There is something incredibly satisfying about making your own skincare products. Not only do you know exactly what's going into them, but it can also be a simple way to reduce waste and avoid buying products you don't need.
Now, this isn't going to be one of those posts that claims you can make your own beauty products with a few things you "already have in the cupboard". These are not ingredients that the average person will have, so this recipe will include a little investment in some natural butters, waxes and oils.
However, you can use these ingredients for other homemade beauty products such as moisturizers and lotions.
A Cosy Chapter Quick Read📚
Makes: 1 50g container
Time: 15 minutes (plus 1 hour to set)
Shelf Life: 1 year
🌿 Ingredients
16g (2 tbsp) Shea Butter
12g (2 tbsp) Beeswax
10g (1 1/2 tbsp) Coconut Oil
8g (1 tbsp) Castor Oil
3g (1/2 tsp) Vitamin E Oil
4 drops Vanilla Essential Oil
🌿 Recipe
1. Melt the shea butter, beeswax, coconut oil and castor oil together in a double boiler over a medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Once the mixture is completely melted and clear, remove it from the heat and stir in the vitamin E oil.
3. Add the vanilla essential oil (or another lip-safe essential oil of your choice) along with your pigment if you'd like to add some colour.
4. Carefully pour the mixture into a clean, heatproof container while it's still liquid, then leave it to cool and set completely before using.
The Ingredients
Shea Butter
Shea butter forms the base of this recipe and is known for its rich, moisturising properties. Naturally high in fatty acids and vitamins, it helps to soften and condition the skin while smelling amazing. It's one of my favourite ingredients to work with because it feels luxurious without being overly greasy.
Other butter options:
✨️ Cocoa Butter
✨️ Mango Butter
Beeswax
Beeswax gives the lip balm its structure and helps it solidify. It also creates a protective barrier on the lips, helping to lock in moisture and protect against dry or windy weather. Without the beeswax, the balm would be much softer and have an oil-like consistency. I always opt for pellets over bars because they're super quick and easy to melt down.
Want a Vegan option?
You can use Candelilla Wax instead! But keep in mind that it is harder than Beeswax, so you don't have to use as much of it.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil adds extra nourishment and glide to the recipe, helping the balm melt smoothly onto the lips. It has become a popular ingredient in natural skincare due to its moisturising properties and versatility.
Other Oil options:
✨️ Sweet Almond Oil
✨️ Jojoba Oil
Castor Oil
I included Castor oil because it helps improve texture and adds a subtle shine to the balm. This is an ingredient that I always have in my cupboard as I use it for so many things. It's great for the scalp, daily use on eyebrows and eyelashes, as a beard oil, as a moisturiser and even as an aid for digestive issues.
Vitamin E Oil
Vitamin E is often added to skincare products because of its antioxidant properties. In this recipe, it also helps extend the shelf life of the oils and butters, making it a practical addition as well as a beneficial one.
Essential Oil
Finally, I added a small amount of vanilla essential oil for fragrance. You can use any lip-safe essential oil of your choice, or even a combination, just to give it that subtle scent.
I used the double boiler method for this recipe
To do this, heat some water in a saucepan with a glass bowl placed on top. You can melt your ingredients in the glass bowl.
Alternatively, you can use a glass jug, or melting pot inside the pan of water, or melt your ingredients in the microwave in short bursts.
You can measure your ingredients in spoons or grams.
(I have included both in the recipe)
Personally, I prefer to use my cosmetics scale to measure in grams for a more accurate result.
The Results
For a first attempt, I'm genuinely impressed with how it turned out.
I wanted to create a nourishing lip balm using simple, natural ingredients, and in that respect, I'd definitely call this experiment a success. The balm has a lovely consistency, glides over the lips with ease and leaves them feeling soft and moisturised.
I reused two 25g glass jars from Lush to store them, making one a simple vanilla lip balm and the other a cocoa vanilla version. For the cocoa vanilla balm, I added a little cocoa powder to give it a warm brown colour and a subtle chocolatey scent.
I will admit, I expected the cocoa powder to leave a slight tint on the lips, but it doesn't transfer like I'd hoped it would. Next time, I'd love to experiment with beetroot powder instead to see if I can create a more noticeable natural tint.
If you decide to give this recipe a try, I'd love to hear how it turns out. And if you discover any ingredient combinations you love, let me know so I can experiment too💚