A mix of cosmetic waxes, butter, carrier, and essential oils is all you need to learn to make lip balm with essential oils. It's quick and easy—the perfect entry point to learning how to make aromatherapy cosmetics and toiletries. Waxes, like beeswax and hemp wax, are excellent mediums to mix with cosmetic butter like Shea butter and Mango butter. Adding Glycerine as a humectant draws moisture from the air to hydrate your precious lips.
Use essential oils like Rose Geranium, Melissa, and Sweet Orange alongside wonderfully nourishing carrier oils like Argan, Rosehip, and Jojoba, a perfect formula for soft, supple, kissable lips. Color them with powders like Cocoa, Beetroot, and Alkanet Root if you're feeling clever. Lip balms are perfect for on-the-go, hectic lifestyles, and hydration at your fingertips.
Lip balm is one of the easiest projects to get started with to create your handmade aromatherapy products.
So quick and easy and does not require many weird and wonderful ingredients.
You can go right as long as you follow the specified weights and measures.
Even if you do, rectifying is effortless, so it is relatively foolproof. They are a joy to use at any time of the year, especially now as the seasons change and temperatures fluctuate.
What is Lip Balm?
Lip Balms are wax-based salves or balms used to prevent or ease chapped dry lips. Alternatively, they can add a cosmetic shine or sheen to the lips; sometimes, they will be tinted for this purpose.
Not all lip balms are the same, and you need to place close attention to the ingredients. Paraffin-based waxes can be drying, as can essential oils high in phenols. These are best avoided.
In this article, we'll focus on making plant-based lip balms. The natural ingredients will reduce the chances of further drying delicate lip skin but provide you with intense moisturization.
One of the best waxes to use for lip balms is beeswax. I like hemp wax, too, if you can get some. Wax offers that protective layer to lock in the benefits of any butter and carrier or essential oils in the recipe.
Shea butter and Mango butter are great ingredients to add. They bring intense, soothing, intensive care to the party for your lips.
Projects like this use very few ingredients, so it is a perfect place to try making something for yourself relatively cheaply and get excellent results with a fabulous product.
Choosing Essential Oils to Use Safely In Lip Balm
Remember that when you choose an essential oil for its fragrance, it might smell tremendous but taste foul. I have done this myself with essential oil blends; I presumed, because it smelled fantastic, that it would be ok. One of them was, in fact, utterly horrid.
I am not advocating tasting your essential oils; do NOT do this. They are not all safe for ingestion. Check out other lip balm recipes from trusted professionals and see what they are using; you can consider it tried and tested when you see an essential oil popping up repeatedly.
Essential oils from the mint family or citrus essential oils are usually what first come to mind, but some of these can be quite drying to the skin, so they need careful balancing and thoughtful inclusion.
My top five essential oils for use in lip balms are as follows.
Rose Otto Essential Oil (Rosa Damascena)
Rose Otto essential oil is a profound experience at any time, instantly transporting you to floral heaven. It is an excellent oil to make you feel better about yourself, connecting you to love, compassion, and confidence. Rose is like a hug from the angel of the British Summer garden. It is deeply nourishing on your lips and one of the best skin food your money can buy. A little goes a very long way and is a worthwhile investment.
Melissa Essential Oil (Melissa Officinalis)
Melissa is the second hug from that angel of the British Summer Garden. Melissa comes from the lemon or bee balm plant and is beloved in our families' households for its excellent properties and wonderful fragrance. Liz will have much to say about Melissa this week, so pop across and read her article.
According to Davies (1988) in A-Z of aromatherapy, "Melissa in low concentrations is a precious oil indeed in treating eczema and other skin problems. I find it can heal skin contusions, like chapped lips, very nicely".
Melissa can also be used in lip balms for cold sores, alongside other essential oils like Helichrysum and Eucalyptus. Take a look at the links in the Banish Balm recipe.
Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium asperum var Roseum)
Rose Geranium essential oil is also one of my favorites for fragrance; now you have to ensure you are not too heavy-handed because if you put too much, it will smell amazing but not taste so great.
