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Homemade Lip Balm

Dry, cracked lips are a thing of the past. Learn how to make these deliciously relaxing lip balms that you're sure to wear every day of the year.

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Photography: Bryan Gardner

Source: Martha Stewart Living, July/August 2014

Introduction

Follow these instructions to make four lip balms (two cardboard tubes and two cardboard pots). Lavender essential oil's scent can be very strong; you can soften it by mixing in basil, mint, or lemon essential oil (try a ratio of one to two). To make more than one kind of lip balm at a time, divide the recipe in half and scent and color the batches separately. For lip balms, we like to use essential oils that have an "edible" scent, such as citrus. Beeswax pellets are available at crafts stores. And if you're looking for a fun gift-packaging idea, try topping cosmetic tubes and pots with our clip-art labels.

materials

  • Beeswax pellets (Pictured: Bramble Berry Yellow Beeswax, $11 a lb., brambleberry.com.)

  • Safflower oil

  • Essential oil (lavender, and basil, mint, or lemon)

  • Paperboard containers (Pictured: SKS Bottle & Packaging​ Brown Paperboard Push-Up Lip Balm Tubes, from $27 for 12, sks-bottle.com.)

steps

  1. Place 2 tablespoons grated beeswax (or pellets) in a heatproof spouted measuring cup. Heat in microwave on medium for 30 seconds; stir with a craft stick. Repeat until wax is fully melted.

  2. Stir in 1/4 cup safflower oil and heat for 30 seconds in microwave.

  3. Add a total of 10 to 15 drops essential oil (combining scents as desired); stir.

  4. Pour mixture into cardboard tubes and pots, stopping just shy of tops; let set for several hours.

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