Does the winter air have your lips crying for relief? Let me show you how easy it is to make DIY moisturizing shea butter and avocado oil lip balm!
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Oh.my.gosh. Are your as sick of winter weather as I am?
I know, I know. I hear you northerners snickering and saying, “Is she kidding? She lives in south Mississippi. She doesn’t even know what winter is!”
And you’re right.
But I’m still cold.
To be fair, there are a few good things about winter:
- The snakes are hibernating.
- I get to sleep under a down comforter.
- Umm. I think that’s it.
And here are a few reasons why I don’t like winter:
- Our old farmhouse leaks air like and sieve and is C O L D.
- Our heating bills are outrageous (duh).
- I have to bundle up to go for my daily walk.
- My lips get so outrageously dry and chapped.
Does that last one sound a bit whiney? (Who am I kidding — they all sound whiney!)
While there’s nothing I can do about the cold weather (except wait it out til glorious summer), I can whip up a batch of moisturizing shea butter and avocado oil lip balm to sooth my chapped lips.
You may be wondering why, with lip balms available on every shelf in every shop in the country, I would want to make my own.
Well, I’ve found that I’m pretty picky about the consistency of lip balm. Like Goldilocks. Some are too hard, some too soft. Many are way too glossy and just sit on my lips like a shiny oil spill.
By the way, when I was a preteen and wore Bonnie Bell roll-on lip gloss, my mother used to tell me that I looked like I’d been eating greasy chicken. She was full of delightful country sayings like that, and it still makes me smile (though hopefully not with greasy lips…)
The lip balm texture I’m after is firm but not too waxy and definitely not oily. I also want the lip balm to actually feel like a balm
a fragrant ointment or preparation used to heal or soothe the skin
And that’s why I love this moisturizing lip balm so much and why I want to show you how to make it — because it’s made with oils that are said to not only moisturize but also to actually heal your dry skin.
What’s actually in moisturizing shea butter and avocado oil lip balm?
So what’s in lip balm? Not a whole lot, if you’re making it yourself (and that’s a good thing!)
Here’s what you need to make moisturizing lip balm:
- shea butter
- cocoa butter
- avocado oil
- beeswax
- flavor oil or essential oil
- lip balm tubes or jars
- microwave-safe measuring cup
- stirring stick
- dropper
- printable lip balm labels (available on our password protected FREEBIES PAGE — get access below!)
And here’s the process:
- place oils and wax in the microwave-safe measuring cup
- heat until melted but not boiling hot
- add flavor oil or essential oil
- stir
- pour into tubes or jars
- let cool
- pop on the caps and labels
- delight your lips
See? Super easy!
As with anything, though, it will probably take you a few times to get the temperature just right so that the mixture is warm enough to pour into your little jars but not too hot to melt them or burn your fingers!
HOW TO FLAVOR YOUR MOISTURIZING LIP BALM
Before we get started let’s talk about flavoring your lip balm. (You don’t have to include any flavoring, but to me that’s part of the fun!) You can choose either flavor oils or essential oils.
What’s the difference? Contrary to the name, flavor oils do not actually flavor your lip balm (I know. Bummer). They’re composed of a combination of essential oils and synthetic compounds, whereas essential oils are pure and natural, being made only from plant materials. So it’s really just a matter of preference. I’m all about natural, but I do love some bubble gum lip balm!
Okay! Let’s make some lip balm
Moisturizing Shea Butter + Avocado Oil Lip Balm
Equipment
- Pyrex Measuring Cup
- Scale
- Microwave
- Plastic Droppers
- Lip Balm Tubes
Materials
- ½ ounce unrefined shea butter
- ½ ounce cocoa butter
- ½ ounce unbleached beeswax
- ½ ounce avocado oil
- 15-20 drops flavor oil start with 15, smell and adjust
Instructions
- Place shea butter, cocoa butter, avocado oil and beeswax in the glass measuring cup.
- Melt in the microwave for about 2-3 minutes. Please watch carefully as microwaves vary widely. You want the oils melted but not dangerously hot!
- Add flavor oil to the mixture with your dropper and stir until combined.
- Slowly pour the mixture into the lip balm tubes. Stop pouring when it reaches the top of the tube.
- Let lip balms cool til just turning opaque. The butter/oil mixture will begin to shrink just a bit.
- Now, using your dropper, top off the tubes with a bit more mixture, just to create a dome on the top. Do this slowly so it doesn't overflow and run down the sides of the tube. If it does overflow or make a mess, don't worry. Just let everything cool completely. Then you can just wipe or scrape off the excess. Trying to fix a drip while the mixture is still liquid will lead to a HUGE mess because the tube will likely fall over and... yep, lip balm everywhere!
- Let lip balms cool completely, then pop on the caps. Cut out the LIP BALM LABELS and apply. Yay! You did it. Enjoy!
Once you’ve made a few of these you’ll want to make more to share with your friends. They also make great gifts, and people will be so impressed that you made your own lip balm!
Have fun trying out different oil, wax and flavor combinations and see if you can come up with your own personal blend.
Get the cute lip balm labels in our FREE resource library!
And here are the links for easy shopping:
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