I once used expired mayo as a hair mask because I “saw it on TikTok.” (Don’t. Just… don’t.) I also regularly lose my phone in the fridge. So when I tell you I made lip balm that didn’t burn my lips off, didn’t smell like regret, and actually worked? That’s newsworthy.

Why I Even Tried to Make Lip Balm (AKA The Cracked Lip Chronicles)

So last winter—dead of January, right after New Year’s, when everyone’s pretending celery juice is fun—I woke up with the crustiest lips known to man. Like, full-on desert. Chapstick was doing nothing. Drinking more water? Cute suggestion. Didn’t help.

I dug around in my purse and found a mystery balm from 2017 that smelled faintly like crayons and sadness. Used it anyway. Got a rash.

That’s when I texted my friend Tasha (you know, the one who makes her own oat milk and labels things in cursive) and asked:
“Hey, is homemade lip balm a thing? Or do I need to surrender to capitalism?”
She replied with a selfie holding a tiny tin of balm and said, “I gotchu.”

What You Actually Need (No Unicorn Tears Required)

Let’s be real: most DIY lip balm recipes online are either full of weird ingredients you’d have to trade in a wizard’s alley or they melt if you look at them too hard.

Here’s what you need to keep it simple and functional:

The Basics:

  • Coconut oil – the MVP. Hydrating and smells like beach dreams.
  • Beeswax – for structure (unless you want lip soup).
  • Shea butter – optional but highly recommend. Makes it creamy.
  • Essential oils – like peppermint or lavender, but go easy unless you wanna feel like you kissed a candle.
  • Small containers – tins or empty balm tubes. Or those weird tiny jam jars from hotel breakfasts.

You can get all this at Target or order from somewhere like Mountain Rose Herbs if you want the fancy vibes.

Basic Recipe That Won’t Betray You

This is the recipe that actually worked. No lies.

✨ Easy DIY Lip Balm

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp beeswax pellets
  • 1 tbsp shea butter
  • 5 drops peppermint essential oil (or whatever scent you vibe with)

Instructions:

  1. Melt the coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter together in a double boiler (or a metal bowl over boiling water—I used a random saucepan and hoped for the best).
  2. Stir gently. Don’t walk away to check your texts. I did that once and it boiled over. Bad times.
  3. Once melted, remove from heat and add essential oil.
  4. Quickly pour into containers before it starts to solidify like your ex’s heart.
  5. Let cool for like 30 minutes. Then boom—done. Homemade lip balm. You made a thing.

Wanna Get Fancy? Try These Combos

You can totally play around with it. Here are a few combos I’ve tried:

🍯 Honey Vanilla (sweet vibes)

  • Add a drop of vanilla extract and a tiny blob of honey.
  • Smells like cookies. Tastes kinda like bees made dessert.

🌿 Eucalyptus Mint (spa vibes)

  • Use eucalyptus + peppermint oils.
  • Warning: don’t use too much. Your lips will feel like menthol lava.

🧈 Cocoa Dream (dessert lips)

  • Replace shea butter with cocoa butter.
  • Smells like chocolate. May attract children or snacky adults.

Mistakes I Made So You Don’t Have To

I’m not gonna pretend I nailed it the first time. I absolutely did not. Here are the lessons learned from my balm-blunders:

  • Too much oil = greasy lips. Like you kissed a rotisserie chicken.
  • Not enough beeswax = balm melts in your car. And your jeans pocket. And your soul.
  • Essential oils are strong. One time I added 20 drops of cinnamon oil. My lips straight-up screamed.
  • Labels help. I made six flavors and couldn’t tell which was which. Played lip balm roulette for a week.

Also, don’t be like me and pour hot balm into plastic containers. They warp, smell and haunt me.

Is It Worth the Effort?

Honestly? Yeah. There’s something ridiculously satisfying about whipping out your own homemade lip balm and being like,
“Oh this? I made it. No big deal.”
(Spoiler: it is a big deal and I told everyone.)

Plus, it’s cheap. You’ll spend like $10 on supplies and make balms for months. You could even get weird and give them as gifts.
“Merry Christmas! Here’s something I made with my hands and mild chaos.”

Final Thoughts from My Slightly Chapped Heart

If you’ve ever googled DIY lip balm recipes at midnight while furiously applying Aquaphor with the desperation of a Victorian ghost—hi, you’re my people.

Making your own balm isn’t about being perfect. It’s about experimenting and messing up and then accidentally inventing the best damn lip balm you’ve ever tried while wearing mismatched pajamas.

So go ahead. Melt stuff in a pan. Pour it into tiny tins. Label it with washi tape and a dream.

And if all else fails?
Just text a friend like Tasha and let them walk you through it while you burn things slightly. That’s what friends (and homemade balm) are for.

Where To Go From Here?

If you’re into this kind of chaotic, semi-functional DIY life, you’ll probably love:

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