Homemade Winter Lip Balm

Mint Lip Balm : The often solid looking jar of coconut oil in my kitchen cupboard finds its way onto my skin through out the year as an easy, no fuss answer to needing a massage lotion or skin moisturizer.

It melts at body temperature, and is also suitable as a shaving moisturizer, quite the kitchen multi-tasker.

In the hot summer, my small bedside jar of vanilla bean infused coconut oil became quite soft and liquid. This made it easier to apply to legs and arms and backs for warm scented rub downs.

For winter use, small amounts of the solid coconut oil can be melted down in the microwave and poured into small tins for use as a lip balm.

I scented this round with 1 drop of peppermint essential oil per 2 tsp of melted coconut oil. This amount provides a soft level of mint, that is milder than the mint in Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. I think I shall try doubling the amount of mint next time to aim for that Burt’s mint tingle on my lips.

Chocolate Mint Lip Balm Adding a 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder to the hot melted 2 tsp of coconut oil, softens the mint aroma, and cushions it with day dreams of sipping hot chocolate. It’s a splendid combination! The resulting balm is colored in the pot, but doesn’t show any traces of color on the skin. Also, as the coconut oil cools, it crystallizes to produce a mottled white snowflake like clouding in the brown cocoa lip balm pots.

As coconut oil is easily seduced to liquid by body temperatures, I would caution one against carrying these tins around in their pockets, unless a secure tight lid is used.

Note- this shouldn’t be carried in your pocket

as it will melt to a liquid. Think of this balm as a bedside treat.

Additional flavors begging to be made with essential oils:
- lavender mint
- lemongrass
- cinnamon
- chocolate lavender (Valentine’s Day!)
- cocoa butter rose (Valentine’s Day!)

As with any body product made containing essential oils, go gentle if you are unfamiliar with a particular scent. You don’t want to accidentally make a body lotion that will sting and burn you.
… or maybe you do? If so, get your experimenting underway to unveil your creation in time for Valentine’s Day play!