DIY Balm for Eczema-Prone Baby Skin

Last updated: August 2026

A homemade balm for eczema-prone baby skin is a simple melt-and-pour mix of unrefined shea butter and coconut oil, with colloidal oatmeal and calendula-infused oil, or a richer cocoa butter and baobab version. Baraka's shea butter is made by hand at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana, and this page gives two formulations, each drawn from a different Baraka recipe book. Full ingredient reasoning for sensitive skin is covered in DIY Baby Balms: Why Ingredient Simplicity Matters Most, and both recipes sit within our Mother & Baby DIY Skincare Hub, where they take about 25 minutes with basic kitchen tools.

In This Recipe:

• What This Recipe Helps With
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Application Tips
• Customisation Ideas
• Storage & Shelf Life
• Voice Search FAQ
• Try These Next
• Disclaimer

Choose Your Formulation

What This Recipe Helps With

• Supporting daily comfort for eczema-prone baby skin
• Providing consistent, deep moisture to help maintain the skin barrier
• Offering both a lighter oatmeal-based balm and a richer moisture-focused variation
• Creating a gentle, ingredient-conscious routine for sensitive skin

Why This Is a Great DIY Recipe

The Primary balm uses 6 ingredients, and the Relief Balm variation uses 7 — both with a simple melt-and-pour method. Skill Level: Beginner. Both are forgiving; the colloidal oatmeal in the Primary just needs to be stirred in thoroughly to distribute evenly. Commercially, balms for sensitive baby skin with a fully transparent, minimal ingredient list can be hard to find; both formulations here are made only from the short ingredient lists shown.Yield: approximately 3 fl oz (90 ml) (Primary) plus one named variation. This recipe is expanded from our Shea Butter for Babies guide, which covers additional formulations for newborn and infant skin.

Why These Ingredients Work Together

Shea Butter anchors both formulations, creating a protective barrier that supports comfort without occluding skin. Traditional Coconut Oil lightens the texture in both balms so they spread easily. In the Primary, colloidal oatmeal adds a traditionally soothing texture. In the Relief Balm variation, Cocoa Butter and Baobab Oil add extra richness and nourishment, while calendula and chamomile-infused oils layer in additional gentle, calming qualities across both formulations.

Hero Ingredient Benefits

• Shea Butter: Creates a protective barrier without occluding skin, supporting daily comfort for eczema-prone skin in both formulations.
• Traditional Coconut Oil: Lightens the texture across both balms so they spread easily on sensitive skin.
• Cocoa Butter: Adds extra richness to the Relief Balm variation for skin that wants deeper moisture.

Primary Formulation: Gentle Eczema Balm for Babies

Ingredients:

• Shea Butter — 3 tablespoons (45 ml)
• Traditional Coconut Oil — 2 tablespoons (30 ml)
• Colloidal Oatmeal — 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
• Calendula-Infused Oil — 1 tablespoon (15 ml)
• Vitamin E Oil — 1/4 teaspoon (1.25 ml)

Directions

1. Create a double boiler with a heat-safe glass bowl over a pot of simmering water.
2. Add the shea butter and coconut oil to the bowl.
3. Melt completely, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, about 3 minutes.
5. Add the colloidal oatmeal, calendula-infused oil and vitamin E oil.
6. Stir thoroughly, ensuring the oatmeal is evenly distributed.
7. Pour into a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid and allow to cool completely.

Buy the ingredients now

This recipe uses two Baraka ingredients. One click takes both straight to checkout.

• Baraka Raw Shea Butter, 3.5 oz (100 g): enough for two batches
• Baraka Virgin Coconut Oil, 3.5 oz (100 g): enough for three batches

Buy both now

Colloidal oatmeal, calendula-infused oil and vitamin E oil are not Baraka products; use your usual supplier.

Many parents use this recipe and are happy with the results. Everything in it is pure, natural ingredients that many others have used with no issues or harm, but it is not a formally approved treatment. Your doctor, pediatrician or pharmacist should always be your first source of advice for your baby.

Variation: Baby Eczema Relief Balm

From Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby.

