Enjoy soft lips with this simple lanolin lip balm recipe. It’s perfect for the harsh winter when dry lips need extra moisture. And bonus: it’s easy to make, better than commercial lip balms, and 100% natural! 

I’ve been making lip balm for over 11 years. I love this homemade lip balm recipe, honey lip balm, and shea butter lip balm. But when I want something extra moisturizing for chapped lips, lanolin is a great way to do that and always provides immediate relief.

Today, I’ll show you how to use lanolin to make a beautiful balm. 

Key Takeaways

• Best Ingredients – To make this recipe, you’ll need beeswax, shea butter (or mango butter or cocoa butter), oil of choice (like olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil), and lanolin. 
• Minimal Equipment – You’ll need lip balm tubes or metal tins, a small saucepan, a heat-safe bowl, and a stovetop. 
• How Much This Recipe Makes – This recipe makes 4 ounces of lip balm. You can divide this between four 1-ounce lip balm containers or make one 4-ounce jar. 
• Flavor Options – Personalize this natural lip balm recipe by adding your favorite essential oils, like peppermint or lavender essential oil. 
• Shelf Life – Homemade lip balm lasts for up to 12 months!
• Great Gift – Like my other lip balm recipes, the finished product is a great gift. 

Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need

You’ll also find the full recipe, instructions, and links for my favorite ingredient brands in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons shea butter – provides the critical moisturizing relief my lips crave in the drier months. Rich in fatty acids, vitamin E, and ultra-moisturizing properties. Alternatively, cocoa butter (hydrating and rich in vitamin E, chocolatey scent) or mango butter (rich in fatty acids, ultra-moisturizing) are great substitutes. 
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil – nourishes and provides extra moisture for the skin. My favorite oil options are sweet almond, olive, sunflower, avocado, jojoba, and coconut oil. 
• 2-3 teaspoons beeswax pellets – the glue that holds the oil and body butter together and creates a solid product. The wax also provides a protective barrier to the skin and may also help to soothe the skin.
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid lanolin – This natural ingredient is extracted from sheep’s wool. It protects the skin’s natural barrier and locks in moisture. Lanolin may also be substituted with vitamin E oil. 
• 5-10 drops of essential oils (optional) – peppermint or lavender are great choices for lip balm. The essential oil adds a lovely scent and flavor.

Equipment

• Small saucepan – creates a double boiler by adding water to the saucepan and placing a heat-safe bowl on top to protect the oil and butter from burning. 
• Small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup (glass or metal)- to create a double boiler and melt the ingredients. I’ve found that a glass measuring cup that can sit in the small saucepan (above) works best as it has a spout for pouring the melted wax into lip balm tubes. Other options include a glass bowl or metal mixing bowl; however, they are more challenging to use if you’re making lip balm tubes, as they need a spout for pouring. 
• Lip balm containers – This recipe will make four 1-ounce tubes or tins or one 4-ounce jar. You’re welcome to use tins, tubes, or cosmetic jars for this recipe. 

How to Make Lanolin Lip Balm: Step-by-Step Guide

• Step 1 Combine Shea Butter & Beeswax – Combine the shea butter and beeswax in a glass bowl.
• Step 2 Melt Ingredients – Place the glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Heat until the beeswax melts, stirring occasionally.
• Step 3 Add Oil, Lanolin, and Essential Oil – Turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the pot. Add the carrier oil, lanolin, and essential oil.
• Step 4 Pour – Place a towel on a surface, then place the lip balm container on the towel (this will protect your surface). Pour the mixture into lip balm containers and sit for a few minutes until formed. The lip balm will set as the mixture cools, so working quickly during this step is essential. 

Application Tip: Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

How Long Will This Lip Balm Last? 

Homemade lip balm will last about 12 months—store at temperature. 

How Much Lip Balm Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes 4 ounces of the final product. Divide the lip balm between four 1-oz small jars or tubes, two 2-oz tins or small jars, or one larger 4-ounce tin. 

How to Make Moisturizing Vegan Lip Balm 

To make this basic lip balm vegan, you must substitute two animal-based ingredients: beeswax and lanolin. 

• Beeswax Substitute: Instead, use a plant-based wax, like soy wax, carnauba wax, or candelilla. 
• Lanolin Substitute: Instead, vitamin E oil. 

What to Avoid Doing

• Don’t Use “Hot” Essential Oils – Some essential oils can irritate the skin and cause the skin to feel an uncomfortable burning sensation. Avoid “hot oils” such as cinnamon, clove, oregano, thyme, and lemongrass.
• Citrus Oils – ​ Citrus oils, like sweet orange or lemon essential oil, are photosensitive and can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Skip these oils if you’ll be in the sun a lot.
• Don’t Add the Essential Oils When Melting The Ingredients – Essential oils quickly evaporate when exposed to high temperatures. Wait until the ingredients have melted and are away from the heat source before adding the essential oil. 

Print

Lanolin Lip Balm

Enjoy soft lips with this simple lanolin lip balm recipe. It's perfect for the harsh winter when dry lips need extra moisture. Makes 4 ounces.

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword lanolin lip balm

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $3 for 4 ounces

Equipment

• 1 small saucepan
• 1 Small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup (glass or metal) I like this option for easy pouring
• lip balm containers lip balm tubes or metal tins (1-ounce size is ideal)

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons shea butter or mango butter or cocoa butter
• 2 teaspoons beeswax pellets
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil such as: olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon liquid lanolin or vitamin E oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil or your favorite essential oil

Instructions

• Combine Shea Butter & Beeswax – Combine the shea butter and beeswax in a glass bowl.
• Melt Ingredients – Place the glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Heat until the beeswax melts, stirring occasionally.
• Step 3 Add Oil, Lanolin, and Essential Oil – Turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the pot. Add the carrier oil, lanolin, and essential oil.
• Step 4 Pour – Place a towel on a surface, then place the lip balm container on the towel (this will protect your surface). Pour the mixture into lip balm containers and sit for a few minutes until formed. The lip balm will set as the mixture cools, so working quickly during this step is essential. 

How to Use:

• Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Video

Notes

How Much Lip Balm Does This Recipe Make? This recipe makes 4 ounces of the final product. Divide the lip balm between four 1-oz small jars or tubes, two 2-oz tins or small jars, or one larger 4-ounce tin. 

How Long Does This Recipe Make? Store at room temperature for up to 12 months.

More Skincare Recipes

SEE ALL

Exfoliating Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe (2 Ingredients)

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe (For Everyone)

13 Best Non Toxic Shampoo & Conditioners (All Hair Types)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe appeared first on Live Simply.

Soothe dry lips with this simple and luxurious honey lip balm recipe. Made with just 4 natural ingredients: raw honey, shea butter, oil, and beeswax. And, optional, add your favorite essential oil for a delicious scent and natural flavor.

I’ve been making this moisturizing recipe for over 11 years, and I love how it feels on my lips. It reminds me of my favorite Burt’s Bees lip balm.

In this blog, I outline the steps to make this easy recipe. 

Key Takeaways

• Simple Ingredients – To make your own lip balm, you’ll need honey, shea butter, carrier oil, and natural beeswax to make this recipe. 
• Equipment – You’ll also need small lip balm containers (metal tins or an old tin used for mints work best), a saucepan, a heat-safe bowl, and a stovetop. 
• How Much This Recipe Makes – This recipe makes 1 container or 1 ounce. 
• Adding Essential Oils – Add your favorite essential for a scent. Peppermint essential oil is perfect for this lip balm. 
• Shelf Life – Keep the lip balm for 6-8 months!
• Great Gifts – This recipe makes a beautiful gift, particularly during winter.  ​

Before you get started: What You’ll Need

Ingredients 

• 1 tablespoons carrier oil – nourishes and moisturizes the skin. My favorite oil options are sweet almond, olive, sunflower, avocado, jojoba, and virgin coconut oil. 
• 2 teaspoons beeswax pellets – the glue that holds the oil and shea butter together and creates a solid product. Beeswax, a natural ingredient thanks to hard-working bees, provides a protective barrier to the skin and may help soothe it. 
• 1/2 teaspoon shea butter – provides the moisturizing relief my lips crave in the drier fall and winter months.
• 1/4 teaspoon honey – Honey is a natural humectant (hydrating for the skin). Honey also contains antioxidants, which may help repair chapped lips and stressed-out skin.
• (OPTIONAL) 3 drops of essential oils – I like peppermint oil, which adds a warm scent and flavor. Another great option is a warm vanilla essential oil.  

Equipment  

• small saucepan – used to create a double boiler with a bowl to melt the ingredients. 
• small heat-safe bowl – this can be glass or metal and should be large enough to rest on the saucepan to melt the ingredients. I’ve found that a glass measuring cup that sits in the saucepan (and the water added to the saucepan) works best as it has a spout for pouring the melted wax into lip balm tubes. 
• large bowl – partially filled with cold water. You’ll use this bowl to cool the lip balm ingredients after melting and before adding the honey. 
• 1 ounce lip balm container

How to Make Honey Lip Balm: Step By Step Guide

• Step 1 Combine Ingredients – Combine the oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a small heat-safe bowl. 
• Step 2 Melt Ingredients – Now place the bowl on top of the saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Heat the mixture until the beeswax melts, stirring occasionally. Fill a larger bowl with cold water. I place a few ice cubes (3-4) in the water. Set this bowl aside for later. While the ingredients melt, fill a large bowl 1/4 of the way full with ice water. Set this bowl aside for step 4. 
• Step 3: Remove Ingredients From Heat – Remove the mixture from the heat once the ingredients melt. Let the bowl rest away from the heat for just a minute. I place a hot pad holder on the counter to create a heat-safe surface for the bowl to rest. 
• Step 4: Cool the Lip Balm Rapidly – Place the bowl with the melted lip balm mixture in the bowl, in a more giant bowl filled half a 1/4 way full with ice water. This step rapidly cools the mixture so the honey may be added without separating from the other ingredients. The rapid cooling will also prevent a gritty lip balm, which can happen to shea butter. The mixture will begin to solidify as it cools. Pour in the honey, add the essential oil (if using), and stir to combine.
• Step 4 Spoon into a Container – Spoon the solidified mixture into a container. I used a 1-ounce metal container. Alternatively, you could use a mini Altoids container. This recipe will make about 1 ounce. The result will be a smooth, soft, spreadable lip product with the most gorgeous yellow color. 

