Say goodby to dry chapped lips! Learn how to make organic lip balm with this diy recipe that will nourish your lips with coconut oil, honey, and essential oils!
I was a little intimidated when I first started making my own homemade beauty products. I never thought of myself as a DIYer, but I realized how easy it was to make my own products once I started. And it’s a ton of fun!!
Learning how to make lip balm is one of the most straightforward beauty products you can make. It took me less than 5 minutes to make this recipe, and I made enough to last a year!
My 6-year-old daughter loves makeup and is always getting into my lip balms and mineral makeup. Unfortunately, most over-the-counter beauty products contain ingredients that are toxic and linked to reproductive abnormalities. I don’t worry about how my beauty products affect her because I make them myself with natural ingredients.
How To Make Lip Balm
What You’ll Need To Make Your Own Lip balms:
- Coconut Oil (solid, not fractionated)
- Raw Honey ( This is an optional ingredient. You can use any honey, but raw is my favorite and contains antioxidants)
- Sweet Almond Oil (you may substitute this with olive oil, avocado oil, or jojoba oil)
- Essential Oils (optional)
- Empty Lip Balm Tubes
- Tin Lip Balm Container
- Beeswax Pellets (or carnauba wax)
- Double Boiler
- Whisk
- Funnel
Instructions:
Step one: Measure the coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and beeswax and pour them into a double boiler or glass bowl over a small saucepan filled with water.
Step two: Turn the burner on low heat and let the oils and wax melt entirely.
Next, remove from the pan from heat and stir in the raw honey (if using) and essential oils. I added 20 drops of lavender essential oil, but you can use your favorite oils or blends for this DIY lip balm.
Carefully pour the batch of lip balm into the upright chapstick tubes. Allow the mixture to set and then secure with the lip balm lid.
About The Ingredients
Coconut Oil: Organic coconut oil is unlike any other skin product! Because of its low molecular weight and the method of binding to proteins, coconut oil can penetrate the skin more deeply than other products.
Sweet Almond Oil: This carrier oil contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E and penetrates quickly into the skin. It’s very moisturizing and perfect for dry or chapped lips.
Essential Oils: These plant-based oils are natural and safer than synthetic fragrances. But don’t go overboard; a few drops are all you need to scent homemade lip balm.
Beeswax: Beeswax is naturally hydrating and increases essential moisture in the skin. Commonly found in hand and body creams, beeswax helps to retain natural skin moisture.
Carnauba Wax: “Carnauba wax is obtained from of a species of sustainably grown palm known as the “Tree of Life” or Copernica cerifera. These indigenous trees flourish in northeastern Brazil and are a different species than the palms planted purely for their oil. The wax is derived from the leaf of this tree, and harvesting is done via manual pruning once a year, allowing the tree to continue growing for decades.” – Mountain Rose Herbs
FAQ & Substitutions
What can I use instead of coconut oil?
Mango butter, shea butter, or cocoa butter are both great substitutes for coconut in this DIY lip balm recipe.
Can you put raw honey in lip balm?
Yes, I have used raw honey in my homemade lip balm and it really moisturizes your lips!
What other essential oils can I use in this lip balm?
Peppermint oil and vanilla are a great combo (use vanilla extract if you don’t have vanilla essential oil)! I also love sweet orange essential oil for my lip balms.
The honey separated in this lip balm. Did I do something wrong?
I love adding raw honey to my lip balm and have done so many times. Unfortunately, some readers have said that the honey sunk to the bottom of their containers. I believe this is due to the type of honey used (raw vs pasteurized) and also how well the honey is mixed into the lip balm in step 4. You may leave it out completely if you do not wish to use it. This lip balm is still very good without it.
What ingredients do you need to make lip balm?
You only need 2-3 ingredients to make a basic lip balm. This recipe uses coconut oil, almond oil, beeswax, and essential oils. You can create your own blend for this recipe with just coconut oil and wax if you like. It’s really a versatile DIY that can be made various ways!
Can I use honey instead of beeswax for lip balm?
No, honey is not a suitable substitute for beeswax in homemade lip balm.
