Homemade lip balm – a great first DIY cosmetic project

Take this balm for example – based on a recipe from Biome for a super easy lip balm, the kids and I have also tested it as a moisturiser (meaning my five year old daughter spread it all over her arms when I wasn’t looking hehe) and it works really well. It uses only three natural ingredients which are easy to find (including one you probably already have in your pantry) plus a few optional drops of your favourite essential oil. No nasties, you know exactly what’s in your lip/all-over balm and because you can choose the size of the balm and the smell, you’re guaranteed to find it practical and perfectly personalised. It would make a great Christmas gift!

We made this lip balm last weekend with the kids (my gorgeous hand models) and were amazed how quickly it came together. We’ve been using it ever since and loving it. It comes on a little oily/greasy but absorbs into the skin easily and quickly and your skin and lips are then wonderfully soft.

What’s in this lip balm?

It’s all good, really. The three main ingredients are:

coconut oil: Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids, which are a form of saturated fat. The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties that can help protect against harmful microorganisms. This is especially important for skin health, as many types of skin infections, including acne, cellulitis, folliculitis and athlete’s foot, are caused by bacteria or fungi. Applying coconut oil directly to the skin, due to its lauric acid content, may prevent the growth of these microorganisms.
beeswax: Beeswax carries antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that are essential in fighting chapped skin and bacterial infections that tend to affect us most in the dry, winter months. It forms a protective wall by sealing in moisture in our skin without smothering and clogging up the pores.
shea butter: High concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins make shea butter an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening skin. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Using shea butter on your body, especially your face, can condition, tone, and soothe your skin.

Lip balm and moisturiser with ingredients flat lay.

Natural and beautiful smelling

This lip balm can be simply made with the three ingredients listed above and it will be beautiful for your lips and skin.

If you’d like your lip balm to have a little bit of a natural smell, you can use a few drops of your favourite essential oil or essential oil blend. I used Blissful Magic from Woolzies which includes oils of jasmine, neroli, rose, white lotus, and vetiver and the blend has a sweet, floral, exotic aroma which just smells like (luxurious) heaven to me.

Recipe notes

This post is based on a recipe published by Biome which is a fabulous Australian company which offers zero waste, toxin free and ethical choices products for sale on its website. It is also a certified B corporation which means you can trust them. Their website also has lots of other great DIY recipes which you can find here.

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