I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE making homemade lip balm. I’ve made it for years and every fall I make a fresh batch just in time for winter!
Making homemade lip balm is such an easy thing to do that it makes a wonderful homemade Christmas present.
Some of the ingredients you may not be familiar with but your can find most of them at a health food store or they carry many essential oils at places like Wal Mart in the craft or cake decorating section.
Try these homemade lip balm recipes from Dining On A Dime:
-Tawra
Lip Balm Basics
There are many ways to make homemade lip balm. Basic lip balm contains oil, beeswax and flavoring (optional). I prefer a softer lip balm. If you want one that is a little more waxy, add an additional teaspoon of beeswax. Experiment to see which you like the best.
Use any of the following oils when making your homemade lip balm:
- coconut oil
- castor oil
- almond oil
- sunflower oil
- lanolin
- jojoba oil
- olive oil
- shea butter
- cocoa butter
Vitamin E is a preservative and is also thought to be healing for your skin.
Comfrey root and rosemary extracts may be used for their healing properties. If you wish to make your own extracts, you may boil comfrey and rosemary in sunflower oil for an hour or two. Strain oil before using in lip balms or creams.
To fill the containers, I use a small baby food spoon but you could also use a dropper or tiny funnel.
Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
1 tsp. beeswax beads
1 tsp. sunflower oil*
1 tsp. coconut oil*
1 tsp. (total) comfrey and/or rosemary extract (optional)
2-5 drops flavoring (optional)- peppermint, cherry, grape, vanilla, orange or anything you like.
1 capsule Vitamin E**
Heat oils and beeswax just until melted. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Use a dropper to place in tubes or small jars.
This is my favorite homemade lip balm and I’m very picky about what kind I use.
* Note: Most days, I don’t have both sunflower oil and coconut oil on hand so I just use one or the other.
** Be sure to use the vitamin E. It’s a preservative and the lip balm will go rancid after a few months if you don’t use this. (Ask me how I know! 
)
Chocolate Lip Balm
1 tsp. beeswax
1 tsp. cocoa butter
1 tsp. sweet almond oil (or coconut or sunflower)
1 capsule Vitamin E
3-6 chocolate chips (optional for chocolate lip balm)
Heat oils and beeswax just until melted. Add Vitamin E and chocolate chips. Mix well. Use a dropper to place in tubes or small jars.
Honey Lip Balm
2 tsp. beeswax
7 tsp. sweet almond oil
1 tsp. honey
5 drops flavoring (optional)
1 capsule Vitamin E
Heat beeswax and oil just until melted. Add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Use a dropper to place in tubes or small jars.
Homemade Lip Gloss
3 Tbsp. petroleum jelly
1/4 tsp. lipstick*
Melt petroleum jelly and lipstick in the microwave just until melted. Mix well and place in a jar.
*Add more or less lipstick for desired shade. This is a great way to use up the last bit of lipstick in the tube.
Sparkling Lip Gloss
4 Tbsp. petroleum jelly
1-2 Tbsp. glitter or edible glitter*
1/2-1 tsp. lipstick
10 drops flavored oil
Melt petroleum jelly and lipstick. Add glitter and flavored oil. Omit lipstick for clear lip gloss.
* Edible glitter may be found at cake decorating stores. You could also use shimmery eye shadow instead.
Tips
Use a lip brush to get the last bits of lipstick out of the tube. Save old lipstick and lip balm containers and put your homemade lip balms in them.
You can buy small clear containers at the Dollar Tree or use small mustard and jelly containers (the kind received in Christmas gift packs) are also great for storing lip balm.
Put on lip liner, then lip gloss or petroleum jelly. This gives your lips a shine and makes it look like you are wearing lipstick.
For more quick and easy recipes like these homemade lip balms and glosses, check out our Dining On A Dime Cookbook!
photo by: enersauce
Where can I get all of this stuff from? beeswax beads?
And the little jars?
thanks!
Beeswax you find online or at healthfood stores. You can even just cut up a beeswax candle.
You can find some clear plastic containers in the cosmetic area of Dollar Tree.
Where can I find the tubes to contain lip balm.. I think it’s more hygenic way to apply, rather than using fingers that might have germs .
