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DIY Lip Balm: Easy Homemade Recipe Guide

Did you know Americans spend over $200 a year on lip care products? If you have dry, chapped lips or just want a natural lip balm, you’re in the right place. Making lip balm at home saves money, helps you avoid harsh chemicals and preservatives, and lets you customize your ingredients. Read on to learn how to make lip balm, and don’t forget to set a few aside to share as a homemade Christmas gift

A woman holding up a tube of homemade lip balm.

Why I Love to Make Lip Balm

When it comes to personal care, I do my best to avoid common toxin exposures. There are many natural options on the market, but the homesteader in me loves to make my own products, such as rose and honey face wash or exfoliating skin scrub.

Learning how to make lip balm is an easy project that’s perfect for beginners and will build your confidence in mastering other skills, like making homemade soap or even DIY cleaning products.

As you continue on your homesteading journey, take these small steps to increase self-sufficiency. You will enjoy the benefits of better health and the peace of mind of knowing you’re saving money.  

Homemade lip balm on a wooden counter.

Ingredient Substitutions for Lip Balm

Making your own lip balm is easy and fun. You can pick ingredients that fit your needs and preferences while still being good for you and your skin. 

  • Without Beeswax – If you want to avoid beeswax, there are great alternatives. Candelilla wax and carnauba wax are good choices for making your lip balm stable and smooth. Soy wax is also a great pick, being vegan, effective, and soft-finishing.
  • Alternative Butters – Cocoa butter is full of antioxidants and smells like chocolate, so if that scent doesn’t go well with your recipe, try using mango butter or avocado butter in your lip balm.
  • Alternative Oils – Jojoba, almond, avocado, apricot kernel, or castor oil are all popular natural alternatives to coconut oil. 
Bottle of essential oil next to a bowl.

Essential Oil Combinations for Lip Balm

Lip balm can be soothing and healing all on its own, but adding essential oils can bring added benefits. Homesteading Hack: When making lip balm, always source quality food-grade essential oils.

  • Calming Lavender – Lavender is great for calming, making it perfect for a soothing lip balm. (Source) Its scent helps you relax and unwind, providing a great way to end your day. Add 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil to your mix.
  • Refreshing Peppermint – For a bright scent, try peppermint essential oil. It feels cooling and gives your lips a slight plumpness. Use 10-15 drops for a refreshing touch.
  • Sweet OrangeSweet orange essential oil is loved for its fruity scent and contains antioxidants that are good for the skin (Source.) Add 10-15 drops of orange essential oil for a fresh scent.
  • Fall Spice – Enjoy the classic aroma of fall by combining 7 drops of clove bud oil with 15 drops of sweet orange oil

Homesteading Hack: Citrus oils are phototoxic and can cause your skin to burn more easily. They should not be used on the skin when exposed to sunlight. They are best used indoors or with limited sunlight exposure.

Ingredients & Supplies Needed

  • BeeswaxBeeswax creates a shield on the lips. This shield keeps moisture in and protects against wind and cold. 
  • Cocoa Butter Cocoa butter also provides protection and makes the lip balm creamy and easy to apply.
  • Coconut Oil Coconut oil goes deep into the skin to keep moisture in. 
  • Essential Oil – Choose from one of the options suggested above. Or check out Simply Earth Essential Oils (use coupon code SIMPLY10 at checkout for 10% off any single oil purchase).
  • Stirring Utensil – A dedicated wooden skewer for making lip balm works great.
  • Double Boiler – If you don’t have a double boiler, you can use a heat-proof bowl placed over a saucepan of water. Homesteading Hack: If your heat-proof container is made from glass, make sure there is a spacer between the glass and the bottom of the saucepan. A metal canning ring works great.
  • Syringe – If your heat-proof container has a pour spout, a syringe is not necessary.
  • Lip Balm Containers – This recipe will fill 10-12 lip balm tubes or 5-6 metal containers. Homesteading Hack: Get yourself a lip balm tube tray to make filling much easier.

How to Make Lip Balm

For best results, have all of your supplies set up and ready to move quickly between each step.

