Easy Homemade Coconut and Beeswax Lip Balm!

The easiest lip balm ever. Great for chapped lips and even as a hand salve! I've been using it as a lip balm all day, and on my hands at night.

And because it's made with coconut oil and beeswax, it tastes like honey and fresh coconut - you don't need any other flavorings!

Step 1: What You'll Need:

• containers for lip balm - you can use tubes or pots, or even reused tins, like Altoid's Minis
• glass measuring cup
• small grater
• yellow beeswax
• coconut oil (I really recommend Dr. Bronner's - it smells the best!)
• vitamin E oil
• measuring spoons
• chopstick or something similar for stirring
• microwave

Keep in mind that the grater you use on the beeswax is going to get pretty messed up. You can get rid of most of the beeswax by pouring boiling water over the grater, but it's good to have a little one just for beeswax.

Also make sure that your hands and tools are clean before starting - you don't want to get any nasties in the balm.

Step 2: The Basic Formula

You can do any measurement you like, but I chose a teaspoon because it makes just enough for a tube of balm or a small pot.

Basic ratio:

• 2 parts coconut oil
• 1 part beeswax
• a few drops of vitamin E

Step 3: The Vitamin E Oil.

Add a few drops of oil to the bottom of the measuring cup. Not only is it good for your skin, it will also help prolong the shelf life of the balm!

Step 4: The Coconut Oil.

Measure out two teaspoons or coconut oil, pressing it into and leveling the spoon. Scrape it all into the measuring cup.

Step 5: The Beeswax!

You'll need a teaspoon full of beeswax. I prefer to grate it on a sheet of parchment or freezer paper so that I can transfer it easily to the spoon.

Press the beeswax into the spoon until it's full. Make sure to really pack it in there! If you don't get the full amount, the balm will be softer and oilier. Which is not necessarily bad, and it makes a great hand cream... I learned a lot during my trial runs with this. :P

Step 6: Stir Everything Up and Microwave!

I tend to microwave 30 seconds as a time, take it out and stir, and then microwave again. Heat the mixture until the beeswax melts completely and the oil looks nice and golden.

Pour it into your container before it has time to set up!

Step 7: Down Time.

It'll take your balm a little while to set up - no more than a couple hours. Leave it out somewhere that no one will bother it and let it harden. The first two pictures are a few minutes in, the last two are an hour or so after.

Just make sure you can't feel any heat and that the balm is a nice cream color.

Step 8: Use It!

Works great on dry skin, lips, and the dreaded "tissue nose" that comes along with winter. When I was very sick a few weeks ago, it really helped heal my lips and nose without the burning you might get from other lip balms.

I can't vouch for how long it'll last, but I'm about a month in on my first batch and it's still wonderful and I'm getting low. As long as you use only oils and the vitamin E, you should have a decent shelf life. Just don't mix any water in there, because it can lead to mold and other gross things. :D