Last updated on November 21st, 2024 at 11:38 pm
Homemade Lip Balm Recipes (using Petroleum Jelly or Vaseline)
I have included petroleum jelly, of which Vaseline is the most popular brand, in this homemade lip balm section because although Vaseline is a petroleum based product, it is cheap, readily available, and highly effective.
By Jane Lake
General Directions:
Lip balm made from Vaseline (or petroleum jelly) is moisturizing and soothing, softens lips and helps prevent chapping.
Use clean, sterile containers for preparation and storage. You can reuse old lip gloss pots, but thoroughly clean out the old product, then wash with soap and water, sterilize with rubbing alcohol, rinse with clean water and dry the container before reuse.
Coloring Vaseline Lip Balm
Small amounts of new lipstick can be used to color lip balms made with a petroleum jelly base, as shown in the short video below. Just add small slivers of the lipstick to the vaseline before melting. Old lipstick may be contaminated with bacteria; for this reason, it’s not advisable to reuse old lipstick in new lip gloss recipes.
Another option is scraping organic blush into a powder then stirring it into the vaseline to make a tinted lip balm.
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You may also try using beetroot powder (Amazon link) to color your lip balm in a pink tinge. Add a hint of brown using four parts beetroot powder to one part cocoa powder (for instance, 1 teaspoon beetroot powder and 1/4 teaspoon cocoa).
For a firmer lip balm, you may want to try these lip balm recipes using a beeswax base.
Lip Balm Containers
You can buy small containers suitable for lip balms at some drug stores, dollar stores, and craft stores, or you can check the wide assortment of lip balm containers at Amazon.
Chocolate or Cocoa Lip Gloss
Fill a small container with petroleum jelly, then empty the petroleum jelly into a microwavable bowl.
Microwave at 30 second increments until just melted. Alternatively, you could melt the petroleum jelly over low heat in a double boiler.
Another way to melt the base ingredients is to put them in a plastic bag then float the bag in hot water until melted; simply snip off a tiny corner of the bag to pour out the liquid vaseline.
Stir cocoa powder into the melted vaseline, using enough to flavor and color the lip gloss to your taste. Stir well to combine.
Pour into the original pot and let cool until set.
Berry Lipgloss
Follow the directions for Chocolate Lip Gloss, but replace the cocoa with strawberry, raspberry or blueberry drink crystals or berry flavored kool-aid (with sugar already added).
Honey Lip Gloss
Combine three tablespoons of vaseline or petroleum jelly with one teaspoon of honey. Warm in the microwave, using 30 second increments, until melted. Or melt over low heat in a double boiler.
Pour melted honey lip balm into small pots and let cool before using.
Easy Minty Lip Gloss
Add three drops of peppermint oil to one tablespoon of vaseline and mix well. Make as much or as little as you need.
Vanilla or Almond Lip Balm
Add two or three drops of vanilla extract per tablespoon of petroleum jelly for sweet vanilla scent and flavoring. Almond, or other food grade flavor extracts, may also be used.
Sources:
Some images courtesy of Freestocks and Sadswim at Melissa di Rocco at Unsplash.
Thank you, Tony! I love it too. I made a new batch this week just in time for colder weather.
I do not want to make that much honey lip balm. Can I use 1 tablespoon of petroleum jelly? If I do, how much honey should I use??
isn’t it just putting flavored Vaseline on your lips? what does that do?
It helps against chapping and moisturizes dried lips very well. Flavoring and coloring the petroleum jelly at home ensures that at least you know what additives are in the formula.
I picked up several small tubs of Vaseline can I just put the lip balm back in it.
Sounds like something I would definitely try. I love recycling, and if the tubs are designed for petroleum jelly already, you’re all set.
Hi! I actually want to make the honey one, but my honey has expired by a month? Is it still ok to use in the lip balm?(with vaseline)
Hi! Usually honey is something that will never go bad, no matter how long it stays out. So it should be perfectly fine to use in the honey lip gloss!
Honey can’t expire
Honey never expires
Can I use coconut oil instead of Vaseline?
Vaseline remains thick and dense in every weather but coconut oil melts.
What will i do if i dont have a microwave in our house ?
I did include directions for people without a microwave, and it’s quite easy. You can put the ingredients for your lip balm in a plastic bag then float the bag in very hot water until the vaseline melts. Cut off a corner of the bag and pour the liquid lip balm into a container and let cool until firm. Or, for larger batches, melt the ingredients in the top of a double boiler, then pour them into your containers and let set.
Oh, ok. Thanks. Love the lip balm, btw ❤
Thank you, Agatha. There’s always something comforting about homemade balms, salves and lotions. Glad you like it!
U can wait for a day, then put it out in the sun!
Use a double boiler or coffee cup warmer. Even a candle fire flame. If you don’t know what a double boiler is, it’s a pot with water and a bowl or measuring cup in it.
When making the mint balm, can you use peppermint extract to flavor, or stick to just peppermint essential oil for scent?
Now you’re asking, because I’ve always wondered this myself. I have this tempting bottle of peppermint extract in my spice cabinet and I wonder about this question every time I open the door. Which means, of course, I don’t know the answer. But now that you and I have put it out there, perhaps someone else would know. I’m just not sure that peppermint extract will work, especially if it’s alcohol based, because it won’t mix readily with the vaseline, which is oil based.
Can I add food colouring for a specific colour?….and how exactly do I make the honey one??
Personally, I wouldn’t try food coloring because it’ll be like mixing oil and water; the two won’t blend very well. The instructions that I have for the vaseline honey lip balm is the simple blend listed above; see Beeswax Honey Lip Balm for another variation.
I’m going to try the mint one definitely!!!
Oh my…it really works…mu lips are soft and I luv the taste of honey on my lips…give it a try…in fiji lip balm cost around $15.00..this homemade recipe is easy becoz all the ingredients are at home..yeah
The Honey Lip Balm is my favorite too. Glad you liked it!
No you can put them in the refrigerator for 2 minutes and they come out awesome believe me
I’ll try that soon. Thanks for the suggestion.
Can you also put these in lip balm tubes?
I don’t think so. Petroleum jelly lip balms aren’t as firm as beeswax based recipes, so I think they are best dispensed from small tins or pots, either with your fingertip or a lip brush.
So lip balm sticks cannot be made using vaseline petroleum jelly?
Yup