Ingredients:

• Shea Butter — 1.6 oz (45 g)
• Cocoa Butter — 1.1 oz (30 g)
• Traditional Coconut Oil — 0.5 oz (15 g)
• Baobab Oil — 0.5 fl oz (15 ml)
• Vitamin E Oil — 1 teaspoon (5 ml)
• Calendula-Infused Oil — 0.5 fl oz (15 ml)
• Chamomile-Infused Oil — 0.5 fl oz (15 ml)

1. Create a double boiler with a heat-safe glass bowl over a pot of simmering water.
2. Add the shea butter, cocoa butter, and coconut oil to the bowl.
3. Melt completely, stirring occasionally.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
5. Add the baobab oil, vitamin E oil, calendula-infused oil, and chamomile-infused oil, stirring thoroughly.
6. Pour into a clean, dry container with a tight-fitting lid and allow to cool completely.

Many parents use this recipe and are happy with the results. Everything in it is pure, natural ingredients that many others have used with no issues or harm, but it is not a formally approved treatment. Your doctor, pediatrician or pharmacist should always be your first source of advice for your baby.

Application Tips

Apply either formulation to clean, slightly damp skin as part of a daily comfort routine, ideal for reapplying after bathing and whenever skin feels dry. The Primary balm's lighter texture suits everyday use, while the Relief Balm's richer texture works well for areas that want extra moisture. Both are gentle enough for regular application.

Customisation Ideas

• Choose the Primary balm for a lighter everyday texture with soothing oatmeal.
• Choose the Relief Balm for a richer feel on especially dry areas.

Storage & Shelf Life

Store both formulations at room temperature in a sealed container for up to 3 months.

The Impact of Your Purchase

When you make skincare with Baraka ingredients, you're supporting women's cooperatives who make these ingredients by hand and preserve traditional processing methods. According to Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report, this direct trade model provided income for over 1,000 women and prevented 47 metric tons of CO2 emissions. You also gain complete transparency — knowing exactly what touches your skin and your family's skin, without hidden synthetics or uncertain supply chains.

Meet one of the women behind these ingredients in this short film: Your Impact: Naa Ema Abena.

Shop the Baraka Ingredients in This Recipe

Pure. Natural. Ethically sourced. Hand-crafted by women's cooperatives. These are the ingredients trusted throughout Baraka's DIY guides and recipes.

• Shea Butter — Shop Now — Rich and deeply moisturising, a versatile base for balms and creams.
• Traditional Coconut Oil — Shop Now — Lightweight and versatile, softens formulations and absorbs well.
• Cocoa Butter — Shop Now — Firm and antioxidant-rich, adds richness to balm formulations.
• Baobab Oil — Shop Now — Fast-absorbing and nutrient-dense, ideal for improving softness without heavy residue.

Voice Search FAQ

What's a good DIY balm for eczema-prone baby skin?
Baraka's recipe offers a shea butter balm with colloidal oatmeal, or a richer shea and cocoa butter balm with baobab oil, both of which support daily comfort and moisture for sensitive skin. Apply to clean, slightly damp skin after bathing or whenever skin feels dry.

What's the difference between the two formulations?
In Baraka's recipe, the Primary balm is lighter, with soothing colloidal oatmeal as a key ingredient. The Relief Balm variation is richer, adding cocoa butter and baobab oil for extra moisture on areas that want deeper hydration.

How often can I apply these balms?
Both of Baraka's balms are gentle enough for daily use, commonly reapplied after bathing and as needed whenever skin feels dry. There's no strict limit, since both formulations are made from simple, skin-supportive ingredients.

Should I consult a doctor about my baby's eczema-prone skin?
Yes - Baraka's formulations are designed for general comfort and moisture support, not as a substitute for medical guidance. If your baby has persistent or worsening skin concerns, a pediatrician or dermatologist can offer tailored advice.

Try These Next

If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like:

• DIY Growing Baby All-Over Butter (6-24 Months) — a lighter daily option for babies past the newborn stage.
• Is Coconut Oil Good for Baby Skin? Top 3 Benefits — useful background on an ingredient shared by both formulations here.
• Shea Butter for Babies — a deeper look at how shea supports newborn and infant skin.
• DIY Baby Balms: Why Ingredient Simplicity Matters Most — the fuller ingredient background behind both formulations on this page.
• Preservative-Free Formulating: Creating Safe, Fresh Baby Products with Baraka Ingredients — useful background on formulating without preservatives.

About These Ingredients

This recipe draws on two Baraka recipe books: the primary formulation is expanded from Traditional DIY Shea Remedies for Mother & Baby Wellness, with the variation credited to Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby. Each book explores additional formulations for supporting newborn and infant skin.

Disclaimer

Many parents use this recipe and are happy with the results. Everything in it is pure, natural ingredients that many others have used with no issues or harm, but it is not a formally approved treatment. Your doctor, pediatrician or pharmacist should always be your first source of advice for your baby.