You can find them online.
You might try the craft section at places like Hobby Lobby and Jo Ann fabrics too.
I wish I knew where to get some really pretty jars. I’ll have to look around for some. This all sounds so simple and the lip gloss one sounds like it would take nothing to make! Some of the girls I know are going to be getting lip gloss for Christmas!!
I’m allergic to beeswax is there something we can use in place of that to get the same texture?
Hi Lisa, I’m allergic to beeswax also. I have been making my own for about 30 years now and I never add any wax and it still hardens, but you can use palm wax. That’s used in many of the vegan lipbalms.. Have fun making your lipbalms. Much Love <3
Oh, also soy wax… <3
I had questions, but upon scrolling down – I can see that they were already asked .. .. .. and answered:)
What is the flavoring? Is it essential oils ?
Usually it flavoring like peppermint oil you use from the grocery store.
What about the orange or grape? Those sound yummy esp. for young girls.
I’d prefer not to use artificial flavorings
PS…. I love your website and have passed it on to many friends
For the vitamin E,do i just drop a whole capsule in or do i cut it open?
I poke a needle in it and then squeeze out the oil. You can also buy bottles of the oil.
I have liquid vitamin e…how much could I use in place of the capsule…half to 1 tsp??? Thanks
Yeah, give or take. I use about 1/4- 1/2 tsp. depending on how big my batch is.
Has anyone found a place where we can purchase pretty little jars for the lip balm?
Try the wedding dept. at Hobby Lobby.
dollar store has alot of little plastic jars
Wow these are really neat. Can’t wait to try! I have a jar of coconut oil I’ve been wondering what to do with. I bought it a few months ago thinking I was going to start this new “diet” and I really can’t stand the flavor when I cook with it. I’m glad to know there is something I can use it for! I just need to get the vitamin E, beeswax and containers now.
I was wondering about coconut oil for cooking. I know some people swear by it but I just can’t justify the price!
Coconut oil makes the BEST fried chicken, but it is pricey. My grandson, who only wants to eat cereal, actually ate 2 pieces the night I fried it with coconut oil. Wish I could find a way to get it cheaper, I’d use it all the time.
if you get it in large amounts, the price drops. Make sure you get a good brand, tho, as some are cheap. A great one comes from http://www.tropicaltraditions.com. You can get the expeller pressed, which is cheaper, for cooking. It is still very healthy, even tho it is “refined”…it’s not refined in the normal sense wher the oil is damaged. You can buy large amounts in gallon or 5 gallon size. Try first, tho!
I use coconut oil for sauteeing veggies and I especially like the oil added to a bit of butter or olive oil and melted to drizzle over popcorn.
Yeah, I think it’s an acquired taste. The problem is I tried to “acquire” it just before morning sickness for my current pregnancy started. Not a good time to try new things! Tried using it for cooking things I would normally use canola oil for and got completely turned off of it!
I have been researching lip balm recipes. i made it years ago and couldn’t remember it. This was the most helpful. Thank you so much! I like all the options that you give.
Do you happen to have a recipe for hand lotion?
Thanks
Jackie
We do have. This recipe is in Dining on a Dime and Pretty for Pennies. We also have in there how to make Lotion Bar, Lip Balm, salve and much more.
Almond Lotion
1/2 cup almond, olive or vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. beeswax
1/4 cup distilled water, boiling
1/8 tsp. Borax
5-6 drops essential oil
Heat almond oil and beeswax together until melted. Combine water and borax. Slowly pour borax mix into heated oil while stirring with a wire whisk. Add essential oil. Coll and place in bottle. Makes about 1 cup.
I would like to try making this! I do have coconut oil but need to find other ingredients. For those wondering what else you could use coconut oil for, I use it to pop popcorn and I also put it in my oatmeal. I did try to make a deodorant with it which also had baking soda and cornstarch. I can’t remember exactly where the recipe came from. It seemed to work okay!
The balm was going rancid with sunflower oil because it has a small shelf life. The balm will last as long as your oil does. Google information about shelf life of oils.
