Are you looking for a DIY Lip Balm recipe? I’ve been using this recipe for more than 6 years and have had great feedback from others! This is a simple, easy to follow recipe that will become your new favorite diy lip balm. Keep reading to learn how to make a DIY Lip Balm.
I am a lip balm kinda gal. Some may call it a dependence that I have, but whatever it is… I need my lip balm.
The problem is that I happen to misplace lip balm as frequently as my daughter loses sippy cups. I am certain that if we ever move out of our home, there will be a secret closet, or hidden space with a billion lip balms and sippy cups.
It would cost a fortune to purchase lip balms as rapidly as I misplace them, so I figured out how to make lip balm in bulk! This way I always have a fresh supply.
The great thing about how to make lip balm from scratch is that you have complete control about what goes into the recipe. No fillers, additives, chemicals or other questionable ingredients… just 4 simple ingredients.
Added bonus: It’s SOOOOO much better on the lips. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never want to buy it from the store again!
Table of Contents
How to Make DIY Lip Balm:
I’ve provided affiliate links below to Amazon, but you can find many of these ingredients at your local drug store, such as Walgreens or CVS.
Measure Ingredients
Start by measuring 1/4 cup each: Organic Beeswax, Organic Coconut Oil, and Organic Shea Butter. Add ingredients to a heat-proof glass bowl or mason jar.
Melt the ingredients using a double boiler method.
To melt using a double boiler, fill a small or medium-sized pot with about an inch of water. Put the pot on a burner over high heat. Set the glass bowl on top of the pot, or if using a mason jar, place the jar inside the pot. Just make sure no water gets into the mixture.
Continue boiling the water until all of the ingredients are completely melted (about 10 minutes).
Once the ingredients are melted, add essential oils.
There are several essential oils that make great options for lip balms. My favorite are:
- peppermint
- spearmint
- orange
- lime
- lemon
- mandarin orange
My favorite brand of essential oil is Simply Earth. They produce high quality oils and aren’t a MLM company, so you won’t pay really high prices for each bottle!
Stir together essential oils and mix, then quickly transfer to clean, unused lip balm containers.
Allow to sit undisturbed until solid (about 30 minutes).
Printable Recipe – DIY Lip Balm
If you want to print out this recipe to put on your fridge, or share with a friend, here is a printable recipe for you!
Over the years, I have also heard from readers that they’ve made this diy lip balm at birthday parties and girl’s nights, so you can print this out for that purpose as well!
DIY Lip Balm
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup beeswax
- 1/4 cup shea butter
- 16 drops essential oil
Instructions
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Add coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter to a medium bowl or mason jar.
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Add 1" of water to a small pot and bring to a boil. If using a bowl, place on top of the pot. If using a mason jar, place inside the pot. Make sure no water comes in contact with the ingredients in the bowl/mason jar.
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Continue boiling until all ingredients are melted. Add more water to pot if it evaporates before the ingredients are melted.
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Once melted, remove from heat and add essential oils. Stir well.
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Pour into lip balm tubes or tins.
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Allow to sit undisturbed until completely solid, about 15 minutes.
Pin it for Later – DIY Lip Balm
Save this recipe to your favorite DIY Beauty board on Pinterest, so you can revisit every time you want to make DIY Lip Balm. Just click the image below!
A bunch of us got together and just made this and it turned out really good. We didn’t have Shea butter so subbed with cocoa butter and mango butter and it turned out really good. I’ll try next with Shea butter. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
A bunch of us just made this .. we ran out of Shea butter do subbed with a mix of cocoa butter and mango butter … it’s really nice.. I’ll try with Shea butter next. Thanks for sharing!
I have made this and it seems out to be perfect. So easy to make. Will be making it again soon! Thanks for sharing.
Hi,
I was thinking of using lavender infused olive oil or infusing the coconut oil (already in the recipe) with lavender.
Hello,
I am very excited to use this recipe! I have a question can I substitute infused oil for the essential oil?