  1. Add beeswax, coconut oil and cocoa butter to a double boiler. 
  2. Gradually bring the heat up until the water is boiling. 
  3. Turn to low heat so the water simmers until the oils and wax have melted completely. 
  4. Carefully remove from heat (your container will likely be hot) and stir in essential oils until well combined. 
  5. Using a syringe or the spout on your heat-proof container, pour the wax and oil mixture into the prepared lip balm containers of your choice. 
  6. Let cool and harden before placing lids on the top.

Did you follow this tutorial? If so, please leave a star rating in the recipe card below. Then snap a photo and tag us on social media @homesteadingfamily so we can see your homemade lip balm!

A woman's hand holding three tubes of homemade lip balm.

FAQ

What ingredients are essential for making homemade lip balm?

You need beeswax pellets, coconut oil, and cocoa butter for homemade lip balm. These ingredients moisturize and protect your lips.

Can I make lip balm without beeswax?

Yes, candelilla wax and carnauba wax are good choices for making your lip balm stable and smooth. Soy wax is also a great pick, being vegan, effective, and soft-finishing.

What are some good essential oil combinations for lip balm?

Try using lavender, peppermint, or orange essential oils in your lip balm. Or, get creative and mix and match various scents.

What is the basic formula for lip balm?

Mix approximately 2 parts beeswax with 1 part oil and 1 part cocoa butter. Adjust the ratio for your desired consistency. Add essential oils for scent and extra benefits.

What common mistakes should I avoid when making lip balm?

Avoid overheating ingredients, using wrong ratios, and picking the wrong containers. Overheating can ruin the ingredients, and having the wrong ratios can change the texture and effectiveness. Choose air-tight containers to keep your lip balm fresh.

A woman's hand holding multiple homemade skincare products.
A woman's hand holding three tubes of homemade lip balm.

DIY Lip Balm

If you have dry, chapped lips or just want a natural lip balm, you’re in the right place. Making lip balm at home saves money, helps you avoid harsh chemicals and preservatives, and lets you customize your ingredients.
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Course: DIY Beauty Product
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12 lip balms
Author: Carolyn Thomas

Equipment

  • Stirring Utensil
  • Double Boiler
  • Syringe
  • Lip Balm Containers

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons beeswax
  • 1 1/3 Tablespoons cocoa butter
  • 1 1/3 Tablespoons coconut oil
  • essential oils optional (see recommendations in the notes below)

Instructions

  • Add beeswax, coconut oil and cocoa butter to a double boiler. 
  • Gradually bring the heat up until the water is boiling. 
  • Turn to low heat so the water simmers until the oils and wax have melted completely. 
  • Carefully remove from heat (your container will likely be hot) and stir in essential oils until well combined. 
  • Using a syringe or the spout on your heat-proof container, pour the wax and oil mixture into the prepared lip balm containers of your choice. 
  • Let cool and harden before placing lids on the top.

Notes

Essential Oil Combinations for Lip Balm

Lip balm can be soothing and healing all on its own, but adding essential oils can bring added benefits. Homesteading Hack: When making lip balm, always source quality food-grade essential oils.
  • Calming Lavender – Lavender is great for calming, making it perfect for a soothing lip balm. (Source) Its scent helps you relax and unwind, providing a great way to end your day. Add 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil to your mix.
  • Refreshing Peppermint – For a bright scent, try peppermint. It feels cooling and gives your lips a slight plumpness. Use 10-15 drops for a refreshing touch.
  • Sweet Orange – Sweet orange essential oil is loved for its fruity scent and contains antioxidants that are good for the skin (Source.) Add 10-15 drops of orange essential oil for a fresh scent.
  • Fall Spice – Enjoy the classic aroma of fall by combining 7 drops of clove bud oil with 15 drops of sweet orange. 
Homesteading Hack: Citrus oils are phototoxic and can cause your skin to burn more easily. They should not be used on the skin when exposed to sunlight. They are best used indoors or with limited sunlight exposure.
Tried this recipe?We want to see! Tag @homesteadingfamily on Instagram.
A man and wife smiling.

Welcome to Homesteading Family!

Josh and Carolyn bring you practical knowledge on how to Grow, Cook, Preserve and Thrive on your homestead, whether you are in a city apartment or on 40 acres in the country. If you want to increase your self-sufficiency and health be sure to subscribe for helpful videos on gardening, preserving, herbal medicine, traditional cooking and more.

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