This is one reason I usually don’t make too many homemade things because as cool as it may seem not to have preservatives in things you can get even worse things in your homemade baby wipes, lotions, make up removers etc. like mold, mildew and germies. I am continually amazed that people just don’t know or understand that many years ago this is the reason they invented and used preservatives in the first place. If all these homemade cleaners, toiletries etc. had worked so great in the first place they wouldn’t have had to change them and start adding preservatives. Using oils and anything else without preservatives you will have them spoil.
I use up my old lipstick, by scraping out what’s left in the tube, then putting in a small dish with Vaseline and some plain chapstick. I microwave to melt and stir. I keep it in this dish and just dab it on. I add the chapstick, so that it isn’t so greasy, and won’t smear all over my face
Can you use small plastic containers to hold the lip balm or will they melt.
I think I would melt the wax in a glass dish then put it in the smaller containers but is the wax too hot to use in plastic? I saw some really cute containers at Bed, Bath, and Beyond yesterday and thought they would be the perfect containers to use as gifts.
Maggie it does depend on the containers but I have pour very how broth in them sometimes and they do ok. They do have a package of the perfect size containers for lip gloss at the Dollar Tree and are the hard plastic which work really good for this too.
How long will the lip balm last for approximately?
Forever almost. The vitamin e is a preservative besides being good for your lips but even with out the ingredients aren’t things that really spoil. Not for years anyway.
Is it possible to use a normal recipe and just a a couple of drops of vanilla essence?
Yes
I want to incorporate ALOE VERA gel in my lip balm. Do u have a recipe for that? Please hopefully u do. If u don’t, what could I replace it with in a recipe, or could I just add a teaspoon of it into the mixture at the end
No I don’t have a recipe for it but I would just add a bit in and see what happens. I would say 1/2-1 tsp. should be enough.
I have only haven the hard capsil vitamin E. will that melt? Can I just use that ?
I poke a hole in the capsule and then just squeeze out the vit. E.
I just made the basic lip balm today, however, I did have to make it twice. The first batch I made exactly per the instructions. It was way too sticky. The second batch I cut the beeswax in half & added essential oils. I love it!
I have 2 homemade beauty recipes to share:
Magic Bath Salts
4 cups Epsom salts
1 envelope unsweetened Kool-Aid (any flavor)
Pour 1/2 the epsom salts into a one-quart container. Empty the pouch of Kool-Aid into the salts. Cover and shake until combined. Add the rest of the salts and shake again. The mixture will be subtly colored, but the color magic happens when the salts hit the water and the fruity scent is released. Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per bath.
Toothpaste
1/2 cup baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons glycerin (available at Walmart)
10 or more drops of peppermint or wintergreen extract (flavoring)
1 drop of blue or green food coloring (optional)
warm water
In a small bowl, mix the baking soda and salt. Add the glycerin, flavoring, and if desired 1 drop of blue or green food coloring. Add warm water, one drop at a time, until desired consistency. Spoon the mixture into a clean squeeze bottle or any convenient container with lid. You may adjust the amount of glycerin to arrive at a consistency that suits you.
When I followed your honey lip balm recipe but every time i add the flavoring it separates from the oil. Any suggestions?
I think what happened is you got a water based flavoring instead of oil based. I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear. I didn’t even know they made water based flavorings.
I just made some Lip Gloss this morning. My easy recipe is about 3 tablespoons Crisco and 1 packet of pink or red Kool-Aid (cherry, strawberry, black cherry, etc). Melt on low heat in pan, after mixing, until liquid. Mix and then refrigerate until solid. Comes out nice.
My friend gave me some lip balm in a little round tin last Christmas. I have been looking for some of the tins to make my own lip balm. I found some plastic ones at Bed, Bath and Beyond but haven’t seen the metal ones. Anyone have any ideas where I might locate them? Would Michael’s or Joanne’s have them? I love your recipe, Bea, and always have Kool-aid and Crisco in the house so this would be easy to make. Only one question, did you use the original Kool-aid – non-sweetened? This would make lovely gifts for my sisters and friends for Christmas.
you can get small metal cans – round, square and heart shaped from Oriental Trading – on line.
