DIY All-Natural Super-Moisturizing Lip Balm
Body DIY DIY Skincare & Beauty Natural DIY
Did you know that the average woman ingests 4 pounds of lip product in her lifetime?
That is a lot of lipstick/gloss/butter/balm! So it better be nasty-free.
This DIY lip balm is not only 100% natural, it is hands-down the most moisturizing lip balm I have ever tried. And I like to consider myself an aficionado of sorts. A balm buff, if you will. I mean, at any given time, there is likely at least four to six different types of (all-natural) lip products at the bottom of my purse. But enough about my cosmetics hoarding issue…
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons pure, filtered, unbleached beeswax pastilles
- 1 teaspoon organic raw shea butter
- 3 teaspoons organic unrefined coconut oil
- 20 drops of essential oil of choice (I do 10 drops of peppermint and 10 of tangerine)
- 6 3/16 oz. (5.5 ml) lip balm tubes (or if you would prefer, check out these cute 1/2 oz tins)
Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients in a small sauce pot and put it on the oven on low-medium heat. Stir the mixture until all of the beeswax and shea butter has melted. Turn the burner off and remove the pot from the heat. Fill the lip balm tubes using a funnel. Let the tubes sit undisturbed for 20 minutes to cool and set (leave any spill-over temporarily undisturbed – it is not worth trying to wipe it off right now).
After your balm has cooled and set, it is ready to go! I decorated my balms by printing out eye-catching graphics on standard office labels (2 by 4 inches, 10 per sheet), cutting them to size, and then covering them with clear packing tape, also cut to size. All of you DIYers out there will have no problem with this, and will have lots of fun either designing personalized labels or finding cute graphics and patterns.
I recently made a huge batch (since, hey, this is how I get my kicks) and gave them to friends, family, and coworkers. It’s a nice little gift that does not cost much to make (my estimates place each tube at less than $1!) and everyone loves, especially if you customize the labels to the recipients (cats for Marisa, flowers for Mom…).
This recipe holds up well in the summer heat and is fantastic for protecting lips from the dry winter air!
Hi Nadia! I’ve made this many times using jojoba oil/ jojoba oil & avocado oil. I love it! I’m running out of both, so any other oils you’d reccomend? Jojoba is a bit expensive, so thinking about sweet almond oil? Thanks!!
Thank you! 🙂
Hey, Freddy!
Sorry – some of the links to the products I use were broken but they’re fixed now so you can see which ones I use specifically. Whenever possible, I choose USDA certified organic above all else (most likely to be food grade, but if stated as cosmetic grade that is fine with me too) – the products I link to are organic.
Some EOs can irritate chapped skin, such as cinnamon. I’m not sure of the full list.
I wouldn’t use food flavorings – they contain alcohol which can dry the skin out. But if you want to experiment with it to see for yourself, go ahead and try! DIYs are all about experimentation 🙂
Hi Nadia,
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
I just have a few questions as to what to buy exactly…
I’m shopping for the ingredients right now but for the shea butter for instance, there’s a choice of food grade or cosmetic grade. Which one do I need?
I already have the beeswax (which is organic hand poured beeswax, premium quality, cosmetic grade, triple filtered) and I understand that’s OK but when shopping for the others I’m not sure what to get.
The cosmetic grade stuff says used for balms, creams etc. but lip balm is a bit different as you will end up “eating” some.. Does this mean I need food grade or is cosmetic grade better for this use?
Sorry about this, I’m a bit “careful” and wanna make sure I use all the right stuff!
Which brings me to the EOs.. Which are OK to use for something that is going to be on your lips, and which are not? I’m not able to find any conclusive info about this. And after I’ve found which “flavors” are OK to use on lips, does this go for all brands or is it how they are made that matters as well as what they are?
And finally, are food flavorings, like vanilla extract, coconut extract, almond extract etc. OK to use also, or completely different stuff, and wrong?!
Sorry about all the questions! I just can’t wait to make this but want to do it right!
Thanks for the recipe, I’ve just discovered your website and it looks awesome!
Yes, I think that would work just fine!
Can I use Grape Seed Oil instead of Coconut Oil in this recipe and get the same effect?
I love this recipe as I, too, am a lip balm fanatic! However, I’ve gotten the grittiness that someone had mentioned and though it melts when you rub it in, it is a bit off-putting. Nadia, im wondering if you have encountered this and if so what was you resolution? Love your site!
