A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

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“This is perfect! Yes!”

That was my reaction last weekend after discovering an army of aggressive ants attacking my right leg while exiting the soccer field. Dustin and the kids turned around, everyone was ready to go home after a hot morning at soccer practice, but my reaction couldn’t be ignored. I quickly brushed off the remaining ants coming in for a full-skin invasion, and immediately looked up at Dustin, “I can’t believe it! This is perfect timing.”

“You really have to watch where you’re walking. Are you okay?” Dustin replied.

I could tell by his reaction that he thought I was upset, “Yes, I’m good. Actually, I’m semi-allergic to ants, red ones I believe. These are black ants. The good news is I can finally work on developing a homemade anti-itch cream. You know, a calamine-like lotion without a million nasty ingredients.”

Dustin looked at me with a “you’re crazy” glare in his eyes, but responded with the least likely to end up on the couch response, “Great, so you’re okay?”

PS: I don’t make him sleep on the couch. Totally joking about that one. We have a chicken coop…

A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

Immediately upon arriving home, the work of creating an effective homemade anti-itch cream began. I tried several formulas, all while fervently itching my battle wounds (it’s a good things I keep DIY recipes simple). I began mixing bentonite clay (to draw out any nasties from the bites and heal my skin), baking soda (to neutralize acid and soothe itching), witch hazel (to reduce pain and itching), and coconut oil (hey, I was making some raw brownies, so…).

A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

My first two creations were anything but desirable. The coconut melted on my warm skin, and soon bentonite clay was being tracked throughout our house. Good thing we’re in the middle of a giant construction zone/kitchen remodel.  The second creation wasn’t much better. Reducing the coconut oil created an unpleasant dry powder.

The third attempt resulted in sweet success. The addition of shea butter, one of my favorite DIY ingredients, helped the anti-itch solution stick to my warm skin and, working with the other key ingredients, reduced my painful itching.  Not only did the third cream-based solution reduce my itching, it also appeared to help clear my bites and reduce their size. My discovery was so exciting, I made multiple batches to share with family and friends–“Oh, okay. Thank you for another mason jar.” They’ll get me someday.

A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

Homemade anti-itch cream takes just a few minutes to make and only requires simple, natural ingredients you can actually pronounce. Because each ingredient is shelf-stable, the cream can be made in advance, so it’s ready to be used the moment a bug or plant attacks.

A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

Before we part ways today, I think it’s only appropriate to give credit where credit and inspiration are due. Thank you flesh-eating ant colony, I owe this DIY to you!

A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

Homemade anti-itch cream
5 from 11 votes

Homemade Anti-Itch Cream

Homemade anti-itch cream takes just a few minutes to make and only requires simple, natural ingredients you can actually pronounce. 
Kristin Marr
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course DIY
Cuisine Body
Servings 1 -4 ounce jar

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a double broiler (or a pot filled a quarter of the way full with water and a heat-safe bowl over the top), melt the coconut oil. Add the dried calendula. Place a lid over the top of the double broiler. Over medium heat, infuse the herbs in the oil for 30 minutes.
  • Separate the herbs from the oil by straining the oil through a fine mesh sieve. Discard the calendula (or compost in a garden). Wipe the double broiler to remove any leftover herbs. Return the infused oil to the double broiler. Bring the heat back to medium-high (enough to get the water underneath boiling). Add the shea butter and beeswax to the infused oil, and stir until melted.
  • Remove the pan bowl from the heat. Add the baking soda and benonite clay to the liquid, and stir until the mixture resemble mud (really, mud!). Add the witch hazel and essential oils, stirring to combine.
  • Pour the cream into a jar (this recipe will make enough to fill a 4-ounce jar). Within minutes the cream will solidify into a spreadable lotion.
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

 

*Dried calendula is optional in this recipe. Calendula is infused into the oil for a healing addition; however, a perfectly good anti-itch cream may be created without this herb.

A simple and effective homemade anti-itch cream. This stuff works great on bug bites and plant sensitivities. No yucky ingredients.

PS: If you’re wondering what’s up with the yellow dye on my left hand, I juiced turmeric the morning of this photoshoot.

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68 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Hi Kristin! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I have a question.. does the baking soda dissolve? Because my cream becomes very sandy like.

  2. 5 stars
    I just made this and it was super easy to make and the consistency is perfect! I accidentally used camomile instead of calendula, oops! I’ve had an ongoing underarm rash and the over the counter anti-itch creams per my ND haven’t worked. I used this and immediately found relief. Thank you!

  3. Hi! Could I add lavender oil and german chamomile oil in addition to the tea tree and peppermint oil? Also does ur current recipe without any alterations smell good?what does it smell like? Thank u!

    1. Hey Courtney, That would be a lot of essentials to add. As long as you’re within dilution guidelines, you could add them (just keep within what’s recommended). The cream has a peppermint scent.

  4. please can you let me know if this is safe to use on the face please if you can you could you let me know asap as stupidly I have just ordered all the ingrediantes

    1. The witch hazel is part of this product and its effectiveness from my experience.

      LS Team

    1. I like Redmond Clay or Aztec brands. If you click on the bentonite clay link you’ll be taken to my fav.

      LS Team

  5. This may be a dumb question… could you use French green clay instead of bentonite? Or would that be a completely different product?
    Thanks.