Maggie, The lip gloss recipe comes out real nice. You would be surprised how nice it looks and feels when done. You use the small packet of Kool-Aid. The ones without sugar. There is about 1 tablespoon of Kool-Aid in them. Just put about 3 tablespoons of Crisco in a bowl and mix, then put in pot on low heat until liquid or in microwave. Mix a few times when liquid and then put in container and place in freezer for awhile, or refrigerate until it becomes solid again. Crisco is good for skin too, so it moisturizes lips, and since both Crisco and Kool-Aid are edible, you can give to young girls, and if they lick their lips when lip gloss is on, there are no harmful chemicals.
Isn’t Crisco what women used years ago for a heavy duty lotion or cream for rough hands and things Bea? Seems like I remember reading that some where. Will have to try this recipe my granddaughters.
BEA is Crisco better than Vaseline
Bea, One more question. How long do you think this will last without it going rancid? I have Crisco on my shelf a long time but it has not been heated. Does that change the properties? I want to be able to make these as gifts but want to tell the receipient how long to keep it or where to keep it (fridge or purse?).
May make some this afternoon since my Burt’s Bees lip gloss went through the laundry yesterday. Luckily,no clothes were damaged (that I can see yet) but now need something since the weather here is getting colder and lips are getting dry.
Maggie Bea can probably answer you better but I am pretty sure this is one of those things that will last for a very long time. Like you said Crisco will keep forever almost and the Kool aid the same way. Heating it shouldn’t change it’s properties at all so if you could make it now for Christmas gifts and it will last most of next year even.
That’s great news. I’ve been in the hospital and the ambulance bill arrived yesterday. Not sure how much the insurance will cover of this $600 bill so want to make as many gifts as I can this year. This lip balm and some homemade fudge will be nice and easy gifts.
Just an FYI, I found some wonderful necklaces at Avon for $5 each that donate money to domestic violence charities ($3.48 of each necklace). I purchased a number of these for Christmas and birthday gifts throughout the year. Again, these and some lip balm will be nice gifts, too.
Maggie, be sure to follow-up with your insurance company about the ambulance bill. I work in the health insurance field and that is one service we offer is helping our clients with medical claims. We work with the insurance company on behalf of our clients to make sure they get correct payment of benefits. You would be surprised how many times thing are billed incorrectly or get paid incorrectly. If no one catches the error, the client loses out on benefits.
I don’t know if your insurance is a private policy or through an employer. If it is through an employer, check with Human Resources. They can either help you or give you the phone number of the agent, who can help you.
Angie thanks for letting Maggie know about that and us too. When you are sick sometimes it is so hard to deal with these things so I do appreciate it when someone explains or tells us about these things.
Jill, Yes, Crisco was recommended in the past for rough dry skin. I have a book written by a women who was told be a female dermatologist to even use Crisco on your face (in small amounts) and it helps moisturize your skin. Also, doctors sometimes recommend Crisco to heal scars from burns etc. AFTER skin is treated first, and skin cools down. Apply later to help heal.
Maggie, I would think that the lip gloss made with Crisco and Kool-Aid would have a long shelf life.
Jill, Hope your granddaughers like the Lip Gloss.
Where on earth do u find vitamin e capsules?
You can get e capsules almost any where. Look in the vitamin section at Wal Mart, Dollar General or any grocery store. I did find some in the face cream section of the Dollar General one time too.
Jill if you are using vaseline do you still need vitamin E, or if using crisco do you need vitamin E for the lip gloss. I made some gloss for the first time yesterday with 4oz of vaseline and a package of strawberry cool aid and it came out purple and greasy, what did I do wrong?
The Vit. E is a preservative so you almost always need it but not necessary if you are using vaseline. The greasy is because you used too much Vaseline and the purple is because the strawberry must have had some blue in it.
You might try the Crisco instead of vaseline too. Even though they both are greasy the texture of the Crisco may not be quite as heavy as the vaseline and maybe a texture you like the feel of better.
If you want an idea of what the Lip Gloss would be like using Crisco just put some PLAIN Crisco on your lips. The only difference is by adding the Kool-Aid it will have a tint or color. Lip Glosses are shiny and tinted. Cherry Kool-Aid may give you more of a pinkish tint.
For the honey lip balm, how many 15ml containers can you make? I have got 7 of them. Thanks!
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