Hi Nadia. I just made a batch even though I have some store bought lip balms with me right now (Icouldn’t wait stop myself) that would last me a good 2-3 months. So, will the lipbalm be ruined if kept for such long time? And BTW, my mom has dark lips because of not using sunscreen so can you tell me which essential oil would gradually bring out the natural color of lips? Thanks
Nadia Great Recipe! For many this is the best recipe ever and for others this will be the beginning of a wonderful journey! I began my journey here, but after a few months, I needed more. I admit it. . . . I am a lip balm junkie! I love it. I have to have it. I started making it for my friends. I started making it for patients of ketamine therapy. I am laying the groundwork for my business. I collect recipes even though I finally tweaked mine to perfection. Every recipe teaches me something. Here are some things I have learned. Most people start making balm to get away from the horrible things in our old balm or lipstick, try not to use even a sliver to color your home made balm. Pure pigment loose powder mineral eye shadow will work. Or buy Micas or mineral pigments the smallest size will usually tint a zillion balms! Generally speaking, the difference between lip balm and lip stick is the amount of colorant. I use a couple of .15cc scoops of mica to tint 10 – 15 balm and 3-4 teaspoons to tint the same amount of lipstick tubes depending on the depth of color I want. I need my lipstick to love my lips just as much as my balms do. If you want your balms to have a little extra zing to them you can buy E-O Butters. There are vendors out there that blend essential oils with coconut oil or essential oil with coconut oil and palm kernel oil and I am not sure what magic they do but they are amazing. I made Cannamon Balm using the Cinnamon Butter and just a smidge of coconut oil and Cinnamon Leaf Oil and it was crazy good. Not Red Hots hot, just enough to give a slight tingle. I have used several other butters since. I am still looking for my perfect cup of coffee butter, though. I am a fan of sweetened balms. You do not need much, but people can taste the difference and so will you. Too much sweetener or “flavoring” oil will sweat out. If it does not smell good it will not taste good, since flavours are edible fragrances. Vitamin E oil adds a small bit of Sunscreen and a small bit of preservative. If you use any kind of food like chocolate chips, Drink mix, Jello, fruit please remember this balm will spoil. The more water the food item has in it the faster it will spoil. So have fun wherever your balm journey takes you!
I just made this recipe last night using different combinations of oils. I LOVE it. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi, Christena! I do not have a DIY recipe for anything like that but if you like Mac and are looking for healthier options, I think you’d really love Beautycounter – they make beautiful, highly effective products that work just as well (if not better!) than any other luxury skincare and cosmetic product. Check it out –> Beautycounter
Hey, Nadia, Do you happen to know of any ingredient I can maybe add to this recipe, or.. of any alternate recipe.. f/ lip balm that not only moisturizes, but will also stop lipstick from “bleeding” into the skin around the lips? I am 64, & have had this “feathering” happen sometimes, around the lips, when wearing lipstick, (because of few wrinkles). I’d been buying a special Mac make-up lip product called Prep & Prime, which prevents this feathering of the color beyond the lips, …but it costs $17 + & doesn’t twist all way up, so, lot it wasted unless I use something long & narrow to dig the rest of the lip moisturizer out, since it is so expensive. I love all natural, anyway, & have been searching f/ a better natural alternative that really works & does the same thing as Mac’s Primer f/ lips, only w/ all natural healthy ingredients. Any one know what might work? I’m also about to switch an all natural, organic, high fruit & veg., plant based diet, & perhaps this will also help eliminate wrinkles & make skin smoother & younger looking so lipstick won’t feather anymore, anyway. Or, perhaps the DIY Vitamin C facial serum,(I found on YouTube) or, the DIY hyaluronic acid facial serum (maybe found it on YouTube, too?, or recipes on Amazon). These may also help eliminate wrinkles in first place, too? (I’ve gotten too busy & haven’t cont. to make new batches of these facial skin serums, when they run out, which is every few weeks, & they can’t be made in large batches, because the Vitamin C has to be fresh, or it oxidizes). Thanks, Nadia, & I can’t wait to try this natural lip balm recipe, above. It sounds awesome.! And it looks, & I’m sure smells, so pretty! Thanks!
I made this with my students(all girls) to demonstrate scientific concepts such as changing states of matter, and physical changes. It was also a great opportunity to speak about the cost and health benefits of making our own skin and body products at home.
A few people mentioned grittiness because of the Shea butter in the recipe. . .I substituted the Shea for cocoa butter (same ratio) and it turned out beautifully.
Thanks so much for posting such a great recipe.
Hey, Charlie! An alternative to coconut oil for skincare? I actually really don’t like it on my skin and prefer these oils: 5 face oils for naturally clear, flawless skin
But for lip balm, I’d use jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, or grape seed oil as an alternative to coconut oil. They each sink into skin and moisturize really well.
Hello:) great post. I was wondering if I could leave out the coconut oil? I am very allergic to it. Also, if you could please suggest a general sub for coconut oil? It’s in everything! I’d greatly appreciate your feedback! Best wishes, Charlie
This is a REALLY good one, Julie!! Very practical and makes great gifts 🙂
Another wonderful idea, I’m going to be so busy, yeah in 2016 DIY stuff!!
Just to clarify, how many 5.5ml tubes does this fill? 6?
The recipe is amazing btw !
Hi! Thanks for sharing this recipe! Would this help make lips smoother and get rid of the lines on your lips? I love matte lipstick but every time I try to wear it it looks weird. Anyways I will still make this because it looks BOMB.