Have you ever perused online for a lip balm recipe only to find that many of them fill 6, 12, 24, or even 100 tubes? Have you ever yearned for a different scent or flavor of lip balm but you still have 9 tubes to use up? Perhaps you're a fellow blogger who's tired of all the tubes of lip balm left over from previous lip balm tutorials. Or, maybe you found an awesome Pinterest recipe and made some for friends only to have tons left over after the holidays?
Well, if this is you (because it's certainly me!) then I've got you covered! Because I have figured how to make just ONE tube of lip balm at a time so that you can make a new flavor or formula whenever you want. You will no longer have to use the same old lip balm for two years or have to beg your friends and family to take just one more tube off your hands. Nope, those days are over!
How to Make Just One Tube of Lip Balm
I looked online for a recipe like this for a while one day (like seriously I was 12 pages deep in Google) and couldn't find a single recipe for just one tube of lip balm. I then turned to the various recipes I found online and attempted to divide them into the correct amounts only to find that measuring them out was too much hassle for just one lip balm.
So, I came up with the clever idea to melt down the contents of a brand-new lip balm I had laying around to see how much a single tube holds.
The answer? One teaspoon! That may sound difficult to measure out, but I assure you it's easy!
Here are the ingredients you need for a super moisturizing and nourishing lip balm:
• ¼ teaspoon beeswax or candelilla wax for Vegans
• ¼ teaspoon carrier oil like coconut oil, sweet almond, etc.
• ½ teaspoon pure shea butter
• 2 drops of essential oil like lavender, peppermint, vanilla, rose otto, jasmine, tangerine, etc. (avoid using phototoxic essential oils lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, etc.)
• 1 empty lip balm tube
• A small pyrex measuring cup
• A small spatula
• A kitchen towel
You can also do a simpler version of ¼ teaspoon beeswax and ¾ teaspoon of carrier oil. All you have to remember is that the wax to oil ratio is 1:3.
Loving Preparation - How to Make Just One Tube of Lip Balm
1. Measure out your wax, shea butter, and carrier oil and add them to the pyrex measuring cup.
2. Fill a sauce pan about an inch of water and then place the pyrex measuring cup to the pan.
3. Bring the water to a boil and wait for the ingredients to melt completely, stirring on occasion to mix.
4. Prepare your lip balm tube (I usually place something underneath it the capture any spills).
5. Once the ingredients have melted, remove from the water bath and place the pyrex on a folded towel to prevent the contents from cooling too quickly.
6. Add your essential oil and stir to mix.
7. Carefully fill your lip balm tube to the top and let it cool completely before capping. Use the spatula to help scrape the melted ingredients from the sides if needed.
8. Wipe the outside of the tube to remove any oils and then label it.
9. Enjoy your singular tube of lip balm!
To make this even EASIER, just add the wax, shea butter, and carrier oil to a pyrex measuring cup and pop it in the microwave for 10-15 second increments until completely melted. Add your EOs, mix, and pour. Viola!
I hope you give this a try! Let me know if you do in the comments below!
Don't miss out on my other DIY beauty tutorials:
How to Make Lip Balm
Homemade Skin Brightening Mask
6 Skincare Tips That Cleared My Acne Naturally
All Natural Bath Bomb Recipe
Thyme Serum for Acne Free Skin
Marcia Lehmann says
Can I use Soy wax instead of Bees wax?
Nicole says
So if I'm leaving out the butter how much carrier oil should I use?
Hana says
Hi ,I like ur page and I am interested to make handmade lip balm but I don’t know that products the expired date ...means for how long
Tash says
The lip balms can last about 5-6 months if kept in a cool place.
Jill says
I just made this, and doubled the recipe in order to make 2 tubes of lip balm - used 1/2tsp wax and 2tsp carrier oil - and it didn’t even fill an entire tube! How is everyone making a full tube of lip balm with this recipe?
B says
Excellent now I can make just 1. Thank you!!!
Tash says
You're so welcome, B!
Theresa says
Why no lemon, bergamot, other types of citrus?
