:QUOTE [quotetype:personal] Three ingredients. Thirty minutes. Twelve tubes of lip balm better than anything in a drugstore. :INFO Why Beeswax Lip Balm Works Better Petroleum jelly (the primary ingredient in most commercial lip balms) creates an occlusive barrier but does not penetrate or condition skin. Beeswax provides an occlusive barrier while also containing antimicrobial compounds. Shea butter and sweet almond oil penetrate the lip skin and deliver fatty acids that restore suppleness. The combination of barrier and conditioning is more effective than occlusive-only products. :COUNTER.half 1 Part Beeswax | :COUNTER.half 30 Minutes :PATH Weigh and Melt the Beeswax Melt cosmetic-grade beeswax pellets in a double boiler until liquid. | :INFO Weigh and Melt the Beeswax Use cosmetic-grade beeswax pellets or pastilles — they melt more evenly than chunks. Weigh 1 part beeswax to 4 parts total oils by weight (e.g., 10g beeswax, 40g oils). Melt in a glass measuring cup set in a pot of barely simmering water (double boiler). Do not microwave — it heats unevenly and can overheat the wax. :PATH Add Oils and Butter Stir in sweet almond oil and shea butter until fully incorporated. | :INFO Add Oils and Butter Once the beeswax is melted, add 20g sweet almond oil and 20g shea butter. Stir until shea butter is fully melted and the mixture is homogeneous. Remove from heat. Add 5 to 10 drops of peppermint, vanilla, or lemon essential oil for flavor and scent if desired. Work quickly — the mixture begins to set as it cools. :PATH Pour Into Tubes or Tins Transfer to lip balm tubes or small metal tins before the mixture sets. | :INFO Pour Into Tubes or Tins Stand empty lip balm tubes or small metal tins on a flat surface. Pour the liquid mixture directly from the glass measuring cup — the spout makes this manageable. Fill just above the top of each tube (the mixture shrinks slightly when fully set). Allow to cool completely at room temperature — 15 to 20 minutes. Cap tubes after fully cool. :CHECKLIST Ingredients for 12 Tubes [ ] 10g cosmetic-grade beeswax pellets [ ] 20g sweet almond oil [ ] 20g shea butter [ ] 5 to 10 drops essential oil (peppermint, vanilla, lemon) [ ] Empty lip balm tubes or small tins [ ] Glass measuring cup with a pouring spout :NOTE Adjust Firmness for Climate In summer, add a small amount of additional beeswax (1 to 2g) to prevent the balm from melting in a pocket. In winter, reduce beeswax by 1 to 2g for a softer, easier-to-apply product. A balm that is too hard in cold weather does not apply smoothly and is more likely to be applied with too much pressure. :QUOTE [quotetype:personal] The beeswax does not expire. The balm does not need a preservative. That is the entire chemistry. :LINK https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/blog/diy-lip-balm Mountain Rose Herbs — How to Make Natural Beeswax Lip Balm