On these chilly days, there’s nothing quite like a DIY muscle rub to help you unwind and soothe tired muscles.
Holiday lights are on, festive music is playing, but the cold seems to go right through you! Maybe you’re battling stiffness from shoveling snow, or perhaps you just need a little self-care after a long day. This warming muscle rub is here to rescue you from winter’s chill.
This blog post is all about making a DIY Warming Muscle Rub for Winter Wellness.
Made with rich butters, nourishing oils, and warming essential oils, I have two recipes designed to moisturize dry winter skin and provide gentle heat to help relieve muscle aches and tension from the cold. We naturally clench our muscles when we’re cold, and this rub helps counteract that by encouraging relaxation while offering anti-inflammatory support. Plus, applying a DIY muscle rub directly to achy areas means you’re targeting exactly where you need relief most!
Let’s dive into how to make your own muscle-soothing balm this winter.
Why You Should Make a DIY Muscle Rub
A good DIY muscle rub does more than just smell great. It’s packed with ingredients that soothe the body.
Carriers such as coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter deeply moisturize and protect your skin, which is prone to drying out during winter months.
Liquid oils like black seed oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil offer additional hydration and can soothe irritated skin, while providing softening and nutrients during harsh weather.
Essential oils such as black pepper, ginger, and rosemary provide warming and anti-inflammatory properties to ease tight, overworked muscles. You’ll feel more relaxed and ready to get cozy regardless of the weather outside!
Don’t underestimate the soothing quality of the act of massaging the muscle rub into your skin. This increases circulation, helping to warm up chilly muscles.
Muscle Warming Whipped Butter
Here is the first of two great recipes to use for a warming muscle rub. This first recipe is a bit lighter and meant to be the consistency of wonderful whipped body butter.
Muscle Warming Whipped Butter
Equipment
- Heat-safe glass container
- Water bath
- Candy or digital thermometer
- Silicone spatula
- Handheld mixer or blender
- Glass jars with lids
- Rubbing alcohol and paper towel for sanitizing
- Digital scale
Ingredients
- 56 grams Virgin Coconut Oil
- 56 grams Shea Butter
- 28 grams Cocoa Butter
- 18 grams Black seed oil
- 18 grams Avocado oil
- 20 grams Jojoba oil
- 2 grams Vitamin E Oil
- 4 grams Essential Oils
Instructions
Melt the Butters and Oils:
- Combine the coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, and liquid oils in a heat-safe glass container.
- Place the container in a water bath over low heat. Stir occasionally until the mixture is completely melted and liquid.
Cool the Mixture:
- Carefully remove the container from the water bath. Let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, or until it becomes semi-solid.
Whip the Mixture:
- Using a handheld mixer or blender, whip the semi-solid mixture until light and fluffy. This step ensures your rub has a smooth, creamy texture.
Incorporate the Additives:
- Once the mixture has reached room temperature, add the vitamin E oil and essential oils. Stir well to ensure they’re evenly distributed.
Transfer and Label:
- Spoon the finished muscle rub into glass jars. Label them with the product name, ingredients, and the date it was made. Store in a cool, dry place.
Notes
Winter Warming Muscle Salve
For even more winter wellness, here’s a simple muscle salve recipe. This balm is a bit thicker than the body butter, and perfect for protecting your hands from the cold and soothing dry, cracked skin. The addition of beeswax in this recipe provides an extra layer of protective goodness against the dry, cold weather.
Winter Warming Muscle Salve
Equipment
- Heat-safe glass container
- Water bath
- Digital scale
- Silicone spatula
- Glass jars with lids
- Rubbing alcohol and paper towel for sanitizing
Ingredients
- 30 grams Beeswax
- 30 grams Cocoa Butter
- 35 grams Shea Butter
- 73 grams Black seed oil
- 49 grams Arnica oil
- 73 grams Jojoba oil
- 3 grams Essential Oil blend
Instructions
- Melt the Ingredients: Combine beeswax, cocoa butter, shea butter, and liquid oils in a heat-safe container. Melt the mixture in a water bath over low heat, stirring occasionally.
- Cool the Mixture: Once melted, remove from heat and give the mixture a light stir.
- Add Essential Oils: Stir in the essential oils.
- Transfer and Label: Pour the salve into glass jars and label them with name, ingredients, and the date you made it.
Notes
Essential Oil Blends for Your DIY Muscle Rub
Here are a few of my favourite essential oils for you to try in your own creation.
- Black pepper (Piper nigrum)
- Juniper berry (Juniperus communis)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Vetiver (vetiveria zizanoides)
- Ginger (zingiber officinale)
- Eucalyptus globulus (Eucalyptus globulus)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia)
- Siberian fir (abies sibirica)
Need more inspiration? Try one of these blends for your formulation.
Invigorating Warmth:
- 10 drops black pepper
- 10 drops ginger
- 5 drops rosemary
Relax and Restore:
- 10 drops lavender
- 10 drops spike lavender
- 5 drops juniper berry
Winter Forest Comfort:
- 10 drops Siberian fir
- 8 drops eucalyptus globulus
- 7 drops vetiver
I’d love to hear what you are using and how you created your own signature blend!
Making your own DIY muscle rub is a fantastic way to customize your self-care routine. By selecting specific essential oils and ingredients, you can tailor the recipe to suit your unique needs. Plus, it’s more cost-effective and sustainable than buying pre-made products, and you get the satisfaction of creating something nourishing and therapeutic with your own hands.
Whether you’re combating winter aches or simply indulging in a moment of self-care, a DIY muscle rub is a must-have addition to your winter wellness routine. So grab your ingredients, set aside a little time, and whip up a batch today!
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