It is another essential oil with a long history of being used for various skin conditions. It is a beautifully soothing oil that can help elevate your mood and make you feel a bit brighter.
My friend used to keep a tin of my Rose and Rose Geranium Lip Balm in her handbag, and she would get it out and put a dab under her nose* if someone a bit stinky got on the bus and was a bit too close. It is a dual purpose, for sure!
Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus Sinensis L)
Sweet Orange essential oil makes for a beautiful lip balm, but you do need to watch how much you add as you don't want to contribute to drying your delicate lip skin any further than it already is. Keep the ratio to about 1.5% of the total volume.
Its bright and uplifting aroma can transport you to another place. Maybe to the hills of Southern Spain, where you can pluck an orange straight from the tree. Wherever you go in your mind, you are sure to find yourself calmer and uplifted.
Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber Officinale)
Ginger essential oil is one of my favorite pairings with Sweet Orange essential oil. Ginger has a deeply warming sensation, and Sweet Orange offers an enlivening and uplifting aroma. This combination is excellent if you suffer from nausea*.
Ginger also pairs well with many other essential oils and stands beside the florals, lending a deliciously spicy, deeper layer to the fragrance. It doesn't taste bad, either.
If your lips feel swollen and tight, ginger is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent for soothing, warming relief.
*It's a small step to make a lip balm into a solid perfume that you can use for similar purposes—more on this in the recipe below.
Lip Balm with Essential Oils Recipe
I will give you a handful of variations here to give you a good variety of natural lip balm ingredients; choose what appeals to you most.
Be bold and try them out because one might suit your skin type better. Find the one that works for you the best. Bear in mind that this may change at different types of the year and in periods of inclement weather.
Before we begin - let me mention the benefit of using an infused carrier oil. This is where you take a herb and steep it in a carrier oil to impart some of its properties into the carrier oil itself. This is also a great way of utilizing Lemon Balm and Rose if you find the cost of the oils prohibitive. You won't get the same effects, but you may get some of the same properties.
Check out the Nerdy Farm Wife for many ideas on infusing carrier oils with dried herbs and flowers.
Equipment
- Double boiler or a mason jar and a saucepan (Have an oven glove to hand too).
- Stainless steel spoon or stirrer
- Lip Balm tubes, tins, plastic pots, or glass jars.
- Labels
Ingredients
- Beeswax or Hemp wax
- Selection of carrier oils - Infused is excellent!
- Shea, Cocoa, or Mango Butter
- Glycerine
- Selection of essential oils
Optional
- Natural preservatives - follow the individual manufacturers' guidelines.
- Natural colorants like Alkanet Root, Beetroot, or Cocoa powders
Method
The method is straightforward. You would take all of your ingredients except the essential oils and melt them very slowly in the double boiler (or a mason jar set in a saucepan over low heat, with 1.5" of room temperature water). Stir to combine well. Remove from the heat and add the essential oils; mix well. Then decant into your chosen containers and label clearly and accurately with all ingredients.
It is not much of a step to make solid perfume. You would use more beeswax and hard butter. You could also up the essential oil content a bit more, as you will not apply it to your lips; this would intensify the fragrance.
