DIY Gifting: Homemade Honey Lip Balm

Posted by Dani on November 16, 2015

We’ve got easy DIY gifting on our mind this time of year, and here’s a sweet one we wanted to share. DIY Honey Lip Balm – what could be more fun for your Christmas stockings? And you can’t really get any easier – throw a few ingredients in a double boiler and you’re basically done!

I love the clean and natural ingredients in this recipe, and the smooth and tingly feel when you put it on. It sets up firm, but softens when you apply it with your fingertip. And it includes one of my favourite ingredients – coconut oil. It’s almost good enough to eat!

You can find many recipes online, and I looked at a few to decide what the best ratio was for coconut oil to beeswax. The beeswax is what makes it harden up. Too much, and the balm won’t spread easily. Too little, and it’s runny. I think this recipe gets it right.

The ingredients for this recipe have a lot of benefits for your lips. The beeswax is a natural emollient and adds a layer of protection. Coconut oil is so healthy for your skin, and helps promote hydration. And honey naturally attracts moisture. That’s a lot of goodness in each pot!

Just for fun, I added half a tube of plum coloured lipstick, hoping to get a nice sheer colour. I got only a hint of pink. If you want to stay completely natural, then leave the lipstick out - you’ll get a pretty honey yellow colour. I’ll be making some natural batches, and also experimenting with different essential oils, like sweet orange and lemon. I think I’ll be tucking these in quite a few stockings this year!

Here’s a hint if you have some trouble finding beeswax – just use some candles, as long as they’re from a reliably clean source. Instead of paying over $25 for a block of beeswax at a local crafting store, I bought 2 handmade beeswax votives from my local health food store for just $2 each. Their only ingredients were beeswax and hemp oil, so I knew they’d be safe to use. I eyeballed the rough amount of wax I needed and grated it off with a microplane grater. It might have been easier to melt the entire candle and then measure it properly.

I read online that the beeswax was difficult to clean and to use a dedicated grater or pot to heat it in. I didn’t have a problem at all, and found that a little hot soapy water and paper towel were all I need to get my equipment clean. The only warning I have is to be patient with the melting process, as some of the ingredients take a little time.

Try making a few pots for your friends this Christmas, or maybe for yourself. Leave out the lipstick, and this lip balm is safe for kids too. It’s the perfect sweet little stocking stuffer!

Want another great DIY Gifting idea? Check out How To Make Your Own Tea Blend.

Homemade Honey Lip Balm
(makes about 14 small tins)

Ingredients:
8 tbsp coconut oil
4 tbsp beeswax, grated
1 ½ tbsp honey
1 tube lipstick for colour (optional)
oil from 4 capsules vitamin E (optional)
40 drops peppermint essential oil

Combine all the ingredients except essential oil in the top of a double boiler, and heat until melted. Add the essential oil and cool slightly. Pour into tins.

Want some more great DIY Christmas gift ideas? Visit my Canadian blogging friends for some handmade gift inspiration for your holidays!

From the top, they are:

Christmas Scented Paper Sachet DIY Gift Bag from Time With Thea

DIY Holiday Pallet Sign from Fresh Crush

DIY Lime Mint Sugar Scrub from Setting for Four

Go Ahead, Get Messy Family Gift from The Inspired Home

Homemade Peppermint Tea from Love Create Celebrate

DIY Clay Jewelry Bowls from The Sweetest Digs

Homemade Honey Lip Balm from Lifeovereasy

DIY Metallic Pouch from The DIY Mommy

Hot Chocolate Ornament for One from Bette Creek

DIY Glitter Bird Garland

Monogram DIY from Mommyzoid

Traditional Fruitcake from New House New Home New Life