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Learn how to make lip balm that works like a dream! This homemade chapstick recipe uses only five ingredients and can be made in just a few minutes.
If you’re the kind of person who has at least two backup chapsticks, you’re going to LOVE this homemade lip balm recipe. It’s ready in a flash and ingredients that are easy to find.
How to Make Lip Balm Supply list
- Coconut oil
- Double-boiler
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Cosmetics-grade beeswax
- Shea butter
- Metal chapstick containers
- Chapstick tubes
If you have leftover beeswax, try your hand at making this incredible lotion bar recipe. Homemade lip balm and lotion bars in cute reusable fabric gift bags make amazing handmade gifts.
Pro Tips:
- If you want to “flavor” this, you have two options. You can add essential oils to the double boiler when everything is melted, or you can add a few drops of essential oil into your container. If adding the oils to the containers, you’ll want to stir with a toothpick right after you’ve incorporated the melted mixture, before the mixture sets.
- For a harder chapstick, you’ll want to go a bit heavy on the beeswax. For a softer chapstick, add a bit more sweet almond oil.
- If you have a coconut allergy or don’t enjoy coconut smell, try subbing in all shea butter.
- Need to make more or less of the recipe? Click and slide the “servings” number on the recipe card and the ingredients will adjust as needed. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.
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How to Make Lip Balm
Learn how to make lip balm that works like a dream!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cosmetics grades beeswax
- 2 tbsp shea butter
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp sweet almond oil
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups of water in a medium pot, and fit with a double boiler. Place over medium heat on the stove.
- Add the beeswax and shea butter, and heat until melted.
- Add the coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and honey and stir with a spoon you plan to only use for working with beeswax.
- Heat until the coconut oil has melted.
- Pour into your containers of choice, and allow at least 15 minutes to cool.
Notes
If you want to “flavor” this, you have two options. You can add essential oils to the double boiler when everything is melted, or you can add a few drops of essential oil into your container. If adding them in the containers, you’ll want to stir with a toothpick right after you’ve incorporated the melted mixture.
For a harder chapstick, you’ll want to go a bit heavy on the beeswax. For a softer chapstick, add a bit more sweet almond oil.
Tried this recipe?Mention @sustainablecooks or tag #sustainablecooks!
I am wondering if there is another kind of oil you can use besides coconut because I have a severe allergy to it and have severe issues when I come in contact with it topically or orally.
Thanks
There are 4 tablespoons in 1/4 cup. maybe this will savesomeone from having to do an extra dish : )
I one time bought some chap stick, and I immediately stopped using it for the taste on my lips was awful. Does this chap stick have a bad taste to it? Does adding the honey make it not have one? And is olive oil an okay substitute for coconut oil?
Love this!! My niece is in heaven!!! She loves it!!! I added peppermint oil and a little food coloring and it turns out wonderful!!!!
I’ve heard in the past “1 part beeswax to 5 or 6 parts oil.” I used both castor and almond oil in the same batch, with a tiny dollop of petroleum jelly added for a bit of that glossy feel. Comes out great. Add some lavender and vanilla essential oil, very soothing.
I must say, thank you soooo much!! I have spend way too much money on chapstick, especially the organic store bought for almost $4 a stick. I purchased from amazon 12 chapstick tubes and used you amount of ingredients above. I still have about half remaining. Do you think I can keep it in the jar and re-boil it when the other tubes come in?
Thanks Again!!
Christina
I don’t see why not! Enjoy
I found little plastic jars at Wal Mart. About the size of a lip balm container. They are pretty solid. Do you think they hot mixture would melt them or no? They come in colors and are found in the sample size section of the pharmacy area. Packages 2 for $1.
I just made a few batches today. Very fun craft project for my daughter and I. I too had problems with the honey so on future batches we left it out. Had fun playing with proportions of beeswax to coconut oil. We also added a couple of chunks of lipstick to add a smidge of color.
