Treat Yourself with This Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

Lips and eyes are the two features of the face that we love to focus on when it comes to makeup and skin care. However, when seasons change or dry weather hits, our lips can become less than luscious. Care and attention are required to keep your lips kissable, smooth, and moisturized. 

Creating a homemade lip balm with natural ingredients is one way to add moisture to your puckers. Not only will you feel more comfortable, but you can apply your favorite lipstick color and feel confident for any occasion.

Top tips for healing dry and chapped lips

Smacking some chapstick on your lips is not enough for general lip care. Here are some tips from dermatologists for taking care of your lips during dry seasons. 

1. Use non-irritating products on your face. You may be reacting to ingredients or fragrances in your current products. Switching to natural and pure products can make a difference.
2. Moisturize your lips often.
3. Protect your lips from the sun and apply sunscreen daily.
4. Increase your daily water intake.
5. Quit licking or biting your lips, and avoid pulling on dry pieces that will hurt your lips further. 
6. Use a gentle exfoliator on your lips, like a DIY sugar scrub or a bicarb and coconut oil mix. 
7. Quit smoking or reduce the amount you smoke daily, which can accelerate wrinkles and discolor lips. 
8. Use a humidifier at night during dry seasons.

Your complete homemade recipe for lip balm

Feed your lips with nourishing, natural ingredients that will lock in moisture. Depending on which elements you can get a hold of for cheap, create your unique recipe for perfectly smooth lips. 

Here are our basic ingredient guidelines:

1. Select the best oils and butters to use for your DIY lip balm

The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends the following oils to heal irritated, dry, and cracked lips:

• Castor seed oil
• Hemp seed oil
• Mineral oil
• Shea butter
• Mango butter
• Cocoa butter

Decant 1/4 cup of your chosen fatty oil and 1/4 cup of your desired butter into a heatproof glass bowl and melt them together in the microwave or over a double boiler. 

2. Add a waxy ingredient

All-natural waxes are essential ingredients for many beauty products. For your lips, look to any of the following options:

• Beeswax
• Soy Wax
• Candelilla Wax
• Natural Wax Jelly (a natural alternative to petrolatum)

Add 1/4 cup wax to the oil and butter mixture and stir continuously. It's best to use a stainless steel spoon for mixing. Once you remove the spoon, you want the blend to harden on the scoop. Test it on your lips. If you'd like the lip balm to be harder, add some more wax. Add more oil if you'd like it to be softer and smoother.

3. Select your favorite essential oil for extra lip health and benefits

Essential oils have various healing properties; some even have the bonus of elevating your mood. If you'd like a particular scent or function for your DIY lip balm, you can add a few drops of essential oils. 

• Peppermint oil is soothing for cracked lips, but test your sensitivity for it and use it in moderation to avoid burning. 
• Rosehip Seed oil is rich in vitamins C and vitamin A. It has a high quantity of fatty acids that hydrate your lips and improve texture and plumpness. Rosehip oil also gets credit for reversing sun damage!
• Orange essential oil smells fantastic and can boost your mood. It's perfect for hydrating lips as it is rich in vitamin C.
• Geranium oil boosts skin health and can create a natural glow on your lips. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can soothe acne and dermatitis conditions that irritate your lips. 
• Lavender oil can reduce inflammation, and it is also antimicrobial and antifungal. Studies show that lavender oil heals wounds by stimulating collagen production.

The best time to add your chosen essential oil is once your balm is cooled but still soft. 

4. Add sun-protective ingredients

Zinc Oxide is a natural sunscreen active ingredient and can be added to your lip balm if you want protection for your lips. The FDA approves this ingredient as "safe and effective." Adding a portion of zinc oxide to your balm once it's cooled but malleable can save your lips from UVA and UVB rays.

Zinc oxide powder can make up 20% of the mixture for the best sun-protecting results. You can divide your lip balm quantity and then add the appropriate amount of zinc oxide so that some lip balm containers contain sun protection ingredients, while others can remain plain for evening or winter wear. 

5. Pour into lip balm containers or tubes

Once you're happy with your completed homemade lip balm, decant it into lip balm tins or tubes. You can place them into the freezer or allow the lip balm to cool and set overnight. 

This recipe yields about 3/4 of a cup of lip balm. Once you've decanted the mixture into your various lip balm containers, you can gift them to friends or have a tub in each bag, so you're never left with dry lips again. 

Smiling as you save!

Now that your lips look gorgeous with your new lip balm recipe, smile your widest and most beautiful smile! 

For even more health and beauty hacks, explore our other Save articles on how to save big when it comes to beauty, fashion, products, and more. Whether you're looking for affordable beauty routines or easy DIY recipes, we've compiled some tips that will increase your self-care game. We offer full-body advice from Nail Care 101, Winter Hair Tips, and Stretches for Every Ache.

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