Run your tongue across your lips right now and see how they feel. Are they soft, smooth and beautiful? It may be that they feel slightly rough, dry and possibly even have some skin peeling away. This is a sign that your lips are in need of some care, and it is what sends us reaching for the lip balm. Lip balms come in many different forms and flavours and are sometimes packed with chemical ingredients.

They can also vary from to dirt cheap to very expensive, and it can be difficult to know which one you should be buying. However, you can answer all of these concerns by creating your own homemade lip balm; it is quick, easy and great fun to make, not to mention cost-effective!

What do lip balms do?

The skin on your lips is extremely thin and so it is very vulnerable to damage.¹The best lip balm for dry lips will help to seal in moisture by creating a film of hydration on your lips. This protects them from exposure to the elements, which can otherwise dry them out and create flaking. Lip balm takes a solid form which softens on contact with your lips. With the right ingredients, a lip balm will nourish your lips and provide gentle care for chapped lips.

As many lip balms contain ingredients such as phenyl, menthol and camphor, they can seem very chemical, and that has sent people searching for a more natural lip balm alternative. There are also vegan lip balms for those who are not comfortable using products that contain beeswax or lanolin. Our lips can become chapped at any time, and it is often caused by a dry summer atmosphere or cold winter months. However, the weather is not the only reason we need to step up our lip care, so take a look at the 8 reasons we get chapped lips and what to do about it.

Basic lip balm recipe

If you want to know exactly what is in your products, then try making your own natural lip balm at home.

Simply melt three tablespoons of beeswax pellets with two tablespoons of shea butter and four tablespoons of coconut oil before stirring in 10 to 20 drops of your favourite essential oil.
You can then pour this mixture into pots or tubes and leave it to cool. This will allow it to set and take on the familiar lip balm texture.

You can play about with the diluted essential oils that you use to create some lovely little gifts for friends and loved ones. Peppermint, orange, lemon and lavender oils add a gorgeous flavour as well as having their own skin benefits.

You can also change the colour of your lip balm to reflect the flavour and make them more appealing by including cosmetic colouring powders or by melting down a lipstick to create the ultimate tinted lip balm. There is no limit to how creative you can get, so enjoy playing with colour, shimmer or glitter to make your lip balm feel special.

Vegan lip balm recipe

To make a vegan lip balm, you will need to substitute beeswax for a plant-based wax.

Melt your soy, carnauba or candelilla wax.
You can combine this with coconut oil to give your lips nourishment, and you can increase the shininess of the balm by increasing the amount of coconut oil.
Including your essential oils at this point will give them a great scent and flavour but will also help to make your lips healthier and better protected.

Middle-Aged Woman Applying Lipstick On Lips Making Makeup Looking In Bathroom Mirror At Home. Panorama, Selective Focus

Vegan lip balms don’t have to be boring either. You can still add a lovely tint to them by using dried raspberry, clay or beetroot powder to create a hint of blush.

Lip balms are lovely to use or to give as gifts, and one recipe can make plenty of beautiful, fresh lip balm that will save you money as well as making your lips appear plump, hydrated and completely kissable.

Disclaimer

The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies. Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

While we strive for accuracy and balance, please be aware that this article may discuss products available for purchase through Holland & Barrett. Consult a healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.