Application Tip: Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Watch My Step-By-Step Recipe Video

How Long Will This Lip Balm Last?

• Shelf Life – This recipe will last for 6-8 months. My other lip balm recipes last 12 months (like this shea butter lip balm and this 3-ingredient recipe). 
• Shorter Life Span – This honey lip balm could also last 12 months; however, since it’s stored in a tin and you’ll use your finger to apply it (dipping it in the container), I’ve shortened the shelf life.

How to Prevent Gritty Lip Balm 

• The Problem – I also shared about this issue in my shea butter lip balm recipe, as it’s a common issue with shea butter products. While there’s nothing wrong with this, and the lip balm is still usable, the final product can feel funny on your lips. Grittiness is a common issue with a shea butter lip balm if it’s not cooled rapidly after melting.
• The Solution – The rapid cooling performed in step 4 of my recipe helps to prevent a gritty lip balm. 

FAQs

• Can I use other butters, like mango or cocoa butter, instead of shea butter? Yes, you can. Mango butter is an excellent substitute for shea butter, as it’s soft and spreadable. Natural cocoa butter is a hard butter that melts easily but can produce a firm final product. 
• Will this work in lip tubes vs. jars? No, it won’t due to the softer nature of the lip balm. The best options are cute little jars or a small mint tin (like an Altoids tin). If you want to make lip balm in a tube, try my other DIY lip balm recipes: shea butter lip balm recipe or customizable 3-ingredient lip balm. 
• Can I double or triple this recipe? Yes, you can! I provide the exact measurements to make a larger quantity in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Print

DIY honey lip balm Recipe

This lip balm goes on smooth, and, thanks to the peppermint essential oil, has a cooling sensation that feels and tastes amazing!

Course How To

Cuisine Body

Keyword honey lip balm, honey lip balm recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 1 ounce

Author Kristin Marr

Equipment

• 1 small saucepan
• 1 small heat-safe bowl
• 1 large bowl
• 1 1-ounce lip balm container

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon carrier oil such as: olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil
• 2 teaspoons beeswax pellets or grated beeswax (from a beeswax bar), 7 grams
• 1/2 teaspoon shea butter 2.5 grams
• 1/4 teaspoon honey
• 3 drops peppermint essential oil or your favorite essential oil (optional)

Instructions

• Combine Ingredients – Combine the oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a small heat-safe bowl. 
• Melt Ingredients – Now place the bowl on top of the saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Heat the mixture until the beeswax melts, stirring occasionally. Fill a larger bowl with cold water. I place a few ice cubes (3-4) in the water. Set this bowl aside for later. While the ingredients melt, fill a large bowl 1/4 of the way full with ice water. Set this bowl aside for step 4. 
• Remove Ingredients From Heat – Remove the mixture from the heat once the ingredients melt. Let the bowl rest away from the heat for just a minute. I place a hot pad holder on the counter to create a heat-safe surface for the bowl to rest. 
• Spoon into a Container – Spoon the solidified mixture into a container. Alternatively, you could use a mini Altoids container. This recipe will make about 1 ounce. The result will be a smooth, soft, spreadable lip product with the most gorgeous yellow color. 
• Storage – Store the lip balm at room temperature for up to 6-8 months.

How to Use:

• Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Video

Notes

To make a larger quantity for gifts:

This amount fills 24 of the 1 ounce containers

• 3/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cup beeswax, pellets or grated
• 1/3 cup shea butter
• 1 tablespoon raw honey
• 36 drops essential oil (optional)

This amount makes 4 ounces–

• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 3 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon beeswax pellets or grated 
• 1 1/2 teaspoon shea butter
• 1 1/4 teaspoon raw honey
• 12 drops peppermint essential oil

More Skincare Recipes

SEE ALL

Exfoliating Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe (2 Ingredients)

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe (For Everyone)

13 Best Non Toxic Shampoo & Conditioners (All Hair Types)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients) appeared first on Live Simply.

Here’s how to make a moisturizing shea butter lip balm for dry lips in just a few minutes using 3 organic ingredients: shea butter (of course), oil, and wax! And add essential oil (optional) for a delicious scent.

I’ve been making this simple recipe for over 11 years now, and I love how it feels on my lips. In this blog, I’m outlining the exact steps to make this easy lip balm with shea butter. 

Key Takeaways

• Simple Ingredients – You’ll need shea butter, carrier oil, and beeswax to make this recipe. 
•  Equipment – You’ll also need lip balm tins or tubes to store lip balm, a saucepan, a heat-safe bowl, and a stovetop. 
•  Vegan Lip Balm Option – You can make this recipe vegan by swapping the beeswax for a plant-based wax.
•  How Much This Recipe Makes – This recipe makes 7-8 lip balm tubes/tins.  
•  Adding Essential Oils – Add your favorite essential for a scent, like lavender essential oil or peppermint essential oil. 
•  Shelf Life – Keep the lip balm for up to 12 months! 

Before you get started: What You’ll Need

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons shea butter- provides the moisturizing relief my lips crave in the drier fall and winter months.
•  2 tablespoons carrier oil – nourishes and moisturizes the skin. My favorite oil options: sweet almond oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and virgin coconut oil. 
•  2-3 teaspoons beeswax pellets – the glue that holds the oil and shea butter together and creates a solid product. Beeswax, a natural ingredient thanks to hard-working bees, provides a protective barrier to the skin and may help soothe it.

Equipment  

• small sauce pan –used to create a double boiler with a bowl to melt the ingredients. 
• medium heat-safe bowl – this can be glass or metal and should be large enough to rest on the saucepan to melt the ingredients. I’ve found that a glass measuring cup that sits in the saucepan (and the water added to the saucepan) works best as it has a spout for pouring the melted wax into lip balm tubes. 
• lip balm containers – Either lip balm tubes or metal tins. This recipe makes 7-8 regular-sized tubes (or 4 ounces).

How to Make Lip Balm: Step By Step Guide

• Step 1 Combine Ingredients – Place the shea butter, oil of your choice, and wax in a glass bowl.
•  Step 2 Melt Ingredients – Place the glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat (this creates a double boiler). Heat until the wax melts, along with the butter, stirring occasionally.
•  Step 3 Remove Ingredients From Heat – Remove the bowl from the pot and the heat. Add the essential oil drops of choice (if using). 
•  Step 4 Pour Into Lip Balm Containers – Place a disposable plate or paper towel under the containers you’ll be using to prevent wax from dripping onto your countertop. Use an oven mitt to pour the mixture into lip balm containers (tubes or cases), and allow the balm to sit for a few minutes until formed. It’s ready to use once set (firm). 

Application Tip: Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Shelf Life: How Long Will It Last? 

Homemade lip balm will last for the life of the ingredients, about 6-12 months, stored at room temperature.

How Much Does This Recipe Make? 

This recipe makes 4 ounces of lip balm or about 7-8 standard-size lip balm tubes.

How to Make Vegan Lip Balm 

Shea butter and carrier oil are naturally vegan, so the only ingredient you’ll need to change is the beeswax. A plant-based wax, like soy wax, carnauba wax, or candelilla, is a great substitute.

Should I use unrefined shea butter or refined shea butter?

The choice is yours. This all depends on your preference as both are great options.  

• Unrefined Shea Butter – This type of shea butter contains all its natural nutrients, so it’s considered the best option. It has a strong, earthy scent and cream color. 
• Refined Shea Butter – Due to the refining process, some of its natural nutrients are removed, making it odorless and white. 

5 More DIY Recipes With Shea Butter

• Custom Lip Balm – Use any body butter of choice or oil to make this natural lip balm recipe.
• Honey Lip Balm – Use honey, shea butter, and beeswax to make an ultra-hydrating lip balm.
• Lotion Bars – Moisturizing lotion in a solid bar, made with shea butter and beeswax.
• Body Butter – This luxurious lotion is made with shea butter and oil and moisturizes the whole body.
• Face Moisturizer – Combine shea butter and oil to make an all-natural face moisturizer.

Print

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm

A hydrating and moisturizing lip balm made with just 3 ingredients: shea butter, carrier oil of choice, and beeswax. Use refined or unrefined shea butter.

Course How To

Cuisine Body

Keyword DIY shea butter lip balm recipe, shea butter lip balm, shea butter lip balm recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces; 7-8 lip balm tubes

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $.60 per tube

Equipment

• 1 small saucepan
• 1 Small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup (glass or metal) I like this option for easy pouring
• lip balm containers lip balm tubes or metal tins (this recipe makes 7-8 tubes)

Ingredients

• 2 TB shea butter (24g)
• 2 TB carrier oil such as: olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil
• 2-3 tsp beeswax pellets 7g-10g or vegan wax (see notes above in recipe)
• 5 drops essential oil of choice (optional) like lavender or peppermint

Instructions

• Place the shea butter, oil, and beeswax pellets in a small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup. 
• Place the glass bowl on top (or sitting inside) of a saucepan partially filled with water (about 1/4 way full) over medium heat (this creates a double boiler to protect the fragile ingredients from burning).
• Heat until the wax and shea butter melts, stirring occasionally. While doing this, place a disposable plate or paper towel under the lip balm containers to prevent wax from dripping onto your countertop later.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan and place it on an oven mitt or towel. Add the essential oil drops of choice (if using). 
• Use an oven mitt to pour the liquid mixture into lip balm containers (tubes or tins). Allow the balm to rest for a few minutes until formed and solid. It’s ready to use once set (firm). 

How to Use:

• Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Notes

Shelf Life: Store at room temperature for up 12 months.

How much does this recipe make? This recipe makes 4 ounces or 7-8 regular-sized tubes.

Refined vs. Unrefined Shea Butter

• Unrefined Shea Butter – This type of shea butter contains all its natural nutrients, so it’s considered the best option. It has a strong, earthy scent and cream color.
• Refined Shea Butter – Due to the refining process, some of its natural nutrients are removed, making it odorless and white.

