DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

Here’s how to make a moisturizing shea butter lip balm for dry lips in just a few minutes using 3 organic ingredients: shea butter (of course), oil, and wax! And add essential oil (optional) for a delicious scent.

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I’ve been making this simple recipe for over 11 years now, and I love how it feels on my lips. In this blog, I’m outlining the exact steps to make this easy lip balm with shea butter. 

Key Takeaways

• Simple Ingredients – You’ll need shea butter, carrier oil, and beeswax to make this recipe. 
•  Equipment – You’ll also need lip balm tins or tubes to store lip balm, a saucepan, a heat-safe bowl, and a stovetop. 
•  Vegan Lip Balm Option – You can make this recipe vegan by swapping the beeswax for a plant-based wax.
•  How Much This Recipe Makes – This recipe makes 7-8 lip balm tubes/tins.  
•  Adding Essential Oils – Add your favorite essential for a scent, like lavender essential oil or peppermint essential oil. 
•  Shelf Life – Keep the lip balm for up to 12 months! 

Before you get started: What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons shea butter- provides the moisturizing relief my lips crave in the drier fall and winter months.
•  2 tablespoons carrier oil – nourishes and moisturizes the skin. My favorite oil options: sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and virgin coconut oil. 
•  2-3 teaspoons beeswax pellets – the glue that holds the oil and shea butter together and creates a solid product. Beeswax, a natural ingredient thanks to hard-working bees, provides a protective barrier to the skin and may help soothe it.

Equipment  

• small sauce pan –used to create a double boiler with a bowl to melt the ingredients. 
• medium heat-safe bowl – this can be glass or metal and should be large enough to rest on the saucepan to melt the ingredients. I’ve found that a glass measuring cup that sits in the saucepan (and the water added to the saucepan) works best as it has a spout for pouring the melted wax into lip balm tubes. 
• lip balm containers – Either lip balm tubes or metal tins. This recipe makes 7-8 regular-sized tubes (or 4 ounces).

How to Make Lip Balm: Step By Step Guide

• Step 1 Combine Ingredients – Place the shea butter, oil of your choice, and wax in a glass bowl.
•  Step 2 Melt Ingredients – Place the glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat (this creates a double boiler). Heat until the wax melts, along with the butter, stirring occasionally.
•  Step 3 Remove Ingredients From Heat – Remove the bowl from the pot and the heat. Add the essential oil drops of choice (if using). 
•  Step 4 Pour Into Lip Balm Containers – Place a disposable plate or paper towel under the containers you’ll be using to prevent wax from dripping onto your countertop. Use an oven mitt to pour the mixture into lip balm containers (tubes or cases), and allow the balm to sit for a few minutes until formed. It’s ready to use once set (firm). 

Application Tip: Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Shelf Life: How Long Will It Last? 

Homemade lip balm will last for the life of the ingredients, about 6-12 months, stored at room temperature.

How Much Does This Recipe Make? 

This recipe makes 4 ounces of lip balm or about 7-8 standard-size lip balm tubes.

How to Make Vegan Lip Balm 

Shea butter and carrier oil are naturally vegan, so the only ingredient you’ll need to change is the beeswax. A plant-based wax, like soy wax, carnauba wax, or candelilla, is a great substitute.

Should I use unrefined shea butter or refined shea butter?

The choice is yours. This all depends on your preference as both are great options.  

• Unrefined Shea Butter – This type of shea butter contains all its natural nutrients, so it’s considered the best option. It has a strong, earthy scent and cream color. 
• Refined Shea Butter – Due to the refining process, some of its natural nutrients are removed, making it odorless and white. 

What to Avoid Doing

• Don’t Use Hot Essential Oils – Some essential oils can irritate the skin and cause the skin to have a burning sensation. Avoid these “hot oils” such as cinnamon, clove, oregano, thyme, and lemongrass.
• Citrus Oils –  Citrus oils, like sweet orange or lemon essential oil, are photosensitive and can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. 
• Don’t Add the Essential Oils When Melting Ingredients – Essential oils are sensitive to heat and quickly evaporate. So don’t add the essential oil (if using) along with the other ingredients. Instead, wait until after you remove the ingredients from the heat and just before adding the liquid to the lip balm containers of choice.

How to Prevent Grainy Lip Balm 

Lip balm made with shea butter can quickly turn gritty or grainy. While there’s nothing wrong with this, and the lip balm is still usable, the final product can feel funny on your lips. To prevent a grainy texture:

• Cool Lip Balm in Fridge – Place the lip balm tubes in the fridge so they cool faster.
• Slow Melt – If you find this issue still occurs, next time, melt the shea butter first over low heat in the glass bowl (double boiler set up) before adding the other ingredients for 15-20 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients. This slower, longer melt can also help reduce the grainy texture issue.

Shea Butter Lip Balm Benefits

• Hydrating & Moisturizing – Shea butter is rich in moisturizing and hydrating qualities. Because of this, it’s great for dry skin. Use shea butter on dry, chapped lips and dry skin. I love to make this body butter with shea butter for my whole body.   
• Soothing – The anti-inflammatory properties from fatty acids help calm and soothe the skin.   
• Vitamin E & A – These antioxidant ingredients may help protect the skin against free radical damage and provides a protective barrier to the skin. Another reason why shea butter is also a fantastic body moisturizer and face moisturizer, as well as a great lip balm.   

FAQs

• Can I make lip balm without beeswax? The wax protects the skin (a moisture barrier) and helps solidify the final product. You can’t skip the wax, but you don’t have to use beeswax. Instead, you can use soy wax, carnauba wax, or candelilla to make a natural lip balm. Fun note: beeswax and soy wax may also be used to make homemade candles! 
•  Will the lip balm melt when it’s hot outside? The lip balm shouldn’t melt when it’s hot outside, even if kept in your car. It will soften, but it shouldn’t fully melt. 
•  How can I make the lip balm more glossy? Coconut and castor oil are the best for creating a glossier lip balm recipe. 
•  How can I add color to my lip balm? I’ve experimented with different natural colorings, like beetroot powder, hibiscus powder, and even cocoa powder, but I’ve never had success with any of these ingredients. The best way to color organic lip balm is to use colored mica powder (about 3/4 teaspoon). Here’s a tutorial on how to do that. 

5 More DIY Recipes With Shea Butter

• Custom Lip Balm – Use any body butter of choice or oil to make this natural lip balm recipe.
• Honey Lip Balm – Use honey, shea butter, and beeswax to make an ultra-hydrating lip balm.
• Lotion Bars – Moisturizing lotion in a solid bar, made with shea butter and beeswax.
• Body Butter – This luxurious lotion is made with shea butter and oil and moisturizes the whole body.
• Face Moisturizer – Combine shea butter and oil to make an all-natural face moisturizer.