Years ago, I started making my own lip balm after my favorite healthy brand added soy and canola oil to their products. Mmm! This natural lip balm recipe is easy to make with just a few ingredients. Plus, it’s moisturizing and helps prevent dry lips all year round.
Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
Making lip balm at home is easy and much cheaper than buying organic brands at the store. Tubed lip balms make great gifts, Christmas presents, or safe play make-up for kids. I keep some on hand to give to laboring moms during delivery. Hospital air can be very drying on the skin and lips.
Lip balm contains natural ingredients that can also be used in dozens of other natural skin and body care recipes. Coconut oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter are also used in other DIY projects, like lotions and body butters.
Buy organic lip balm
Don’t have the time or the inclination to make your own? Healthy, natural lip balms are available here!
How to Make Lip Balm
Since lip products are applied so close to the mouth and nose, it’s important to me that they are made with safe and natural ingredients, especially for kids! I used coconut oil, but there are many different carrier oil options available. Coconut oil solidifies at lower temperatures, making for a firmer lip balm. It also has a decent SPF.
If you want something a little softer, try reducing the amount of beeswax or replacing half the coconut oil with another liquid oil. Using only liquid oils will result in a softer lip balm. Here are some options to nourish your lips:
Castor oil gives your lips a beautiful shine and is a popular ingredient in homemade lip gloss recipes. While it can’t be substituted 1:1 for coconut oil in this recipe, substituting about a teaspoon of it for a shinier, smoother feel.
Essential oils for lip balm
Aromatherapy is popular these days, but not all products on the shelves contain real essential oils. While kids (and some adults) may love the scent, strawberry bubblegum-scented lip balm isn’t necessarily natural. But not all essential oils are safe to use on your lips.
Certain oils, like cinnamon bark and lemongrass, can be quite harsh, especially on sensitive areas like the lips. Many essential oils are safe to apply to the lips up to a 5% dilution (that’s about 60 drops of essential oil), but I prefer to use much less than that.
Here are some lip-safe options.
There are some oils not on the list that smell really good too: lime, bergamot, and other oils. May cause photosensitivity Using large amounts before sun exposure can cause swelling, redness and damage to the lips.
Things like lemon are safe to use at up to a 1% dilution, but anything above that safe level can cause sun damage. However, you might want to avoid sunbathing for an hour after using lemon lip balm.
But for the most part, you can feel free to use any combination of your favorite lip-friendly essential oils.
Container Selection
I usually use these Lip Balm Tube It’s easy to apply and you can even use small recycled jars or cans – I used to have a bunch of little sample size jam jars in my hotel room and these are perfect for this too.
Beeswax-free lip balm recipe
When I make lip balm, I usually use beeswax lozenges, which help harden the lip balm and create a protective film on the lips. Some people prefer to make vegan lip balm for a variety of reasons. Candelilla Wax It can be used as a substitute. It is harder than beeswax so you only need a little.
If you’ve never made your own beauty products before, I highly recommend giving it a try! I’ve included a basic recipe below, but feel free to experiment with the oils and flavors to find the scent and taste you like. My favorite is mint, especially in the winter.
Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
Using all-natural ingredients, it’s easy to make and customize your own homemade lip balm.
yield: 18 Lip Balm Tube
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Add a few inches of water to the bottom of a small saucepan and heat over medium heat.
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Place a small heat-resistant jar (pint size or smaller) in the water. Be careful not to get water inside the jar. You can also use a double boiler or a glass bowl placed over a small saucepan.
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Add the cocoa butter, coconut oil, and 1 tablespoon of beeswax to the jar and slowly melt, stirring occasionally. Be careful not to get any water in the jar.
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Once all ingredients are dissolved, stir well and turn off the heat, leaving the jar in the water to keep warm.
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Mix in the essential oils.
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Use a glass dropper to quickly fill lip balm containers, such as tubes or lip balm tins.
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The mixture will settle a bit as it cools, so pour more into the container after about 2 minutes when it starts to set.
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Leave untouched for several hours or until completely hardened.
- Shelf life and storage: It will keep in a cool, dry place for about two years, and optional Vitamin E oil will extend the shelf life even further.
- This will create a medium consistency lip balm. If you prefer a stiffer consistency, add up to twice the recommended amount of beeswax. If you prefer a smoother, oilier lip balm, use less beeswax.
More DIY Lip Recipes
Want to branch out and try some DIY skincare recipes? Here are some tutorials I’ve created over the years.
Do you make your own lip balm? What flavors and scents would you like to try? Share with us below!