More Natural Skincare Recipes

SEE ALL

Exfoliating Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe (2 Ingredients)

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe (For Everyone)

13 Best Non Toxic Shampoo & Conditioners (All Hair Types)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe appeared first on Live Simply.

Say goodbye to chapped lips with this DIY lip balm recipe. It’s natural, easy to make, and saves money.

I’ve been making lip balm for over 11 years, particularly during winter, when dry lips are inevitable. Today, I’m sharing my soothing, hydrating recipe with simple ingredients: beeswax, shea butter, and oil. 

This blog outlines the steps to make my favorite easy homemade lip balm recipe.

Key Takeaways

• Natural Ingredients – To make the best lip balm, you’ll need a few natural ingredients (easy to find online): beeswax, shea butter (or use mango butter or cocoa butter), and oil of choice (like olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, coconut oil). 
• Minimal Equipment – You’ll also need lip balm tubes, metal tins, a saucepan, a heat-safe bowl, and a stovetop. 
• Cost – My recipe makes 7-8 lip balm tubes, costing just $0.60 a tube- enough to last all winter or share as a great gift! 
• Flavor Options – Personalize the lip balm by adding your favorite essential oils, like peppermint or lavender essential oil. 
• Shelf Life – Homemade lip balm lasts for up to 12 months!

Before you get started: What You’ll Need

You’ll also find the full recipe, instructions, and links for my favorite ingredient brands in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of body butter – provides much of the moisturizing relief my lips crave in the drier months. Choose one of these options for the body butter: cocoa butter (hydrating and rich in vitamin E, chocolatey scent), shea butter (rich in fatty acids, vitamin E, ultra-moisturizing), or mango butter (rich in fatty acids, ultra-moisturizing).
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil – nourishes and moisturizes the skin. My favorite oil options are sweet almond, olive, sunflower, avocado, jojoba, and coconut oil. 
• 2-3 teaspoons beeswax pellets – the glue that holds the oil and body butter together and creates a solid product. The wax also provides a protective moisture barrier to the skin and may also help to soothe the skin.
• 5 drops essential oil (optional) – peppermint or lavender are personal favorites. The essential oil adds a lovely scent.

Equipment

• Small saucepan – used to create a double boiler by adding water to the saucepan and placing a heat-safe bowl on top. This method protects the fragile ingredients from burning.
• Small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup (glass or metal)- to melt the ingredients. I’ve found that a glass measuring cup that can sit in the small saucepan (above) works best as it has a spout for pouring the melted wax into lip balm tubes. Other options include a glass or metal mixing bowl; however, they are more challenging to use if you’re making lip balm tubes, as they don’t have a spout for pouring. 
• Lip balm containers – Either lip balm tubes or metal tins. This recipe makes 7-8 regular-sized tubes (or 4 ounces).

How to Make Lip Balm: Step By Step Guide

• Step 1 Combine Ingredients – Place the body butter, oil, and beeswax pellets in a small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup. 
• Step 2 Melt Ingredients – Place the glass bowl on top (or sitting inside) of a saucepan partially filled with water (about 1/4 way full) over medium heat (this creates a double boiler to protect the fragile ingredients from burning). Heat until the wax and butter melts, stirring occasionally. While doing this, place a disposable plate or paper towel under the lip balm containers to prevent wax from dripping onto your countertop when you reach step 4.
• Step 3 Remove Ingredients From Heat – Remove the bowl from the saucepan and place it on an oven mitt or towel. Add the essential oil drops of choice (if using). 
• Step 4 Pour Into Lip Balm Containers –  Use an oven mitt to pour the liquid mixture into lip balm containers (tubes or tins). Allow the balm to rest for a few minutes until formed and solid. It’s ready to use once set (firm). 

Application Tip: Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

How Long Will This Kind of Lip Balm last? 

Homemade lip balm will last for the life of the ingredients, about 12 months—store at temperature. 

How Much Lip Balm Does This Recipe Make? 

This recipe makes 4 ounces, or about 7-8 standard-size lip balm tubes. 

How to Make Vegan Lip Balm

To make this basic recipe vegan, you must substitute beeswax for plant-based wax, like soy wax, carnauba wax, or candelilla. 

The other ingredients used are all plant-based.

 What to Avoid Doing

• Don’t Use “Hot” Essential Oils – Some essential oils can irritate the skin and cause the skin to feel an uncomfortable burning sensation. Avoid “hot oils” such as cinnamon, clove, oregano, thyme, and lemongrass.
• Citrus Oils – ​ Citrus oils, like sweet orange essential oil or lemon essential oil, are photosensitive and can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Skip these oils if you’ll be in the sun a lot.
• Don’t Add the Essential Oils When Melting The Ingredients – Essential oils quickly evaporate when exposed to high temperatures. Wait until the ingredients have melted and are away from the heat source before adding the essential oil. 

How to Prevent Natural Lip Balm Recipe Problems

• Grainy Lip Balm – Lip balm made with shea butter can (on some occasions) turn gritty or grainy. While the lip balm is still usable, the final product can feel funny on your lips when applied. To prevent a grainy texture:

1. Cool in Fridge – Place the lip balm in the fridge to cool after pouring it into your tins or tubes. 
2. Slow Melt – If you find this issue still occurs, next time, melt the shea butter first over low heat in the glass bowl (double boiler set up) before adding the other ingredients for 15-20 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and proceed with the steps. This slower, longer melt can also help reduce the grainy texture issue.

• ​Lip Balm is Too Hard or Soft – Too much wax, and you’ll end up with a very hard lip balm; too little wax, and you’ll get a very soft lip balm. If this issue occurs, next time, add more wax if the lip balm is too soft for your liking. Add more oil if the lip balm is too hard for your liking. Either way, the lip balm is still usable but can be tweaked as desired next time. 

Print

How to Make DIY Lip Balm (3 Ingredients!)

This recipe is a great basic recipe that you can easily customize. It nourishes and soothes dry, chapped lips with moisturizing body butter, oil, and wax.

Course How To

Cuisine Body

Keyword beeswax lip balm recipe, DIY lip balm, homemade lip balm, how to make lip balm

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces; 7-8 lip balm tubes

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $.60 per tube

Equipment

• 1 small saucepan
• 1 Small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup (glass or metal) I like this option for easy pouring
• lip balm containers lip balm tubes or metal tins (this recipe makes 7-8 tubes)

Ingredients

• 2 TB body butter such as: shea butter (24g), mango butter (24g), or cocoa butter (16g)
• 2 TB carrier oil such as: olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil
• 2-3 tsp beeswax pellets 7g-10g or vegan wax (see notes above in recipe)
• 5 drops essential oil of choice (optional)

Instructions

• Place the body butter, oil, and beeswax pellets in a small or medium heat-safe bowl or tall measuring cup. 
• Place the glass bowl on top (or sitting inside) of a saucepan partially filled with water (about 1/4 way full) over medium heat (this creates a double boiler to protect the fragile ingredients from burning).
• Heat until the wax and butter melts, stirring occasionally. While doing this, place a disposable plate or paper towel under the lip balm containers to prevent wax from dripping onto your countertop later.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan and place it on an oven mitt or towel. Add the essential oil drops of choice (if using). 
• Use an oven mitt to pour the liquid mixture into lip balm containers (tubes or tins). Allow the balm to rest for a few minutes until formed and solid. It’s ready to use once set (firm). 

How to Use:

• Apply as needed to the lips. May be used daily and multiple times a day. I love to use this lip scrub once a week during the winter as well.

Notes

Shelf Life: Store at room temperature for up 12 months.

How much does this recipe make? This recipe makes 4 ounces or 7-8 regular-sized tubes.

More DIY Skincare Recipes

SEE ALL

Exfoliating Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe (2 Ingredients)

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe (For Everyone)

13 Best Non Toxic Shampoo & Conditioners (All Hair Types)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post How to Make DIY Lip Balm (3 Ingredient Recipe) appeared first on Live Simply.

Body butters are no strangers to Live Simply. First, we made this ultra-moisturizing shea butter lotion. Then we made a simple lip balm and shea butter cream facial moisturizer.

Today, we’re making silky smooth body butter for the whole body: face, arms, legs, wherever you need moisture.

In this post, I’ll guide you through making homemade body butter via photos and a video.

Key Takeaways

• Simple Ingredients – You’ll need skincare butter (shea butter, mango butter, or cocoa butter), carrier oil, and two optional ingredients- arrowroot starch/flour (to reduce the greasy feel) and essential oil.
•  Easy to Make – Melt the ingredients, chill in the fridge, then use a fork or hand mixer to whip. That’s it!
•  Inexpensive – Body butter can cost a fortune if you buy it at the store, particularly from a natural company. Making body products, like body butter, is usually cheaper. Buying the ingredients is an extra cost, but once you have them, you can create multiple jars of your whipped body butter (and other products).
•  Non-Toxic and Natural – No synthetic fragrances, preservatives, or other unwanted ingredients. Just nourishing ingredients that are good for your skin.
•  Shelf Life – 6 months

Learn More About Each Ingredient

1. Butter

Homemade body butter starts with a moisturizing skincare butter. Shea butter is the perfect base butter since it’s soft, easy to work with, and melts into your skin. My recipe calls for at least a 1/4 cup of shea butter.

From there, it’s up to you, the maker, to customize the body butter. You’ll need a total of 1/2 cup of butter. So use all shea butter (for a total of 1/2 cup shea butter), or mix the shea with a different butter: 1/4 cup of cocoa butter or 1/4 cup of mango butter.