If you like this homemade lip balm, you may also want to check out my DIY Lip Gloss, Lotion Bar Recipe, DIY Lip Scrub, Coffee Scrub, and Homemade Body Butter! All of these DIYs make perfect gifts for birthdays or the holidays.
PrintEasy Lip Balm Recipe
Say goodby to dry lips! Learn how to make your own lip balm with this easy recipe that will nourish your lips with coconut oil, honey, and essential oils! Homemade lip balm was one of the first homemade beauty products that I made and I haven’t purchased lip balm since I started making it myself!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 lip tubes 1x
- Category: DIY
Ingredients
- 3 tbs coconut oil (1.38 ounces) (virgin or expeller pressed)
- 1 tbs sweet almond oil (.48 ounces) (Jojoba oil, olive oil, avocado oil may also be used instead of almond oil)
- 2 tbs beeswax pastilles (1 ounce) (or use carnauba wax )
- 20 drops of essential oil – I used lavender essential oil (optional)
- 1/2 tsp honey* (optional )
- 8–10 tubes empty lip balm containers or lip balm tins
Instructions
- Remove the lids from the lip balm tubes and secure them upright with a large rubber band.
- Measure the coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and beeswax and pour them into a double boiler pot.
- Turn the heat on low-medium heat and let the oils and wax melt completely.
- Remove from the pan from heat and stir in the raw honey (if using), and your favorite essential oils.
- Pour the mixture into the upright tubes (or lip balm tin).
- Allow the lip balm to set and then cap the containers.
- This recipe will fill 8-12 lip balm tubes.
Store your homemade lip balm out of direct sunlight. This products has a shelf life of two years if stored at room temperature.
Notes
*I love adding raw honey to my lip balm and have done so many times. Unfortunately, some readers have said that the honey sunk to the bottom of their containers. You may leave it out completely if you do not wish to use it. This lip balm is still very good without it.
If you’re looking for a DIY homemade lip balm recipe without honey, try this coconut oil lip balm. It’s made with coconut oil, olive oil, and wax (bees wax or carnauba wax) and is my favorite vegan lip balm.
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Hi. I’m all sorted to make this tomorrow. My question can you add different essential oils once it is in the tubes? Rather than all one scent? Thank you.
Everything you need can ve found on Amazon. I always look for organic products, they are readily available.
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I made these as little Christmas gifts and they turned out great. I actually used the microwave. I had a block of local beeswax which I grated (20g as recommended in one of the previous comments) into a little Pyrex jug and zapped it in 30 second stints until it softened, then added the 2 oils and continued microwaving in 30 second intervals until melted. I added the essential oil and stirred through, poured into little metal cannisters and voila! If it started to harden in the jug too quickly I just put it back in the microwave for a bit. I skipped the honey based on other people’s comments, but next time I would like to experiment with a higher ratio of beeswax.
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I just made these and they were super easy. I did try regular clover honey and it did not blend with the oils, so I suggest just skipping it. For me, the recipe made more than 12 tubes, so I suggest having 6 more tubes ready just in case. I also found some fun lip balm flavorings at Jo-Ann stores in the USA. The balm goes on very nice and makes my lips soft, not waxy. Thanks for the great, and easy recipe!
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Thanks for your feedback! I use raw honey, I think that may be why some have trouble with the honey separating…
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Hello everyone! I make body products and this is a great recipe. Got a couple of tips for everyone… After the balms “cool”, you might encounter a small hole in the center of the tube or they might be not level if you had to top the tube off. You can get a heat gun and lightly go over the tops to melt it and it will give you a really professional look. Next tip…For doing a larger quantity, you can get a rubber band and put it around all the tubes to hold them together before filling. It makes it a lot easier to fill so they won’t fall over. Ugh! Lol Hope this might help someone! : ) Have an awesome day!
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Hi, thanks for posting this DIY. I was wondering how long these last before it expires? I’m planning to give it to my friends
Thanks
Mel
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You article is just what I was looking for. Thank you for doing such a great job. Your hard word has really helped me. I will gladly pass this along to my 100K followers on TikTok.
I want to make my own lip balm but was wondering if I can use other oils besides lavender like lemon or orange?
