Make Your Own Lip Balm

That innocent lip balm you’re using may contain harmful or unwholesome ingredients! Luckily, there are many natural lip products made from organic ingredients and with natural preservives from which to choose. Another alternative is to make the lip balm yourself! Larger batches are easy and economical, allowing you to give lots away. All of the ingredients are safe and natural, so these recipes are fun and kid friendly.

The base ingredient of lip balm is an oil such as sweet almond, olive, hemp, castor, sunflower, avocado or macadamia nut. These provide protection, shine and moisture to your lips. Also, a hardener must be used. Beeswax is an excellent and wholesome choice. Additives such as honey, vitamin E, flavor oils and essential oils are recommended to give your balm character.

I recommend using essential oils of peppermint, lemon, orange, tangerine, grapefruit and lime. If you want more exotic flavors such as pina colada, peach or strawberry, you will have to use cake flavors available at specialty shops or from your grocer.

Use the basic beeswax and honey balm recipe to get started and then get creative by experimenting with different combinations of oils and flavors.

Basic Beeswax/Honey Balm

2 tsp (10 mL) beeswax
2 Tbsp plus 1 tsp (35 mL) oil
1 tsp (5 mL) honey

Melt the beeswax together with the oil of your choice over low heat. Use caution as wax is a highly flammable substance. Remove from heat and whisk in honey. Let cool, but not harden, before adding five drops of the essential oil or flavor of your choice. Pour into containers and refrigerate until hardened.

Chocolate Lover’s Lip Balm

3 Tbsp (45 mL) cocoa butter
5 carob chips
1 capsule vitamin E

Melt and blend cocoa butter and carob chips together. Let cool, but not harden, before adding the vitamin E. (If you add the vitamin E too soon it will get cooked!) Pour into clean containers and refrigerate until hardened.

This recipe is great for kids. The vitamin E moisturizes and protects the lips as well as acts as a preservative to give your balm longevity. Add five drops of peppermint oil if you want your batch to be a chocolate-mint balm. Because cocoa butter is solid at room temperature, no hardener is necessary.