Basic DIY Lip Balm Recipe

Clear tubes of lip balm in glass bowl

Lip balm is truly one of the easiest and most inexpensive beauty products to create at home. Not only is crafting your own surprisingly simple, you’ll have full control over all of the ingredients and the satisfaction of knowing that you’re putting pure, natural, and organic elements on your lips! 

Let's Make Lip Balm!

It’s fun to concoct recipes using your favorite organic botanicals and essential oils!

Basic Recipe

As a general rule, blend 3 parts carrier oil to 1 part beeswax, and add 1 part plant-based butter if using. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. Once melted, remove from the stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil (a natural preservative). Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white tubes. You can also purchase tins or glass jars for a more manual application. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.

One of the great things about making lip balm is that it's almost impossible to mess up! You can always remelt it and add more ingredients until you are satisfied with the final product. I often do this when creating a new lip balm recipe, since it doesn't always come out perfectly the first time.

I've also included three of my favorite recipes below.

a Vegan Alternative

I've found that organic carnuaba wax can be used in place of the beeswax, though it hardens much quicker than beeswax. You will likely want to use about half as much carnuaba as you would beeswax.

Pro Tips

If your lip balm is too soft, re-melt it and add more beeswax. If it is too hard, re-melt and add more oil. You can also adjust your recipes with the seasons: harder lip balms are better for warm summer weather and softer lip balms are great during colder times of year. Add essential oils at your discretion. A general amount is 2 drops per container, but this varies depending upon the essential oil used. Less is better when it comes to essential oils, as you don’t want to end up with lip balm that will sting or irritate your lips!

Citrus essential oils can be phototoxic. In 14 years of making and using citrus lip balms, I have never experienced any problems with this, but I also live in Oregon where it is overcast for much of the year! If you live in a sunny climate, you may choose to be more cautious with the amount of citrus essential oils added, omit them completely, or swap with another essential oil of your choosing.

Natural beeswax and butters warming in a double-boiler 

Mandarin Nutmeg Lip Balm Recipe

This sweet, citrusy, and warming lip balm has just a hint of spice. Made with organic mandarin and nutmeg essential oils and other botanical ingredients.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles.
  2. Place beeswax, butter, and carrier oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted.
  3. Once melted, remove from stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.
  4. Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white lip balm containers. You can also purchase tins or glass jars. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.
  5. Your lip balm is finished!
  6. You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4-oz. plastic jars, or 3 1/2-oz. tins or plastic jars.

 

Lime Coconut Lip Balm Recipe

Reminiscent of tropical beaches, this blend is perfect for warmer weather or for those who prefer a lightweight and glossy lip balm.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles.
  2. Place beeswax and carrier oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted.
  3. Once melted, remove from stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.
  4. Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white lip balm containers. You can also purchase tins or glass jars. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.
  5. Your lip balm is finished!
  6. You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4-oz. plastic jars, or 3 1/2-oz. tins or plastic jars.

 

Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm Recipe

A refreshing, cooling, and nourishing lip balm with cocoa butter and peppermint. Like mint chocolate ice cream ... for your lips!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles.
  2. Place beeswax, butter, and carrier oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted.
  3. Once melted, remove from stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.
  4. Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white lip balm containers. You can also purchase tins or glass jars. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.
  5. Your lip balm is finished!
  6. You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4-oz. plastic jars, or 3 1/2-oz. tins or plastic jars.

 

Looking for Lovely Lip Balm Ideas? 

Try Our Ginger Cookie Lip Balm!

You may also enjoy: 

Bottle of certified organic and 100% pure peppermint essential oil

 


Topics: Natural Body Care, Recipes

Irene

Written by Irene on January 12, 2011

Irene's extensive experience with herbal products and DIY recipes goes back to 1997, and since 2012 she’s owned her own skincare business, Fawn Lily Botanica, where she specializes in botanical-based facial care products. Irene’s recipes have been featured in local and national publications including the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) Journal, Amaze Magazine, Willow and Sage magazine, MaryJanesFarm Magazine and Newsletter, Earth First Journal, Farming Magazine, Eugene Magazine, and the Eugene Weekly. Irene also served as a member of the Board of Directors for nonprofit Cascadia Wildands from 2013-2016.