---

Best Butters

---

• Shea Butter: Shea butter comes from the “nut” (or pit) of the fruit found on the Karite Tree. It has a strong scent when it’s purchased in an unrefined state. I use unrefined shea butter in recipes (including body butter). If you don’t care for the strong scent, use refined shea butter instead. Since shea butter is naturally soft, it makes a wonderfully soft whipped body butter. It may be used on its own with a carrier oil, or combined with another butter like cocoa butter or mango butter. See all the ways you can use shea butter to make your own body products.
• Cocoa Butter: Cocoa butter comes from cocoa beans, so it has a strong scent and smells like chocolate. Cocoa butter is hard at room temperature, and it melts easily. Cocoa butter is naturally hard and dense, so if you use it, mix it with shea butter or mango butter to make a softer body butter. See other ways to use cocoa butter to make your own body products.
• Mango Butter: Mango butter comes from the seed of mango fruit. It’s naturally soft, similar to shea butter, and can have a gritty texture before melting. It yields a soft, airy body butter when mixed with shea butter. If you don’t want to use shea butter (due to allergies) in my recipe, then mango butter is the best replacement.

2. Carrier Oil

A liquid oil is the second main ingredient used to make body butter. The oils used in skincare recipes are known as carrier oils, although I usually call them nourishing oils. The oil used is entirely up to you.

See all the ways to use carrier oils to make your own body products.

---

Best Carrier Oils

---

• Sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil are best for making a non-greasy body butter that is easily absorbed by the skin. Great for all skin types.
• Virgin coconut oil may be used, but it can be very greasy and clog pores. Avoid if you have body acne or sensitive skin.
• Olive oil is another option; however, olive oil can be extremely heavy and feel greasy. Just like with coconut oil, this is not an option for all skin types and you may not love the results.

3. (Optional) Arrowroot Powder

Whipped body butter recipes can be very greasy!

The good news is that there’s a simple solution for this issue: add arrowroot flour/starch. Arrowroot is a natural starch (used in cooking to thicken soups, sauces, and stir-fry) that will absorb the greasy feel of the butters and oils, without drying out your skin.

Substitution: Some folks use tapioca starch and cornstarch (which are similar to arrowroot starch); however, I haven’t used these ingredients so I can’t speak to their success.

4. (Optional) Essential Oils of Your Choice

An essential oil may be added for scent and additional skincare benefits. Use just one essential oil, mix a few essential oils to create different scents, or an essential oil blend (a pre-blended bottle of essential oils). Currently, my favorite essential oils for body butter are lavender, geranium, and frankincense (carteri).

I use a 1% dilution in my body butter recipe. Before using any essential oil, read the back of the bottle for specific dilution recommendations.

Recipe Tutorial Video

How to Make Whipped Body Butter: Step By Step Guide

• Step 1: Melt the Butter in a Double Boiler. Partially fill a saucepan with water (about 1/4 of the way full). Then, place a glass (or metal) bowl on the saucepan. Place the butter(s) in the glass bowl. Turn the stovetop to medium heat, placing the double boiler on top of the heat. Allow the butter(s) to melt (about 3-5 minutes) fully.
•  Step 2 Combine Oil & Carrier Oil – If you plan to use arrowroot flour, whisk the flour into the carrier oil in a small bowl. Set the mixture aside. If you’re not using arrowroot flour, skip this step. 
•  Step 3 Combine the Melted Butter & Oil – Carefully remove the bowl (with the melted butter inside) from the double boiler setup. Add the oil (with the arrowroot flour, if using) to the melted butter, and use a spoon to stir and combine the ingredients. 
•  Step 4 Chill – At this point, the oil mixture should be cooler (along with the glass bowl). If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then, place the mixture in the fridge and allow it to solidify (about 30 minutes to 1 hour). 
•  Step 5 Add Essential Oil – Once the mixture is opaque and a bit firm (not solid as a rock), remove the bowl from the fridge. Add the essential oil of choice if desired. The essential oils must be added when the mixture is cool, as heat will cause the fragile essential oils to evaporate.
•  Step 6 Whip – If you used cocoa butter, whisk the mixture with a fork until it appears “whipped.” If you used shea and/or mango butter, you can use the same technique with a fork or a hand mixer to “whip” the body butter. Just be careful not to over-whip the mixture.
•  Step 7 Spoon Into a Jar – Scoop the mixture into a jar and place the lid on the jar. Now it’s ready to use!

Print

How to Make Homemade Body Butter (Non-Greasy)

This whipped body butter feels luxurious and delivers maximum moisture to the skin. Here's how to make body butter that's non-greasy and works for any skin type.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword homemade body butter, how to make body butter, whipped body butter recipe non greasy

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings 6 ounce jar

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $4-6 per jar (depending on butter and oil used)

Equipment

• 1 small-medium saucepan to create a double boiler and melt the butter(s)
• 1 medium glass or metal bowl big enough to rest on top of the saucepan to create a double boiler and melt the butter(s)
• 1 small bowl if using arrowroot starch to mix with the carrier oil
• 1 fork or hand-mixer to whip the body butter
• 1 glass storage jar to store the final product

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup shea butter unrefined or refined (41 grams)
• 1/4 cup mango butter or cocoa butter (41 grams mango butter or 34 grams cocoa butter or use 41 grams additional shea butter if using all shea butter)
• 1/4 cup carrier oil of choice: grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, or coconut oil (42 grams)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons arrowroot flour starch optional (5 grams)
• 36 drops essential oil of choice optional

Instructions

• First, make a double boiler: Partially fill a saucepan with water (about 1/4 the way full). Then place a glass (or metal) bowl on top of the saucepan. Place the butter(s) in the glass bowl. Turn the stove-top to medium heat, placing the double boiler on top of the heat. Allow the butter(s) to fully melt (about 3-5 minutes).
• If you're planning to use arrowroot starch/flour, in a small bowl, whisk the starch into the carrier oil of choice. Set the mixture aside. If you're not using arrowroot flour, skip this step. 
• Carefully remove the glass bowl (and melted butters) from the heat source. Add the oil (with the arrowroot flour mixed in, if using), and stir to combine the ingredients. 
• At this point, the mixture should be cooler (along with the bowl). If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then place the bowl in the fridge and allow the mixture to solidify (about 30-60 minutes, depending on location in the fridge and fridge temperature). 
• Once the mixture is opaque and a bit firm (not solid as a rock), remove the bowl from the fridge. Add the essential oil of choice, if desired. 
• If you used cocoa butter, whisk the mixture with a fork until it appears "whipped." If you used shea and/or mango butters, you can use the same technique with a fork, or use a hand-mixer to "whip" the mixture. Don't over-whip!
• Spoon the whipped body butter into a glass storage jar with a lid. Place the lid on the jar. It's now ready to use. Store at room temperature (out of sunlight) for up to 6 months.

How to Use:

• Use this product anytime your skin needs moisturizing. Scoop a small amount from the jar, then massage onto the skin. As you massage, the butter will melt into your skin. You only need a small amount at a time.
• I love to use this product after bathing when my skin is still moist. I apply a small amount of product to my fingertips, then massage on my skin: arms, legs, feet, neck, chest.

Video

Notes

Which Butter Should You Use? Mango butter will yield a softer body butter, when mixed with the shea butter. Cocoa butter will yield a thicker, denser body butter that smells like chocolate, when mixed with the shea butter. Or use 100% shea butter, without mixing in other butters. Unrefined shea butter has a strong scent, so refined shea butter may be better to use if you’re sensitive to scents.

Which carrier oil should you use? I like sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or grapeseed oil as they work for all skin types and are light and easily absorb into the skin. Coconut oil and olive oil are also options, but they can be very heavy and clog pores if used on the face.

Why use arrowroot starch? The arrowroot cuts through the greasy feel that’s often associated with body butter. It’s optional.

How much essential oil should you add? I use a 1% dilution in my recipe. Before using any essential oil, read the back of the bottle for specific dilution recommendations. This is also optional.

More Easy Shea Butter Recipes

SEE ALL

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

How to Make DIY Lip Balm (3 Ingredient Recipe)

How to Make Body Butter (Homemade, Non Greasy)

Homemade Shea Butter Lotion (Non Greasy Without Coconut Oil)

The post How to Make Body Butter (Homemade, Non Greasy) appeared first on Live Simply.

This simple DIY shea butter lotion recipe (made with just 3 ingredients) is the perfect moisturizer for the whole body, face included, and may be used for acne-prone and aging skin.

I’ll guide you, step-by-step, through how to make shea butter lotion, using shea butter and no coconut oil (because coconut oil can and will clog pores). The final product is a non-greasy, 100% natural moisturizer, with a creamy consistency and skin-soothing properties.

Video Recipe Tutorial

How to Make Shea Butter Lotion: Step-By-Step Instructions

Here’s the best way to make shea butter lotion, step by step.

Step 1: Melt Shea Butter

Heat the shea butter to melt it, don’t burn it. To avoid burning the shea butter, create a DIY double boiler. This will allow you to melt the shea butter without it directly touching the heat.

Place a medium-size glass bowl  over a sauce pan filled 1/4 the way full with water. The glass bowl should sit just on top of the saucepan, without touching the water in the pan.

Over medium heat, allow the water in the saucepan to simmer. Then add the shea butter and melt.

Once the shea butter has fully melted (about 2-3 minutes), turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the heat.

Step 2: Add Nourishing Carrier Oil

Stir 1 teaspoon of arrowroot starch into the liquid oil of choice (grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, OR jojoba oil) and whisk to combine. Pour the oil (and arrowroot starch whisked in, if using) into the shea butter.

You can skip the arrowroot starch and add the oil directly to the shea butter at this step. The arrowroot creates a non-greasy lotion.

How do you make non-greasy shea butter lotion? Adding arrowroot starch, which is similar to cornstarch, is the best option. You’ll find this ingredient in the baking section at most grocery stores or online. This ingredient may also be used in cooking: make almond flour cookies and waffles or thicken stir-fry sauce.

Step 3: Cool in the Fridge

At this point, the shea butter and oil mixture should be cooler (along with the bowl).

If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then place the mixture in the fridge and allow it to solidify (about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on location in the fridge and temperature). 

Alternatively, speed up the process by placing the bowl in the freezer.

Step 4: Add Essential Oils

Once the mixture is opaque and firm (not solid as a rock), remove the bowl from the fridge.

Add the essential oil (or a combination of essential oils) of choice, if desired. Add up to 15 drops of skin-safe essential oils to this mixture. A few of my favorite essential oils to add are listed in the recipe below.

