Anyone who enjoys the outdoors knows how itchy you can get if you get into a nasty Poison Ivy patch or a swarm of Mosquitos. Calamine lotion is a necessity when you are out and about in the summer months. Of course, being the crunchy Mama that I am, I just had to make my own homemade calamine lotion! The store-bought Calamine contains chemicals that I do not want on my skin or on my family. Check out how it rates with the EWG Skindeep Database:
The ingredients in my homemade Calamine lotion are safe and effective. Actually, you can eat it and you would be okay (but really, it’s not tasty so don’t eat it). I’ll break it down for you.
- Bentonite clay: helps bind to the oils from the Poison Ivy plant, thus reducing the itchy irritation
- Baking soda: neutralizes acid and soothes
- Sea salt: reduces inflammation and dries out the oils
- Glycerine: gives it a nice glide
Thats the short and sweet of it.
What you need:
- 1/8 cup water
- 4 tsps Bentonite Clay
- 4 tsps Baking Soda
- 1 Tbsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Glycerin (optional)
How to:
- Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl until well combined.
- Stir in the water until you get the desired consistency (you might need more or less water)
- Add in the glycerine (it gives the lotion a smooth consistency, for glide)
- Store in a small container and use as needed.
28 Replies to “Homemade Calamine Lotion”
I wonder if I can use something other than the Bentonite Clay? Or just leave it out?
Any type of clay should work. You can usually find it in the bulk section at your local co-op. I would not leave it out though.
actually when using bentonite clay, it is important NOT to use metal in preparation. everything I read on line and on the manufactures instructions say do not let metal touch clay. use glass, plastic etc.
How long does it last in a jar?
Indefinitely
it has water and should only be used for a few weeks and refrigerated otherwise change to coconut oil and beeswax and add vitamin E
I thought the salt prevented anything from growing in it! Good to know.
how long should you leave it on before washing it off? thanks!
We don’t wash it off. Just give it a little rub to smooth off any chunks.
Hello! can we use calamine lotion in babies aged 0-1yr?
I used some on my kiddos bug bites when they were <1 and I saw not bad reactions.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Relief at last from all these bug bites!
Would this be good to use on chicken pox?
I think it would help the itching!
Thank i like it this lotion
You don’t have to change to oil and beeswax to prolong shelf life. Just add at least 5 drops vitamine E oil. If you use coconut oil and beeswax it negates all the purpose of this lotion, which is to dry out the poison ivy, or oak, or what ever is making you itch. The clay in this recipe is what dries out the oils from the poison ivy. You could substitute kayolin clay if you don’t like bentonite clay.
Vitamin E is not a preservative, it is an antioxidant which helps lengthen time of rancidity in carriers, the only thing I even see that this would help is the glycerin. When you use water in any recipe, you need a broad spectrum preservative or you need to use it within 2 weeks time. The water grows bacteria as soon as it is added, distilled water will last a little longer but you still need a preservative to use past 2 weeks.