Little known outside France, oléo-calcareous liniment—more commonly called liniment—is the star of the changing table. A versatile care product with cleansing, moisturizing, and protective properties, it’s one of the most popular choices among parents for cleaning babies during diaper changes. But did you know it’s incredibly easy to make your own liniment at home—in just 10 minutes?

Let’s take another look at this time-tested care product: its many uses, as well as its ultra-natural recipe.

What is liniment?

As its name suggests, liniment oléo-calcaire is a solution made from a vegetable oil (oléo) and limewater (a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide). Mixed in equal proportions and through a saponification process—a chemical reaction that produces soap—a creamy substance forms: this is liniment. A must-have on the changing table , it’s very easy to make. But beware! Contrary to what you may read on some product labels, liniment contains two or three ingredients —and not a single one more. So, for liniment with a 100% natural, skin-friendly composition and no unnecessary additives, simply mix vegetable oil (virgin olive oil, sweet almond oil , calendula oil, or even apricot kernel oil) with limewater. And since oil and water don’t naturally mix, you can add a little wax to stabilize the solution. By making your own liniment, you can be sure to avoid unnatural formulas filled with preservatives, additives, and other emulsifiers.

What is liniment used for?

In addition to being 100% natural, liniment can also be an economical product when you use it for multiple purposes. Thanks to its good tolerance, it is particularly well suited to babies’ skin —both for very young children with normal skin and for those with very sensitive skin. It can also be used on moms’ and dads’ skin. With this versatile product, you can:

• Clean baby : a classic on the changing table, liniment helps nettoyer et protéger les petits derrière . The basic pH of limewater helps neutralize the acidity of urine and, as a result, rebalance the skin’s pH. In addition, its antiseptic properties may help protect against skin irritations. The thin, oily film left on the skin can help soothe and prevent diaper-area irritation such as the diaper rash . To use it, apply a little liniment to a cotton pad and clean your baby’s bottom at each diaper change. There’s no need to rinse; the lipid film left on the skin acts as a protective barrier, so you may not need to apply a diaper cream. You can also wipe your little adventurer’s hands with liniment after they’ve eaten their favorite chocolate biscuit.

• Remove milk crusts : thanks to its oily texture, liniment is a great option for tackling croûtes de lait on your little one. It helps gently lift those small, unsightly flakes. The oil in liniment also helps prevent scalp irritation. It’s recommended to gently apply liniment to your baby’s head and leave it on overnight. The next morning, carefully comb out the flakes; they should come off easily.

• Hydrate baby’s skin, mom’s, and dad’s : with its creamy texture, it’s a real pleasure to apply liniment to your still-damp skin after a shower. The plant oil it contains helps keep skin hydrated. You can also use liniment as an aftershave cream, as it can soothe and rehydrate skin irritated by shaving.

• Adoucir la peau : what feels better than a good massage to soften your skin? To do this, warm a small amount of product in the palm of your hands, then apply it to the skin with gentle movements. Both your baby and your partner will enjoy these tender moments.

• Réparer la peau adulte après un bain de soleil : Did you know that, historically, liniment was used to treat burns? Today, you can use liniment to soothe sun-warmed skin, but it is by no means a treatment for burns. In the event of a burn, it’s best to consult your doctor or pharmacist, who can recommend appropriate treatments.

• Preventing and treating cracks related to breastfeeding : apply a small amount of liniment to your nipples to help prevent and soothe cracks.

How to make your own liniment?

For 200 ml of creamy, smooth liniment, you will need:

• 100 ml of limewater, which you can find in pharmacies or organic stores

• 100 ml of LILLYDOO sweet almond oil

• 4 g of beeswax, which you can find in organic stores, online, or from a beekeeper

• 1 sterilized 200 ml pump bottle for storage

• 1 pot of boiling water and a sterilized glass bowl for the double boiler

Proceed as follows:

1. Prepare a double boiler, then melt the beeswax in the organic sweet almond oil. For a vegan version, you can replace the beeswax with plant-based wax.

2. Once the wax has melted, remove the mixture from the double boiler and add the limewater. Be careful when handling limewater, as it can irritate the skin; once emulsified in the vegetable oil, it becomes completely harmless .

3. Whisk until you get a creamy, pale-yellow mixture. Your liniment is ready—see, it’s that simple and quick! ;)

Let the mixture cool, then transfer it into your pump bottle. You can store your liniment for up to one month, away from heat and light. Your liniment may separate after a few days; simply shake it to restore its original consistency.

As you’ve seen, with just a few ingredients and a few minutes, it’s done! ;) We hope you enjoy making and using your own liniment!