Step 5: Whip the Shea Butter

Use the whisk attachment and an electric mixer, hand mixer, or a fork to whisk the mixture until it appears “whipped.” This doesn’t take very long, just a few seconds using a mixer and a bit longer with a fork.

Step 6: Spoon Lotion into a Jar

Now you get to enjoy this amazing homemade lotion recipe and all its benefits (we’ll talk about the awesome benefits in a minute). Or, share the lotion as a gift.

Choose a beautiful glass jar and spoon your creation into the jar. Add a label, if desired. And store the lotion at room temperature in a cool place (like a bathroom cabinet) for up to 6 months.

FAQs

Help! My lotion is greasy. How do I make non-greasy lotion with shea butter?

The best way to make a non-greasy lotion with shea butter is to add arrowroot starch. Add 1 teaspoon of arrowroot starch to the carrier oil, then add the mixture to melted shea butter and stir. If you’ve already made the lotion and didn’t add arrowroot, melt the lotion again and add arrowroot to the liquid, then chill and whip.

How do I keep the lotion from melting?

Store the lotion in a cool, dry place, like a bathroom cabinet. Storing in a warm, humid place (like a shower) may cause the lotion to melt slightly, but shouldn’t cause the lotion to melt entirely. It would take a very hot environment to melt the entire jar of lotion.

Do I need to use a preservative?

As long as water isn’t added to the homemade lotion, you don’t need to add a preservative. The addition of water causes mold and bacteria to grow. Use the lotion/body butter within 6 months. Learn about the safety of making homemade products here.

Can you use other butters, like cocoa butter and mango butter?

Yes! You can use a combination of mango butter, shea butter, and cocoa butter in this recipe. Use a total of 1/2 cup of butters. This body butter guide will help you combine different butter and oils to make a customized body butter/lotion.

Can you add beeswax to this recipe?

I don’t recommend adding beeswax to this recipe as it will make it too hard to scoop and spread on the skin. Instead, you can make homemade lotion bars using beeswax.

Print

Homemade Moisturizing Shea Butter Lotion Recipe (Without Coconut Oil)

A non-greasy homemade ultra-moisturizing lotion perfect for the body and face, made with shea butter and no coconut oil. All natural!

Course DIY, Homemade

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword how to make shea butter lotion, Moisturizing Lotion, shea butter lotion

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Chill 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounce jar

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $10

Equipment

• 1 electric mixer or fork
• 1 medium-size heat safe bowl
• 1 medium-size sauce pan
• 1 4-ounce glass storage jar (or larger)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup shea butter (4 ounces)
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot flour starch (optional, to make a non-greasy lotion)
• 2 tablespoons nourishing carrier oil such as: jojoba, sweet almond oil, or grapeseed oil. This can even be coconut oil or olive oil (if not using on the face).
• 5 drops lavender essential oil optional*
• 5 drops rosemary essential oil optional*
• 3 drops carrot seed essential oil optional*
• 2 drops tea tree essential oil optional*

Instructions

Step 1: Melt Shea Butter

• To melt the shea butter, make a DIY double boiler. This will allow you to melt the shea butter without it directly touching the heat.
• Place a medium-size glass bowl over a sauce pan filled 1/4 the way full with water. The glass bowl should sit just on top of the saucepan, without touching the water in the pan.
  
• Over medium heat, allow the water in the saucepan to simmer. Then add the shea butter and melt.
  
• Once the shea butter has fully melted (about 2-3 minutes), turn off the heat and remove the bowl from the heat.

Step 2: Add Nourishing Carrier Oil

• Stir 1 teaspoon of arrowroot starch into the liquid oil of choice (grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, OR jojoba oil) and whisk to combine. Pour the oil (and arrowroot starch whisked in, if using) into the shea butter.
  
• NOTE: You can skip the arrowroot starch and add the oil directly to the shea butter at this step. The arrowroot creates a non-greasy lotion.

Step 3: Cool

• At this point, the shea butter and oil mixture should be cooler (along with the bowl). If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes.
• Place the mixture in the fridge and allow it to solidify (about 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on location in the fridge and temperature). Alternatively, speed up the process by placing the bowl in the freezer.

Step 4: Add Essential Oils

• Once the mixture is opaque and firm (not solid as a rock), remove the bowl from the fridge.
• Add the essential oil (or a combination of essential oils) of choice, if desired. Add up to 15 drops of skin-safe essential oils to this mixture. A few of my favorite essential oils to add are listed in the recipe above. You can add your favorite essential oil or oils, not the ones listed above (if desired).
  

Step 5: Whip

• Use the whisk attachment and an electric mixer, hand mixer, or a fork to whisk the mixture until it appears "whipped." This doesn't take very long, just a few seconds using a mixer and a bit longer with a fork.
  

Step 6: Store

• Choose a beautiful glass jar (4 ounces or larger) and spoon your creation into the jar. Add a label, if desired. And store the lotion at room temperature in a cool place (like a bathroom cabinet) for up to 6 months.
  

Video

Notes

*The essential oils listed are what I originally played around with and used. Feel free to use other skin-friendly essential oils. You can also make this lotion without using any essential oils. Other options: 

• Roman Chamomile 
• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Jasmine
• Carrot Seed
• Rose 
• Lavender
• Tea tree 
• Sandalwood 
• Geranium 

Rushed for time? Try This: Skip the melting stage in this particular recipe. Simply whip the nourishing oil and shea butter together, adding more oil if needed. I’ve done this before when I didn’t have any time to melt and cool the ingredients.

More Lotions & Body Butters

SEE ALL

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

How to Make DIY Lip Balm (3 Ingredient Recipe)

How to Make Body Butter (Homemade, Non Greasy)

Homemade Shea Butter Lotion (Non Greasy Without Coconut Oil)

The post Homemade Shea Butter Lotion (Non Greasy Without Coconut Oil) appeared first on Live Simply.

Well, that’s alarming.

There are 80,000 chemicals on the market today, but many of these chemicals don’t have any safety data to back them up. This is particularly an issue in the skincare, beauty, and cleaning industry.

When you take a deep dive into researching these products and ingredients, it can be concerning to read about the impact they have on the body.

For example, “fragrance” is considered a trade secret that is commonly found on the ingredient list of products.

Most of us are fooled into believing (thanks to marketing and imagery) that the rose fragrance found in our favorite facial cream is derived from roses grown on a picturesque farm in France. But that’s not the case…

This ingredient can be made with hundreds of different chemicals, including phthalates which are believed to disrupt hormones, cause reproductive health issues, be carcinogenic, and may be linked to asthma.

Since fragrance is a “trade secret,”companies are not required to list the ingredients used to make their formulations. (See an example here.)

Fragrance is just one example of the questionable ingredients used to make skincare and beauty products. The very products marketed to us as “safe.”

How to Make The Switch to Non-Toxic and Natural Skincare Products

Now that we’ve talked about the sneaky side of the beauty/body industry, let’s focus our attention on changes we can make.

While it would be great to see change in the regulation of beauty products, and we can certainly advocate for such changes, that change isn’t here just yet.

So let’s focus on the steps we can take right now that make a direct impact on the products we use on our skin and in our home.

There are two ways to go about this…

Make your own products (there are many recipes here on the blog and even more in my body book)

Buy products from transparent companies doing things differently (or as they should be doing)

What You Need to Know About the Natural Beauty Industry

First, cost…

The prices on most non-toxic skincare brands and products that are made with safe-for-you-ingredients aren’t going to be the cheapest. The do-it-yourself route can be more affordable, but DIYing isn’t an option for everything, particularly when talking about hair products or SPF face products.

Second, the term “clean beauty” or “non-toxic skincare” has zero regulation behind it…

Just about any company can claim to be “clean” or “green” or “natural.”

The EWG and Think Dirty can be helpful resources when looking at specific products and ingredients. I’ve also found that it’s helpful to get to know companies (ask questions, ask for full disclosure of ingredients and why ingredients are used) and continually support the ones that are 100% transparent. (Check out this post for an example of a correspondence I had recently with a company that claims to be “natural” and “clean” but isn’t transparent–a big warning sign!)

The Best Non-Toxic Skincare Products and Brands

The following list is what I consider at the moment (as there are always new companies emerging or companies I don’t know about yet) to be the best of the best in the green beauty industry for skincare products. If you love a brand that’s not featured on this list, please leave a comment and share.

You don’t need to swap out all of your skincare products at once. The key to sustainable change is baby steps. And you don’t need to make the switch to one of my favorite non-toxic skincare brands. I’m simply sharing this list to provide a place to start, a list of brands that I personally love and buy from.

NATURAL EVERYTHING BODY

• Dr. Bronner’s: Bar and liquid body soap and toothpaste
• Plant Apothecary: A variety of body wash scents
• Schmidts: My favorite deodorant brand. Check out all the brands I’ve tried and enjoyed over the years, here.
• All Good: Body Lotion and sunscreen
• OSEA: Body oil (a great alternative to lotion)
• True Botanicals: Body oil (a great alternative to lotion)
• Suntegrity: Sunscreen for the face and body. I like the stick version which I keep in my purse for running/walking. Check out other great sunscreen options, here.
• David’s: My favorite toothpaste. The closest thing to Crest that I can find. Check out more toothpaste options, here.
• Aila: The best nail polish.

NATURAL FACE SKINCARE

• Marie Veronique: I was introduced to this brand to help calm hormonal acne. Marie is an OG in the green beauty world (before it was cool) and an amazing chemist. My favorite products are the Pre + Probiotic Daily Mist (use as a toner), Intensive Repair Serum (great for hormonal acne), and facial cleanser.
• True Botanicals: Great for aging and acne-prone skin. Just an all-around fantastic skincare line. I love the True Radiance Oil for a facial moisturizer.
• Blissoma: This is a company I was recently introduced to thanks to my holistic esthetician. I love the Rejuvenating Gel Cleanser and Makeup Remover,  Flawless Clear Condition Facial Oil and Sensitive Care Moisturizer for a moisturizer, Smooth A Correcting Serum for acne prone skin and calming breakouts (apply before a moisturizer), and the exfoliators.
• OSEA: The Ocean Cleanser is my favorite cleanser of all time. This company makes all-around fantastic skincare products. Use coupon code livesimply to take 10% off an order of $90+.
• CocoKind: I love this brand’s toners (applied after a facial cleanser and before a moisturizer). I use the Raspberry Vinegar Toner. The Rosewater Toner is also fantastic.
• Laurel: Fantastic facial oils (to use a moisturizer)
• Osmia: Blemish oil for spot treatment and face cream.
• Leahlani: Amazing face masks and exfoliators, serums, and facial oils.
• Josh Rosebrook: I love the Cacao Antioxidant Face mask and Daily Acid Toner. Everything Josh makes is amazing.
• Evan Healy: An herbal line of natural skincare found at Whole Foods and on Amazon. I love the shea butter moisturizer (a great night moisturizer), face cleanser, and hydrosols (for toner).

