Lip Balms are our most used first aid item. It is so common that most people don’t even think of it as first aid. We carry tubes of lip balm in our cars, purses and coat pockets. When our lips start to feel dry and chapped, the hunt for that elusive tube begins. Whip off the cap, smear it on our lips and … instant relief.
Most commercial lip balms are filled with items that we should not be putting on our skin, let alone near our mouths. Petroleum products, toxic preservatives, colors and pigments from questionable sources, and perfumes that have strayed far from their original botanical origins haunt the ingredient lists. Lip balms are as simple to make as they are to use. It is a child-friendly project depending on the maturity of the child. Remember that that hot oil does burn. Supervise children carefully. I made a batch with my 8-year-old granddaughter with great success. They are also welcomed as gifts. One size fits all.
The recipe listed below is from my own archives. I have used this recipe so often that I have it memorized. It is flexible and forgiving. I have substituted infused almond oil for infused olive oil, beeswax for carnauba wax, and lavender essential oil for an untold number of essential oil choices. I use calendula as my herb to infuse the oil with as it is so healing and gentle to the skin. This is the ingredient that does not vary. The others are a little more fluid. It depends on my mood and my recipients. Offering vegan, nut-free or fragrance-free options shows others how much you care.
This recipe makes 8 ounces which will fill a standard lip balm filling tray. The trays that I use can fill 50 (.15oz) lip balm tubes. Technically, 7.5 ounces are enough to fill 50 lip balm tubes but I added the extra 1/2 ounce to allow for spills and the stuff that gets clogged in the turkey baster/pipette. This is why I suggest another container for the extra lip balm liquid. If you have an extra tube, you can use that to hold the extra balm. Keep in mind that there are other containers that one can use to distribute lip balm but the tubes are the easiest to transport.
Use our salve making recipe for more complete instructions.
Ingredients
- 2 ounces grated Beeswax (by weight)
- 7 ounce Calendula infused almond oil
- 10 drops Lavender essential oil or your personal favorite essential oil
Equipment
- a kitchen scale
- a spatula
- a turkey baster or pipette
- a double boiler
- a glass jar for containing oils during the weight process
- labels
- lip balm tubes with lids
- a small container with a lid to store the remaining product
Procedure
- Gather the ingredients along with the equipment in a clean, well-lit, workspace.
- Using the scale, tare the glass measuring cup.
- Weigh the grated beeswax.
- Pour the calendula infused oil into a clear measuring cup with the beeswax up to the 8-ounce mark.
- Pour the oil and the beeswax into a double boiler and set it on medium-low heat.
- Stir the mixture as the beeswax melts.
- After the beeswax has melted, remove the double boiler from heat and stir in the essential oil.
- Pour the mixture into the lip balm tubes using the turkey baster or pipette.
- Once the balm has solidified, cap the tubes securely.
- Wipe finished tubes with a dry rag to scrub off drips.
- Wipe tubes with a clean rag with rubbing alcohol to get rid of any grease.
- Label the containers with the name of the balm. (See the video below for other tips.)
- Give your balm a one-year expiration date from the date you made the lip balm.
Storage and Use
Store your lip balm in a cool dry place until you are ready to share them with friends. This balm is for external use only.
