During the dry winter months, I really enjoy using a homemade medicated lip balm more than anything else. The cooling sensation, healing essential oils, and moisturizing butters and carrier oils make for the perfect protectant and healing combo.
Lately, I’ve been messing around with a few new ingredients in order to achieve a consistency close to Carmex, and I think I’ve got a pretty close dupe!
Carmex used to be my go to lip balm before I started going natural and it’s been hard to find a lip product that imitates its texture and lasting power without all the chemicals.
For those of you who were addicted to Carmex as much as I was, I think you’ll like what I’ve come up with!
Homemade Medicated Lip Balm (Carmex Copycat Recipe!)
My homemade version of Carmex goes on smoothly and leaves a nice glossy sheen just like the original. I’ve added some wonderfully moisturizing carrier oils like sweet almond and avocado along with a hint of sticky castor oil to give the final product a nice dose of staying power.
The essential oils I’ve selected for this homemade medicated lip balm are what give it its healing properties – many of them are known to help prevent and heal cold sores too so if you have the EOs, add them!
Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
• An accurate kitchen scale like this one
• A small pyrex measuring cup or beaker
• A flexible spatula
• 2 lip gloss tubes like these (see alternatives below)
• 1g menthol crystals (or sub with 3-5 drops peppermint essential oil)
• 5g cera bellina (this is a derivative of beeswax and is what gives this lip balm its unique texture. You CAN sub with beeswax, but the end result will be much firmer and cannot be put in lip gloss tubes like I have done in the photos)
• 5g shea butter
• 1g cocoa butter
• 1g castor oil
• 13g sweet almond oil (yes, that’s 13 grams)
• 2g avocado oil
• 2 drops vitamin E oil
• 2 drops camphor essential oil
• 2 drops calendula CO2 (optional)
• 1 drop melissa essential oil (optional)
• 1 drop manuka essential oil (optional)
• 2 drops vanilla absolute (or 4 drops vanilla in jojoba oil)
This recipe makes enough for about five 5g lip balm pots, three 8ml squeezy lip gloss tubes, or one 1oz lip balm tin. I do not recommend putting this formula in lip balm tubes as it is much too soft and would be quite messy!
Loving Preparation – Homemade Medicated Lip Balm Recipe
1. Begin by measuring out the menthol crystals (if you’re using peppermint EO instead, do not add it yet), the cera bellina, shea butter, cocoa butter, castor oil, sweet almond oil, and avocado oil in the pyrex measuring cup/beaker using the accurate kitchen scale.
2. Bring 1 inch of water to a gentle simmer in a saucepan and place the pyrex in the center.
3. Melt everything thoroughly, stirring on occasion.
4. Set up your lip balm containers for easy pouring. If using lip gloss tubes, it’s helpful to put them in a shot glass the hold them upright while you pour.
5. Once everything is melted together, remove from the heat, wipe the bottom with a kitchen towel, and place it on the towel on the kitchen counter to keep it from solidifying too quickly.
6. Now add in the vitamin E oil and the essential oils. If you do not have melissa, manuka, or calendula, sub those with peppermint essential oil, NOT more camphor!
7. Stir to combine, then pour the mixture into your lip balm containers. Use the flexible spatula to scrape out every last bit. You might need an extra lip balm pot to save any extra remnants. Believe me, you don’t want to waste any of this!
8. Allow the lip balms to cool, then cap closed.
This homemade medicated lip balm is perfect for any type of dry weather conditions where you just need some healing and extra protection. I find it to be the perfect lip balm to use before going to sleep as it keeps my lips moist and protected all night long.
You may also enjoy reading:
Chai Rose Lip Balm
How to Make Just One Tube of Lip Balm
How to Make Lip Balm
DIY Smith's Rosebud Salve
How to Make Homemade Carmex