NATURAL MAKEUP 

• Josh Rosebrook: Makes a great tinted SPF moisturizer.
• ILIA: My favorite foundation when I want something for going out: true skin foundation and the best tinted moisturizer. I also like the brow gel and mascara.
• Alima Pure: foundation setting powder to go over foundation
• W3LL People: My favorite all-around makeup company that’s affordable and functional. I use the setting powder, bronzer powder, brow gel, and concealer. Their mascara is also fantastic. This is my daily go-to makeup.
• Kosas: I love the tinted facial oil as a foundation. Light and breathable coverage.
• Honest Beauty: I love the cream blush from this brand. They also make the best mascara. And kudos points for affordability and being easy to find (Target, etc.)
• BeautyCounter: Okay, I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of this brand (and yes, I’ve tried many of their products and even signed up to be a rep with them when they first got started). That said, I do think they have the best eye shadow on the market.

The post The Best Non-Toxic Skincare Brands appeared first on Live Simply.

Oil moisturizes my face in the morning (when needed). I also use an oil-based foundation during the day. In the evenings, I use oil to remove my makeup, wash my face, and then moisturize my face.

The idea of using oil on your skin, particularly if you have “oily skin” like me, feels counterintuitive–at least that’s what marketing would like us to believe. Trust me, I get it. So let’s talk about this.

First, cleansing the face…

Oil is a practical and natural ingredient to add to a face wash, or even use on its own to remove makeup, because oil dissolves oil (like dissolves like). Applying a natural oil to the skin aids in stripping away dirt (but not in the harmful way some synthetic ingredients strip the skin), and then replenishes the skin with important nutrients.

Next up, using oil as a face and body moisturizer…

For years, I struggled with finding a moisturizer that worked on my face. I tried countless store-bought (toxic) moisturizers, hoping their promises for clear and “perfect” skin would come through. After we made some major lifestyle changes, I finally decided try my hand at making a moisturizer.

I started with coconut oil, which appeared to be the holy grail of natural skincare according to countless online sources. Coconut oil worked well for me for a few months, but then my face had a negative reaction. I decided to ditch coconut oil and try other options. After much trial and error, I found two moisturizers my face loved: an oil and aloe combo, and a shea butter and oil combo.

The rest of my body hasn’t been so temperamental, so finding a good moisturizer was a much easier task. Over the years, I’ve rotated between using a natural store-bought lotion (EveryDay Shea is my favorite), homemade body butter, and body oil.

Through much trial and error, I’ve learned that it’s important to get to know my skin, pay attention to what works for me, and keep products as simple as possible. In fact, the simplest of formulas have provided me with the best results–both in the way my skin looks and feels and the long-term maintenance of making and using the product.

As the temperatures begin to rise, it’s sometimes nice to pull out something that’s a bit lighter than a rich body butter or creamy lotion. That, my friend, is when body oil may come in handy.

Today’s body oil recipe is made with sweet almond oil, which is moisturizing and light, and a few soothing herbal flowers: calendula, lavender, and rose. The body oil can be used just like any moisturizer–simply apply a few drops to the skin and massage it in. If you’d like to go even lighter with the overall feel of this oil, you could even mix it with a bit of aloe (just like this recipe).

Print

Floral-Infused Soothing Body Oil

A light, floral-infused body oil that nourishes and moisturizes the skin. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Body Oil

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 cup sweet almond oil
• 1/4 cup dried calendula petals * or dried chamomile flowers
• 1/4 cup dried rose petals *
• 2 TB lavender flowers/buds *
• 12 drops vitamin E oil

Special Equipment:

• medium bowl
• saucepan
• cheesecloth

Instructions

• Place the herbs into a medium-sized glass bowl, and pour the sweet almond oil over the top.
• Perch the bowl on top of a saucepan filled halfway with water to make a double boiler.
• Over medium heat, allow the oil to infuse with the herbs for 1 hour. Refill the water in the saucepan as needed, and keep an eye on the oil mixture to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. You want it to heat gently, not simmer or burn your herbs.
• Once the oil has infused, carefully remove the glass bowl from the heat and allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature. It doesn’t need to be cold, but you also don’t want to burn yourself.
• Using a cheesecloth or muslin bag, strain the herbs from your oil. You may need to repeat this step 2-3 times to get all of the herbs out.
• Pour your infused body oil into a leak proof glass bottle, and add the vitamin E oil. This will last at least one year when stored away from light and heat, preferably in a dark bottle.

To Use:

• Apply a small amount of oil to the hands or directly to the body, then massage the oil into the skin.  I've enjoyed keeping this body oil in a dark amber spray bottle, and spraying it directly on my body before massaging. 

The post Floral-Infused Soothing Body Oil appeared first on Live Simply.

Since I was desperate to clear up my inflamed skin (much of which was also due to hormonal issues after having two babies), as well clean up the products used in our home (particularly since I was a new mom with a toddler and baby hanging on me day and night), I decided to give the vinegar a try.

You know what?

The vinegar solution worked!

Sure, I smelled like a bottle of homemade salad dressing (only first thing in the morning and before bed), but that simple change immediately made a difference in my skin’s appearance and overall feel. Maybe the change was more psychological at first. Whatever it was, I was hooked on learning about ingredients that could be used to naturally nourish my stressed-out skin.

Over the years, I’ve fallen in love with learning about natural skincare ingredients and how these ingredients can nourish my body. Today, I keep a handful of ingredients on hand for making simple creations, like facial moisturizer and boo-boo cream, and also use some of these ingredients on their own (i.e. shea butter for a dry patch on my hands or feet).

I don’t make everything at home (we’ve been diving into the store-bought side of natural living a bit more lately), but there are a few products that are just so easy for me to make, it would be silly not to.

Facial moisturizer is one of these products, along with face wash and toner.

I’ve been using an aloe and oil moisturizer for quite a while now, and I absolutely love it. It’s incredibly light, but also provides the moisture and hydration my skin needs. It’s great for our humid Florida weather.

When a cold front hit Florida just a couple of weeks ago, along with super dry weather, my skin needed something more. Something with mega moisturizing ability. So I returned back to one of my original do-it-yourself recipes, and added just a few simple tweaks to the method and ingredients.

The previous recipe is more of a thick body butter, and I wanted something a bit creamier and lighter. I also didn’t want to use a stand-mixer or special mixing tools. I needed something simple and no-fuss–other than melting the shea butter and cooling the ingredients.

Since I’ve been in love with Plant Therapy’s Clear Complex Carrier Oil Blend, I decided to use that blend for the base oil, along with shea butter. Simple and basic.

After making and using this moisturizer, I’ve been reminded of how much I love using shea butter on my face. I’m not sure when I’ll switch back to the oil and aloe blend (maybe this summer?). When I do, I may continue using this shea butter mixture at night before bed, and then use the aloe mixture for the daytime. I’m honestly not sure, but right now, I’m really enjoying this shea butter moisturizer.

Before I share the recipe, which is a remix of this recipe, let’s talk about each ingredient…

Shea Butter:

I think this ingredient often scares people like myself who have acne-prone skin, because it’s thick. I usually associate a thick product with clogging pores (or at least I did for many years–habits are hard to break), but that’s simply not always the case, especially with shea butter.

Shea butter comes from the “nut” (or pit) of the fruit found on the Karite Tree. It has a strong scent when it’s purchased in an unrefined state. I use unrefined shea butter in recipes (including this particular recipe), but if you don’t care for the (natural) fragrance, I recommend using refined shea butter. Shea butter softens and moisturizes the skin. Since it’s such a rich moisturizer, I’ve found that I only need a small amount to get the job done. It does take some time to soak into the skin, but that’s what I love about it, especially when paired with lighter nourishing oils.

Clear Complex Carrier Blend: 

This is the nourishing oil blend I’ve been using on my face. I haven’t played around with other oils (although I did use individual oils in my original recipe, particularly sweet almond oil). I’m currently loving this new line of blended oils from Plant Therapy, since the blending is already done for me. This particular blend is made with grapeseed oil, hemp seed oil, evening primrose oil, and vitamin E oil. If you don’t need a clear skin oil blend, then I think a lighter oil like grapessed, almond, jojoba, or avocado will work well.

5 More DIY Recipes With Shea Butter

• Custom Lip Balm – Use any body butter of choice or oil to make this natural lip balm recipe.
• Honey Lip Balm – Use honey, shea butter, and beeswax to make an ultra-hydrating lip balm.
• Shea Butter Lip Balm – Use shea butter and oil to make a moisturizing balm for dry lips.
• Lotion Bars – Moisturizing lotion in a solid bar, made with shea butter and beeswax.
• Body Butter – This luxurious lotion is made with shea butter and oil and moisturizes the whole body.

Print

Shea Butter Cream Facial Moisturizer

A simple two-ingredient shea butter cream facial moisturizer. Use this as a day or night facial cream after cleansing the skin. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Cook Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup shea butter unrefined or refined* (40g)
• 1/8 cup Clear Complex Carrier Oil Blend or a favorite nourishing oil of choice, such as: sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, or avocado oil** (23g)

Instructions

• Place a glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water over medium heat. Place the shea butter in the glass bowl, and allow it to fully melt. 
  
