Whenever cold winter air starts stirring the leaves off the trees, I know it’s time to whip together a batch of homemade chapped lip balm. You could just buy some chapped lip balm at the store, but it’s likely petroleum-based. Why would you put something on your lips and skin that you wouldn’t also feel safe eating?
That’s why I love making my own homemade chapped lip balm. It’s surprisingly easy to do, and your lips will thank you for it!
This recipe for Homemade Chapped Lip Balm comes from Frugal Granola’s e-book, Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing and Learning Guide.
Homemade Chapped Lip Balm — The Recipe
Homemade Chapped Lip Balm: The Players
- 1/4 C. Coconut Oil (where to buy coconut oil)
- 1/4 C. Olive Oil (where to buy real olive oil)
- 1/2 C. Grated Beeswax (where to buy organic beeswax)
- 3-5 drops of natural extract such as mint, vanilla, or lemon or favorite essential oils (where to buy essential oils)
(For sources of quality coconut or olive oils, be sure to check out my Resources page! When I need grated beeswax, I simply grate the bottom off the candles we buy at church, but I’m sure you could find it pre-grated at a crafts store or online.)
Homemade Chapped Lip Balm: The How-To
Now for the easy part! Melt the oils and beeswax together in a double boiler over medium heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, make do with a wide bowl set across the top of a pot of boiling water. Once melted and fully integrated, pour the mixture into 3 smaller jars or tins. Add your flavoring extracts to the tins (usually one drop of extract per jar is sufficient). While still warm, stir with a toothpick to combine. Let sit to cool and thicken before use.
How was that for easy?
This homemade chapped lip balm would make a thoughtful and loving present for the holidays, simply adjust quantities as needed.
If you’re looking for more homemade holiday gift ideas, or want to take control of your winter-time treatments with homemade salves, balms, tinctures, and teas, why not check out Frugal Granola’s Herbal Nurturing: A Family Healing and Learning Guide? The instantly downloadable e-book is available for a mere $8.95. Download today, and you could be making these recipes tomorrow!
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy your homemade chapped lip balm!
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This looks great! Can I ask where you got those cute tins from? 🙂
I bought mine online, but I’ve also seen them at Hobby Lobby.
Thanks! I actually found some on ebay. 🙂
Do you know about how much this recipe yields? I assume you used the 1/2 oz. tins…about how many were filled? I’m just trying to guesstimate for gifting purposes. 😉
It makes about 8 oz. total, which you can then divide up into different jars or tins.
This is awesome. Have you experimented with recipes? I’m curious to see if I could make flavors like peppermint lip balm. Your thoughts?
Yes, just use peppermint extract.
The Container Store (retail locations and online) sells very tiny glass jars with screw-top metal lids that would be perfect for this.
Sounds perfect!
This is great! Thank you!
Brilliant.
even better if you use herbal infused oil- like healing comfrey.
You have perfect timing with this recipe. I just wrote about my own homemade skin moisturizer recipe today. And I’m hoping to have time tonight to try my first hand at making lip balm. I got some high quality beeswax from a kid I work with who maintains his own hives, but I haven’t had time to play with it yet. And I have all the ingredients for your recipe!
Oh, and Mountain Rose Herbs sells the perfect containers for things like this for people looking for a container supplier (they sell tons of other fun things too).
Oh this looks so fun to make! I have been using plain coconut oil, but it would be a lot nicer to have a container already made up to put in my purse. Plus, I am sure my 5-year-old would love to make it with me and have one of his own. Thanks!
Thanks so much for the recipe! Like kmillecam, I’ve just been using coconut oil but alone it doesn’t seem thick enough (or I’m not putting enough on?). Anyway, I’m looking forward to playing around with the scent, too.
I think the problem with plain old coconut oil is that it’s very easily absorbed into the skin. When you cut it with wax, it provides a protective barrier and sits on top of the skin longer.
Love this recipe! I buy a product called “Beast Balm” and is made of olive oil, beeswax and sesame oil. Once I run out of that, I will try making my own!
Great recipe. I have to try it. I’m completely addicted to Burt’s Bees lip balm.
I’m excited about trying this recipe – perfect timing! I was trying to come up with some ideas for gift giving, and here one is. Thanks. One question, though, is the natural extract in the ingredients list the same as what I would keep in my pantry for baking?
Yes it is!
Thanks for this recipe! I’ve been grumbling about how my daughter keeps eating my expensive organic bought lip gloss, and then I read this. You know as a priest’s wife I have an unending supply of beeswax from old bishop’s candles! I just knocked out half the women on my Christmas list too! In like ten minutes! LOL.
