Materials

• 3 or 4 one-ounce tin containers
• 8-9 Tbsp. of Castor oil (can substitute jojoba, almond or soybean oil)
• 2 tsp. of beeswax pastilles (small beads of beeswax that melt easily)
• 1½ Tbsp. of honey
• 30-40 drops of peppermint essential oil
• ½ tube of a natural, pink-colored lipstick to add color (optional)
• Saucepan, heat-proof bowls, whisk, ice, cold water, stickers for labeling

Honey Tangerine balm

• 3 or 4 one-ounce tin containers
• 7-8 Tbsp. of Castor oil base (can substitute almond, jojoba or soybean oil)
• 2 Tbsp. of beeswax pastilles (small beads of beeswax that melt easily)
• 1 Tbsp. of honey
• 15-20 drops of tangerine essential oil (can substitute other citrus oils such as grapefruit or orange)
• Saucepan, heat-proof bowls, whisk, ice, cold water, stickers for labeling

All of the supplies for this project are available online at Mountain Rose Herbs. For more information on homemade beauty and personal care products, see "Organic Body Care Recipes" by Stephanie Tourles or "Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair: Natural and Healthy Personal Care for Every Body" by Dina Falconi.

Directions

Use a double boiler (a heat-proof glass bowl resting on the top of a saucepan filled 1/4 full with boiling water) to melt the beeswax, Castor oil and honey together. Once the wax has melted, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the peppermint extract and half a tube of a natural, pink-colored lipstick until well mixed. Set the mixture into a shallow ice water bath and stir rapidly until all of the ingredients are incorporated and the balm has a thick, frosting-like consistency. Spoon the lip balm into 1-ounce tin containers and tightly replace the cap.

Allow the balm to set up in the tin containers for at least two hours before using. Both recipes can easily be doubled or tripled to make larger batches of lip balm to give as gifts (be sure to make labels so the recipients know what they are getting). Homemade lip balms should be used within one year.

TIP: If you want a firmer lip balm, use less base oil in your recipe.