Easy Lip Balm

During the drier winter months I don’t go a day without applying some kind of balm to my lips. When I was younger they would split and bleed often enough to be annoying and uncomfortable (it just takes once).

Here’s a recipe for some easy, manly lip balm with no harsh chemicals that you can make in an afternoon.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. + 1 Tablespoon of your oil of choice: coconut, olive, almond (I’d go with almond)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of vitamin E (just pop a few gel caps with a needle or slit it with a knife)
  
• 2 oz beeswax (locally sourced from an apiary or bought online, it all works.)

Supplies:

• Small saucepan (a double boiler would be ideal, but this works)
• Glass jar or measuring cup
• Canning jar lid ring (to keep the glass jar off of the bottom of the pan)
• Wooden spoon
• Metal Lip Balm Tins (You can get them here.)

Step One

Put the beeswax, vitamin E, and almond oil into a glass jar or measuring cup. The beeswax is the binder and the vitamin E and almond oil lock in moisture.

Step Two

Take your saucepan and place your canning jar lid ring at the bottom. Fill the pan halfway with water.  Bring it to a boil.

Step Three

When the water is gently boiling, place the glass jar or measuring cup on your lid ring. The oils and beeswax will melt together over your low boil.

Step Four

When the beeswax has finally melted (it will take the longest), remove the jar from the water carefully so you don’t burn yourself.

Step Five

Using the wooden spoon, pour the mixture into your waiting lip balm tins and set them aside for cooling.

That’s it.

The beeswax will give it a nice scent and the two oils will lock in the moisture.

Easy and manly.

Next Time: Old Necktie Dopp Kit and a little history.