How to Make Your Own Beeswax Lip Balm

Save money and get a better product by creating your own beeswax lip balm. Also great for gifts! Materials can easily be located on the internet.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• beeswax
• cocoa butter
• shea butter
• nut oil (such as olive, jojoba, almond or sunflower oil)
• lip balm pots or tubes
• small funnel or transfer pipettes
• double boiler system
• vitamin E (optional)
• flavor oil (optional)
• scale that measures in ounces, and less than one ounce

1. Set up or create your double boiler (one can be created by placing a large stainless steel or other metal bowl on top of a pot of water). Get the water boiling.

2. Add to the empty bowl 1/4 oz. beeswax. You can use pellets or a brick of beeswax, but the pellets are much easier to measure and melt faster. Then add 1/3 oz. cocoa butter and 1/3 oz. shea butter.

3. Add slightly less than 1/2 oz. of the nut oil. You can choose the oil you want to use. I prefer sweet almond oil because it is extremely light in flavor. Heavily flavored oils like olive oil or sunflower oil can affect the flavor of your final product.

4. If you're using the vitamin E, add it at this time. It is a natural preservative, but is not necessary to add. You only need a few drops. Allow all the ingredients to melt, and then add the flavor oil if you're using it, about 10 drops depending on how strong it is. You want to wait until you're about to put it in the containers, because the heat can make the flavor go away a bit.

5. Transfer the liquid balm to the pots or tubes with a small funnel or disposable transfer pipettes. Allow the balm to cool. Then you can use it yourself, or give as gifts!

Tips & Warnings

• Place the empty containers on some paper or newspaper for easier clean up of spills.
• Fill the containers before the mixture hardens, or it will not pour.
• Be careful not to burn yourself on steam that may escape around the sides of your double boiler. Use potholders to move the bowl or boiler pot around.