When I posted about Eight Products You Think You Need—But Don't, an overwhelming number of readers responded that they just couldn't go without lip balm. Well, if you can't give it up, at least consider making it at home, which also allows you to reuse tubes!
There are a few ingredients out there that will protect your lips from wind and temperature. While petroleum jelly will work, natural products like beeswax are a better choice for the obvious environmental reasons. Add a moisturizer in the form of an oil (like olive oil) and you're set. There are plenty of recipes out there that are more complicated than this one, but simpler is usually better. This recipe comes to us via GreenBeesbees, with some minor tweaks.
What You Need
Ingredients:
2 tsp. beeswax (chop or grate it, then measure)
2 1/4 tsp. jojoba oil (you can use any oil you like, but for me jojoba's the only way to go)
6 drops of an edible essential oil such as grapefruit, lemon, lime, or tangerine (optional)
(These products are available at many locations including Mountain Rose Herbs.)
Instructions
- Melt wax and jojoba oil together in a double boiler.
- Stir until thoroughly mixed.
- Remove from heat and add essential oils.
- Pour into containers including new or used lip balm tubes. The author recommends letting the majority of the tube cool and topping it off for a better finish.
- Wait about 20 minutes for the tube to cool, and enjoy.
If you'd rather buy pre-made balm, check out a number of stores on Etsy that offer just about every flavor imaginable, including cinnamon.
(Image: Etsy Store Babynme2)
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wow, im going to try this...i have a chunk of beez wax in the honey bottle...is that the kind used in this recipe?
I fill a lip balm pot with vaseline to keep in my purse- it works as lipbalm or an all purpose moisturizer. A couple drops of essential oil would be a great addition!
I would not put any citrus oil in the balm. That and mint are often in many skin products (especially natural ones) but they are skin irritants.
susrith--are you sure that's beeswax? It could just be the honey that has solidified. If you melt it, it will turn back into liquid honey. If it's beeswax, it will look like honey comb.
@ violet veil
yes it is beeswax, my hubby got the bottle home not knowing that there was a piece of comb in it :)
You can not use ANY oil you want! Many essential oils will burn the skin. Do your research!!
P.S. Vaseline is a petroleum based product, highly refined and not organic or natural.
Besides, vaseline forms an impermeable film over the skin, and doesn´t let air through. I recommend shea butter or lanolin instead.
Ok, maybe I haven't found it yet, but I'd love to be able to flag certain posts, because this is definitely one that I'd like to revisit at a later date. Thanks for sharing! Also, I <3 MountainRoseHerbs in no uncertain terms.
Remember removing melted beeswax from anything is a pain in the butt!
I have a small, designated pyrex measuring cup that has a small spout on it. I use that to melt the beeswax and shea butter in the microwave. Double boiler, shmouble boiler - what a hassle and takes so long! Just keep an eye on it, checking often.
Once it's all melted, I add the essential oil and pour it into a little pot.
Done!
Can I use a honey instead of beeswax and a normal vegetable oil?