A nourishing lip balm can be the first aid you reach for when dry, chapped lips are bothering you. The combination of plant oils, butters and wax ensures that the lips are hydrated and nourished. Thanks to the practical stick form of the balm, you can apply this product to the lips more hygienically than a balm applied with the fingers. You will therefore appreciate a nourishing lip balm not only at home, but also when travelling.
About this recipe
This guide was prepared for you by Ivana Jačalová. It is a solid lip balm in a stick, whose base is precisely wax — in our case beeswax was chosen, though later in the article you will also learn about possible alternatives. Preparing a nourishing lip balm with softening lecithin is very simple, so let's get started.
Key benefits
- Hydration and nourishment
The combination of plant oils, butters and wax ensures that the lips are hydrated and nourished.
- Hygienic stick form
A balm in a stick is applied to the lips more hygienically than a balm applied with the fingers — you will appreciate it at home and when travelling.
- Softening lecithin
Soy lecithin leaves the skin silky smooth and is responsible for the pleasant, light and sliding feel during application.
- Melts on contact with the skin
Shea butter has a low melting point, so melting occurs already upon contact with the skin — the balm applies gently and easily and is well absorbed.
- Simple preparation
Simply weigh out the raw materials, melt them in a water bath and pour the mixture into the containers while it is still liquid.
Product characteristics
Key raw materials in the recipe
Do you want to know what significance the individual raw materials have in the recipe, or how to vary them? You will find out in the following lines.
Beeswax
The basic raw material that gives firmness to a stick lip balm is precisely beeswax. This wax is valued for its high content of vitamins and minerals and thus has an irreplaceable place in cosmetics. In our recipe, a slightly processed white wax was used, which was chosen also because it has no scent, so the delicate chocolate aroma of unrefined cocoa butter could stand out. You will appreciate white beeswax especially when making coloured lip balms (with pigments), because natural wax could influence the colour of the product with its golden hue. Of course, you can replace this white beeswax with natural beeswax with its characteristic scent.
Vegan alternatives are plant waxes. In this case, however, bear in mind that the resulting consistency and hardness of the stick balm may be different than when using beeswax. Try, for example, almond wax.
Shea butter
An amazing plant butter that forms an irreplaceable component of many cosmetic products, including lip balms, is shea butter. This butter is characterised by a low melting point, and thus melting occurs already upon contact with the skin, thanks to which the lip balm applies gently and easily and is at the same time well absorbed by the skin.
In our recipe, natural unrefined shea butter was used, which has a light yellow colour. An alternative is also refined cocoa butter, which is odourless. Alternatively, you can reach for other butters, but bear in mind that the final consistency and hardness of the product (the stick) will be affected, so choose mainly butters that have a melting point similar to that of shea butter.
Almond oil
A plant oil must not be missing among the raw materials for making a nourishing lip balm. In this case, a neutral almond oil was chosen, which nourishes the lips and supplies them with caring substances. Of course, you can choose any plant oil for the product instead of almond oil, for example apricot kernel oil. Choose mainly oils that are neutral (they do not have a strong colour and scent); an example can also be fractionated coconut oil, or olive oil if you have very dry lips.
Soy lecithin
The nourishing ingredient of the lip balm is precisely soy lecithin. This substance is obtained from soybeans, also as a side raw material in the refining process. Lecithin is used in cosmetics thanks to its two key properties. Firstly, it is an emulsifier that is able to bind water with oils and form an emulsion; secondly, it leaves the skin silky smooth, softens it and is responsible for the pleasant, light and sliding feel when applying products to the face or lips.
Since lecithin is not an essential component of this recipe, you can omit it, but you will thus lose the smoothing and caring properties of this substance.
Container and tools
A lip balm container is essential for this recipe — you pour the still liquid mixture straight into it and the balm sets in it. If you use smaller lip balm tubes (with a volume of approx. 4.5 – 5 ml), it is easier to prepare several little tubes at once, since the amounts of raw materials for 1 little tube will be difficult to weigh because they will be very small.
Tools, vessels and containers that come into contact with the product or raw materials must be disinfected, for example with ethanol.
Formulation (100 g)
The raw material contents are given as percentages by weight, so they correspond to a batch of 100 g of finished balm. All the raw materials belong to a single phase — they are weighed out together and melted in a water bath.
| Phase / raw material | Content |
|---|---|
| Phase A | |
| Beeswax, white | 20.20% |
| Shea butter, unrefined | 35.00% |
| Almond oil | 42.80% |
| Soy lecithin | 2.00% |
| Container and tools | |
| Lip balm container | — |
| Ethanol 96% (disinfection) | as needed |
Procedure
- Disinfection
All tools, vessels and containers that come into contact with the product or raw materials must be disinfected, for example with ethanol.