• Carefully remove the bowl (and shea butter) from the heat source. Add the oil, and stir to combine the ingredients. Pour the mixture into a storage jar with a lid (you don’t need a lid just yet). 
• At this point, the oil mixture should be cooler (along with the jar). If not, allow it to rest for a few minutes. Then place the mixture in the fridge and allow it to solidify (1-2 hours, depending on location in the fridge and fridge temperature). 
• Once the mixture is thick and creamy (it shouldn’t be hard, just more solid), remove the jar from the fridge. Stir. 
• Place the lid on the jar and store it at room temperature (out of sunlight). This mixture should last about six months, if bacteria isn’t introduced to the mixture via dirty hands. 

To Use:

• From my experience, this moisturizer works as a day or night cream. Wash the face as desired (I use a face wash and toner), and then apply a small amount of moisturizer on the fingertips. Massage the cream moisturizer on the face. A little bit of moisturizer goes a long way. The mixture will take a bit of time to fully sink into the skin. I apply makeup (100% Pure Foundation) over the top of this during the day. 

Notes

*I’ve used Better Shea Butter (linked above), Plant Therapy (available in refined and unrefined/”crude”), and Alaffia brands with good success. Most health food stores sell 100% shea butter, too. 

**Another option may be to use one of Plant Therapy’s blended carrier oils. I haven’t tried any of the other blends besides the Clear Complex Blend. 

The post Homemade Shea Butter Cream Facial Moisturizer appeared first on Live Simply.

You guys, today is a big day. A day many of you have been waiting for. It’s time for another homemade lotion recipe.

We’ve already made homemade lip balm and body butter, and today we’re making a silky smooth lotion.

First, a little background story…

A few years ago, I started thinking about making the switch from a laundry-list-of-toxic-ingredients that I’d used to clean my home and care for the outside of body. My family had already been enjoying “real food” for a few years at that point.

Now, let me pause here, and go down a bit of a “rabbit trail.”

There’s an idea going around, which I first believed when making the cleaning and bodycare switch, that chemicals are bad. Friend, I would suggest just the opposite. When I talk about making the switch from toxic products to “more natural” products, I’m not talking about banning chemicals from our homes, because that’s impossible! Everything from baking soda to water has a chemical composition, and we certainly know those ingredients aren’t toxic.

When I talk about making the switch, I’m talking about choosing or making products that aren’t made with highly questionable/toxic ingredients. If you’re curious about some of the questionable/toxic ingredients used to make many of the beauty and cleaning products in the US, many of which are banned in Europe due to health concerns, I recommend checking out the Environmental Working Group’s Database. On the EWG site, you can check out overall safety ratings for products and brands, as well as individual ingredients.

Just remember, my natural living goal is to source or make safer products, not eliminate chemicals. Because that would mean having to eliminate my beloved baking soda, water, and vinegar, too.

Okay, back to the lotion story ;)…

My switch to more natural products started with bodycare items, particularly foundation powder and moisturizer.

I had read about coconut oil being a miracle product, so I switched out my store-bought moisturizer for coconut oil. Within a few months, it was clear that my skin didn’t think coconut oil was a miracle product. After much research, I determined that coconut oil just wasn’t something that I could use every day as a moisturizer.

Side note, I still use coconut oil for DIYs, so I’m not saying coconut oil is bad news. Rather, I’m just suggesting that everyone is different, and so the products we love and use will vary, too. My skin tolerates coconut oil in deodorant, and as an occasional post-shave moisturizer.

At that point, I decided to create a homemade lotion that would be shelf-table, and could be used in place of the coconut oil. After lots of trial and error, I developed a homemade lotion, which technically is a body butter, that’s thick and luxurious. My skin loved the change from 100% coconut oil to this new product. And here’s where my backstory meets today’s DIY lotion recipe…

I shared that lotion/body butter recipe two years ago on Live Simply. Since that time, I know many of you have tried that recipe, and love it! I also know, based on comments and emails, that many of you would like a creamier/less thick lotion that has more of a store-bought consistency.

Today, I’m excited to share with you a new lotion recipe that’s soft, creamy, and even “pumpable.” Before I share the recipe, let’s chat about a few things to keep in mind…

1. This recipe is “pumpable.” This means the lotion is smooth and liquid enough to be used in a pump bottle. My ultra-moisturizing lotion/body butter is very thick, which means you have to store it in a jar (it won’t pump). While you can store this lotion in a pump bottle, cleaning the “straw” (what is that little thing at the base of the pump called?) is tricky, because well, you’re dealing with lotion.

If you use a pump bottle, know that you may need to replace the pump and straw if you can’t thoroughly clean them out before making a new batch of lotion. Alternatively, this lotion could also be stored in a bottle or jar, and then poured on your hand, or spooned out. I personally go with the jar (other than for photos here), since I store this in the fridge.

2. This lotion does require a number of ingredients, and is a bit of process to make. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the idea of making one more thing, let me encourage you…

You don’t have to make lotion to use “cleaner” bodycare products. It’s perfectly okay to purchase pre-made lotion.

Yep, that probably sounds contradictory for a homemade lotion chat. Here’s the thing, simple living isn’t about “doing it all.” In fact, if you’re “doing it all” you’re probably not living simply. It’s okay to say, “You know what, I’m going to make a homemade dinner for my family, and purchase a ‘cleaner’ lotion from the store.” I personally don’t make lotion the majority of the time because I have to prioritize other tasks and I know my health food store sells some decent lotion options.

If you’re going to purchase lotion, I highly recommend checking out the EWG. I personally like Every Day Shea brand.

With that being said, today’s recipe is for the folks who want to make a silky smooth lotion at home.

5 More DIY Recipes With Shea Butter

• Shea Butter Lip Balm – Use shea butter and oil to make this natural lip balm recipe.
• Honey Lip Balm – Use honey, shea butter, and beeswax to make an ultra-hydrating lip balm.
• Lotion Bars – Moisturizing lotion in a solid bar, made with shea butter and beeswax.
• Body Butter – This luxurious lotion is made with shea butter and oil and moisturizes the whole body.
• Face Moisturizer – Combine shea butter and oil to make an all-natural face moisturizer.

Print

Silky Smooth Homemade Lotion

A silky smooth homemade lotion. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Lotion

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 16 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sweet almond oil 157 grams
• 3 TB refined mango butter 40 grams
• 2 TB cocoa butter 14 grams
• 1 TB beeswax pellets 8 grams, or finely chopped beeswax
• 1 tsp vitamin E oil
• 43 drops lavender essential oil or orange essential oil, can be reduced to 20 for young children
• 1 cup distilled water or a floral hydrosol – rose lavender or calendula all work well – must be room temperature or lotion is more likely to separate, 220 grams, the hydrosol is my preference

Instructions

• Make sure that your blender or immersion blender (you can use either one–I prefer an immersion blender because it’s easier to clean), bowl and all utensils are very clean when you make this. If they’re not fully sanitized, then your lotion can grow bacteria or mold. Clean everything with hot soapy water, then swab with rubbing alcohol or vinegar, and let air dry.
• In a heat safe glass bowl, combine the sweet almond oil, mango butter, cocoa butter, and beeswax.
• Place the glass bowl on top of a saucepan partially filled with water, over medium heat. This creates a type of double boiler. Stir occasionally until everything is melted and combined.
• Allow the oil mixture to cool for a few minutes before pouring it into your blender (if using a table-top blender). Let this mixture cool until it’s room temperature. It should look creamy, thick and opaque, but don’t let it get solid. Optional: You can place the blender in the fridge for about 35 minutes to speed up the process.
• Add the vitamin E oil and essential oil to the cooled oil mixture. If you’re using a table-top blender, blend the mixture with the lid on for a few seconds. If you’re using an immersion blender, place the stick in the bottom of the mixture (in a high-rimmed bowl), and blend for a few seconds, pulsing up and down at the bottom a few times.
• If you’re using a table-top blender, take the lid off of your blender, or just the top part of the lid if you have that option on your blender. With your distilled water or hydrosol in the glass measuring cup, slowly pour it into the oil mixture in a very thin drizzle while the blender is on medium/low. If you’re using an immersion blender, with the blender on and at the bottom of the jar, slowly pour the distilled water or hydrosol into the oil, pulsing the immersion blender up and down at the bottom just a few times.
• If you’re using a table-top blender, slowly increase the blender to medium speed and blend the lotion for 30 seconds more. If you’re using an immersion blender, continue to blend, pulsing the immersion blender up and down, for about 30 seconds more.
• Immediately pour the lotion into a jar and store away from light and heat. 

Notes

Water Note: Using water, without a preservative, shortens the life-span of products significantly, so it’s always best to use water-based products for short-term use. This recipe provided makes a lot of lotion, so I cut the amounts provided here in half. I think the halved recipe is the perfect amount since I’m the only person using on a daily basis. I also store my lotion in the fridge since I don’t add a preservative. The lotion isn’t “pumpable” when it’s stored in the fridge (I keep mine in a jar), but it’s still just as lovely. Click here for my product-making safety tips.  

Preservative: If you’d like to add a preservative, Leucidal Complete is my recommendation (this is very affordable, if you’re going to make lotion on a regular basis). You can read more about how to use it (amount needed) and how it works, here. 

I’ve found that the best way to clean the utensils and jars after making this lotion is to use my Sal Suds dish soap and hot water.

If you’re using cocoa butter wafers, you’ll need 12 butter wafers to equal the 14 grams/2 tablespoons.

More Skincare Recipes

SEE ALL

Exfoliating Homemade Lip Scrub Recipe (2 Ingredients)

Moisturizing Lanolin Lip Balm Recipe

DIY honey lip balm Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients)

DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe (For Everyone)

13 Best Non Toxic Shampoo & Conditioners (All Hair Types)

DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post Silky Smooth Homemade Lotion appeared first on Live Simply.

Simple. Soothing. Multi-Purpose.

Those, my friend, are the words that perfectly describe today’s do-it-yourself recipe. Essentially, those are the words that describe just about every recipe on Live Simply.

Last week I shared a labor-of-love shaving cream recipe that was created after many months of testing, razor burn, clogged razors, whisking, dumping, and way too many dirty containers and bowls. I think the Live Simply motto should be, “I fail so you don’t have to.”

