Lip Balm

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of olive oil

• 1/2 ounce beeswax

• 20 drops of essential oil

Essential oils commonly used for lipbalms:

• peppermint

• orange

• lavender

• spearmint

• lemon

• tangerine

• mandarin

• lemongrass

Directions:

1 Warm the oil and beeswax in a double boiler

2. remove from heat

3. add the essential oil drops

4. stir

5. pour into containers

6. let the lip balm cool before adding the caps

Tips

Lip balm can be added to various containers including push top tins, white or clear lip balm tubes (as shown in the picture), or reuse small containers you already have.

Test the scent of the lip balm before pouring it into containers. When the lip balm is still liquid, dip a spoon into the warm oil mixture, wipe a small amount on the back of your hand, rub it in.

If the scent pleases you then continue to pouring. If not, add more a few drops to the liquid oil mixture, stir, and retest. If the lipbalm scent is too strong add more oil and beeswax to dilute the mixture. For example, add 1/4 cup of oil and .25 ounces of beeswax.

Lip balm scents don't want to be overpowering. It's not a perfume. The essential oil provides a little flavor on the lips and the has some soothing properties as well.

Lip balm can also be used for a sore nose! This is an especially good trick for little kids who have a sore nose from blowing their nose a lot. Have one of the lip balm tubes be designated as a "nose balm" that they can rub on their nose in between nose wipes.

Label it so you remember which tube is for lips or nose!

Substitutions and Add-ons

Instead of using olive oil other carrier oils can be used as well such as: almond, grapeseed, and apricot oil. Some of these oils are thinner than others which means you may need to add a little more beeswax.

Here's a quick test to see if how firm your lip balm is going to be after it cools:

1. put some of the warm oil mixture on a spoon

2. place the spoon on a small plate.

3. add the spoon and the plate in the freezer for 1 minute

4. remove the plate and spoon from the freezer after 1 minute

5. using your finger to lightly press on the lip balm mixture that is hardened on the spoon.

6. If it feels to soft, then add a small amount of beeswax.

7. If it's too hard, add a small amount of oil.

8. keep the oil slightly warm as you test. Just enough to keep the lip balm mixture from hardening.

Instead of using plain carrier oils consider using and herb infused oil such as calendula or plantain oil