Homemade Lip balm (and Vaseline)

I hate the idea of putting synthetic chemicals in or on my body so I’m always keen to find cosmetics and treatments made with food-grade ingredients. I had this recipe for DIY (non) Petroleum Jelly bookmarked for ages before I got a chance to make it. I’m so glad I did, it’s been a great success. Here it is for you to give a go.

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Prior to our zero waste days my daughter had accumulated quite a collection of synthetic lip balms but (thankfully) we were at the end of them and she was ready for a more natural replacement. I was so glad of this particularly given the concern over toxic components in lipsticks on the market.

Ingredients wise the original recipe calls for Vitamin E oil but I didn’t have any so just left it out. Beeswax is widely available, unwrapped, from most health stores at €3 for 30g. I get mine from a local bee keeper. Bomar.ie in Wicklow supply almond oil, organic and non, in refillable containers but I’ve also found a food grade version (non-organic) in a glass bottle at a good price in Down to Earth on Georges St, Dublin 2 – €7.50 for 500ml.

The recipe I’m about to share is sooooooo simple you’ll wonder how companies are able to charge up to €4 a pot. Here it is.

• Place a bowl over a pot of boiling water (double boiler / bain-marie) and turn the heat on.
• In the bowl melt 12g of beeswax (1/2 bar) in 1/2 cup of almond oil.
• Colour with a few drops of beetroot juice or a few grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder. (Optional) We tried freeze-dried beetroot at one point but it gave the lipbalm a grainy texture.
• Flavour with a few drops of your favourite essential oil, like lemon or peppermint. (Optional)
• Pour into a container of your choice and leave to cool.

My daughter prefers a stick-shaped lip balm over one you stick your finger in so I poured the liquid balm into a the container that previously help her synthetic lip balm and left it to cool. I had no idea it would work but it totally did. I was so delighted.

Now if even this recipe is just too much effort for you then you can always just pop some coconut oil in a tin or jar, just keep an eye in warmer months when the temperature could turn it liquid and have it spill in your bag.

Now we can keep chapped lips at bay without worrying about what we’re consuming in the process. And by pouring the mixtures into a pot you can use as DIY Vaseline too.

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