DIY Beeswax Lip Balm
Learn how to make beeswax lip balm with simple ingredients and step by step directions. A natural nourishing option for keeping lips smooth and hydrated- it is a perfect solution for lip care. Learn how to make your own with this simple and customizable recipe.
Making homemade lip balm is one of the easiest projects using beeswax. There is also room for variations – perhaps you like one type of oil over another. The process is very forgiving and you can often melt it and try again.
How to Make Lip Balm (with Beeswax)
Of course, there are many different kinds of lip care products to purchase that are premade and ready to go! Some of them are even made with natural ingredients.
However, the only way to truly know what is in a product is to produce it yourself. Making your own homemade beeswax lip balm is so easy – anyone can have success.
And, it is economical too. You can make several diy lip care products with beeswax for the cost of one commercial product (such as Bert’s Bees).
Materials
So what do you need for your beeswax lip balm recipe? Thankfully, the ingredient list is very short.
- beeswax
- oils
- fragrance/flavor (optional)
Beeswax for Lip Balm
Making homemade beeswax lip balm is one of the best ways to use this natural wax. If you are a beekeeper or know one, obtain some pure raw beeswax. However, expect to have to clean your beeswax before use. This is the most economical option.
Of course, you can buy beeswax ready to use in bar form or beeswax pastilles. The smaller forms are easier to melt and measure but they do cost more. Read labels carefully to ensure that you are buying pure beeswax.
As wonderful as beeswax is for lip balm, it does need a little help. Try rubbing a stick of wax on your lips – it doesn’t work. We need some oils or butters to change the viscosity of the end product.
Oils and Butters
There are many different combinations of oils and butters that you can use in making lip balm. Each type of oil whether olive oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil, etc has beneficial properties.
You don’t have to get fancy try:
- palm oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil
- castor oil (optional) Adding for extra smoothness
Everyone has a personal preference-and honestly it is about personal preference as much as anything.
Butters are often used because they add a richness to the end product. Popular options (shea butter, cocoa butter and mango butter).
Some recipes call for the use of shea butter. I choose to not use it in my beeswax lip balm recipe due to an increased risk of allergies.
Using Fragrance or Sweeteners
In my beeswax lip balm recipes, I choose to use a small amount of essential oil (skin safe). Not all are suited for use in cosmetic products – do your research first!
You can order flavor oil for lip balm, popular options are: peppermint oil, spearmint, cinnamon, orange, lemon and lime. Some of these contain sweeteners – check their ingredient label.
Candle and soap fragrance is not the same thing as fragrance oil for lips – read your label instructions.
I do not add sweetener to my beeswax lip balm. Of course you can, but I feel that it promotes lip licking and leads to chapped lips due to a tendency to lick the sweet substance.
Lip Balm Recipes – Rule of 3rds
There are many combinations of ingredients used to make lip care products. Most recipes are based on a rule of 3’s.
One third wax, one third oil that is liquid at (warm) room temperature and one third oil that is always liquid.
Of course, the variations to this basic recipe are endless. You can make the ingredients as simple or as complex as you wish.
Equipment
You don’t need much equipment to make beeswax lip balm. A heat source, some type of melting container (double boiler is best) and you will need lip balm tubes or similar containers.
Containers – Tubes
There are many types and colors of lip balm containers. So many that you may have a hard time decided what to use. I usually decide on the basic plastic lip balm tubes that screw up from the bottom.
If you like to apply the product with your finger, sliding lip balm tins are nice. When made from the proper mixture of wax and oils, the tubes should not leak under normal conditions.
I would not leave them in a hot car during Summer. I can also testify that the washer and dryer are not good environments for these products.
Making Lip Balm Step by Step
1. After measuring out your ingredients (remember the rule of thirds). Begin by melting your beeswax.
I use a double boiler method to melt my wax. This may be a stainless steel double boiler or a glass measuring cup inside a pot of water.
Yes, you can melt it in the microwave but I don’t recommend it. With a flash point of around 490 °F it can overheat and burn easily. Slow and steady using low heat is the best option.
2. Once the beeswax is melted, add the oils and/or butters and stir well until everything is liquified again. Now, remove it from heat and add vitamin E oil (if desired) and essential oils or fragrance oils. Stir.
