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Easy, fun, and vegan-friendly, this wonderful vegan lip balm will become a firm favorite in your makeup bag! And the best bit is this recipe makes three tins. Perfect for gifts – or keep them to yourself!

Itโs something that doesnโt cross our minds that often I would say. Iโm talking about the ingredients in lip balm and whether those ingredients affect our bodies somehow.
But think about it. Lip balm goes on our lips. And everything we put on our lips does, in some way, enter our mouths too.
Iโm thinking along the lines of DIY lipsticks and DIY lip scrubs. They all, in some way, get into our mouths and into our bodies.ย
Makes you stop and think, doesnโt it?
What on earth goes into all those lip products in stores or online? Hmmm, food for thought.
Particularly if youโre vegan or following a vegan lifestyle, youโd be eager to use a lip balm without beeswax, as an example.
Yet most DIY lip balms contain beeswax! So you may struggle to find a vegan suitable one.
In this case, itโs far better (and easier in some ways) to make your own beeswax-free lip balm at home.
So, in true DIY fashion – thatโs what youโll find in this post. I received several requests for a vegan-friendly lip balm over the past few months (probably years), and Iโm really excited to share the recipe I created here.
Even if youโre not vegan, youโll still love this recipe!
Itโs super moisturizing and leaves a beautiful soft sheen on the lips – and the best bit is itโs made from 100% natural plant-based products.
Scroll down to find the recipe for how to make lip balm without beeswax.
What is lip balm?
A lip balm is a light lip moisturizer that you apply to your lips when needed. Sometimes a lip balm has a tint of color, like my DIY tinted lip balm, but otherwise, itโs usually clear and not that obvious.
The main purpose of a lip balm is to add moisture and condition to the lips.
Lip balm is totally different from homemade lip gloss. The purpose of lip gloss is mostly aesthetic – to look pretty, whereby lip balm is more of a conditioning and moisturizing tool.ย
You would use lip balm to protect your lips against the elements. It helps heal cracked lips and protects them from further damage if you apply it often enough.
There isnโt really a limit as to how often you can apply lip balm. However, itโs great to apply it morning and evening and after eating or drinking, to keep the lip moisture levels up.
You may be asking why to use lip balm? And itโs simply because itโll help keep your lips moisturized, healthy and flake-free.
Itโs best to use lip balm every day (or multiple times a day as I do!), especially when youโre outdoors in harsh conditions such as snow, wind, or strong sunshine.
Why youโll love this recipe
- Itโs vegan-friendly. No animal products are in this recipe – just pure plant-based goodness.
- Itโs super easy to make. You just need to melt the ingredients together and pour them into your storage container, and thatโs it! Wait for it to harden and cool down fully, and itโs ready to use.
- It saves you money – Once you purchase the essential ingredients, you can make multiple batches of lip balm without paying anything more.
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how to make vegan lip balm
I hope you enjoy this vegan lip balm recipe. Simply follow my instructions and wait to use it once itโs thoroughly cooled and solid.
Ingredients:
- Cocoa butter, one tablespoon (0.25 oz)
- Shea butter, one tablespoon (0.25 oz)
- Candelilla wax, one tablespoon (0.25 oz)
- Geranium essential oil five drops (optional)
Instructions:
Measure out your ingredients before adding them to a saucepan to melt.
Melt cocoa butter, shea butter, and candelilla wax in a small saucepan or a wax melter on low heat.
Allow it to cool to about 110ยฐF before stirring in the geranium.
Transfer to one-ounce tins for storage.
Allow the lip balm to harden entirely before securing the lid.
FAQs/tips
How long does this lip balm last?
This vegan lip balm will last up to 1 year if stored correctly. Remember to replace the lid properly each time you use it so it doesnโt dry out.
How do you harden lip balm without beeswax?
The candelilla wax in this recipe acts as a replacement for the beeswax, making it suitable for a vegan lifestyle.
Candelilla wax has a high melting point, so it is perfect for lip balms, particularly if you tend to keep your lip balm in your pocket or purse for months on end and forget about it.
Why make your own lip balm?
This particular lip balm is vegan designed, which is one of the main reasons to make it. You know for a fact that it contains zero animal products, as you can see what goes in it!
Other reasons for making your own lip balm include cost savings, especially when buying bulk.
Another bonus is using only natural products, which are far better for your body and health than anything made from synthetic materials.
Not to mention the sheer enjoyment of making DIY products! Itโs so fun when you start and really self-gratifying when you get to try it out. You wonโt stop once you start!

Youโll be pleased to know this lip balm *should* stand the summer heat pretty well and not melt all over your belongings!
I hope you enjoy making and using this vegan lip balm. Remember, youโll make up to 3 one ounce tins with just this one recipe as it is!
And, of course, you could always double or triple the quantities if you wanted to make more.
Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below. Or simply let me know how this recipe was for you!
And if youโd like to read another post of mine, here are some suggestions.
Vegan Lip Balm Recipe
Equipment
- 3 Storage tins one ounce each
- saucepan
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon (0.25 oz) of cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon (0.25 oz) of shea butter
- 1 tablespoon (0.25 oz) of candelilla wax
- 5 drops Geranium essential oil, optional
Instructions
- Melt cocoa butter, shea butter, and candelilla wax in a small saucepan or a wax melter on low heat.
- Allow it to cool to about 110ยฐF before stirring in the geranium.
- Transfer to tins for storage.ย
- Allow the lip balm to harden entirely before securing the lid.
Just finished making this and it is hardened and still cooling. I am wondering why it is so hard and will not be easy to apply to lips. When sticking my finger in it is not smooth but breaks into waxy pieces.
Should the shea butter be measured in solid form or melted form. Wondering what I did wrong?
Hi, I just added the weight measurements to the article. Once it has fully cooled, it should no longer break apart. Yes, this balm will be rather hard. I like to warm a little between my finger tips and apply it.
Could I add a tsp of almond oil to make it less hard? Or vit e oil?
Yes