A nourishing, everyday lip balm that’s easy to customize with what you have on hand.
Ingredients
1 Tablespoon organic carrier oil (like Jojoba, Sweet Almond, or Calendula Infused Herbal Oil)
1 Tablespoon Unrefined Cocoa Butter (Use Unrefined Cocoa Butter for a soft chocolate aroma, or Refined Cocoa Butter for a neutral scent)
½-1 Tablespoon Carnauba Wax (see note below)
10–15 drops Essential oil (optional)
½ teaspoon Mica or Iron oxide (optional)
Suggested Essential Oil blends
Spiced Cacao Citrus
- 5 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
- 5 drops Mandarin essential oil
- 2 drops Cinnamon leaf essential oil
Springtime bright
- 5 drops Lemon essential oil
- 5 drops Lavender essential oil
-
2 drops Palmarosa or Lemongrass essential oil
Directions
Step 1
In a double boiler, gently melt the carrier oil, cocoa butter, and carnauba wax. Carnauba wax melts more slowly than beeswax, keep heat low and give it a little extra time to fully melt into your oils.
Step 2
Once fully melted, remove from heat.
Step 3
Stir in the mica or iron oxide, making sure it disperses evenly.
Step 4
Let cool slightly, then stir in essential oils.
Step 5
Pour into tins or tubes and allow to fully set.
Formulation Note
Depending on your desired texture, use closer to ½ Tablespoon for a softer balm or 1 Tablespoon for a firmer, more heat-stable finish. Carnauba wax is quite firm, so a little goes a long way.
By Amber Graziano, Clinical Herbalist
Amber is a clinical herbalist and educator with over 15 years of experience in Western herbal traditions. She has taught at herbal clinics, schools, and farms across Colorado, sharing her love of plant medicine with diverse communities. As a staff instructor at Rebecca’s, she leads classes on medicine making, how to craft a home apothecary, and formulation. Her favorite part of being an herbalist is witnessing the deep healing that happens when people reconnect with the natural world and their plant allies.
Website: https://www.ambergraziano.com/