This Week We Focus On Creating the Best Diaper Ointment - Day 4

Yesterday’s formula was a huge step closer to the balm I envision, but I still want to make some changes.

Ingredients: High Melt Point Shea Butter, Aloe Butter, Soy Wax, Apricot Kernel Oil, Lanolin, Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil, Calendula Oil Extract.

Today we’ll increase the Lanolin from 5% to 7%. This will make a more viscous mixture. I also want to lighten the color by reducing the Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil to 1%.

Additionally, though I like what Tamanu Oil brings to the ointment, I think increasing the Lanolin and Shea Butter will work better to bring this formula closer to what I want, both in color and in texture, so we’ll drop it from the ingredients.

MAKE IT:

Let’s see how this formula turns out.

RECIPE:

PERCENTAGES
32% High Melt Point Shea Butter
30% Aloe Butter
10% Apricot Kernel Oil
10% Soy Wax
7% Lanolin
1% Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil
10% Calendula Extract

INSTRUCTIONS:

Carefully weigh all ingredients in a microwave-safe container except for the Calendula Extract. Microwave in short bursts (30-45 seconds), stirring between heating bursts, until all solids are melted.

You can also use a double boiler to melt the oils just until all have become liquid. Stir the mixture often as it warms, as the stirring will help the solids melt more quickly.

Hard oils for the fourth day include Soy Wax, High Melt Point Shea Butter, and Aloe Butter.

Liquid oils for this version include Seabuckthorn Fruit Oil, Cherry Seed Oil, Lanolin, and Calendula Extract.

The mixture will be hot and be a brilliant orange color. When the mixture is cooled below 120 degrees, and before it has started to become hazy, stir in the Calendula Extract.

We have lots of options to package this ointment: jars, round tins, and slider tins.

Pour immediately into containers, and let them sit uncapped overnight or until completely cooled.

We have a lot of neat options for containers. For the samples I made, I used our 1-ounce Jar and Cap Set. They are a nice size and easy to work with. I love the slider tins, but they are very small, holding 0.15 ounce of product. They are a good choice for sample or trial sizes. The 2-ounce screw top tin is a good choice for packaging this ointment.

NOTES:

The color is perfect! Hooray!

The Lanolin did thicken the ointment, and I don’t like that it is more difficult to apply. I’m going to change that tomorrow. However, in testing, we discovered that it makes a great foot balm! It has a nice rub-in time on the skin, and it is incredibly moisturizing.

It’s still not quite hitting the mark of a great a diaper ointment. Check back tomorrow to see what will change on the final day of this series.

After the oils are completely melted, pour into jars to harden.

After cooling overnight, this is the appearance of the ointment.