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DIY lip balm is not only an easy and quick project, it’s a fun one too! It’s an easy to make recipe and I guarantee your first batch will be perfect! This beeswax lip balm recipe contains only natural ingredients and is very similar to the favorite Burt’s Bees lip balm.
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Unlike my other natural lip balm recipes, this organic lip balm recipe’s main ingredient is beeswax. A homemade beeswax lip balm is a long wearing, hard balm. It holds up well in the hotter months yet relieves dry skin instantly.
Making your own homemade beauty products often starts with a diy lip balm recipe because they are simple and rewarding. All you need are the right ingredients and a few common kitchen tools. I have written a detailed post that tells you exactly how to make lip balm.
Burt’s Bees was relevant before we knew we were using toxic beauty products! I guess you could say they are at the forefront of the natural beauty movement! The one big product I always remember is their plain ole lip balm. Tried and true-peppermint beeswax lip balm is a must-have during the winter season. In fact, I use it no matter what the season! Recreating this simple lip balm is a breeze!
Why Make Your Own Lip Balm?
Conventional lip balms often contain questionable ingredients.
- Fragrance or flavor can be the most toxic ingredients in today’s cosmetics. Did you know that beauty companies are not legally required to disclose what chemicals make up “fragrance” or “flavor” on their labels. What a tricky loop hole. Fragrance is a huge endocrine disruptor and is an important ingredient to omit from all your personal products as well as detergents.
- Parabens are used as a preservatives and can be detrimental to your hormones. They are known to increase the risk of breast cancer and other reproductive issues.
- Petroleum jelly is a highly refined oil made from fossil fuel. Not only does it block our pores, it also contains carcinogens and chemicals known to cause estrogen dominance. I stir very clear of petroleum based products because you can actually make your own vaseline with the same consistency in the same way we’re making this homemade lip balm!
- Synthetic dyes are often added to lip balms and are composed of heavy metals that cause allergies and irritation, and can accumulate in the body and eventually cause cancer.
Making your own lip balm ensures that you have full control over what is in your product.
Why Not Just Buy a Burt’s Bees Lip Balm?
Burt’s Bees has been around as long as I can remember. They are known for natural products. They also introduced the world to beeswax and highlighted the beauty of bees! However, in 2008 Burt’s Bees was sold to Clorox and in order to mass produce products, the ingredient list has had to evolve to cheaper, filler ingredients that are more shelf stable. Lanolin, canola and soybean oil have been added which are cheap and not ideal. It is also questionable whether Burt’s Bees is still cruelty free.
How Do You Make Lip Balm from Beeswax?
In DIY skin care, beeswax is typically used to turn carrier oils into a solid balm that can be applied to the skin. Because beeswax is extremely hard, an oil like sunflower oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, olive oil, sweet almond oil etc. must be added in order for pure beeswax to be spreadable.
When oil is combined with beeswax pastilles you must use a makeshift double boiler (see photo below) the heat melts the 2 ingredients together. Once the concoction is combined, let it cool and you have a balm! You can make lotion bars, cleansing oils and healing salves in this exact way.
Is Beeswax Good for Lip Balm?
Beeswax is perfect for lip balms. It creates luxurious, creamy products and I love working with it.
Not only does beeswax make an oil into a balm, it also moisturizes the skin, helps accelerate healing and acts as a protective barrier over the skin.
If you are vegan and prefer not to use an animal product but still would like to make this homemade lip balm recipe you can substitute beeswax for candelilla wax.
What Ingredients Are In Beeswax Lip Balm?
Typically a good lip balm contains plant based organic oils, beeswax and sometimes a solid butter like shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter. Butters make a diy lip balm extra creamy! You can add your favorite essential oils to flavor as well as treat specific conditions.
I used organic coconut oil and sunflower seed oil in this beeswax lip balm recipe because I was trying to get as close to the Burt’s Bees product as possible but you could use whatever oils you have on hand.
What Containers Can Be Used for DIY Beeswax Lip Balm?
Because beeswax is the first ingredient in the Burt’s Bee’s ingredient list, that usually means that it is what the product contains the most of. This will make a pretty hard lip balm which works well when you put them in a lip balm tube. You can also choose stainless steel lip balm tins. Glass jars are also a good option.
