Last Updated on June 1, 2025 by Nico
This lip balm shea butter recipe uses only two ingredients and is a nontoxic alternative to conventional chapsticks. Ready in an hour, there’s no reason to buy store bought lip balm again.
For some reason, lip balm was a product that I didn’t initially think to swap out in our home. I was so used to using my favourite lip balm that I didn’t think to look into what was actually in it, despite using it on my lips multiple times each day! But I’ve since realised that what’s in the lip balm we use isn’t great for our health.
(If you are looking for other nontoxic self care ideas, check out this lavender beeswax salve recipe or this cold infused rosehip oil recipe.)
Are Lip Balms Safe?
Lip balms vary in their ingredients but here are a few ingredients that are commonly found in lip balms that you should avoid.
Petrolatum
Petrolatum is derived from petroleum (what we put in our cars). Petroleum products are made during the process of refining crude oil at petroleum refineries. I don’t know about you but I don’t like the idea of putting any product with petroleum anywhere near my mouth!
Light Mineral Oil
Mineral oil is another petroleum byproduct. While the level of mineral oil in lip balm is relatively small, how much you actually ingest can add up when you use it multiple times daily. There are not very many studies that look at the potential harms to human health of ingesting mineral oil but I have no interest in consuming petroleum by products!
The All-Encompassing “Fragrance”
The term “fragrance” means a mixture of scented compounds which companies use to add a certain smell to their product. However, they can use the term without disclosing what specific chemicals are included in their fragrance. This is problematic because some of the chemicals known to be included can be disruptive to reproductive hormones and cause severe allergies.
Parabens
Parabens also have potential endocrine disruptive effects because they are able to interfere with estrogen levels. Multiple studies have shown that parabens can easily enter into human skin and studies have even found parabens detectable in nursing mother’s breast milk.
Why Make Your Own Lip Balm?
Control Over Ingredients
When you make your own lip balm, you are in control of the ingredients that go into it, as well as the quality of those ingredients.
It’s Less Expensive
Once you have the supplies you need to make lip balm, you’re able to make years and years worth of supply.
Customisable To What You Want
You can easily customise your lip balm to smell however you’d like using essential oils.
Reducing Plastic Waste
Conventional lip balm tends to come in a single use plastic containers and packaging. When you make your own, you can repurpose small glass or metal containers you have on hand.
2-Ingredient Lip Balm Shea Butter Recipe
It’s super straightforward to make your own lip balm at home. Once you have a few ingredients, you won’t want to switch back to conventional lip balms.
Supplies
Shea Butter – helps to soften skin and reduce swelling. Solid at room temperature so keeps the lip balm solid. I buy this bulk organic shea butter.
Olive Oil – healing to skin and has antioxidant effects. Avocado and jojoba oil are good substitutes if you do not have olive oil. I invest in this cold pressed olive oil.
Small Saucepan
Glass Bowl – shea butter can be difficult to completely remove so I have one dedicated glass bowl for melting beeswax, shea butter, and other home care ingredients.
Container of some kind – I repurpose small containers I already have.
Essential oil of your choice – optional. I prefer scent-free lip balm so I don’t use essential oils when I make mine.
Instructions
Add water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Make a double boiler by placing a glass bowl over the sauce pan.
Add the shea butter and olive oil to the glass bowl and stir until completely combined.
Remove from the heat and add any essential oils to the melted mixture.
Carefully pour the mixture into your lip balm container.
Allow the mixture to firm up for a few hours. After it’s firm (it takes about 1 hour), you can begin using it!
FAQ
Does homemade lip balm expire?
Olive oil can become rancid (it will smell bad) if it’s repeatedly exposed to moisture so I’d recommend using the lip balm within one year.
Is Beeswax Good For Making Lip Balm?
Most DIY lip balm recipes call for beeswax, but I find that beeswax tends to make the consistency of the lip balm difficult to use. For that reason this recipe doesn’t use beeswax.
What to read next
Simple DIY Deodorant Without Baking Soda
Mango Butter vs Shea Butter – which is better?
Simple Lavender Beeswax Salve Recipe
Simple Body Butter Recipe With Beeswax
All-Natural Vanilla Coconut Sugar Scrub
Herbal Non-Greasy Whipped Shea Butter Recipe
3 Simple Herbal Bath Tea Recipes
How To Make Cold Infused Rosehip Oil
Simple DIY Calendula Lip Balm Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Save it for later
Find us elsewhere…
If you make this how-to and enjoy it, please consider giving it 5 stars. Find me on Instagram @documentingsimpleliving and show me what you’ve made!
Nontoxic Lip Balm Shea Butter Recipe (Only 2 Ingredients)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add water to a small sauce pan and bring to a boil.
- Make a double boiler by placing a glass bowl over the sauce pan.
- Add the shea butter and olive oil to the glass bowl and stir until completely combined.
- Remove from the heat and add any essential oils to the melted mixture.
- Carefully pour the mixture into your lip balm container.
- Allow the mixture to firm up for a few hours. After it’s firm (it takes about 1 hour), you can begin using it!
Leave a Reply