.
• Instant Pot or Slow Cooker – A low, steady heat source to gently warm the oil and herbs, speeding up the infusion process without damaging the plant’s healing properties.
• Cheesecloth or Fine Mesh Strainer – Used to strain out the plant material after infusion, leaving you with smooth, clean dandelion-infused oil.

Supplies & Ingredients for Dandelion Salve

• Dandelion-Infused Oil – The star ingredient, packed with skin-nourishing benefits. Used as the base of the salve for moisturizing and healing dry or irritated skin.
• Beeswax Pastilles or Pellets – Beeswax solidifies the oil into a salve texture and provides a protective barrier on the skin. Use yellow beeswax for a natural finish or white for a neutral color.
• Double Boiler, Small Pot, or Heat-Safe Bowl – Used to gently melt the beeswax and oil together without scorching the ingredients.
• Salve Tins or Small Glass Jars – Containers for your finished salve. Choose containers with tight-fitting lids to protect your product from air and moisture. I like to use 1/2 oz or 1 oz tins for sales.
• Digital Scale – Used to measure ingredients precisely. Using a scale is the most accurate way to measure ingredients. Some recipes call for volume measurements, but weight is more accurate.

How to Make Dandelion Oil – Quick Infusion Method

Making a dandelion oil infusion is simple, and there are a few different ways to do it. If you have the time, a traditional oil infusion method is preferred because it is a more gentle method and there’s no risk of heat damaging the delicate plant compounds.

Take a look at this blog post to learn how to Make Dandelion-Infused Oil using the traditional method. If you’re in a hurry to make your dandelion salve, you can use these quicker infusion steps:

• Step 1: Air dry or dehydrate your dandelion flowers until crispy dry. Dry the dandelions completely. Moisture can cause mold and spoilage in your oil. Chop up the dandelions to increase the surface area of the flowers. Loosely fill a quart-sized jar about 3/4 full (about 4 cups chopped dandelions
• Step 2: Pour your carrier oil (I used Olive Oil) over your dandelions in a clean, heat-safe glass jar. Stir to coat and submerge the herbs fully. Make sure to fill the oil until there is only about 1/2 inch headspace at the top.
• Step 3: Set up the Instant Pot (crockpot or double boiler will work too). Add water to the Instant Pot and set the jar in the water with the lid on tightly so no water gets in the jar. Using the Yogurt or Keep Warm setting, heat the water to about 100ºF. Heat for 6-8 hours, ensuring the temperature does not go above 110ºF (no boiling!).
• Step 4: Take the jar out of the water and dry off the outside. Let the infused oil cool slightly. Strain it through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve into a clean, dry storage jar. Label with the date and ingredients.

Step-By-Step Instructions for How to Make Dandelion Salve

You’re going to laugh at how simple this salve is to make! With only two ingredients needed, you can throw this together on the fly whenever you need a quick and easy homemade gift, or when you need some for yourself.

This recipe makes four 1/2 oz tubs of salve. The recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you’d like to use larger containers or want to make more of them at once.

• Step 1: Combine 1.75 oz of dandelion-infused oil with .25 oz beeswax pastilles in a heat-safe container.
• Step 2: Using a double boiler method or the Instant Pot, melt the beeswax and oil together. Fill with 1-2 inches of water and heat on medium-low. Put the bowl with the beeswax and oil mixture in it to melt it.
• Step 3: Stir so the mixture is well combined. Pour into 1/2 oz tubs. Allow the salve to cool completely.

More Nourishing Herbal Recipes to Try

Love making your own dandelion salve? Here are a few more simple and skin-loving herbal remedies to add to your homestead apothecary. These recipes use wild and garden-grown ingredients to nourish your skin and support wellness naturally:

• Dandelion Tallow Sugar Scrub
• Fig Leaf Tea
• Plantain Salve
• Tallow Calendula Baby Balm

Dandelion Salve FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered