Protect Your Lips for Summer: DIY Lip Balm Recipes

 

Do-It-Yourself describes me perfectly. If there’s a way to make it myself — I will. I’ve tried my hand at everything from shower scrubs to laundry detergent, crocheted my own dish scrubbies and even mixed my own dry shampoo. It may be faster to just go to the store, but I’m always in favor of the route that lets me control exactly what goes into my finished project – especially if it’s going to end up on my lips or skin. Making it at home allows you to customize anything to suit your tastes, and that means that your end product is chemical-free or contains your absolute favorite scent. For those people with allergies or sensitivities, they can adapt any recipe to to your specific needs. And don’t forget to take into account the cost.  When I discovered that I could make my own lip balm, instead of spending  $4+ per tube, I was totally on board.

In honor of Willow and Sage’s 1-year anniversary in May,  Somerset Place wanted to offer some ideas for homemade bath and body products to add to your collection.

DIY Lip Balm Recipe

This basic lip balm recipe is one of the easiest recipe I’ve seen.  It makes a great base for people looking to play with flavors, tints, and ingredients.

Here’s the basic recipe: 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup beeswax Melt and mix thoroughly in a saucepan on medium heat. See how easy the recipe is? Originally, I added Vanilla essence and peppermint “syrup” flavor, but the creative possibilities are endless. Orange creamsicle flavor can be achieved with orange and vanilla flavoring. Mix almond oil, smooth peanut butter, and honey for peanut butter flavored lip balm! If you’d like to try another interesting flavor combination, here’s a recipe that combines the best of citrus and coconut in a deliciously smooth balm.

Coconut Lemon Lip Balm

Ingredients: 2 tablespoons coconut oil 2 tablespoons olive oil Lemon essential oil – as needed for taste 1 or 1-1/2 tablespoons of beeswax pellets (depending on how firm you want your balm to be) Tins or tubes for the finished product Combine all the ingredients in a Mason jar. Place the jar in boiling water over the stove for 10-15 minutes until everything melts. When melted, pour contents into your tins and let it harden overnight.

Personalizing or Altering Your Containers

Once you’ve perfected your recipe, the fun has only just begun.  Now, you have to decorate your creation! Tins are cute, but they can be a little plain until you add some accents and color. Washi tape is a wonderful option because it sticks well to tins, tubes, and any other storage containers you can think of.  Stickers can also add visual interest. Decorate your tins of lip balm with a circle punched out of Art Pops Sticker Tape, with some Chit Chat word stickers for some added flair.

Gift Packaging

These little tins make perfect gifts and can be made in bulk so that you always have lip balm on hand. They could also be great as party favors, stocking stuffers, and more!If you plan on gifting your lip balm, tying it with a colored ribbon can add an extra level of creativity that the recipient is sure to admire.  Putting it inside a nice gift bag, with some patterned paper or a small doily stapled to the top, can also give it the finishing touches that let that person know you care.

These balms are sure to keep the chapped lips away all summer. For even more homemade bath and body ideas, look inside the latest issue of Willow and Sage. This publication has 144 pages of specialty content to ensure that you are pampered with the latest ideas in natural bath salts and soaks, soaps, face masks, chemical-free make-up, lotions, sugar scrubs, essential oils, and more.