Delicious Chocolate Chapstick Honey Balm

Step 1 What you'll need

Beeswax
The first time I made this I used an old candle, but for this batch I bought 2 oz from the farmer's market for $1.75 -- definitely get the fresh wax if you can, the difference in flavor is stunning!

Cocoa butter
This can be found in any pharmacy. I've seen it at Rite Aid, Duane Read, etc, usually near moisturizers. This 1oz stick was $1.29

Almond oil
You could probably try other types of oil, but I would steer away from ones with heavy smells or flavors like olive oil -- you don't want to dissimulate the honey and chocolate flavor.

Vegetable glycerin
You can find this in health stores, but I've also seen it in craft stores. This ingredient is what makes this chapstick more of a lip balm. Glycerin will absorb humidity from the air to moisturize your lips.

Vitamin E
This is also an oil, with the thickness of fingernail polish when it's pure. The oil helps moisturize, but the main purpose here is as a natural preservative. This can also be found in any pharmacy, but read the label carefully: the quantity named in this recipe is for PURE vitamin E, and sometimes it is sold mixed with glycerin. You can still use it if it's been cut, but you'll have to adjust the amounts: more vitamin E, less glycerin. If you don't feel like doing any math, just get the pure bottle. This bottle cost around $10 but you need so little it will last forever. You can also decide to skip it altogether if you think you'll be using the chapstick within 6 months to a year.

Cocoa
Dark unsweetened cocoa will give you the best flavor

Honey
Any kind is fine

Containers
The first time I made this I used plastic bottle tops and covered them with plastic wrap -- but since I made this batch as gifts, I bought empty chapstick tubes on ebay ($7.45 for 25 tubes, including shipping). Little tins would also work nicely and can be reused.

Comments

[Glamour_Girl]

I just need kind of like good options for other oils to use. My Fiance is allergic to nuts so using Almond Oil would be a bad choice. Any suggestions?

[kmiller14]

Grape seed oil?

[darrenchittick]

Grapeseed oil is another good one. :) And sesame seed oil but you'll want cold-pressed, not toasted. Otherwise he'll smell like Chinese food.

[qwertyzzz18]

mineral oil

[Glamour_Girl]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! This is making me really excited to go home for the holidays. I hate college :(

[monkeyman123]

you could use pumpkin oil.

[belsey]

Anything mild would work: castor oil would be good, or avocado oil if you want something you can find in a regular supermarket (and use on your salads). Depending on how allergic he is, read the label carefully because often these oils are made in the same facilities as nut oils. Also vegetable glycerin is derived mainly from coconuts, hopefully that wouldn't be a problem.

[Mikey D]

Maybe mineral oil. It is non animal based for or vegan friends, is relatively tasteless, food grade, and has an (I believe) indefinite shelf life. Good work! P.S. I'm still waiting for chocolate tooth paste!

[ellnbchristi]

I think the cocoa idea is just fine myself.....I wasn't criticising your instructable.......only offering alternatives to the others that questioned the cocoa. I think this is a fine instructable. Thanks again.

[belsey]

I hadn't taken your post as a criticism... these were questions I asked myself too before testing the recipe. I always appreciate new ideas (a big reason for posting in the first place), and since I don't consume anywhere enough chapstick to justify testing countless batches, I would like to hear about your experiments. Thanks!

[ellnbchristi]

Instead of cocoa powder you can also use chocolate flavoring without having the color.......and you can add transparent color with a tiny drop of food coloring (I use paste and just dip a toothpick in it). I also add Vit E to mine. Great instructable......thanks.

[belsey]

I'm sure flavoring would work too, but for me it would be an extra ingredient to buy. I always have cocoa around, and the very slight darkening it makes I think looks good. This is open source though, and I'd love to hear how your experiments turn out!