- Weighing the raw materials Phase A
Into a heat-resistant vessel, weigh all the raw materials and place it in a water bath.
- Heating until melted Phase A
Heat until everything has melted and then remove from the bath while stirring continuously.
- Pouring into the containers
Pour the still liquid mixture into the containers for lip balm and allow it to set.
Tips and tricks
Preparing a nourishing lip balm is really simple, however we bring you a few tips and tricks on how to make preparing the lip balm easier.
If you use smaller lip balm tubes (with a volume of approx. 4.5 – 5 ml), it is easier to prepare several little tubes at once, since the amounts of raw materials for 1 little tube will be difficult to weigh because they will be very small. Work therefore with a batch of at least 15 g, which will be enough for at least three tubes with a volume of approx. 5 ml.
When pouring the balm into the container, bundle the containers together with an elastic band (i.e. into a bundle), this way the balm will be easier to pour. If the balm sets before pouring, simply reheat it; do not use unnecessarily high temperature, gradual heating in a water bath is sufficient.
If you prefer a firmer lip balm, increase the proportion of wax in the product. This will also give you a balm that can handle higher temperatures without melting, for example during summer. Our recipe provides a solid balm at normal room temperatures, however in direct sunlight on hot days the balm may melt slightly and soften.
If you want your lip balm to have a scent and flavour, you can choose flavours for balms specially prepared for use on the lips. Do not use fragrance oils or essential oils; these oils are not primarily intended for lip products and could cause an allergic reaction or irritation.
Warning
As mentioned, you can experiment with home-made recipes to achieve the desired properties. However, the final result can be influenced by many factors, such as humidity, temperature, the quality of the raw materials or their storage.
Before you use any raw material to make a cosmetic product, familiarise yourself with its properties, recommended dosage, storage conditions and safe handling. Each raw material can have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, therefore before using the product we recommend checking whether you are allergic to any of the raw materials or to the product as a whole, for example by means of a skin test.
If you have very sensitive or very acne-prone skin, or have other skin and health issues, we recommend that you consult a medical professional before applying a new product to the skin, whether it is a home-made cosmetic product, a pure raw material or a commercially available product.
Frequently asked questions about the recipe
Practical questions about the nourishing lip balm — swapping raw materials, the firmness of the balm, the size of the batch and scent.
Can I leave the soy lecithin out of the recipe?
Yes. Lecithin is not an essential component of this recipe, so you can omit it — but you will thus lose the smoothing and caring properties of this substance, which leaves the skin silky smooth and gives a pleasant, light and sliding feel during application.
How do I get a firmer lip balm?
Increase the proportion of wax in the product. This will give you a balm that can handle higher temperatures without melting, for example during summer. Our recipe provides a solid balm at normal room temperatures, however in direct sunlight on hot days it may melt slightly and soften.
Is there a vegan alternative to beeswax?
Vegan alternatives are plant waxes, for example almond wax. Bear in mind, however, that the resulting consistency and hardness of the stick balm may be different than when using beeswax.
How large a batch is worth preparing?
Work with a batch of at least 15 g — it will be enough for at least three tubes with a volume of approx. 5 ml. With smaller tubes (approx. 4.5 – 5 ml), the amounts of raw materials for a single little tube are difficult to weigh because they are very small.
How can I scent the balm?
Choose flavours for balms specially prepared for use on the lips. Do not use fragrance oils or essential oils — these oils are not primarily intended for lip products and could cause an allergic reaction or irritation.
What can I use instead of almond oil?
You can choose any plant oil for the product. Choose mainly oils that are neutral (they do not have a strong colour and scent) — an example is apricot kernel oil or fractionated coconut oil; for very dry lips, reach for olive oil.
Conclusion
A nourishing lip balm is a welcome thing not only in summer, but also in winter. Try making it with us, and you will not lack soft and hydrated lips.
If you liked this guide to making lip balm, be sure to write to us with your opinion or the experience you gained while making the balm at [email protected].
Also read another guide to making lip balm on our blog — the more good sources, the better the result will be. We believe that at least one of these guides will be useful.
This guide was prepared for you by Ivana Jačalová.
You will find the beeswax, shea butter, plant oils and soy lecithin from this recipe in the Handymade range of basic raw materials — and you can add balm containers right alongside them.