Luscious Lip Balms with Essential Oils - Tried and Trusted Professional Recipes
| Coming up Roses Lip Balm | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| This is just delightful, like being dropped in a bed of rose petals. Hydrating and soothing, perfect for use anytime. | |||
| 2 Tbsp Beeswax or Hemp Wax | 1 Tbsp Shea Butter |
6 Tsp Jojoba Carrier Oil (Optional -infuse with dried rose petals) |
1 Tsp Glycerine |
| Optional color: ½ tsp Beetroot Powder | |||
| Essential Oil Blend | |||
| 15 drops of Rose Otto Essential Oil (Rosa damascena) | 15 drops of Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium asperum var roseum) | ||
| Safety: Not for use if first 37 weeks of pregnancy. | |||
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Method: Take all of your ingredients except the essential oils and melt them very slowly in the double boiler over a low heat, (or a mason jar set in a saucepan with 1.5” of room temperature water). Stir to combine well. Remove from the heat and add the essential oils, combine well. Then decant into your chosen containers. Label with all ingredients |
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How to Use: Apply to lips as needed, up to six times a day. NOTE: If you feel you need it more times a day, reduce the shea butter a little and use more jojoba carrier oil. |
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| Orange and Ginger Zinger Lip Balm | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| That amazing uplifting and warming combo that I am so fond of. Might smell amazing but it is also packed full of properties to soothe and restore. | |||
| 2 Tbsp Beeswax or Hemp Wax | 1 Tbsp Cocoa Butter |
6 Tsp Coconut MCT Carrier Oil (Optional- infused with dried orange zest). |
1 Tsp Glycerine |
| Optional color: ½ tsp Cocoa Powder | |||
| Essential Oil Blend | |||
| 7 drops of Ginger Essential Oil (Zingiber officinale) | 10 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil (Citrus sinensis L) | 3 drops of Cardamom Essential Oil (Elettaria cardamomum) | 10 drops of Mandarin Essential Oil (Citrus reticulata) |
| Safety: Not for use if first 16 weeks of pregnancy. | |||
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Method: Take all of your ingredients except the essential oils and melt them very slowly in the double boiler over a low heat, (or a mason jar set in a saucepan with 1.5” of room temperature water). Stir to combine well. Remove from the heat and add the essential oils, combine well. Then decant into your chosen containers. Label with all ingredients |
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| How to Use: Apply to lips as needed, up to six times a day. | |||
| Intensive Care Lip Balm | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Fed up of chapped lips and disappointed in store bought balms? Try this and you will never look back. Packed with ingredients to facilitate healing and bring an equilibrium back to both skin and mind. |
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| 2 Tbsp Beeswax Or Hemp wax |
1 Tbsp Shea Butter ½ Tbsp Mango Butter |
1 Tsp Rosehip Carrier Oil 5 tsp Argan Carrier Oil (Optional - infused with dried Chamomile and Lavender flowers) |
1 tsp Glycerine |
| Optional color: ½ tsp Alkanet Root Powder | |||
| Essential Oil Blend | |||
| 8 drops of Roman Chamomile Essential Oil (Anthemis nobilis L.) | 7 drops of Myrrh Essential Oil (Commiphora Myrrha) | 12 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia) |
3 drops of Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum splendida) |
| Safety: Not for use in first 37 weeks of pregnancy. | |||
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Method: Take all of your ingredients except the essential oils and melt them very slowly in the double boiler over a low heat, (or a mason jar set in a saucepan with 1.5” of room temperature water). Stir to combine well. Remove from the heat and add the essential oils, combine well. Then decant into your chosen containers. Label with all ingredients |
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How to Use: Apply to lips as needed, up to six times a day. NOTE: If you feel you need it more times a day, reduce the shea and mango butter a little and use more Argan carrier oil. You can also reduce the wax and add some Manuka honey but be careful it does not split, if it does split, try less wax and less honey. |
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| Banish Balm | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Struggling with cold sores and not sure what to try next? This is the perfect antidote to carry with you wherever you go. Packed with incredible essential oils to fight the HPV but also facilitate the healing of the skin. See some of the science behind the essential oils choices: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus Melissa Essential Oil |
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2 Tbsp Beeswax or Hemp Wax |
½ Tbsp Shea Butter ½ Tbsp Mango Butter |
5 Tsp Tamanu Carrier Oil 1 Tsp Rosehip Carrier Oil (Optional - Infused with dried Lemon Balm) |
1 Tsp Glycerine |
| Optional color: ½ tsp Lemon Balm Powder | |||
| Essential Oil Blend | |||
| 3 drops of Melissa Essential Oil (Melissa Officinalis) | 10 drops of Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum splendida) | 10 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) |
10 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus Globulus) |
| Safety: Not for use in first 16 weeks of pregnancy. | |||
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Method: Take all of your ingredients except the essential oils and melt them very slowly in the double boiler over a low heat, (or a mason jar set in a saucepan with 1.5” of room temperature water). Stir to combine well. Remove from the heat and add the essential oils, combine well. Then decant into your chosen containers. Label with all ingredients |
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How to Use: Apply to lips as needed, up to six times a day. NOTE: If you feel you need it more times a day, reduce the shea and mango butter a little and use more Tamanu carrier oil. You can also reduce the wax and add some Manuka honey but be careful it does not split, if it does split, try less wax and less honey. |
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Tips for Making Lip Balm with Essential Oils
Choosing The Right Carrier Oil
There are so many beautiful carrier oils to choose from, and it can be unclear when selecting one that is most suitable for you. To make Lip Balms stick to simple choices.