Thank you for sharing!
Hi Terri – what kind of infused oil are you using?
Hi,
I was thinking of using lavender infused olive oil or infusing the coconut oil (already in the recipe) with lavender.
Hi,
I was thinking of using lavender infused olive oil or infusing the coconut oil called for in the recipe with lavender.
Hai,
I would love to make this recipe at home but I have a doubt can i add orange zest to it.
Thank you.
How many lip balms came out of this recipe?
Hi Mariam,
I usually get about 24 lip balm tubes from each batch.
what can I sweeten the lip balm with
Hi Marie,
I would try adding 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
Hii…i really loved this… I have one question that if the lip balm is tinted or we use something for the colour will it reduce the shelf life?
Hi Divya – it would depend on what you’re using. You could try beet root powder for a red tint, which would probably work well. Beet root powder has a shelf life of 2 – 3 years, so if you go with that option, it should not reduce the overall shelf life of the lip balm.
Excited to try tt7a this weekend but just wondered what the shelf life is? Someone suggested adding a Vitamin E capsule. Is there any recommendations? Thanks a million 😊
I haven’t ever tried adding Vitamin E, but it seems like a good idea!
As the recipe reads, the lip balm will last 1 – 2 years.
I did this recipe using the bees wax, coconut oil, and Shea butter. I also added some vitamin E to the mixture, and organic peppermint oil. It is cooling right now, so can’t wait to see the results!
Thank you this recipe!! I have made it with cocoa butter instead of the shea butter as well and I just love both of them. My daughters friends rave over the cocoa butter one.
So glad you enjoy it! I haven’t tried it with cocoa butter, but will be using that in my next batch!
One more question I forgot to ask, I’ve had some issues with coconut oil in creams I’ve made making everything greasy/oily, is this the same way?
Again, thank you!
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer – I totally understand what you mean! These might be slightly more oily than a commercial lip balm, but it is not excessively oily or bothersome.
Hi. I would like to make this recipe but only use the lip balm tubes. I went through all of the comments and didn’t come across anyone asking this, how many lip balm tubes does your recipe use? Also can I use the recipe with out any essential oils? As my husband may not want orange haha. Maybe not even peppermint or any other flavor.
Thank you for sharing!
Jennifer
I typically use about 20 lip balms per recipe. And yes, you can certainly make these without essential oils!
BEST RECIPE EVER!!! Thank you, everyone loves it!
Will be trying this to add my CBD Oil to for pain management. Will be tricky as it will have to be poured in small containers with daily doses. Will let you know how it turns out. Thanks for sharing recipe.
Looks great
Can you use liquid coconut oil?
Hmm… I am not sure? I think it may have a hard time setting solid. I would have to play around with the ratios, but I would bet if you went with liquid coconut oil, you would use much less of it than the shea butter and beeswax.
This may be a stupid question…are the 1/4 cup measurements of the ingredients measured as they are melted or solid?
Solid 🙂
There are no stupid questions….
Hi, it would be great if you could share the total cost of producing the batch (and per lipstick maybe). This would be interesting for lots of your other homemade beauty products.
And to see the comparison to the commercial product. (I would assume it is cheaper as well)
This recipe sounds great! I’m always looking for natural recipes, especially with having psoriasis and sensitive skin. I usually purchase medicated chapstick. Do you think this would give a similar effect? or Is there an ingredient I could add to it to make it that way? Thanks ahead! :]
Hi Meaghan,
I honestly am not sure what is in medicated chapstick that helps… so I don’t know how it would work with you. I have sensitive skin, and found this recipe to be easier and more nourishing for my lips than commercial chapstick.
Hopefully someone else can see your comment and may be able to provide some input!
Andrea
Do you have issues with the Shea butter crystallizing once the balm is in the tubes?
Hello – no, I haven’t had the shea butter crystallize in the tube. Are you experiencing this?
