Homemade Honey Lip Balm Ultra Moisturizing
Usually we think about lips as one more element of our face and beauty, and rarely realize the fact they´re also skin, a very soft and fragil one at that, victim of daily agressions like weather, harsh gestures, and arguably the most radical one – make up. After all cosmetics are mostly composed of chemicals, and talking lipstick it´s components easily penetrate the soft skin of our lips. There are plenty of products we could use to minimize damages but they only represent temporary effectiveness , like vaseline which makes your lips look moisturized only on the outside. Vaseline is a petroleum derivate, not very attractive proposition for a beauty/care product, and something to consider when it comes to eco policies: if we cut down consumption of oil-derived products, we’re helping to reduce our oil dependency. So then what´s needed is a product made from a natural and organic renewable resource, and as nature always offers the best alternatives in this case it´s honey. With this blessed ingredient and a few more you could have a homemade, natural super moisturizing lipbalm, so try this super easy recipe!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Double boiler : You’ll need this to melt your wax and butters. You can also use a glass bowl or jar immersed halfway in a pot of boiling water.
3-4 Tablespoons of Beeswax : Beeswax is your base and will give your balm a thick, creamy consistency
3 Tablespoons of Raw Shea Butter: Super moisturizing, healing, and a natural sunscreen.
2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil : Antioxidant rich and penetrates your skin quickly, allowing for maximum absorption.
2 teaspoons of honey: Natural humectant (draws moisture from the air), skin softener, natural preservative, and great tasting
Essential Oil of choice (optional): Essential oils have healing properties, kill bacteria, and add a hint of flavor to your balm
Grapefruit seed extract : Natural preservative.
Small hand wisk or electric mixer : To provide your balm a nice smooth consistency.
Once you have all these elements follow this procedure:
In your double broiler or pot, slowly melt beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter.
1 -Once melted, remove from heat and beat with your mixer as it cools. Be patient, it takes a little while for your mixture to thicken.
2- Scrape any mixture from the sides of the bowl, mixing it back in.
3- Once your base has started to thicken and has cooled considerably, add honey and whip again. The longer you whip the base, the thicker your balm will be : For a thinner balm, add more oils, For a thicker balm, add more beeswax
4- Once your balm is the desired consistency, add 2 drops of essential oil (always be careful when handling EO) and 2-3 drops of grapefruit seed extract if you need a preservative.
5- Stir lightly one last time to blend in the EO and grapefruit seed extract.
6- Spoon mixture into lip balm jars.
Now you´re ready to enjoy and get the benefits of your organic lip balm. Don´t forget you can also try with different ingredients to add flavours and and even a touch of color!
Images: GoodFon Courtesy
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