Jojoba Carrier Oil is the one that most closely resembles our sebum, so it is fantastic for everyday use.
Tamanu Carrier Oil is the carrier oil for dry, cracked skin or cold sores. Ansel (2016) found that it facilitates skin healing and can help with the speedier recovery of skin wounds.
Rosehip Carrier Oil is excellent for healing and soothing the skin. It has profound anti-inflammatory effects and can help when your lips feel inflamed or swollen. I use it when my lips swell after eating too many Salt and Vinegar crisps, and it works a treat. Of course, I’d instead treat the swelling than eat fewer crisps!
I imagine it’s great if you’ve also been kissing too much.
Argan Carrier Oil is a fantastic nourishing carrier oil and is like food for your skin. Argan oil benefits derive from its composition of 80% essential fatty acids (omega 6 & 9). These potent antioxidants can soften the skin even better than Shea butter can.
It hydrates the skin, increasing flexibility and plumpness in the complexion while removing the fine lines and wrinkles that appear around our mouth as we age.
Adding Color and Scent to Lip Balm
You can add natural colors to your homemade lip balm recipe using fine powders like beetroot, alkanet root, and cocoa powder. They won’t give you solid coverage like a lipstick but will create a subtle tint instead.
Natural colorant powders are easy to use; ensure they are well-sifted and mixed in thoroughly and that there are no lumps in the final product.
I don’t recommend synthetic colorants, but you can color them how you see fit. Ensure that your chosen colorant is non-toxic, food safe, and scientifically tested as skin safe.
The essential oils lend their own scents, and you will unlikely need to add any other fragrance.
However, there may be times when you want to create a more potent fragrance without using essential oil. In that instance, you could add fragrance oils to your DIY lip balm. Again, they need to be non-toxic, food-safe, and skin safe.
Storing your Homemade Lip Balm Safely
Always keep your homemade lip balm in a tightly sealed container. Keep it cool and ambient away from strong fluctuations of temperature.
Make sure that your fingers are clean and dust-free if you have a pot where you are applying the balm with your fingers. You need to be cautious about adding unwanted bacteria to your pot as it contributes to it aging much faster.
Keeping your lip balm in the fridge will make it last a little longer, but it tends to make it much harder to use consistently.
Using a preservative will extend its shelf life. However, times vary from product to product.
The recipes given here should last at least 3 months. I have been using lip balms made from the same recipe many months later, which are still fine. If they look dodgy and smell odd, it’s time to make another batch.
The Final Word
Whatever your lip balm needs, you will find something here.
There is also plenty of scope for experimentation with lip balms; try different waxes, cosmetic butter, and carrier oils. Introduce natural colorants and make a subtle lip tint; alkanet root is excellent for this.
Try those recommended essential oils like Rose and Sweet Orange in different combinations until you find something that really sings to you.
Try those different carrier oils and adapt your lip balm as your needs change throughout the seasons.
Your lips are one thing that people notice, as people often look at your mouth when you talk. It is worth caring for them and ensuring they are in tip-top condition.
If you are dating, you will want to keep them soft, supple, and perfectly kissable.
Now that you have learned how to make lip balms with essential oils, go and enjoy this quick, easy process that delivers excellent results. Remember the tips and tricks for tweaking your recipes for the perfect finish.
