DIY Natural Lip Balm: Butters & Beeswax

Autumn is in full swing. That means it’s time for warm fuzzy sweaters, falling leaves, cool winds, and… lip balm! For many of us, the shift to cooler weather means dry, chapped lips, or at least lips that would appreciate a little more protection from the elements. When you need a lip fix, I find that all-natural lip balms are far more effective than their cheaper, synthetic counterparts. 

When I was younger, I moved to a ski town where everyone used the same brand of lip balm. People used it so much they would say they were addicted to it. I used this brand too, but the funny thing is, while using this balm all of our lips were constantly on the verge of being chapped. Once I stopped using the brand, everything changed, and I no longer needed to carry lip balm around with me every single day! 

In my experience, it’s safer and more effective to go with natural lip balm brands, and even better for me to make my own. The best part? It’s simple and only takes a few minutes! For a super simple lip balm, you can use shea or cocoa butter alone. Simply heat the butter to its melting and pour it into a small container. However, these butters alone can melt in your pocket, so it’s best to add a little beeswax as directed below.

 

DIY Butters & Beeswax Lip Balm

What you'll need

1. Small lip balm containers. (I find small flat tins or jars work best.)
2. Shea butter: 2 Tbsp
3. Cocoa butter: 2 Tbsp
4. Beeswax: 1 Tbsp*
5. Essential oil of your choice. (I like peppermint, tangerine, or cinnamon.)

      *Note: If you prefer a softer balm, use less beeswax; if you prefer it firmer, use more.

Making the balm

1. Open your lip balm containers and place them on a flat working surface. For easier clean up, place them on a paper towel to catch any spills or drips.
2. Melt the cocoa butter, shea butter, and beeswax together by placing the mix in a glass measuring cup in a pan of water, and heating it on the stove until the butters and wax melt. Stir continuously to assist the melting process.
3. Once your lip balm has completely melted, pour it into the containers.
4. Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to each container and place the lid on top to prevent the essential oils from escaping too rapidly.
5. Allow the mixture to completely cool and harden, then cover and label your lip balm.

Additional DIY tips

• If you're using glass or tin lip balm containers, the temperature of the melted oils should not be an issue. However, if you are using plastic containers or tubes, the hot oils may melt the plastic. Before transferring the mixture to plastic containers, allow the oils to cool until the surface of the oil begins to form a ring around the measuring cup, then pour.
• I highly recommend using high quality essential oils. Cheaper oils may be adulterated with chemical fragrances, which can cause a skin reaction.