This recipe makes about 12 of the little tubes and about 4 of THESE tubes. (these are what is pictured)
Where to find the Best Beeswax:
I prefer to get my beeswax from Mountain Rose Herbs which is one of my favorite brands to get high quality carrier oils and essential oils. I have yet to find a beeswax with as high a quality as theirs. I’ll be honest, it is hard to find quality beeswax. Often times there are synthetic fillers added to it. Plus, do the the method of extracting bees from the wax, beeswax can have a smoke smell rather than it’s typical sweet subtle scent.
I have used THESE white beeswax pastilles from Amazon and they have worked well but there were hit and miss reviews.
Find Mountain Rose Herbs beeswax HERE.
>>Beeswax isn’t solely used to thicken up oils. It is also beneficial for the skin! It actually conditions the skin while creating a protective barrier.<<
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm Ingredients:
cera alba (beeswax, cire d’abeille), cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, lanolin, tocopherolrosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil (huile de colza), limonene.
Ingredients & Equipment Needed for Beeswax Lip Balm:
- Sunflower Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Vitamin E Oil
- Beeswax Pastilles
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Small Pot
- Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup
- Spoon to Stir
- Lip Balm Containers
- Labels *optional*
Continue to Content
Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe (Burt's Bees Dupe)
Yield: 4 ounces Prep Time: 5 minutes Active Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes
Learn how to make a peppermint beeswax lip balm that is very similar to Burt's Bees lip balm! Making lip balm is an easy project that will nourish your lips using all natural ingredients!
Materials
- 2 heaping TBSP. Beeswax
- 2 TBSP. Organic Coconut Oil
- 1 TBSP. Sunflower Seed Oil
- 15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 1 tsp. Vitamin E Oil
Tools
- Double Boiler (Small Pot + Glass Pyrex Measuring Cup)
- Lip Balm Containers
- Labels (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a medium post 1/2 way full with water.
- Place a glass measuring cup with a spout in the water.
- Turn the stove top to medium.
- Add beeswax, coconut oil and sunflower seed oil and heat until beeswax is completely melted.
- Remove from heat and add peppermint essential oil and vitamin E oil.
- Pour into lip balm tubes.
- Allow to cool.
- Enjoy!
Notes
This recipe makes about 4 ounces which is about 12 lip balm tubes.
Feel free to substitue coconut oil and sunflower seed oil for other oils you might already have.
Did you make this product?
Alternative Scent Options for Beeswax Lip Balm:
If you’re not into peppermint oil, you might consider grapefruit essential oil or orange essential oil! It only takes 5-10 drops of essential oil to customize this lip balm recipe.
I get my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs or Plant Therapy.
Do You Need A Preservative When Making Beeswax Lip Balm?
No preservative is needed!! Since we are only working with oil based ingredients (beeswax, oil, butter) the shelf life is around 6 months. It is water that is a breeding ground for bacteria so when water isn’t present in a recipe, no preservative is necessary!
DIY Lip balms are very easy to make and the perfect starting point if you’re interested in DIY skin care. It literally takes a few minutes and the ingredients will allow you to make tons of lip balm tubes along with other beauty products!
The only rule you need for DIY lip balm is that you must add beeswax to harden it up! You can play with your beeswax to oil proportions as well. When I put my lip balms in a tin, I want them to be softer so I reduce the beeswax quite a bit.
This beeswax lip balm recipe is so quick and affordable, it makes for a perfect gift! Homemade items are a great way to show your loved ones you went the extra mile!
As a bonus, this beeswax lip balm recipe can also double as a hand salve! It is so incredibly nourishing that I have been know to rub it on my hands in the winter months or after a rough day in the garden!
I hope I’ve inspired you to get in the kitchen! Get creative and take control of your beauty products. This natural beeswax lip balm recipe is the perfect place to start! Not only is it simple, it’s fun! Getting started with making your own products is actually quite simple!
More DIY Lip Balm Recipes:
- Peppermint Lip Balm in an Altoid Tin
- Mint Chocolate Lip Balm
- Raspberry Vanilla Lip Balm
- Tinted Lip Balm
- CoQ10 Squalane Lip Treatment
xx, Jenni
P.S. Almost forgot the label-and it’s a cutie! I used THESE Avery labels on the big lip balm tubes and I would use THESE on the small tubes. You can upload this design to Avery and print from there!
PIN IT!
