The winter is over here on the Gulf Coast, but my children and I still get chapped lips. My son doesn’t want to wear any of mommy’s tinted Burt’s Bees and he loves science experiments, so when I found this recipe, I knew we’d have to make it. I’m always looking for ways to teach stewardship and since Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd, this was one of our Earth Day projects. It’s all the little things added up that can make a big difference.
To make four 2-ounce tins of lip balm at home, melt and whisk continuously in a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water (or the top of a double boiler):
- 1 tablespoon beeswax pearls (also called pellets or pastilles)
- 1 tablespoon of pure shea butter
- 2 tablespoons almond oil
Once the ingredients are liquefied, remove them from heat. Whisk in 10-15 drops of essential oils such as:
- for Peppermint-Eucalyptus Lip Balm – 6 peppermint/4 drops eucalyptus
- for Vanilla-Rose Lip Balm – 10 rose oil / 5 vanilla oil (vanilla absolute)
- for Lavender Lip Balm- 10 lavender
- for Citrus Lip Balm- 10 sweet orange (This is our favorite.)
Quickly transfer liquid to 1/2-ounce lip balm tins. Most of us have small containers we can reuse. Just make sure they are sterilized first. Let cool for about 20 minutes until solid.
All of these ingredients are safe and natural, unlike many of the craft lip balm kits, and can be purchased from your local natural health store. Last I checked, Ever’man Natural Foods has all of these ingredients.
Share with me your favorite scents!
Recipe courtesy of www.realmama.org
