Lip balm

As someone who suffers from very dry skin and hair, I go through pounds of lip balm, especially in the winter.  Finding chemical-free, vegan lip balm isn't very easy, and it is typically fairly expensive, so I decided to try to make my own.  I found some recipes online to get a general idea of where to start, and then I modified until I liked the results.

I used 4 tablespoons coconut oil (virgin), 4 tablespoons soy wax (pure, no additives other than natural soy), 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil, a few drops of Tea Tree oil, and a few drops of an essential oil (optional - I used sweet orange for a citrus-scented balm).  Melt the soy wax (I used a glass dish in the microwave, but a double boiler works too), then stir in the coconut oil to melt. Add the essential oils, pour into containers, and let set. 

For a firmer balm, use more soy wax, for softer, use less.  

I also experimented with tinting.  I used beet juice in one, but I don't think I used enough. It doesn't have a visible tint, so I need to experiment more with that.  I also used a small chunk of a vegan lipstick to tint another, and that one turned out well.  

I had some containers lying around (I don't throw nice containers away, because I can always repurpose them), and I put in boiling water to sterilize and used those.

It was incredibly inexpensive, quick, and easy, and I don't think I will ever need to purchase lip balm again. Once I use up the remaining roll-up tubes I have, I will re-use those, so I can have a batch in tubes, in addition to the little makeup pots.

If you're interested in trying it and local, let me know, and I'll give you some soy wax.  I had to purchase a ten pound bag, which is inexpensive, but more than I will need in a lifetime.