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.
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.
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.
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 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 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
- Beeswax – Beeswax 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.
- 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.
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!
FAQ
You need beeswax pellets, coconut oil, and cocoa butter for homemade lip balm. These ingredients moisturize and protect your lips.
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.
Try using lavender, peppermint, or orange essential oils in your lip balm. Or, get creative and mix and match various scents.
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.
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.
Other Posts You May Enjoy
- Common Toxins (The Who, What, When, Where, Why & How of Dealing With Them)
- Homemade Christmas Gifts Guide
- DIY Rose and Honey Face Wash (For Dry & Aging Skin)
- Easy Homemade Sugar Scrub
- DIY Antibiotic Ointment
DIY Lip Balm
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.
