Ideas for Non-Toxic Lip Balm

Go Green in 2014: Week 37

I use lip balm several times a day, and I'll admit I'm addicted to Carmex. I love it. However, there are plenty of kitchen products that can be used instead of store-bought Chapstick or whatever lip balm you use. They are more "natural" and are, of course, less expensive. You can even follow a recipe to make homemade lip moisturizer, and possibly tint it with natural food-based dyes.

Lip balm alternatives in your own kitchen

If you're looking for a basic, no-fuss moisturizer for your lips, consider one of these ideas.

1. Coconut oil. Keep a jar of coconut oil in your bathroom, or just pour a little bit into a smaller container to make it portable.
2. Tallow balm. Made with 9 parts beef fat and 1 part olive oil, tallow balm is easy to make and is hydrating for the entire body.
3. Shea butter. It's rock solid at room temperature, but use your finger to warm it a little, then spread it over your lips.

What else have you used in place of Chapstick to moisturize your lips?

Recipes for homemade lip balm

Blend together some simple, non-toxic ingredients for a yummy scented or even tinted lip balm.

1. Three Simple Homemade Lip Balms, by Crunchy Betty. Luscious lavender, coco-rosey, and minty chocolate.
2. DIY Burt's Bees-Style Lip Balm, from Broke and Healthy. Only eight cents per tube.
3. Honey-Orange Lip Balm, from Brilliantly Bland. Make it on fifteen minutes with just four ingredients.

Where to buy empty lip balm tubes

You can use small, reusable pots like in the picture (my husband bought me these from WalMart!); you can reuse old tubes (scraped clean and sanitized by boiling for a few minutes); or you can buy them brand new. If you can't procure new containers locally, you can order them online for pennies apiece.

Fifty White Lip Balm Containers (approximately $6.17)

Please recycle your used containers!

Hint: Homemade lip balm makes great gifts, and the holidays are coming up!

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**Disclosure: Although this post may contain affiliate links, all opinions are my own.

Your challenge: This week, think about switching from your old lip balm of choice to a safer alternative.

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**This post is part of a weekly challenge {Go Green in 2014}, during which the author has challenged herself - and you - to find 52 ways to lead a greener life in 2014. You can follow the weekly posts on this page.**