DIY Lip Balm without Beeswax – Easy Homemade Lip Balm

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How to make lip balm at home with natural ingredients, including candelilla wax, shea butter and essential oils (with NO beeswax or coconut oil).

Lip balm is one of my favorite natural DIYs because it always turns out so wonderful! Yes, you can purchase natural and organic lip balm for inexpensive prices, but you can make it for even less, and it’s perfect for small gifts for kids, teachers, or stocking stuffers!

Plus, homemade lip balm can be customized however you like, so you can make the perfect tube (or tin) of amazing lip balm for yourself!

This lip balm recipe is different than lots of others you’ll find. I make my homemade lip balm WITHOUT coconut oil, and this one excludes beeswax as well.

Instead, I use a combination of candelilla wax, shea butter, cocoa butter, almond, and jojoba oils. These are some nourishing oils, ya’ll that makes a fabulous homemade lip balm!

I love this combination of natural wax, butter, and oils because it makes a luxurious feeling balm that is not too heavy. You’ll find you don’t need to apply all day every day because this lip balm works so well. A couple times a day tops, and your lips will be silky smooth.

Let’s recap: this is the best lip balm recipe without beeswax you will find; your lips will be nourished and soft, AND it’s so great you could sell (or gift!) it. Fun, isn’t it?

WHAT IS CANDELILLA WAX?

Candelilla wax is a pure vegetable wax found on the leaves of the candelilla shrub. It is a completely natural and vegan wax that makes a great substitute for beeswax. It is harder than beeswax but softer than carnauba wax (another vegan wax).

WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF CANDELILLA WAX?

Carnauba wax is another vegan replacement for beeswax. It is harder than candelilla wax (and much harder than beeswax). I don’t love carnauba wax for lip balm because it has to be heated to very high temperatures to melt and sometimes can feel gritty.

That’s why you’ll find candelilla wax in this lip balm recipe

SUPPLIES:

• Lip balm tubes or lip balm tins
• Double boiler (or makeshift one like I do)
• Lip balm labels (optional, but so cute!) 
• Mini whisk or spoon
• Kitchen scale (optional, see note below on measuring)

INGREDIENTS:

• Candelillia Wax
• Shea butter
• Cocoa butter*  (I buy organic, cold pressed and unrefined, and also use it in my favorite hot chocolate)
• Almond oil
• Jojoba oil
• Vitamin E
• Essential oil of choice

MEASURING BY WEIGHT VS VOLUME

I’ve mentioned this in my lotion bar recipe post previously, but I do prefer to measure by weight for recipes like this. When using solid ingredients (like beeswax, cocoa butter, and shea butter), it is difficult to achieve a consistent result when measuring by volume.

The chunks of cocoa butter I used may be bigger than yours, meaning the measurement by volume might be slightly different. When you measure by weight, that doesn’t matter and you get the exact right amount every time.

I understand many people are not able to measure by weight, so I’ve provided the recipe in both weight and volume measurements. Just know If you are measuring by volume (teaspoons), your results might vary slightly depending on your specific ingredients.

Luckily, this lip balm recipe is very forgiving and a slight variation will probably be unnoticeable.

WHAT ESSENTIAL OILS ARE GOOD FOR LIP BALM?

There are so many excellent choices for essential oils for lip balms! There are a couple of rules to follow when deciding on an essential oil for your lip balm.  

Steer clear of hot oils! Your lip skin is sensitive, and oils like cinnamon, eucalyptus, or clove might not be the best.

Be cautious when using citrus oils on your lips (or face, for that matter). Citrus oils (orange, lemon, grapefruit, lime) are photosensitive, meaning they magnify the effects of the sun. So if you liberally apply your homemade orange lip balm before you head to the beach for the day, you are likely coming home with rosy red lips. This doesn’t mean I think you should skip citrus oils all together! They are my favorite in homemade lip balm recipes. Just be cautious of when you use them and be aware of their sun magnifying effects.

• My favorite essential oils for lip balm are:
• Peppermint
• Spearmint
• Vanilla
• Grapefruit
• Orange
• Check out my favorite book about essential oils.

HOW TO MAKE LIP BALM LABELS AT HOME

You can purchase blank lip balm labels and completely customize them yourself. Or you can purchase a variety of super cute, already printed labels that all you have to do is write in the type of lip balm it is.

I also like these ‘handmade with love’ stickers that can be used for all types of DIY and handmade gifts. I bought a big package of the 1” stickers, and they will work for lotion bars, cuticle oil, essential oil roller balls, or lip scrub as well!

WHAT CAN I SUBSTITUTE FOR ALMOND/JOJOBA/SHEA IN THIS RECIPE?

I mentioned before this is a forgiving recipe, and I meant it! If you find yourself without one of the primary ingredients, fear not. You can still use this recipe as your guide to make amazing vegan lip balm.

Just keep the proportions of wax, butters and oils the same and you will be golden. 

Avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, or hemp oil are all good replacements for the almond or jojoba. You can use any solid butter you like in this recipe with good results. If you don’t have shea butter, use all cocoa butter (it will be slightly more firm), or try mango butter or avocado butter. I really love mango butter in lip balm also!

HOW LONG DOES DIY LIP BALM LAST?

You can expect your homemade lip balm to last for at least 6 months if stored properly. Make sure to keep your natural lip balm sealed and at room temperature.

Confession: I found some lip balms I made more than 3 years ago and decided to give them a try. They were still good! Maybe not quite as soft and definitely not as fragrant as when I first made them, but I was pleasantly surprised.

Like any homemade DIY products, your lip balm will be as good as the ingredients you put in it. So make sure your ingredients are fresh, and your lip balm will keep for a while.

With that being said, go ahead and make your own lip balm using the recepie. Have fun!