Hi. I am so excited to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing it. I was wondering if you have ever tinted it with beet powder?
Hi Holly,
I haven’t ever tinted my lip glosses or lip balms, but I know plenty of DIYers who have, with great success. I think beet powder is a great choice!
Hello,
LOOOVE your website and everything on it!!!:)
just wondering is the beeswax expensive????
we I live we have a shop called nanna’s pantry which sells lots of ingredients ect, ( also BEAUTIFUL gelatos!!!)
🙂
I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the content here!
I don’t think beeswax is expensive, especially considering how far a little goes. I generally buy organic beeswax off of amazon, for between $10 and $15 a pound. It’ll last me usually a year, depending on how many beauty products I am making.
Hi,
Thanks for the recipe. I was wondering if infusing organic mint leaves in the oil would work for flavoring? Have you ever tried it?
Thanks!
Sue, I haven’t tried that, but that sounds like an interesting idea! I may have to try that — or if you try it, let us know how it goes!
Just made a batch of your Lip Balm. It makes a lot and a little goes a long way. after melting the oils and wax I seperated it in to two batches and sented one with peppermint and the other with sweet almond and orange. it filled 12 containers with a little left over.
I don’t think I put enough Orange EO in that batch but the peppermint one smell great.
thanks for the recipe.
Glad it worked well for you! I have separated it before, as well, to blend different flavors.
I stumbled on your blog through Herbs and oils. I love your receipe!!!!! I was wondering if you can tell me what software you used to make your labels.
Thank you!!
Hello! I love herbs and oils — glad you found my site! I actually created them using Photoshop, but if you have a little more patience and time, you could probably create something similar through word or publisher.
Great! Thank you for replying!!!
I was thinking of having guests at my sisters bridal shower make their own personal lip balms for a fun activity and party favor. I was wondering if the ingredients can be melted in a small warmer or crock pot? That way when people are ready the lip balm base is ready for them to put the oils in. Let me know what you think. Thanks
That sounds like so much fun! I think a crock-pot would definitely work… just give it plenty of time to melt in advance, since it would be a slower heating method. Let me know how it works, if you try it!
In definitely going to try this. Just one question: does it soften easily because of the coconut oil? I know at room temp it’s oil.
Nope! The other oils in the mix help solidify the lip balm, so it stays solid… as long as you’re not keeping it in a car when its really hot 😉
Hi, I stumbled upon your recipe and just loved it! I bought almost all my ingredients just waiting for them to be delivered, I was wondering how long these last?! If you had any idea, thanks!
Hi Monica,
So glad you stopped by! I hope you enjoy your homemade lip balm!! I have had tubes last a year, and they still work great. Shea butter probably has the shortest shelf life of the ingredients, which is 12-18 months, so that would be a safe bet for how long your lip balms should last.
Thank you for replying! 🙂
How did the wild orange and peppermint turn out? Do the scents keep their smell well? Have you tried any other combinations of essential oils? I looking forward to trying your recipe, but am afraid using only peppermint would be too strong. What did you think?
I love both the peppermint and wild orange. I have also done grapefruit and lemon, and both turned out great! I haven’t combined multiple essential oils before, but as long as the pairing seemed appropriate, it’s worth a shot. You can even separate a tbsp of the lip balm mix into a separate bowl and add a few drops of the essential oils to try it out, without testing out a whole batch, if you’re concerned with the taste or potency of the batch. My favorite is the peppermint 🙂
Could Cocoa butter be used instead of Shea butter?
Yes, definitely!
Love this! I rarely find lipstick or anything I like. This is my favoite. Thanks for the post!
Thank you for helping me make it! I am so happy you like it 🙂
Oh this looks like a great recipe. Simple! Thanks for sharing the details. I’m going to try it out.
this lipbalm is fantastic! Thank you for setting me up!
Glad you like it!!
This is great! Can’t wait to try it!
Where did you get the chap stick containers?
It’s so awesome!! I bought my containers from Amazon 🙂