I began creating my own DIY lip balm years ago when my preferred natural brand introduced soy and canola oil into their formula. Yuck! This recipe for natural lip balm is simple to make using just a few ingredients. It offers year-round hydration and moisture to keep dry lips at bay.
DIY Lip Balm Recipe
Crafting your own lip balm at home is straightforward and more affordable than purchasing organic options from the store. Lip balm tubes serve as delightful gifts, clever stocking stuffers, or safe play cosmetics for children. I also make sure to have some for laboring mothers when I’m working as a doula since the hospital air can be very drying to lips and skin.
Lip balm requires natural ingredients that you can also incorporate into various other DIY skin and body care products. Ingredients like coconut oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter are also featured in my other projects such as homemade lotion and body butter.
Buying Organic Lip Balm
Too busy or not in the mood to create your own? Here’s where you can find healthy, natural lip balm!
How to Make Lip Balm
Since lip products are applied close to the mouth and nose, it’s important for me that they include safe, natural ingredients. This is particularly important when my kids are involved! While I utilize coconut oil, there are several other carrier oil options. Coconut oil solidifies at cooler temperatures, resulting in a firmer balm. Plus, it offers mild SPF benefits.
For a softer balm, use a smaller amount of beeswax or replace up to half the coconut oil with another liquid oil. Note that using only liquid oil will create a softer balm. Here are some nourishing oil options for lips:
- Castor oil provides a glossy sheen to lips and is a favored ingredient in homemade lip gloss formulas. It doesn’t replace coconut oil 1:1 in this recipe. However, swapping about 1 teaspoon for castor oil results in a shinier and smoother outcome.
Essential Oils for Lip Balm
Aromatherapy is quite popular these days, yet not all commercial products contain genuine essential oils. While kids and some adults might adore the aroma, strawberry bubble gum-scented lip balm isn’t genuinely natural. However, not all essential oils are suitable for lip applications.
Certain oils, such as cinnamon bark and lemongrass, can be particularly irritating on sensitive areas like the lips. Many essential oils are safe on the lips up to a 5% dilution, equating to about 60 drops of essential oil in this context. Nonetheless, I prefer using far fewer drops.
Here are some lip-safe essential oils to consider:
There are a few delicious-smelling oils that didn’t make the list. Lime, bergamot, and several others can lead to photosensitivity if excessive amounts are applied before sun exposure. In simpler terms, this can cause swelling, redness, and lip damage.
Lemon, for instance, is safe at a 1% dilution max, but exceeding safe levels can result in sun damage. It’s still advisable to avoid using lemon lip balm and then sunbathing for an hour.
Overall, feel free to mix and match any favorite essential oils that are suitable for lips.
Choosing a Container
I typically use lip balm tubes for convenience. Repurposed small jars or tins work equally well. I once found several tiny sample-size jam jars during a hotel stay, and they’re perfect for storing lip balm.
Lip Balm Recipe Without Beeswax
My usual choice involves using beeswax pastilles for lip balm, providing both hardening qualities and a protective barrier for lips. However, some prefer a vegan option, and candelilla wax is a viable substitute. It’s firmer than beeswax, so a lesser amount suffices.
If you’re new to homemade beauty products, I urge you to give it a shot! The basic recipe is below, but enjoy experimenting with oils and flavors to achieve your desired scent and taste. Mint is my favorite, especially during winter!
Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
Effortlessly make and customize your own homemade chapstick using all-natural ingredients.
Prep Time: 3 mins
Active Time: 10 mins
Cooling Time: 2 hrs
Total Time: 2 hrs 13 mins
Yield: 18 lip balm tubes
Author: Katie Wells
Instructions:
- Fill a small pan with a few inches of water and heat over medium.
- Place a small heat-safe jar in the water, ensuring no water enters the jar. Alternatively, use a double boiler or a glass bowl on a small pot of water.
- Add cocoa butter, coconut oil, and a tablespoon of beeswax into the jar, melting them while occasionally stirring. Exclude water from the jar.
- Stir all ingredients once melted, turn off the heat, but leave the jar in water to stay warm.
- Stir in essential oils of choice.
- Using a glass dropper, swiftly fill lip balm containers such as tubes or tins.
- As the mixture hardens, it will settle slightly, so top off containers after about 2 minutes.
- Let the lip balms sit undisturbed for several hours or until fully solidified.
Notes:
- Shelf life and Storage: Store in a cool, dry place for up to 2 years. Optional vitamin E oil can further extend shelf life.
- This recipe yields a medium firm lip balm. For a firmer consistency, add up to double the beeswax. For a softer, oilier version, reduce the beeswax amount.
More DIY Lip Recipes
Interested in exploring additional DIY skincare recipes? Here are some tutorials I’ve assembled over the years:
Do you make your own lip balm? Which flavors or scents do you want to try out? Share your thoughts below!
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