3. If you have one of the special trays that hold lip balm tubes – they are wonderful. Pour the mixture into your prepared tubes. It is okay to run it over a little bit because as the wax cools you will notice dips in the top.
You can go back in a couple of minutes and pour a bit more material on the sunken spots if you wish. Let the balm cool completely.
4. Scrape off the overflow mixture on top – I save it to remelt and reuse. Then remove the lip balm tubes from the holder and place a cap on each one.
Expert Tips
Always begin with clean wax. Cleaning beeswax of excess honey, dirt, etc makes it easier to work with and suitable for all projects.
I prefer blocks of raw wax (but I am a beekeeper and have it on hand.) However, using beeswax pellets is perfectly fine – just make sure there are no added ingredients.
Measure your ingredients using a scale. I prefer to use grams as it allows for more precise measuring but ounces will work as well.
One of the great things about this project is that you can make a large batches of lip balms. Divide it into 3 or more parts and use different fragrances for each one.
More Ideas
Don’t stop now, there are many cool project you can make with a little beeswax.
If you like the idea of reducing the use of plastic in your home, these natural beeswax food wraps are great. You can also personalize them with your favorite fabric colors.
If you love the idea of homeopathic remedies, consider whipping up a batch of honey aloe vera burn salve -it contains aloe and is great on small scrapes too.
Or to further pamper your skin – try this beeswax body butter or this wonderful Natural DIY Face Moisturizer.
FAQs
No, you can not make lip balm using only beeswax. Beeswax does not flow at room temperature (or skin temperature). Adding oils or butters to wax creates a smoother spreadable lip care product.
Beeswax is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It also serves to lock in moisture and provides a little natural UV block. But, beeswax is easy to melt and combine with other ingredients too. That makes it a good lip balm ingredient.
It is important to remember that anyone can be allergic to anything. If you are sensitive to allergens, only use a small amount at first to see how your skin reacts. Also consider talking to your doctor.
No, beeswax does not dry out lips. It acts as a barrier to hold moisture in and protect your lips.
In general, a chapstick (also a brand name) would be a harder, heavier mixture while lip balm is more moisturizing and glides on smoother. However, you will hear the terms used interchangeably.
A Final Word
One of the most important benefits of making beeswax lip balm – when you make your own products, you know what is in it! No unknown chemicals, preservatives or other substances will be present.
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Homemade Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Read my Disclosure.Supplies
- 27 grams Beeswax
- 31 grams Palm Oil
- 25 grams Sweet Almond Oil
- 7 grams Castor Oil
- 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil
- 6 drops Peppermint Essential Oil (optional)
- 16 pieces lip balm tubes
Instructions
- Melt the Beeswax: Using a double boiler is a safe way to liquify your wax. I can not express enough how much I love these light-weight double boiler inserts. I have several and find them so handy.
- Add in Other Oils: When most of the wax is melted, add the palm oil, sweet almond oil and castor oil. Stir gently. Sometimes I use a microwave for these but you can just add them to your double boiler too. Once everything is liquid, mix well and remove from heat.
- Add Vitamin E (and fragrance oil if scent is desired)Now is the time to add a small amount of vitamin E. You may purchase liquid vitamin E from a craft supply. Or for a small batch, vitamin E capsules can be cut open and the content inside used. Vitamin E prolongs the freshness.If desired add a fragrance oil to the mixture. Use the ratios provided by the manufacturer with your fragrance oil and be sure that it is approved for cosmetic use. Honestly, I don’t use it.
- Pouring Mixture Into Tubes: Before the melted ingredients begin to cool too much, we must pour it into our tubes. The use of a special tray to hold the tubes is a very valuable aid. However, it is not a requirement and you can certainly pour them by hand.
- Filling tubes: Fill each tube.Don’t worry about a little over flow – the tray will catch it. And, it is easily cleaned up once cool.
- Cool and Clean: Let the tubes cool and they will harden to a semi-solid consistency.A flat scrapper can be used to scrape the excess ingredients off the tray and be stored in a container for use later.
- Cool and Set: After an hour – Remove the cool tubes from the tray and top with the provided caps. Your lip balm is ready for a label .
Notes
- This is a basic recipe for homemade beeswax lip balm. You can make adjustments.