A Lip balm recipe is one of those skincare essentials that really makes a difference. I’ve made lip balm before, but unfortunately for anyone who can’t use animal products, it has beeswax.
So today I’m sharing my recipe without beeswax. If you’re not vegan or can otherwise use beeswax, go take a look at the page I just linked to. It’s the best balm I’ve ever used!
Introduction
So the vegan movement is HUGE nowadays. So many people are discarding a life of animal products for a healthier plant-based lifestyle. If you aren’t vegan yourself, I’m sure you probably know someone that is. I know I do!
My vegan gals are always asking for vegan alternatives to things, and vegan lip balm recipes are no exception.
You’re sure to find many skincare products that are vegan-friendly at your local drug store, but my vegan pals aren’t big fans. From what I gather, none of them can compete with the gorgeousness that beeswax-based products offer.
But, of course, beeswax isn’t vegan! So I set out to make something that is just as good, or maybe even better. Spoiler… I think I did it!
This Lip Balm Will Care For Your Lips All Year Round
The lack of beeswax is compensated by a selection of wonderful carrier oils, a well-chosen cosmetic butter, a dash of vitamin E oil and a few drops of beautiful peppermint essential oil as well. Honestly, it’s just as good as my DIY beeswax lip balm, and if you’re vegan (or know someone that is) I definitely recommend you give this a try.
If you read my last post about lip balm and chapstick you’ll know how versatile they are! Not only are they great for lips, but also any area of irritated, dry or chapped skin. If I graze my skin, I’ll use some balm on it. It’ll speed healing and stop dirt or anything getting in. Lip balm isn’t just for the lips anymore!
Notes On The Ingredients
- So the candelilla wax is our substitute for beeswax. While beeswax is probably a superior product, candelilla is an excellent replacement for our vegan friends. It can be used in many DIY skin care products and has a similar price tag as beeswax. It’s also a great choice for anyone who is allergic to bee by-products.
- Our selection of carrier oils are all chosen to enrich our skin with vitamin and minerals, as well as many skin softening properties. Almond oil is great for all skin types and nourishes, rejuvenates and soothes irritated skin. It’s readily available and relatively inexpensive.
- Tamanu oil, however, is a bit pricier, but boy is it worth it! Its anti-inflammatory properties are wondrous, and will also speed the healing of scar tissue, stretch marks but also small cuts, grazes and… you guessed it, chapped skin!
- You might have used castor oil on your hair, as it’s a wonderful oil treatment to help hair grow stronger and longer. However, did you know it works as a great protective barrier for our skin? Castor oil is used here to apply a layer to our lips and skin, keeping it protected from the elements as castor oil doesn’t fully absorb into the skin. Definitely a good oil to use in your lip balm recipe.
- Mango butter is one of the most versatile diy skincare ingredients on the market. It’s packed with nutrient-rich fatty acids and oils that will help condition your skin, leaving it feeling nourished but also healthy. It’s also super light and not greasy at all, which is great for a recipe that has something heavy like castor oil in it.
- We all know the amazing benefits of vitamin E. This wonder oil will speed up the healing process and make our homemade chapstick a super strong, fast acting skin warrior! This, combined with the powerful benefits of peppermint essential oil, give this chap that extra punch it needs to chase away dry skin.
- Peppermint essential oil is a great EO for calming and softening skin. Like tamanu oil, it has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. Lets also not forget its antiseptic and antimicrobial benefits, helping to keep your chapped, dry skin free from nasty infections!
Vegan Lip Balm Recipe Without Beeswax
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Ingredients
- 15 grams Sweet Almond Oil
- 5 grams Castor Oil
- 5 grams Tamanu Oil
- 5 grams Candelila Wax
- 10 grams Mango Butter
- 1 grams Vitamin E Oil
- 10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- 8 Lip Balm Tubes
Video
Instructions
- Weigh out and combine all of your ingredients (minus the essential oil) into a heat proof beaker or jug. Pyrex works quite well.Then, set up a makeshift water bath. You can do this by filling a pan with a couple of inches of water (pre-boiled with a kettle for efficiency) and then bring to a boil. Then, turn down the heat so that it is just simmering.Then you can pop your jug with all our lovely ingredients into the water. Leave to melt for 15-20 minutes. It may help to give the mixture a stir every now and then, but not too often or you’ll lose some of your mixture on the spoon.15 grams Sweet Almond Oil, 5 grams Castor Oil, 5 grams Tamanu Oil, 5 grams Candelila Wax, 10 grams Mango Butter, 1 grams Vitamin E Oil
- Once your wax and hard butter have completely melted, remove from the water bath and place to one side to cool for 5 minutes. Take care not to burn yourself, as the glass will be very hot.
- Once the mixture has cooled slightly, add your 10 drops of peppermint essential oil and give it a good mix.10 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- Taking care not spill, fill your lip balm tubes with the mixture, leaving a couple of centimeters from the top.Let your mixture cool in the tubes for about an hour before using, otherwise, it’ll be much too soft.
- You can make use of small balm pots rather than tubes if you prefer, although chapstick tubes are inexpensive, readily available here, and lend a more professional touch to the finished product.8 Lip Balm Tubes
Other Lip Balm Recipes
A while back I researched several other lip balms with beeswax, quite a few of them didn’t work out too well, but some did, and these were much better than store-bought varieties.
These recipes are not only soothing and nourishing but are also very easy and economical to make. And best of all they only contain 100% pure ingredients. I’ve written a whole post on the best lip balm recipe with beeswax, and I also posted on how to make homemade lip gloss! So I highly recommend you have a go at making that as well.
Final Thoughts
That’s all I have time for today, my friends. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post today, and it inspires you to give this and other lip balm recipes a try. I don’t have a massive amount of posts about vegan recipes, and considering how many vegans I know this has to change.
If you know anyone that’s vegan, this could be such a lovely treat for them, or as an extra birthday gift to go along with some other vegan skin care products. If you’re ever at a loss for what you gift, a hamper of homemade things is always my go to, tailored to whoever you’re gifting.
You might also want to let your vegan friends know about this recipe! Like and share on Facebook to let them know!
Hi there Angela. First, thank you so much for this recipe & the beeswax ones – I’m waiting for some supplies to arrive to start both projects, yay! I was curious though, for this vegan version, what’s the ratio of carrier oils to wax to cosmetic butter? I’m just wondering what I’d need to do if I wanted to use different oils since the almond is so much higher than the other 2, but is that because castor oil is thicker (I think?) than the other 2?
Hello I was wondering how to add a natural SPF to the recipe ?
Hi J,
I’m not sure, because DIY formulators don’t really have any good way to test the efficacy of our products in this context. We all want to have fun in the sun, as well as go about our daily lives without fear of sun damage. But making your own sunscreen is not the answer, and I would never recommend doing this.
All-natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, can have naturally occurring SPF properties. However, it’s difficult to determine exactly the SPF grade of a finished, homemade product. Even when using SPF additives, such as zinc oxide. We have no idea how our other ingredients in a formula can influence the SPF properties of these ingredients, potentially rendering a product with no protection at all – and you’d have no idea.
It’s best to leave this to the experts and buy good quality sunscreens to apply in the morning as the last step of a daily skincare routine and reapplied when necessary, following manufacturer guidelines.
Hello Angela,
Can I substitute Candelilla Wax to Carnauba Wax?
Thanks
Silvia
Hi Silvia,
I haven’t tried making a lip balm using Carnauba Wax but Im sure it is possible, it might turn out a little harder than with the Candelilla wax.
I would recommend that you test it first by making a small trial amount, and let me know you get on with this.