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Basic DIY Lip Balm Recipe

Clear tubes of lip balm in glass bowl

Lip balm is truly one of the easiest and most inexpensive beauty products to create at home. Not only is crafting your own surprisingly simple, you’ll have full control over all of the ingredients and the satisfaction of knowing that you’re putting pure, natural, and organic elements on your lips! 

Let's Make Lip Balm!

It’s fun to concoct recipes using your favorite organic botanicals and essential oils!

Basic Recipe

As a general rule, blend 3 parts carrier oil to 1 part beeswax, and add 1 part plant-based butter if using. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. Once melted, remove from the stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil (a natural preservative). Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white tubes. You can also purchase tins or glass jars for a more manual application. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.

One of the great things about making lip balm is that it's almost impossible to mess up! You can always remelt it and add more ingredients until you are satisfied with the final product. I often do this when creating a new lip balm recipe, since it doesn't always come out perfectly the first time.

I've also included three of my favorite recipes below.

a Vegan Alternative

I've found that organic carnuaba wax can be used in place of the beeswax, though it hardens much quicker than beeswax. You will likely want to use about half as much carnuaba as you would beeswax.

Pro Tips

If your lip balm is too soft, re-melt it and add more beeswax. If it is too hard, re-melt and add more oil. You can also adjust your recipes with the seasons: harder lip balms are better for warm summer weather and softer lip balms are great during colder times of year. Add essential oils at your discretion. A general amount is 2 drops per container, but this varies depending upon the essential oil used. Less is better when it comes to essential oils, as you don’t want to end up with lip balm that will sting or irritate your lips!

Citrus essential oils can be phototoxic. In 14 years of making and using citrus lip balms, I have never experienced any problems with this, but I also live in Oregon where it is overcast for much of the year! If you live in a sunny climate, you may choose to be more cautious with the amount of citrus essential oils added, omit them completely, or swap with another essential oil of your choosing.

Natural beeswax and butters warming in a double-boiler 

Mandarin Nutmeg Lip Balm Recipe

This sweet, citrusy, and warming lip balm has just a hint of spice. Made with organic mandarin and nutmeg essential oils and other botanical ingredients.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles.
  2. Place beeswax, butter, and carrier oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted.
  3. Once melted, remove from stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.
  4. Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white lip balm containers. You can also purchase tins or glass jars. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.
  5. Your lip balm is finished!
  6. You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4-oz. plastic jars, or 3 1/2-oz. tins or plastic jars.

 

Lime Coconut Lip Balm Recipe

Reminiscent of tropical beaches, this blend is perfect for warmer weather or for those who prefer a lightweight and glossy lip balm.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles.
  2. Place beeswax and carrier oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted.
  3. Once melted, remove from stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.
  4. Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white lip balm containers. You can also purchase tins or glass jars. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.
  5. Your lip balm is finished!
  6. You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4-oz. plastic jars, or 3 1/2-oz. tins or plastic jars.

 

Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm Recipe

A refreshing, cooling, and nourishing lip balm with cocoa butter and peppermint. Like mint chocolate ice cream ... for your lips!

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles.
  2. Place beeswax, butter, and carrier oils in a small pot or glass measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double-boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted.
  3. Once melted, remove from stovetop and add essential oils and vitamin E oil.
  4. Immediately pour the mixture into clear or white lip balm containers. You can also purchase tins or glass jars. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers.
  5. Your lip balm is finished!
  6. You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz. of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4-oz. plastic jars, or 3 1/2-oz. tins or plastic jars.

 

Looking for Lovely Lip Balm Ideas? 

Try Our Ginger Cookie Lip Balm!

You may also enjoy: 

Bottle of certified organic and 100% pure peppermint essential oil

 


Topics: Natural Body Care, Recipes

Irene

Written by Irene on January 12, 2011

Irene's extensive experience with herbal products and DIY recipes goes back to 1997, and since 2012 she’s owned her own skincare business, Fawn Lily Botanica, where she specializes in botanical-based facial care products. Irene’s recipes have been featured in local and national publications including the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) Journal, Amaze Magazine, Willow and Sage magazine, MaryJanesFarm Magazine and Newsletter, Earth First Journal, Farming Magazine, Eugene Magazine, and the Eugene Weekly. Irene also served as a member of the Board of Directors for nonprofit Cascadia Wildands from 2013-2016.