This weekend I created a mango butter based lip balm following the Mandarin Nutmeg Lip Balm recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs. Lip balms are probably one of the easiest natural cosmetics to make. I find that they can sometimes double as hand salves or even super emollient butters for dry irritated skin by using soothing essential oils.
This weekend I used this lip balm recipe to create a clear and natural pigmented lip balm using annatto root powder which gives a rich tangerine tone which I love. To make the tinted lip balm I added 1/2 teaspoon of annatto root powder to the recipe after pouring two smaller sized clear balms into their own containers. I plan to create more naturally pigmented lip balms using cacao, hibiscus, and beet root powders.
Mandarin Nutmeg Lip Balm
This sweet, citrusy, and warming lip balm has just a hint of spice. Made with Mandarin and Nutmeg essential oils, Mango Butter, Sunflower oil, and other botanical ingredients.
1 Tablespoon Mango Butter
2 Tablespoons Sunflower Oil
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Beeswax
15 drops Mandarin Essential Oil
5 drops Nutmeg Essential Oil
A few drops of Vitamin E Oil (optional, but recommended)
Lip balm preparation: Coarsely chop the beeswax or use beeswax pastilles. Place beeswax, butter, and oils in a small pot or glass Pyrex measuring cup and gently heat in the top of a double boiler until the beeswax and butters have melted. Once melted, remove from the stove top and add essential oils and Vitamin E Oil. Immediately pour the mixture into lip balm containers. You can purchase lip balm tubes and jars, or you can reuse glass or plastic containers. Allow to cool completely before placing caps onto the lip balm containers. Your lip balm is finished! You can now add labels, ribbons, twine, or any other decorative elements. Makes approximately 1.5 oz of lip balm, enough to fill 10 lip balm tubes, 6 of our 1/4 oz plastic jars, or 3 1/2 oz tins or plastic jars.
In the very first photo is one of the clear lip balms that I made. Here is how the annatto root pigmented lip balm turned out. I reused clean containers that I already had for all of these lip balms. If I were to give them as gifts I think these tins would be most ideal. Here is how the naturally pigmented lip balm looked using annatto root powder.
You can find all of the ingredients needed from Mountain Rose Herbs.
What’s your favorite DIY Cosmetic?
(Images by Dawn Michelle & Mountain Rose Herbs)
Monik says
Really? This is made just from ingredients mentioned above??? Fab!!!
Can’t wait to try it. The color is amazing….pure
ecoGlam!!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
Yep! It is a very moisturizing lip balm as is. Adding annatto root powder just gives it the tint. You can also use other natural pigments such as beet root powder for a rosy red color. Even try mixing the natural pigments. So glad you like!
Pamela Nicole says
Hello I love your site it is so interesting I cant wait to try making my own lip balm. This color is so natural with a touch of color and it seems really moisturizing.Right now I am waiting for my order to come in for the ingredients I need to get started, but I am infusing my own oils with herbs that will be my project this weekend. I tried a small batch of Hibiscus root mixed with organic extra virgin olive oil, and Vitamine E oil. I love the mix I let it sit for 1month but since reading your blog on herbal infusions I will wait six to eight weeks with my new herbs I received. Thanks for sharing! I really love making my own stuff and learning what works best for my hair and skin as well as my overall health. Pam
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks so much Pamela! This lip balm is extremely moisturizing. It is my favorite so far, and I am even more excited about it because I was able to make it myself. Herbal oil infusions are definitely more potent the longer you let them sit. They are also so easy to make with so many wonderful benefits! Best wishes!
Violeta says
Awesome!
My one big doubt, as usual: shelf life? Thanks!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Violeta,
When making products with oils, butters, and beeswax the product is stable. You do not need to refrigerate those ingredients except sensitive oils like wheat germ oil which on the bottle mention to refrigerate and does not have as long of a shelf life as coconut or olive oil. Certain oils are more sensitive than others yet even their shelf life can be extended when mixing with more stable carrier oils.
When you add aloe or water into the product things are very different. You also are needing ingredients to bind the water and oil as well as preservatives to sell the product and have it safe for customers. I suggest refrigerating DIY products that contain water or aloe and to make what you know you will use within a week or so. Some companies add vitamin E oil to their lip balms and body oils/butters for extended shelf life and antioxidant properties, but you will not see preservatives unless water or aloe is also in the ingredients. I hope that helps some.
Best,
Dawn Michelle
Alexandra Phillips says
Hey!
Been making natural lip balm for quite awhile now just finding it impossible to infuse tint (oil, powder etc) into the balm without separation. Any suggestions??
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Alexandria,
When I made this lip balm some of the annatto seed powder did settle to the bottom but it was still infused as a whole. It may just depend upon how well mixed it is while it is still hot. Otherwise I’m not sure how to not have the pigment to not settle at all.
Hope this helps!
Francesca says
i recently made a 2 ingredient lip balm that turned out great….organic virgin coconut oil and beeswax.It saved my whole family this freezing winter in Canada! Thanks for the amazing inspiration!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Francesca,
Two ingredients is really all you need to create a great lip balm. That’s awesome that you made them for you whole family! Thanks for your comment and compliment! Wishing you the very best <3
Christine McMahan says
I would really like to make this but wonder if you could suggest a substitute for beeswax? Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks for all the good information and recipes!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Christine McMahan,
Candelilla wax is a great substitute for beeswax. I purchased some from Amazon but have not used it yet to know how different it is than beeswax. I hope you are having a beautiful day!
Christine McMahan says
Thank you so much. I will give that a try and let you know how it turns out!
Dawn Michelle says
You’re so welcome Christine!
camille says
I can’t wait to try this! I LOVE your blog 🙂 Thanks for all the recipes and encouragement towards a natural lifestyle.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Camille,
Thanks so much! Let me know what you think when you do try this!