DIY Arnica Cream Recipe
This homemade arnica cream is a soft, whipped balm made with arnica-infused oil, shea butter, and coconut oil. It melts right into the skin to soothe sore muscles, tired joints, and everyday bruises — perfect after a workout, a long day in the garden, or whenever your body needs a little extra care. There's no water in the recipe, so it keeps for about 6 months without a preservative, and you can stir in a few drops of essential oil to make it your own.
Equipment
- stand mixer or hand mixer
Ingredients
Arnica Infused Oil
- Carrier oil avocado, jojoba, argan, fractionated coconut oil
- Arnica flowers
Arnica Cream
- ¼ cup arnica infused oil
- ½ cup shea butter
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 15 drops essential oils optional
- Silicone container or amber container
Instructions
Infused Arnica Oil
- Fill a clean 8 oz glass jar about halfway with dried arnica flowers. Pour your chosen carrier oil over the flowers until they are fully covered.
- Let infuse for a day or up to a few weeks. The longer it infuses, the more the oil is able to absorb the beneficial properties from the arnica flowers. Give it a gentle shake every few days.
- When done infusing the oil, strain the flowers out of the oil, keeping the oil.
Arnica Cream
- Add shea butter to a stand mixer.
- Whip on high for 1 minute, using the wire whip attachment. Then whip on low for 3 minutes.
- Add the coconut oil and infused arnica oil. Whip on high for 1 minute, then on low for 3 minutes.
- Add the essential oil if using.
- Whip on low for one minute, or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Video
Notes
- Essential oils are optional. Some great choices would be Lavender, Eucalyptus, Copaiba, Frankincense, wintergreen (for pain).
- Any carrier oil will work for the infusion. I used avocado oil. Jojoba oil, argan oil, fractionated coconut oil are also great choices.
- This should last for around 6 months. There is no need for a preservative since no water is being introduced. Also, the essential oils will help act as a preservative. If it looks weird or smells different, throw away and start a new batch.