DIY Anti-Itch Stick

Mosquitoes. Bug Bites. Itchy Skin. Rashes. Stings. Oh, the fun of summer!

Thankfully I have my DIY bug spray (that really works!), bug repellent lotion bars, and “Bug Away” essential oil candles, so my family doesn’t get too many bug bites any more.

But we do still get the occasional insect bite, rash, or other itchy skin irritation. So it’s great to have these anti-itch sticks in my herbal first aid kit. They’re an easy natural remedy for dealing with all kinds of itchy skin. They’re all natural and made with soothing goodness of essential oils.

Carry one of these handy sticks around with you while hiking, camping, swimming or just hanging out in your yard this summer. Just rub over bug bite, and it will start calming skin. Itch relief in no time.

What’s in these homemade natural anti-itch sticks?

beeswax – Beeswax has lots of great natural benefits for skin — calms and soothes skin, reduces temporary itching, creates a waxy barrier that protects skin from toxins in environment as it heals, and solidifies the other ingredients so that they can be used in stick form

cocoa butter – Soothes, moisturizes, and forms a protective barrier over skin

mango butter – Mango butter is similar to shea butter in that it’s a soft, smooth, creamy butter, but unlike shea butter, mango butter has a very light, subtle scent. This is a big win for those who find the strong nutty scent of shea butter outputting.

tamanu oil – a Southeast Asia and Polynesian natural healing remedy, tamanu oil is said to promote new skin tissue which helps to speed up the natural healing process of itchy skin and rashes. It also reportedly has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

raw honey – contains soothing and antiseptic properties that can help relieve skin irritations

calendula flower powder – soothes and calms irritated skin

colloidal oatmeal – according to the American Academy of Dermatology, “itchy, dry skin often has a high ph level, but oatmeal can help normalize your skin’s ph, which can relieve itchy, uncomfortable skin.”

vitamin E – a great antioxidant and nourishes skin

lavender essential oil – soothes occasional skin irritations

peppermint essential oil – helps ease itching and gently cools

frankincense essential oil – supports healthy skin

tea tree essential oil – great for reducing itching, inflammation, and irritation

lemon essential oil – cleanses and purifies

Looking for more essential oil recipes for summer? Find my 40 favorite summer DIY recipes here – sunscreen, after-sun spray, cooling spray, deodorant, diffuser blends, room sprays, rollerballs, bug spray, essential oils for travel, and more. Lots of easy summer essential oil recipes with step-by-step instructions and free printables.

How to make anti-itch stick (a.k.a. bug bite balm)?

step 1: add 1/4 cup of beeswax to heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl

step 2: add 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter

step 3: add 2 tablespoons of mango butter

step 4: use double boiler method to melt beeswax and butters

to do this, simmer 1-2 inches of water in a pot, add the heat-safe glass measuring cup or bowl with the beeswax and butters to the simmering water, heat over medium high heat until everything is completely melted, stir occasionally.

step 5: remove melted beeswax and butters from heat and add 2 tablespoons of tamanu oil (if you don’t have tamanu oil, you can substitute with another liquid carrier oil like olive oil, apricot kernel oil, or sweet almond oil)

step 6: add 1/2 teaspoon vitamin e oil

step 7: add 2 teaspoons of raw honey

step 8: add the following essential oils

20 drops lavender essential oil

15 drops frankincense essential oil

15 drops peppermint essential oil

10 drops tea tree essential oil

10 drops lemon essential oil

step 9: add 1 tablespoon of calendula flower powder

step 10: add 1 tablespoon colloidal oatmeal

step 11: stir well until everything is dissolved and there are no lumps

step 12: pour into lip balm tubes (this recipe makes about 10-15 tubes)

step 13: label your anti-itch sticks

click here to get the free printable of these labels

print them on full sheet adhesive label paper like this

cut them out

adhere labels to tubes

Here’s the anti-itch stick recipe one more time

1. add the following to heat-safe glass measuring cup and melt using double-boiler method:

1/4 cup of beeswax

2 tablespoons of cocoa butter

2 tablespoons of mango butter

2. after the above is completely melted, remove from heat and add the following:

2 tablespoons of tamanu oil

1/2 teaspoon vitamin e oil

2 teaspoons of raw honey

20 drops lavender essential oil

15 drops frankincense essential oil

15 drops peppermint essential oil

10 drops tea tree essential oil

10 drops lemon essential oil

1 tablespoon of calendula flower powder

1 tablespoon colloidal oatmeal

3. stir well until everything is dissolved and there are no lumps

4. pour into lip balm tubes (this recipe makes about 10-15 tubes)

5. label your anti-itch sticks with these free printable labels

Ready to make these Anti-Itch Sticks (a.k.a. Bug Bite Balm)? Here’s where I get my ingredients for this recipe:

click here for beeswax

click here for cocoa butter

click here for mango butter

click here for tamanu oil

click here for raw honey

click here for calendula flower powder

click here for colloidal oatmeal

click here for vitamin E

click here for lip balm tubes

click here for free printable of labels

click here for full-sheet adhesive labels

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Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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2 thoughts on “DIY Anti-Itch Stick”

Cheryl

November 20, 2019 at 11:00 pm

Good morning Sarah,
Please could you tell me what Colloidal Oatmeal is and if there is an alternative for this. I live in South Africa and have never heard of seen this product.
Thank you
Cheryl
- Sarah Lewis
  
  November 21, 2019 at 7:10 am
  
  Hi Cheryl,
  Colloidal oatmeal is whole oats that have been finely ground into a particular particle size that is most optimizes the skin soothing benefits in bath products. lotions, and creams.
  Colloidal oatmeal is best, but if you can’t find it, then a reasonably good substitute is making your own finely ground oatmeal using a spice grinder. It won’t be the same as colloidal oatmeal, but you’ll get some of the anti-inflammatory, anti-itching benefits of oatmeal this way.
  Sarah

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