I was quite happy with my basic beeswax-based lip balms, until my friend asked me whether I could make her a vegan lip balm. I realised that other people might find it useful, since vegan eating has been on the up recently and most commercially produced lip balms are not suitable for the vegan lifestyle.
Plus, it was actually nice to be able to work with different ingredients and achieve a slightly different end product.
My homemade vegan lip balm has only two ingredients, and the recipe couldn’t be easier! If you need a step by step recipe for my basic lip balms you can find it here.
Note on ingredients
Candelilla Wax
This is a plant based wax, which is used instead of the beeswax. It’s similarly thick and solid like beeswax, but it’s actually little harder. This means that we will be using slightly less of this wax than we would if we used beeswax. This makes it quite budget-friendly lip balm!
Carnauba Wax
If you don’t have a candelilla wax, you can swap it for carnauba wax, but it can be slightly difficult to work with than candelilla wax.
Working with candelilla wax
This wax has a melting point of about 70°C and melts a lot faster than for example, beeswax, which means you need to watch your double boiler very closely. Unlike beeswax, candelilla wax isn’t that sticky, which is great for cleaning out all utensils and equipment. It also blends really nicely with the coconut oil and creates naturally glossy lip balm.
You can see from my recipe I used 1 part of candelilla wax to 4 parts of coconut oil. I found that this gives me the right consistency, but if you prefer a glossier lip balm, you can try 1 part of candelilla wax to 5 parts of coconut oil.
Don’t be tempted to use much less than 4 parts of coconut oil to 1 part of candelilla wax as the waxes won’t blend in and the candelilla stays way too thick.
Other waxes to use instead of coconut oil
You can also try soy, cacao, shea, avocado or mango butter.
Extra ingredients
Essential Oils
My basic recipe includes just two ingredients, but you can certainly add a few drops of your favourite essential oils to create a luxury lip balm.
Colouring
If you want to add a natural colouring to your lip balm, you can simply use a crushed beetroot powder or frezze dried raspberry powder. Just add a tiny pinch to the mixed waxes just before you pour it into your containers. Make sure that any powder is very fine, or sieve the warm wax through a fine sieve (or cotton fabric) before you pour it into your containers.
DIY Vegan Lip Balm Recipe
Makes 12 small lip balm tubes
Ingredients
- 30 g candelilla wax
- 120g coconut oil
- Optional: essential oils
Instructions
- Place the candelilla wax in a small bowl and melt slowly in a microwave or on a double boiler. Make sure the wax has melted fully, but don’t overheat.
- Stir in the coconut oil.
- Blend the two waxes together carefully.
- If they don’t completely emulsify, heat the bowl gently for 5 seconds in a microwave.
- Add a few drops of essential oils, if using.
- Slowly pour your lip balm into your containers or lip balm tubes.
- Allow to fully set in room temperature before closing the containers with lids and using.
- Use within 6 months
My other homemade cosmetics you might like to try
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