I am and always have been a lip balm addict. Back in the day, I hoarded Naturistics Sweet Lips glosses from Walgreens. And remember Kissing Koolers??? Raspberries & Kiwi, Blackberries & Banana, Orange Cranberry. Anywho…it was a problem. Apparently lip gloss “addiction” is debated in the skin care industry, but I can tell you from experience that my lips certainly were no longer happy from overuse of commercial products. When my lips weren’t coated with a thick layer of mystery gel, they would be come swollen, cracked and blistered. Lovely, as I’m sure you can imagine.
Cosmetic Safety
And all of this was before I understood what ingredients were hidden in my favorite kiwi and raspberry flavored glosses. Check out THIS article from the Environmental Working Group on cosmetics safety. As a mom, I have become hyper-sensitive to the ingredients in products in our home. My littles are exposed to enough toxins out in the world, I want their home experience to be safe and gentle on their growing bodies. So, over the years I have experimented with making my own lip balm with natural ingredients to actually nourish my lips instead of just coating them with goo.
HERE’s a short video from Dr. Oz on what happens to your lips when you are addicted to balm, and the benefits of natural options like coconut oil and shea butter.
Ingredients
- 2 T. beeswax pellets (HERE)
- 2 T. coconut oil (my FAVORITE)
- 2 T. raw, white shea butter (HERE)
- 30 drops essential oils (I only use therapeutic grade essential oils in my recipes – learn more HERE)
- Empty lip balm containers (like THESE)
Instructions
We’ve established before that I only DIY when it’s EASY, right? And don’t get me wrong…I’m still picky about my lip balms. I’ve tried several DIY recipes. Some are too gooey. I like a nice glide over my lips, but not a lot of thickness left behind. And some are too solid without any real moisture. This recipe is my WINNER! The perfect consistency. The coconut oil and shea butter provide the right amount of moisture and nourishment, but the beeswax helps keep it solid and not too gooey. Here’s what you do.
Melt the beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter in a double boiler. (I’m not fancy enough to own a double boiler, so I put the ingredients in a glass measuring cup and set the cup in a pot of boiling water.) Once melted, remove from heat and add essential oils. Then pour into empty lip balm containers and let cool for approximately 30 minutes (or until solid).
My favorite combo of essential oils is Lavender and Peppermint together. I love the cooling freshness of the Peppermint, combined with the soothing of the Lavender. I use 15 drops of each. But play with combos and scents to find what you like! Some other favorites are Cinnamon Bark, Grapefruit, and Citrus Fresh. Or try substituting cocoa butter for shea butter with Peppermint essential oil for a chocolate-peppermint treat. Let me know your favorite!
One you have all these ingredients, you can make THIS amazing DIY too!