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I make lip balm and yes you can use any essential oil’s my fav is coconut
If you use citrus essential oil, it is photosensitive, so it can cause sunburn if you use it and then are exposed to the sun.
Hi I’ve made this recipe several times and it’s lovely. Shop bought lip balms always dry out my lips. I used organic vanilla oil and organic cacoa powder to flavour a batch and then put it through a sieve begore pouring into tubes, smelt and tasted amazing 😊
Sorry forgot to rate this fabulous recipe, 5 star for me
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Yes, I have tried to make a lip balm at home, Will definitely try this one. Thanks.
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This was so simple! The entire thing took under 10 minutes! And the end result is fabulous!
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I’ve been making my own lip balms for a couple years now. A client has requested a “coconut scented” one but I haven’t seen a coconut scent in oils. Could I add a bit of coconut extract to give a stronger coconut scent because coconut oil on its own isn’t strong enough.
I was just wondering the same thing. Did you try it?
Does the scent stay after awhile. I made some with shea butter and avocado oil and after 2 weeks, scent was gone. Also, how many tubes does this recipe make?
As others have said, unfortunately the honey doesn’t mix with the oil/wax mix and stays at the bottom of the tins. Has anyone used an emulifier?
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If you use the raw honey its solid can you melt it with the coconut oil and beeswax I plan on using the beeswax pellets
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I used raw honey from my hive. Mixed it with the melted beeswax and oils. Once in the tube, it completely separated. Hardened balm, an area of honey and hardened balm. It was only the 1 tube, but all of the 1/2 tsp of honey. Making next batch without.
It will if you whisk it in with a hand whisk.
This is my first time making lip balms and I LOVE it. However, the honey has been a problem. I tried whisking it in, but still ended up with a pile of small honey globs at the bottom. How fiercely do you whisk it? I was pretty aggressive. I made the next batch without the honey, but haven’t tried the results yet. Thanks!
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That’s what I was wondering, no other method works. I’m wondering how much emulsifier to use?
Can I make these and put in 2 oz metal tins instead of tubes? Thanks! We are beekeepers so I have fresh bees wax and honey. Looking for something homemade for gifts in 2 Oz metal tins.
Yes, tins work great too!
Tiffany is almond extract the same as almond oil in your recipe? If not, how much extract should I use in place of oil and should I increase the oil of another oil?
Almond oil and almond extract are two different things. In this recipe you should use almond oil.
What can I use in place of almond oil?
Just use coconut oil by itself, that is all you need for the lip balm.
Does the scent stay after awhile. I made some with shea butter and avocado oil and after 2 weeks, scent was gone. Also, how many tubes does this recipe make?
Hello, Can regular store bought liquid honey be used for this recipe and still work or will this not mix well?
Thank you for the recipe. I made some for family and friends. Just my 2c worth:
If you use solid beeswax, the equivalent is 20g. Chop it small and melt it 1st in the double boiler. Then add the other ingredients. I use a small hand whisk to stir everything together. Then I place my melting pot into a bowl with a few centimeters of cold water, and continue to whisk until it has a creamy consistency. Works like a charm
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Hello again Tiffany, i tried you coconut lime body scrub and it turned out pretty good, now i want to try the lip balm recipe too but with out honey. Will the ratio of other ingredients remain the same if i exclude honey? or is there an ingredient that can be used as a substitute for honey?
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How many chapstick containers will this fill?
I will definitely make these lip balms again. They turned out perfect 🙂
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Should the coconut oil be a liquid or solid version? Thanks!
It doesn’t matter if it is solid or not, because when you mix it with beeswax on double boiler even solid coconut oil will melt and merge.
You can use Shea butter but it’s a solid like coconut oil. Instead use olive or avacodo oil.
you can melt coconut oil
I needed a lip balm recipe, so I tried this one out today! Simple and quick…I grated some beeswax, substituted shea butter oil for the almond oil and used apricot oil instead of lavender. It looks like it’s hardening and melding well. Thanks for sharing, Coconut Mama! ?
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Is it ok to make the lip balm without the sweet almond oil?
I have the same question
Where can you but avocado oil and coconut oil
Everything you need can ve found on Amazon. I always look for organic products, they are readily available.