Tash says
Citrus oils react harshly in direct sunlight and will cause your skin to sunburn.
DavetteB says
Not all citrus and not if properly diluted. Look for bergapten-free Bergamot and Google Sun-safe Dilution. The orange family is safe (still dilute properly).
Chyna says
I'd like to try this but I have a question, would it be possible to just leave the butter part out all together?
Tash says
Hi Chyna!
You can leave out the butter, just sub with more carrier oil 🙂
Sonia says
Thank you! This is great and I love the feel on my lips! How do you suggest I adjust the measurements to make a larger batch (25 tubes)
Tash says
Hi Sonia!
Let's see, I think it would be:
2 TB plus 1/4 teaspoon of carrier oil
2 TB plus 1/4 teaspoon of beeswax
4 TB plus 1/2 teaspoon of shea butter
50 drops of essential oil
Leslie says
You are awesome for putting this out. Especially love that you say coconut or almond oil. So many recipes use coconut and I’m not a fan of it. Now I can try out all the different flavors I want.
Tash says
You're welcome, Leslie! In fact, you can use any carrier oil you like as the base 🙂
Marissa says
That seems like a large amount of peppermint oil! I don’t want it to burn my lips. I’m new to essential oils. Will it be too much?
Tash says
Hi Marissa!
Add two drops!
Vicki says
THANK YOU !! THANK YOU!! I have been looking at lip balm recipes for a while now but, as you said, I didn't want 25-100 tubes of it. Just made my first tube using your recipe with peppermint oil. I LOVE IT! It took less than 10 minutes including clean up. I will never buy lip balm again!
Tash says
YAY!! So glad you like it! 😀
Fabiana Freitas says
Gosh, you saved my life one million times!!! This is not only perfect for the amounts, but for the ingredients!!! I was desperately looking for a recipe using shea butter. Besides, all the other I found were with coconut oil - it doesn't go with my skin. Yours were the only one that specified 'carrier oil'. Thank you from here to eternity, Lady!!!!
Carol says
Oh my goodness! I've been wishing for this. I just made 1 tube of Lip Balm! Thank you for publishing that.
Tash says
You're welcome Carol! I was tired of having so many lip balms lying around and friends and family were soon overrun as well! Glad I could help 🙂
Oliver says
What can replace Shea butter with?
Tash says
Hi Oliver!
You can use any other butter or carrier oil like cocoa butter, mango butter, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, etc. 🙂
Brooke says
I have all these ingredients and was wondering if I could also add cocoa butter as well? Im not sure if i should leave it out or not. Thanks!
Tash says
Absolutely!
Debbie says
I know it wouldn't be the same, but since I don't have any essential oils could this be made without it? I'm eager to make some lip balm.
Tash says
Hi Debbie!
Yes! You can definitely make this without essential oils 🙂
Fran says
Just made a single lip balm, it is fantastic. Feels very good on my lips. I added a few drops of vitamin e and some lipstick color from an old tube.
Tash says
Awesome Fran! So glad you liked it! <3
Denise says
Oh my gosh! Thank you so much! Been looking for this for days!
Tash says
Woohoo!! So glad you found it Denise! 🙂
Cindy says
Microwaving doesn't compromise the integrity of any of the ingredients?
Tash says
Hi Cindy!
It can to a degree if you microwave for long periods of time. I usually only use the microwave when I'm in a pinch for lip balm.
Alyssa Otter says
I just started getting into making lotions/bath soaks/lip balms. This is so perfect for playing with different essential oils in lip balms with out using up a lot of product. Thank you so much!
Tash says
You're very welcome! I have never liked having too many of the same thing lying around, and being a blogger you can only imagine how much stuff can build up! I hope you enjoy 🙂
Karen Brimhall says
Hi, can't wait to try this! Just a note: The ratio is 1:3 not 1:4. (1 part wax to 3 parts oil or... 1/4 tsp wax to 3/4 tsp oil)
Tash says
LOL! Thanks for catching that Karen! 🙂
Alyssa Otter says
Good to know for the "base" recipe. I subbed in Argan Serum and Argan butter...