Cracked and chapped lips are not only painful, but also hard to conceal. You do your best effort to make it look like the skin isn’t flaking from your lips, but it may show through, despite your best efforts. Lip balm is a helpful product that can moisturize the skin on your lips, but it is even more beneficial when you have the right ingredients in the product. That is exactly the case for this peppermint elderberry lip balm.Â
What Is Lip Balm Essential?
Lip balm is a soft, waxy substance that you can apply to the lips to ease the soreness or burning caused by chapped or cracked lips. The skin on the lips is very thin, so it is more prone to dryness than other areas of the skin. The waxy lip balm, then, essentially creates a protective shield on your lips. This helps keep the lips safe from air, wind, and colder temperatures.Â
A lot of people will use lip balm to remedy chapped lips during the wintertime, but lip balm can be used year round. If your lip balm does a good job, then you will not need to apply regularly. The right ingredients promote long-lasting moisture, nourishment, and comfort.
Infusing The Oil With Elderberry
In order to make this lip balm, you have to infuse the olive oil with dried elderberries and alkanet root powder. This is a powder that is effective for naturally tinting lips. Now, if you do not want this lip balm to tint your lips, you do not have to use it. You can simply use another teaspoon or two of dried elderberries. Additionally, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your healthcare professional before using products that contain alkanet powder. Traditionally, it is usually not advised.
Although you can use sunflower oil or jojoba oil, we opted for olive oil, as it is highly nourishing. It is also a great oil for infusing, whether you want to make a lip balm or flavored oil for culinary use. The only thing to keep in mind is that the infusion process takes a couple weeks. Add the elderberries to the oil and keep in a sunny spot, such as the windowsill, for two weeks.Â
After the infusion period, strain the dried elderberries and collect the oil in a container. If you store the oil properly, this will keep for about one year. Once you have your infused oil, you are ready to make the lip balm.
DIY Peppermint Elderberry Lip Balm
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon shea butter
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/2 tablespoon jojoba oil
- 1/2 tablespoon castor oil
- 1 tablespoon infused olive oil
- 1 teaspoon pomegranate seed oil
- 1 tablespoon beeswax pellet (plus 1 more teaspoon)
- 12 drops peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
- Add all of the ingredients (except the essential oil) to a heat-safe glass measuring cup. Place that cup in a small saucepan containing a couple inches of water over medium-low heat.
- Keep on the stove until all of the ingredients are melted. Stir well to combine and then remove from heat. Add the essential oils once removed from heat.
- Pour the mixture into lip balm tubs or tins and allow to set at room temperature before putting the lids on. Use when ready.
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
