The benefits of liniment

Liniment is an equal-parts blend of limewater and olive oil, which can be used as a natural skin cleanser as well as for cleansing babies.

Liniment — also known as "oleo-calcareous liniment" or "calcareous liniment" — has many benefits that are often overlooked. Let us first remind ourselves what liniment actually is:

What is liniment?

It is a smooth, liquid mixture obtained through a saponification process by combining limewater and olive oil. Liniment has a fairly light greenish colour, which can even tend towards ivory in commercial versions. The result is a natural cleanser that leaves a protective film on the skin, known as a superfatting film.

You can buy liniment at a pharmacy, a parapharmacy, or a supermarket, as well as in small organic shops that stock certified organic liniments.

What are the benefits of liniment?

Liniment has a great many benefits. First of all, it is worth knowing that it does not only serve to clean baby's bottom — it can also cleanse the skin very gently while leaving a protective film, and it can be used as a make-up remover. Among other things, it:

• Protects the skin from external aggressors
• Gently moisturises the skin on the body and face
• Cleanses baby's bottom
• Helps skin to heal more quickly
• Effective against redness on baby's bottom
• Helps to remove cradle cap from newborns in a non-invasive way
• Helps to restore the skin's pH

Liniment suits all skin types — mature or young, oily, combination, or dry.

Homemade liniment

You can very easily make your own oleo-calcareous liniment. You will only need a few ingredients:

• 100ml limewater (available at a pharmacy or online)
• 100ml organic food-grade olive oil, preferably cold-pressed
• 4g beeswax (from a health food shop)
• 5 drops grapefruit seed extract (optional: it acts as a natural preservative)

Step 1: Melt the olive oil and beeswax together in a bain-marie until the wax is completely melted.

Step 2: Remove from the bain-marie and add the limewater, whisking the mixture until the emulsion forms. You should obtain a smooth, yellow-green liquid.

Step 3: Add the grapefruit seed extract drops, then transfer everything into a clean container.

Important: Make sure to sterilise all the equipment you use before starting — hygiene is absolutely crucial in this kind of preparation.