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Make your own nourishing lip balm with just a few simple ingredients! This easy tallow lip balm recipe is easy to make and feels amazing to use. It will quickly become your new must-have skincare product!
Did you know that the tallow we cook with works as a wonderfully nourishing skincare ingredient?
I love using tallow for all things skincare. It makes my skin feel silky soft and moisturized, plus it makes my skin look so healthy.
I’ve used tallow quite a bit, mostly in homemade tallow body butter and DIY tallow balm.
It worked so well on my arms, legs, and face, I knew I needed to try it on my lips!
This DIY tallow lip balm is the result, and my lips have never felt better.
Why You’ll Love This Lip Balm
- If you haven’t tried tallow yet, be prepared to fall in love! I’ve found tallow to be incredible for my skin health and overall moisture. This recipe primarily uses tallow to hydrate and soothe the lips, and it works wonders for me. You can read more about the benefits of beef tallow here.
- Making your own products is very eco-friendly. I reuse the lip balm containers multiple times, which reduces waste. Tallow itself is also eco-friendly as it’s a natural byproduct of meat production.
- DIY lip balm is completely customizable! You can swap out different ingredients, choose a different container, or try different essential oils to make the perfect balm for you.
Ingredients and Supplies
- Beef tallow: The primary ingredient in this lip balm, tallow is incredibly nourishing and moisturizing to the skin.
- Vitamin E oil: This adds an extra boost of moisturizing and skin-healthy benefits. Vitamin E oil is an antioxidant known for hydrating and protecting the skin.
- Beeswax: Wax is essential to give the chapstick the perfect firmness while keeping it spreadable.
- Peppermint essential oil: I love how peppermint oil smells and the cooling effect it has on my lips! Feel free to use a different essential oil, but be sure to avoid hot oils and photosensitive oils.
- Lip balm containers: You can use circular lip balm containers I used, or twist-up chapstick tubes. I find the round containers to be easier to fill, but I’ve used the tubes for my homemade strawberry chapstick, and they work well too.
How to Make Tallow Lip Balm
Step 1. In a double boiler, melt the tallow and beeswax over low heat.
Step 2. Remove from heat and add in the vitamin E oil and peppermint essential oil. Stir well to mix.
Step 3. Carefully pour the mixture into empty twist-up lip balm tubes or small tins.
Step 4. Let the balm cool and harden completely at room temperature. Once fully set, secure the caps and store in a cool, dry place.
Helpful Tips
- I calculated the essential oil amount using an online fragrance calculator. You can always reduce the essential oil or omit it altogether if you are sensitive.
- Be careful not to leave this lip balm anywhere hot, like the car, because it will melt. If your house gets extremely warm in the summer, you may want to store it in the refrigerator.
- You can add some color to this lip balm by including a little bit of ethically sourced mica powder. Learn exactly how to do it in my DIY tinted lip balm recipe.
Recipe FAQ
Tallow is rendered animal fat, usually sourced from cattle or sheep. It’s commonly used as a cooking oil and skincare ingredient. Because tallow is a byproduct of meat production, it’s affordable and eco-friendly. It’s also amazingly effective for moisturizing and nourishing the skin. I love using tallow in a variety of homemade products, such as this tallow lip balm and my homemade tallow soap!
No, tallow is a fat derived from animals, so it is not considered suitable for vegans. If you want a vegan-friendly chapstick, check out my homemade vegan lip balm recipe!
While tallow does have a faint but distinct smell, I don’t find the tallow scent to be noticeable, especially with the peppermint essential oil in this recipe. If the smell bothers you, you can try adding more essential oils or opt for a different lip balm, such as DIY coconut oil lip balm.
To determine the shelf life of your tallow lip balm, check the expiration date on your beef tallow. That will give you a good use-by date for the DIY lip balm.
More DIY Lip Care Recipes
- Coconut Oil Lip Scrub
- DIY Lip Oil for Moisturized Lips
- DIY Lip Gloss
- Homemade Lip Plumper
- DIY Lip Mask 2 Ways: Hydrate or Exfoliate
If you tried this tallow lip balm or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Tallow Lip Balm Recipe
Equipment
- Double Boiler
- Lip balm containers
Ingredients
- 2 oz beef tallow
- 0.75 oz beeswax
- 0.01 oz vitamin E oil, about 10 drops
- 0.02 oz peppermint essential oil, about 20 drops
Instructions
- In a double boiler, melt the tallow and beeswax over low heat.
- Remove from heat and add in the vitamin E oil and peppermint essential oil. Stir well to mix.
- Carefully pour the mixture into empty twist-up lip balm tubes or small tins.
- Let the balm cool and harden completely at room temperature.
- Once fully set, secure the caps and store in a cool, dry place.
Notes
- I calculated the essential oil amount using an online fragrance calculator. You can always reduce the essential oil or omit it altogether if you are sensitive.
- Be careful not to leave this lip balm anywhere hot, like the car, because it will melt. If your house gets extremely warm in the summer, you may want to store it in the refrigerator.
- You can add some color to this lip balm by including a little bit of ethically sourced mica powder. Learn exactly how to do it in my DIY tinted lip balm recipe.
