- 2 tablespoons beeswax pastilles*, white or yellow
- 2 tablespoons shea butter
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 40+ drops peppermint essential oil (could sub scent of choice or a mix of two**)
- Equipment: chapstick tubes (or small tins/tubs); pipettes or dropper for easy transfer of melted ingredients; rubber band
Homemade Lip Balm (Happy Chappy)
Yield: 12 standard size chapstick tubes (could use little tubs or tiny jars instead)
This lip balm really works. It’s smooth, creamy, and naturally nourishes dry, chapped lips. For added appeal, the light aroma of peppermint blends with the tropical undertones of coconut. That said, you could absolutely experiment with different scents or go fragrance-free. It makes a fun project and a great gift, too.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Melt the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil in a double boiler or small glass bowl set over a small pot of boiling water, stirring constantly until melted. Helpful hint: I’ve found that placing a heat-proof canning jar in a small pot of simmering water works really well, as it keeps the ingredients in a concentrated area, making transfer of all of it easier later. (Make certain to use a canning jar, as the jar will likely break if not heat-proof.)
- Remove the pan from the heat but keep it over the hot water to prevent the mixture from firming up too quickly.
- Add the essential oil until you like the amount of scent. Tip: You can test a small amount of the mixture on your arm to make sure the scent is to your liking.
- Once the essential oil has been added, use the pipette or a dropper to fill the lip balm tubes. I fill the tubes right up to the top. The lip balm will contract slightly as it cools, so it’s fine if the mixture is slightly domed above the top edge of the tube. (Helpful hint: I use a rubber band to hold the tubes together, which keeps them from tipping over during the transfer. Special racks are available, but the rubber band trick works well. See photos.) This must be done quickly since the mixture will start to harden as soon as it is removed from the heat. Tip: if this happens, you can briefly return the pot to the heat to melt it once again.
- Let the tubes sit at room temperature for several hours until cooled and completely hardened before capping them. The lip balm will be a little soft for the first day but will fully set up once it has set overnight.
Notes
*Use an extra teaspoon or two of beeswax if you prefer a firmer lip balm or slightly less if you prefer a softer balm. As is, the lip balm is perfect for me – it’s creamy and coats nicely without squishing when you use it. If you’re striving for a particular texture, you can put a few drops of the melted mixture on a piece of parchment paper and let it harden in the refrigerator for a quick test before transferring the remaining mixture to the tubes.
**For the scent, I stick with peppermint, although Libby has used orange and a combination of orange and peppermint, which is quite nice, too. I think spearmint and other citrus flavors would be appealing, and adding vanilla to any of these scents would likely be lovely, too.