I’ve created my own recipes for lip gloss/balms before and I’ve found you can swap out oil ingredients for others of similar consistency. For example, you could with this example swap out the sweet almond oil for say, olive oil, avocado oil, pumpkin seed oil etc.
yes i have tried a few lip balm recipes with out sweet almond oil( but not without honey, and i’m not sure if excluding honey would yield the same results), i used jojoba oil instead. it is a good source of Vit B-complex and Vit E hence speeds up the process of healing chapped dry lips.
Hi Tiffany,
My daughter & I plan to make your recipe, lip balm as party favors for her birthday. Need to know, how long the balm can last i.e. it’s expiry from time of manufacture? Or do I have to look at each ingredients’ expiry & tabulate the date?
Amazing! I made these for Christmas, thank you
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How many tubes did it make ?
Thanks for sharing your great ideas with us.
Kevin.
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I made this and absolutely love it. Gonna make with either cinnamon or mint for the winter season. Thanks a bunch for the easy recipe ????
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Can you use anything instead of beeswax?
Can you give this resipy by weight in oz pleas?
So I followed your recipe and I think you should have more information about how to actually make it. So you want to wait until the coconut oil is heated and warm before adding breesewax because it takes FOREVER to melt beeswax and coconut oil when they are both solid. Also, if beeswax gets into your pot, your pot is ruined. When you mix the beeswax with the heated oil you need to costantly stir it. If not, it won’t be mixed right.
When i mix ingredients like this together, i use what is called a double boiler. Which means you take a small pot, fill it up about a quarter of the way with water, put the measured butters and oils into a glass measuring cup with a handle, bring water to a boil, stir until ingredients melt, apply your scent of choice essential oils if you choose, poor into the containers, and allow to cool. They cool faster either in the fridge or freezer. When they are solid then they are ready to use. It shouldn’t matter if you apply the caps before or after they turn solid.
I grate the beeswax before putting it in a double boiler, and it melts much more easily and quickly than trying to melt one big chunk — or even small chunks. The double boiler is a necessity for this recipe. (see Jonathan’s instructions)
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Hi,
I tried this one, it turned out good except for one issue. The honey got separated once the balm cooled.
Where did I go wrong?
Regards,
Divya
Honey is water soluble. The other ingredients are all oil based. Oil and water do not mix. Leave out the honey and use honey fragrance oil or honey flavoring oil, both available at various herb/essential oil suppliers.
Did you mix together and stir in the ingredients while they were melting? Do a double boiler. Put your ingredients in the glass measuring cup, and stir until completely melted. Apply your essential oils in you choose to use them. Put into containers and allow to turn solid. You can use the fridge or freezer if you choose to help turn solid faster.
Sounds wonderful. Will it melt in warmer temps? Thanks!
Yes at about 90*F Coconut Oil will start to liquify – To offset this add a higher ratio (percentage) of beeswax. I plan to make a cold, med and hot weather versions. The hot version uses beeswax and paraffin wax. the cold version uses beeswax and petroleum jelly (small amount). To test melt/freeze points. put the mix in a container and test for the temps you want, then remelt that batch (if cold) or no longer pourable. I just got a laser temp. gauge so I could log my formulas – based on melt points. (having lived years in both MN. and AZ. and now WA.).
Myself – I never use scented anything – as I like the smell of the natural ingredients. And some are sensitive to scented things.
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In my experience, coconut oil melts at approx. 76 degrees and higher. It solidifies below 76 degrees.
I don’t have sweet almond oil, can I use Shea butter instead? I see that must recipes call for sweet almond oil but that’s the only ingredient I don’t have. Should I wait until I have it off just give the Shea butter a try to see how it works? Of would coco butter work?
TIA,
Quita H.
I have Cocozia coconut oil and all ingridients exept beeswax. Where mayI buy it? Or Can I change it?
I just saw some at Hobby Lobby today.
Castor oil..in place of honey and adds a nice glossy look.?
How many tubes will this make?
It makes 12. 🙂
Hi Tiffany,
Is it possible to make lip balm with only coconut oil and bees wax, and maybe a little cocoa butter?
Sure! You can experiment with different ratios and ingredients.