Homemade Lip Balm - Eco Living

Have you ever been inspired to make your own beauty products? This year I've decided to become a little bit more eco friendly and start making little changes to the products we buy, use, and throw away. I'm going to start looking more closely at the beauty and cleaning products we use around the house and seeing whether we can buy eco friendly alternatives or simply make our own. I'll be having a massive clear out getting rid of things we don't use...that skirt I've never worn...that toy that doesn't get played with. I know this is all not going to happen overnight but little by little I'm hoping to make changes here and there over the year.

My lip balm ran out recently, and rather than buy a new one (though I did really like my last one from here) I thought I'd have a go at making my own. I was inspired by the recipe in the Bread issue of Taproot Magazine and so I ordered what I needed from G. Baldwin and Co. which is a shop full of lovely natural products based in London. I went for a combination of sweet almond oil that I infused with jasmin tea, beeswax and cocoa butter. My first batch is a little hard and I think I will add more oil next time to make it a bit softer, but at least I'll know it will hold when the weather gets warmer.

The cocoa butter makes it feel really nourishing and the jasmin tea gives it a lovely smell that's not overpowering. It's pretty amazing how simple lip balm is to make once you have a few key ingredients. I think I may have to start collecting essential oils so that I can make a more fragrant batch. I like the idea of a grapefruit balm for the summer.

Have you ever made your own lip balm? What's your favourite recipe?