Homemade Peppermint Lip Balm (Holiday Gift Idea)
Looking for a unique DIY holiday gift idea? Consider making some homemade peppermint lip balm using just a few natural ingredients. It’s so easy, you’ll never want to buy store-bought again!
The shea butter is super soothing for dry lips especially when paired with peppermint essential oil. This recipe makes about five one inch sized circular tins, so you’ll want to adjust up from there depending on how many you’d like to make.
These containers are Wilton brand small party favor tins, but you could recycle Altoid mint tins or reuse lip balm tubes (if making for yourself). You could also buy Lip Balm tubes like the ones here.
Homemade Peppermint Lip Balm
Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 Tablespoon Natural Beeswax
- 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
- 1 Tablespoon Shea Butter
- 2 Tablespoon Sweet Almond Oil (or Olive Oil)
- 20 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
- Small metal tins with lids (Wilton small party favor kit tins are shown)
Directions:
- Bring water in a small pot to a boil on the stove.
- In a glass dish or Pyrex cup, mix beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, and sweet almond oil.
- Place the glass dish or cup inside the pot of boiling water and melt ingredients while stirring. A bamboo chopstick makes a great tool for stirring this.
- Remove from heat and use about 20 drops of the peppermint essential oil and stir.
- Pour into containers right away.
- Wait 24 hours for the lip balm to set before using.
These adhesive labels came with my tins and I used a red sharpie to color them like a peppermint candy. You’ll love the smooth texture and wonderful scent! Such a great gift, too!
Thanks to Revived Kitchen for the inspiration!
while I’m sure they are not as sturdy as the cases you used for this project, I have seen in the wedding section at the dollar tree a similar style container. LOve this idea!
Thanks! Do you have a price for this (either per container or total for all ingredients)? Hip2savers love to know these things! Awesome idea.
It will depend on if your ingredients are organic and where you purchase from. All of these were purchased at craft stores and natural food stores. The containers are from Michael’s crafts. Thanks!
This looks so cool! Does anyone know how many one batch makes?
As mentioned one batch made five of these one inch tins half filled 🙂
Oops, only read the recipe, not the description. Thanks.
You could also sub the peppermint oil for lavender and use it as cuticle cream. Possibilities are endless. Thanks!!
Oh that’s genius! I love essential oils. Thanks!
How much water do we use when putting it to boil? I don’t want to add to much water and then have it watery:/ let me know please (:
Important: You are adding water to the pot only. Not in the mixture. You are essentially mixing the wax and oils in a glass container then dipping that glass container in boiling water. Filly our pot about half full of water. thanks!
Thank you! Here I was thinking I was going to add water to mixture so just add the cup into the boiling water to let it melt? (I’m assuming) (:
Exactly. Just melting your wax and oils together (like a double boiler) 🙂
This is such a great idea. I have been wanting to make something other than desserts for Christmas.
Does anyone know how much water to use? I don’t want to add to much water when putting it to boil and then it becomes watery… Help please(:?
Can you tell me the ounce size of the containers?
It doesn’t say. It does say one inch deep two inch wide 🙂
I just want to add, please be sure to use pure, therapeutic grade essential oils. Most oils on the market say pure essential oil; however, they are perfume grade. The fillers that are used in them can be toxic and do more damage than good. You get what you pay for when it comes to EOs. If it says aromatic, it’s not what you want. Pure, therapeutic grade EOs. Do a little research before you buy.
Thanks for your help on this. Didn’t know they needed to be pure EOs. I appreciate your info.
These look awesome! I know it’s something most people don’t think about, but if you make these or other homemade goods that have EO and food products in them, please consider adding a little label with the ingredents. I know I would use this if given to me assuming it was just wax and peppermint, but then I’d have a bad allergic reaction, because I’m allergic to almonds and coconuts. People are allergic to all kinds of things you would never think of and it’s a huge help if we don’t have to ask! Plus, something like this I would want to pass on to someone that can use it – rather than see it wasted.
Where did you find the oils, shea butter and essential oil? Not sure if they sell them at the grocery store or Michael’s or a specialty store.
Essential oils at Sprouts (natural food store) as well as Shea butter and almond oil. Michaels has the beeswax and containers. Thanks!
If I am allergic to coconut is there something else that could be used to substitute for coconut oil?
Is the Shea butter a solid or like thick lotion? I found both at Hobby lobby and another craft store and don’t know which one to use. I found both in the soap making section of the craft store. Is that correct?
The pure Shea butter I used was very very very thick almost solid but in a jar.
Thanks for responding. Mine doesn’t say “pure” and came in a little packet. It also is very very very thick but not solid like the beeswax. Do you think that will work? The Shea butter I bought says it can be used to make bar soaps and lotions.
I’m allergic to beeswax 🙁
Any ideas for a substitute? Thanks!
I found soy wax, carnauba wax or candelilla wax can be used as a vegan sub for the beeswax. There are a number of online suppliers available. Hope this helps. I know I’m allergic to so much in cosmetics it is hard to find slternatives. Thsnk goodness for coconut oil!
Do you have to sanitize your containers before filling them with lip balm
Love your recipe! Thanks for sharing! I tried vitamin e oil in place of almond and loved it too!
Oh good! Great that’s good to know!
Can you put up a picture what the coconut oil looks like? where did you buy it? Also, where do you get the Shea Butter from?
I was wondering if you can put this lip balm in tubes instead of the metal tons? Thank you! Looks like a beautiful recipe!
Yes I’m sure you can do that too. Thanks
Thank you!! I can’t wait to make this!!
Any chance I would be able to add cocoa to this recipe and make it peppermint/cocoa lip balm?
Could you use lip balm tubes instead of pots for this recipe? I can’t find the right size pots anywhere but I did order some tubes . . .
Yes!
I have totally gone off the charts over peppermint essential oil this year. I just did not realize I was craving more than just a piece of candy! I now have shampoo, sugar scrubs, and now I will try this! Crazy for peppermint!
Can you use small glass containers with lids in lieu of metal. I have very small round purse-size clear containers.
Is there anything that can be used as a substitute for the Shea? would like to make some for my kids but my son has a peanut allergy and for some that means Shea is a no-no! Thanks!
My daughter is allergic to peanuts too but didn’t realize Shea could be a problem. What makes people with peanut allergies allergic to shea? Thanks for any advice.
Trying this today!! Hoping it helps my horribly chapped lips, thinking I will go with lavender EO for the dry lips. What is the shelf life?
Hi! How many small tins does this fill approx.?
It filled 5 tins when I did it about an inch in height
IF I don’t have a double boiler, does melting in the microwave work just as well? Also, I got the tubes. Do I still just wait 24 hours for it to set or do I need to put it in the fridge?
Will using olive oil instead of almond oil affect the taste?
you could add a few drops of vitamin e if your lips are chapped:)
Just curious, has anyone tried making this adding coloring? It would be nice to give it a minty hue (pale green or pink) vs. yellow.
I put these in tubes and this recipe makes about 10…I bought a baby medicine syringe ($2.48 at Wal-Mart) and it was pretty easy…
This is a wonderful recipe !! The lip balm is very moisturizing without being too greasy – I love the smell and it set in the containers very nicely !! Thanks for the great recipe !!
Yay! Today I’m making my entire Oil Team of 100 this as a gift. Hope they love it!
I’ve made homemade lip balm before. After I pour it into metal containers and dried I’ve noticed little spots pop up randomly. Do you know what causes this to a happen?
how much does it make?
I know no one will see this but if you add the drop of glycerin it makes it a real good texture
Thanks for the tip!