BTW, I just dumped the candles in there and let them melt with the oil. Much easier than grating. Maybe took a few seconds longer to melt, but I would have spent at least that grating the wax.
Yes, grating is not really necessary. But it can help a newbie get a sense for just how much wax to use so that they can get the proportions right!
I’m glad that you said you used the bottom of candles, I was thinking of doing that but wondered if candles might sometimes be cut with other stuff since they’re not food grade. I suppose I should know the source of my candles before doing this 😉
Yes. My candles are 100% beeswax, made by the very monks who keep the bees. So, I’m certain it’s good stuff!
Sounds perfect! Any ideas on how to add a tint of color to that??
SKS sells containers at wholesale, which is where I bought mine for my Christmas gifts (including this exact recipe, although I put lilac in it and called it “Body Balm”).
Instead of $2 – $3 for a single container, I was able to purchase (in bulk) several containers at $0.18 each! Now, I have some leftover containers for next Christmas.
I was wondering if you knew of a suitable substitute for the bee’s wax? I can’t use that due to severe bee sting allergy (was told never chance it and my reactions are severe enough I won’t). I’ve never bought anything with beeswax, honey, etc. but would love to make my own vs using the coconut oil only that I currently use! Thanks for any help and a great blog! I’m hoping to make up a few different natural body products for the new year once vacation starts!
Yes, I would also love to know a substitute for the beeswax. I won’t use it b/c I’m vegan. 🙂
Thanks!
I love your idea to grate the bottom of beeswax candles and repurpose! I always save my candle ends thinking I’ll melt them down to make new candles but I never do…Now I’m motivated to make lip balm. Thank you!
Now, any ideas on what to do with soap slivers -at the end of the bar?
🙂 Diana
Weights on the bees wax would be extremely helpful… ie how many grams or ounces? This is a GREAT idea. as far as containers, baby food jars are awesome! there is a daycare in my church and i have an almost unlimited supply of baby food jars! i use it to package my homemade body butter. I too would be interested in a substitute for the bees wax… i have some but wonder if a little bit (or a lot) of cocoa butter would work! it would be yummy too! maybe some cocoa for color and flavor, too?
For those wanting a beeswax alternative…I wonder about palm wax? I’ve purchased Aloha Bay palm wax taper candles from iherb.com and they are 100% palm wax. I am wondering if essential oils would work as well as extracts used in cooking. I keep thinking that for Christmas time something slightly cinnamon-y would be nice, and I have seen “lip-plumping” glosses that contain some cinnamon. Something that smells like a Christmas-y baked treat would be awesome (cinnamon, vanilla, orange maybe?). Hmmm….any thoughts?
I love the idea of making homemade lip balm as we have not been able to find one that is suitable with my daughter’s allergies. My daughter is allergic to coconut and lanolin and we have been having a terrible time finding a lip balm without these ingredients. Do know of any other alternatives to the coconut oil in this recipe?
You could probably use coco butter or mango butter in place of coconut oil. Since it’s a bit harder you might have to reduce the amount of beeswax though.
Thank you! Where do you buy mango butter?
I bought mine from Mnt Rose Herbs online. You can also buy the tins there.
Can I use a drop of essential oil, instead of the extract? I have plenty of oils…
I really want to make these for Christmas gifts! Thanks SO MUCH for the recipe:)
I see there are different kinds of coconut oil, what should I get?
Where did you get those adorable labels?
I made this lip balm a few days ago and it turned out GREAT! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe–it’s a keeper. I made a large batch and was able to fill 12 tins, plus refill a couple empty lip balm tubes and another small container for us to keep. It is very moisturizing and has great staying power too. With half the batch we used orange oil and the other half we used peppermint oil. The orange is my favorite–it somehow combines nicely and subtly with the slight honey beeswax fragrance and the coconut oil–very soft. I attempted at first to mix honey in, but when completely melted the honey sunk to the bottom and didn’t mix in, so I poured the “oil” part off to separate it. However, with the last bit, I waited till the “oil” began to harden a little and THEN mixed in the honey and it stayed together. It didn’t leave that beautiful smooth finish on the top, but it’s just for us and the sweet flavor is very nice! All that to say, thanks again for sharing! I’m excited to give these out for Xmas!
How/where did you make your lables? I’ve been wanting to make my own. Thanks!
can i just buy the oils at the grocery store or do they have to be something special or different? i have never made cosmetics before and am interested in starting, this looks pretty easy!