The best DIY essential oil lip balm

Want to keep your lips silky smooth all year round? Rejuvenate and protect dry, chapped lips with this simple four-ingredient DIY essential oil lip balm. Why is this recipe the best? You can make a whole year supply of all-natural lip balm in under 10 minutes, that's why! Learn how to make it at home with our easy recipe and never buy lip balm again!

Jump to:

• How to make DIY essential oil lip balm
• Watch the video tutorial
• Cleaning up
• Recipe Variations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Comments

I am a total lip balm addict. I can hardly go past a couple of hours before my lips start to feel dry and uncomfortable, and I find myself reaching for my lip balm.

For years I used supermarket brand lip balms and had no idea most were petroleum based. Yep that's right. Dervided from crude oil! Get the low-down on the use of petroleum jelly in lip balms.

Even many of the 'natural' ones were packed with questionable synthetic ingredients and preservatives. Definitely not something I want to be putting on my skin every day!

Armed with this knowledge I started overhauling my bathroom cabinet and investing in all natural products like this Natural Edible Lip Balm by MooGoo which I absolutely love.

In my quest to live more simply, and save money, I decided to go one step further and make my own DIY essential oil lip balm.

I find things always seem a lot harder to do then they actually are, and this recipe is no exception. To make DIY essential oil lip balm all you have to do is melt four simple ingredients together, add your essential oil and pour the mixture into containers.

It's so quick and easy you can make a whole year supply of lip balm in about 5 minutes!

I like to use rose geranium oil to make lip balm because it's safe for topical application, smells amazing and offers a host of health benefits including antioxidants and antibacterial/antiviral protection.

DIY essential oil lip balm also makes the perfect homemade gift, along with other skin treats like my DIY bath salts.

How to make DIY essential oil lip balm

This recipe makes approx. 12 x 5ml lip balms.

Equipment

• Small cup or dish (to hold filled lip balm tubes upright)
• Baking paper
• Saucepan (pick a size that will fit a heatproof glass bowl sitting on top, or use a double boiler)
• Heatproof glass bowl
• Silicone spatular
• Glass jug
• 12 x 5ml Lip Balm Tubes
• Paper towel

Note: You can totally just make do with whatever equipment you have at home. The equipment listed is just what I find easiest to use and clean.

Ingredients

• 1 generous tablespoon Coconut oil
• 1 generous tablespoon Beeswax
• 1 generous tablespoon Shea butter
• 5 - 10 drops Rose geranium essential oil, or your preferred essential oil

Note: All up you want to make about 60 ml of melted formula.

Method

1. Line small cup or dish with a square of baking paper and stand the empty lip balm tubs upright, supporting each other, ready to be filled. Make sure the lip balm tubes are wound down.
2. Fill saucepan one third full with water and bring to the boil.
3. Reduce the heat to low and place glass bowl on top of the saucepan. Make sure the glass isn't touching the water (pour some water out if required).
4. Add coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter to the glass bowl.
5. Stir over heat until melted and well combined.
6. Pour mixture into a pre-warmed glass jug, add essential oil and mix well.
7. Slowly pour the lip balm mixture into the tubes, stopping just before the top. Be careful not to overflow.
8. Place the lip balms into the freezer. Allow to set for 30 minutes.
9. Once set, the lip balm is ready to use. Store in a cool dark place.

Watch the video tutorial

Cleaning up

To clean your glass bowl and jug, first scrape the remaining balm from the sides with your spatular. Don't want to waste these bits, simply pop them into a little container with a lid to use at home.

Then fill the bowl and jug with hot water. The balm will melt and you can wipe the residue away with paper towel before washing up normally.

Recipe Variations

Experiment and try these ideas:

• To make a tinted balm, add a small amount of beetroot powder, along with the essential oil, until the desired shade is achieved.
• To make a softer balm, increate the ratio of coconut oil. For a harder balm increase the ratio of beeswax.
• Substitute cocoa butter for shea butter for a yummy chocolatey flavour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of DIY essential oil lip balm?

• Enhanced with essential oils for health benefits
• Cost effective
• Simple all-natural ingredients
• Allows the skin to breath
• Scented or unscented
• Quick to make
• Easy and fun
• Gift idea

Which essential oils are safe for DIY lip balm?

Rose geranium, rose, chamomile and lavender essential oils are generally considered safe for topical application at up to 5% concentration.

Avoid phytotoxic oils, such as citrus oils, which become toxic when exposed to sunlight.

Peppermint oil should not be used on infants or children.

Do some research and make sure you use an oil that's safe for your individual circumstances.

You should always patch test essential oils on your skin prior to use. Find out more about using essential oils safely.

What are the best containers for DIY essential oil lip balm ?

I prefer to use refillable, wind-up plastic tubes but you could also use push-up cardboard tubes or tins if you want to avoid plastic.

This recipe is also a wonderful way to upcycle any small, clean make up containers you may have around the house.

If you love DIY natural beauty don't miss our DIY bath salts and easy two-ingredient leave in conditioner!