Just wondering what was the purpose (if any) for the honey? Also, I have noticed all of my SPF 15 chapsticks had parabens in them, and one reason I made my own was to go chemical free… I still need to make some by summer with some SPF in there. Any thoughts on what to add?? thanks!! Ann
Coconut oil has some natural SPF to it. Hope that helps.
Coconut oil has an amazing ability to heal the skin and block the damaging effects of UV radiation from the sun. One of the reasons why it is so effective in protecting the skin is its antioxidant properties, which helps prevent burning and oxidative damage that promotes skin cancer.
Look into zinc oxide for SPF 🙂 I don’t have exact measurements but I know that’s what you’re looking for
I just made this! So awesome. I only used a tiny stick of wax, plus the other ingredients, and made a combination of 17 tubs and sticks. Thank you!!
Thanks so much, Sarah 🙂 I really appreciate it.
Hi,
I’m planning on making this in a couple weeks. The beeswax I have is from a health food store. I have access to local raw honey. I’ve even found a double boiler at a thrift store. Just one question…how long and at what kind of temp is “slow and low?” Would it be something like for 20 minutes at a simmer? Is there a temperature to strive for, like 100 or 140 degrees? And could I sub out some of the coconut oil so I could add part of an infused herbal oil?
Sorry for all the questions 🙂 It’s just such a refreshingly nice recipe and I want to make it right.
I’ve never temped the actual mixture, but my stove goes from 0-10, and I melt this on a 5 or a 6 for about 15-20 minutes.
If you sub out coconut oil for a more liquid oil, I’d up the beeswax ratio to make the end product more solid.
I tried your recipe and found that when I melted everything together I could not get it to mix. The wax stayed at the top. The first several tubes I poured were white and waxy and the last few were gold and sticky and didn’t set. Suggestions? Are my proportions wrong?
You have to heat it slow and low; don’t rush allowing all the ingredients to fully incorporate. I didn’t have a problem with things mixing, so if you are, leave out the honey and see if that works better for you.
I found some small jars at Hobby Lobby in with craft paints. They are 35x20mm round about the size of a carmex jar. 4 for $2.99 plus I had a coupon.
I Just wanted to comment to say THANKS for sharing this recipe. I made a batch today and I am already addicted! I’m planning on trying your lotion bar next! Cheers, Kate.
yay, I made it!! I added a few things. My concoction consisted of beeswax, olive oil, vitamin E oil, coconut oil, scented with lemon grass as a bug repellent. So far they smell and look great. It took awhile to get the oils to mix. Thank you for sharing;)
what would you suggest i use to make them different colours? would food colouring (UK) be safe?
From what I’ve seen online, if you want to make then tinted, use a little bit of your favorite lipstick in the mix. I haven’t done it, so I can’t really speak to it.
Hi,
I have just discovered your site and it is awesome…lots of great ideas to try. A question about the chapstick and other things you make that have natural ingredients, are you ever worried about them turning or going bad or rancid? I have never made something natural like this and want to try but I wonder how long they last without going bad if they even do…maybe this is a dumb question but things like this roll around in my brain…lol! Thanks in advance for your response.
Hi, and thanks!
My thinking is that I’ll be able to tell if something has gone bad – the smell, the look, etc. Also, honey is (I think) the only food that never goes bad. It makes me think that beeswax, a product of bees (like honey), has long-storing properties.
I work with someone who used to make her own natural lotion. She just found some in her garage that was over 8 years old, and was still perfectly fine.
honey is the only food that never goes bad because it is too dense for bacteria to go and people actually can use it as a natural preservative
what about using baby food jars?
It would be a huge chapstick, it would work!
thank you, cause i can not find a double boiler anywhere!!! i finally ordered one off amazon, but Im anxious to try this 🙂
also curious if this could be done in a crockpot on high heat for large batches
The point is just to warm the oils enough to melt them, then you blend them together. You shouldn’t have a problem using a crock pot, but low heat would probably suffice. It depends on your pot – due to USDA safety regs, the newer slow cookers get significantly hotter than the old ones.
Also, you can use plastic or glass. 🙂