The fall and winter months are upon us… Are you and your grandkids prepared? I’m not talking about coats and gloves, but moisturizers, a la lotion and chapstick! In terms of the latter, did you know that you and your grands can easily make your own chapstick with only a few ingredients?
While you can always buy chapstick, I enjoy making my own, as it makes for an enjoyable afternoon activity with the grandkids and allows me to control what goes into it. (In this day and age, you can never be too safe!)
Do you want to give homemade chapstick a try? Here is what you will need:
Ingredients:
- Beeswax
- Carrier oils (Examples include coconut oil, almond oil, or jojoba oil to provide the primary moisturizing element for the lip balm)
- Essential oils
- Vitamin E oil
- Natural colorants (Optional, but beetroot powder, cocoa powder, or natural mica powders can add a tint to your balm if desired)
- Containers for storage
1. Preparation
Start by setting up a double boiler. If you don’t have one, you can make your own by placing a smaller pot or metal bowl over a pot of simmering water to ensure the water isn’t touching the bottom of the top bowl or pot.
2. Melting the base
In your double boiler, add about an ounce of beeswax. Once it starts to melt, add 2 ounces of your chosen carrier oil. Stir gently until they’re fully combined and have a liquid consistency.
3. Adding the essentials
Once your base is melted and mixed, remove it from heat. Next, stir in a few drops of vitamin E oil and your chosen essential oils. A good rule of thumb is 10-20 drops of essential oil per batch, but this can be adjusted based on preference.
4. Optional tint
If you’re aiming for a tinted lip balm, now’s the time to add your natural colorant. Add the colorant a little at a time, stirring and testing on a piece of white paper until you reach your desired shade.
5. Pour and set
Carefully pour the mixture into your lip balm containers. Use a funnel or a pipette for this step to avoid any spillage, especially if you’re using twist-up tubes.
6. Cool down
Allow your lip balms to cool and solidify for several hours. If you like, you can even speed up this process by placing them in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Once set, your homemade lip balm is ready to use! In addition to keeping your and your grandkids’ lips moisturized, it also makes for a thoughtful homemade gift. Remember, you can always experiment with different oils and scents until you find a combination that’s perfect for you. Have fun, and let me know how it goes!