After many months of failures, a moisturizing shaving cream that didn’t clog my razor and didn’t cause razor burn was finally achieved. My legs are eternally grateful to know the testing days are over…ouch!

During my testing, I played around with a combination of aloe vera gel and shea butter, and then aloe vera gel and coconut oil. While neither one worked well as a shaving cream, I discovered through a happenstance situation that aloe vera and coconut oil make a fantastic after-shave “lotion.” The reason why makes complete sense. Let’s talk about that!

Aloe vera is a common ingredient used to treat sunburns due to its soothing and healing properties. When applied to my legs after shaving, aloe helps moisturize my skin, and it also reduces any potential inflammation that may result (although I don’t have this issue anymore with the homemade shaving cream thanks to the addition of baking soda). Aloe is pretty inexpensive considering that it’s basically a skin superfood that boasts antioxidants, minerals, and fatty acids. This short review on aloe vera and its benefits is very enlightening.

Coconut oil is basically the Windex of the “crunchy” world. Please tell me you’ve seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Do you remember the dad’s multi-purpose obsession with Windex? If you haven’t seen this hysterical movie, then I’ll catch you up to speed without ruining the plot. Basically, the dad thinks Windex is the cure-all for every ailment that plaques his family, so he’s constantly spraying Windex on his family members, around the house, etc. Coconut oil is like Windex in today’s natural world. If you have a problem, coconut oil is usually the quick-fix recommendation on Pinterest and blogs.

Side note: I would love to introduce the dad to my homemade Windex-alternative recipe! 

This may come as a shock, but here goes…

I personally don’t believe coconut oil is a cure-all for everything under the sun. To be honest, I don’t actually use a ton of coconut oil in my home, but I do keep a large tub around for an occasional use, like frying plantains and homemade deodorant.

Coconut oil is a great moisturizer when you need something soothing and simple, although I don’t prefer it for a daily moisturizer since my face isn’t a big fan of this natural product. When coconut oil is paired with aloe vera gel, the final product is a simple “lotion” that’s soothing, refreshing, and moisturizing. Aloe vera gel and coconut oil are a wonderful natural combo that may be used after shaving, or after a long day in the sun (trust me, I’m a Florida gal ;)). If your skin loves coconut oil as a daily moisturizer, then today’s recipe may be a great daily product to include in your natural skincare routine.

To start the weekend, I’m assigning you three homework assignments (I was a first grade teacher before my mom and blogging days…it’s just in my nature):

1. Make the switch to a homemade or “more natural” shaving cream, which means you’ll need to read last week’s post.
2. Make this soothing moisturizer, and use it after shaving or enjoying time in the sun.
3. Watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding. And enjoy these crock-pot tacos while you’re watching.

Print

Soothing Aloe and Coconut Oil Moisturizer

Aloe vera gel and coconut oil are a wonderful natural combo that may be used after shaving, or after a long day in the sun. If your skin loves coconut oil as a daily moisturizer, then this recipe is a great daily product to include in your natural skincare routine.

Course Homemade

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Coconut Oil Moisturizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/8 cup aloe vera gel
• 1/8 cup coconut oil soft

Optional Add-In Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil or lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Whisk together the aloe vera gel and coconut oil.
• Add any "add-in ingredients" above and stir to combine. Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.

To Use:

• After Shaving: I use this moisturizer after shaving my legs. I simply dry my skin with a towel, and then apply this moisturizer on my legs. The aloe and coconut oil mixture are incredibly soothing and moisturizing after a shave.
• After Sun: This moisturizer is also very soothing to use after spending time in the sun. As mentioned above, this moisturizer may also be used as part of a daily skincare routine.
• Daily Body Moisturizer: This may be used as a daily body moisturizer. Coconut oil can clog facial pores, so it's best to use a moisturizer without coconut oil (like this shea butter facial moisturizer).

Notes

This recipe makes a very small amount. The moisturizer is very easy to whisk together, so I recommend making this moisturizer in small batches. When the moisturizer sits for a long period of time, the aloe and coconut oil may separate, which is just annoying (not a harmful reaction).

Aloe Vera Gel Note: You can use fresh aloe in this recipe, but you’ll need to refrigerate the mixture which will cause the coconut oil to harden and probably separate from the aloe. I prefer to use a store-bought aloe.

More Natural Moisturizers

SEE ALL MOISTURIZERS

How to Make DIY Lip Balm (3 Ingredient Recipe)

8 Best Natural Face Moisturizers For All Skin Types and Budgets

Homemade Cooling Eye Masks (For Puffy Eyes)

Homemade Shea Butter Cream Facial Moisturizer

2-Ingredient Aloe Face Moisturizer

DIY Homemade Facial Serum

The post Soothing Aloe and Coconut Oil Moisturizer (Multi-Purpose) appeared first on Live Simply.

I’ve been working on creating a homemade shaving cream recipe for quite some time. Before I share the details about the recipe, let’s chat about the whole idea behind using shaving cream. It’s Friday, we have some time to kill, right?!

I remember very clearly the day my mom bought a bright pink can of shaving cream just for me! I was thirteen years-old, and I couldn’t wait to try out my “shaving foam” and new razor. I wish someone would have told me, “Honey, you’re going to be doing this thing called shaving the rest of your life, just enjoy being thirteen and don’t worry about that shaving cream and razor.”

After that first experience with foaming shaving cream and a razor, I was hooked on using colorful shaving cream and, of course, the very adult job known as shaving.

Fast forward a few years to my early twenties. It was at that time that I finally gave up on the brightly-colored shaving cream, and it wasn’t because I started to question the ingredients inside the can. I was a newly married woman with nothing to my name (monetarily). Shaving cream was an expense that seemed too lavish and expensive, so it was quickly cut from our meager budget.

For years, warm water became my go-to shaving “product.”

I’ve had a few requests over the past year from readers asking for a shaving cream recipe. It was after those requests that I finally started thinking about returning to a shaving cream product, and that meant developing my own recipe to share with you! The journey to create a good homemade shaving cream recipe has been long and full of failures: months and months of testing, razor burn, clogged razors, whisking, dumping, and way too many dirty containers and bowls.

From the beginning, I wanted to keep my shaving cream recipe simple, and remain true to the purpose of shaving cream. It’s easy to buy or make products and forget the purpose behind why I use the products. When I begin to question the reason for the products I purchase or make, I oftentimes find that something isn’t even necessary, or that I really don’t need to use a product so frequently. So before making a homemade shaving cream, I questioned the very reason why people even use shaving cream.

From my research, I believe the reason why shaving cream is so valuable is because it helps moisturize the skin, provides a barrier between a razor blade and the skin, and helps lift the hair resulting in a closer shave.

To achieve these results, shaving cream is typically made using oils, soaps, and water. With this in mind, I realized that something that’s colorful with super-duper foaming powers is appealing as a consumer, but isn’t required to create an effective shaving cream that serves its purpose. And so, the experimentation began…

My first homemade shaving cream attempt combined shea butter and aloe vera gel. The two ingredients played nicely together at first, but after multiple tests, the product always turned out really grainy, even with a emulsifier. Yuck! Failure number one.

After the first experiment, I decided to take to the Internet and research what other folks are using for shaving cream. Shea butter and coconut oil are very popular choices (which makes sense for the oil part), so I decided to try the combo. The two ingredients proved to be a major disaster for my razors, and the end result for my legs was severe razor burn multiple times. Ouch! Failure number two.

With both failures behind me, I decided the coconut and shea butter mixture had potential, but needed some major ingredient enhancements. Since the thick butter and oil were causing my razor to clog, I added castile soap (a plant-based soap used for cleaning and beauty) to help dispel the hair and oil mixture from the razor. This addition was a major improvement. I also added glycerin and raw honey (my favorite natural beauty ingredient) to amplify the moisturizing benefits. Perfection!

While I was happy with the new formula, one issue continued to come up: painful razor burn! After reading multiple shave forums (yes, there really are forums on the internet where shaving enthusiasts share their knowledge about shaving–oh the Internet!), I decided to add baking soda to the mixture.

I know, baking soda sounds like a funky ingredient for shaving cream. I had major hesitations about adding this ingredient, too, but the practice is quite common among men who experience razor burn (or at least it appears this way from the forums). The purpose of baking soda is to help remove the oils from the skin, which allows the razor to cut better, and also results in less irritation. The idea sounds crazy, but it really does help.

Finally, I created a shaving cream worth using and sharing!

I’ve been using this shaving cream for several months now, and I’m really enjoying the moisturizing benefits versus my good ol’ (free) warm water method. So, for now, I’m a shaving cream covert once again!

Print

Homemade Moisturizing Shaving Cream

I’ve been using this shaving cream for several months now, and I’m really enjoying the moisturizing benefits versus my good ol’ (free) warm water method. So, for now, I’m a shaving cream covert once again!

Course Homemade

Cuisine Body

Keyword Shaving Cream

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Resting Time 1 day day

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 oz. jar

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup shea butter slightly melted to soften the butter--see photo #2 in this post
• 3 TB coconut oil soft
• 2 TB baby mild castile soap
• 1 TB vegetable glycerin
• 1 TB honey
• 2 tsp baking soda

Instructions

• Soften the shea butter. You can do this in a double boiler on the stove-top, or in the microwave (my preferred method--about 40 seconds). If you're not a fan of the microwave, use the stove-top. The heat is used just to soften the butter, so half the butter will be liquid and half will be a soft solid. Set the softened shea butter to the side.
• In a medium-size bowl, whisk together the soft coconut oil, vegetable glycerin, and castile soap. Slowly pour in the shea butter, whisking as you pour. Whisk the mixture for about 40 seconds. Add the honey and baking soda, and continue to whisk until well combined. This shaving cream is not a fluffy or whipped product. The goal is a creamy, mayo-like product. The shaving cream may be used immediately, but if it's allowed to rest for about 24 hours at room temperature, it will firm up (which I prefer). Store the shaving cream at room temperature in a sealed jar. I've kept my shaving cream for two months without issue.

Notes

To Use: This is my preferred method...I place the jar of shaving cream on the ledge in the shower, and turn on the shower so the water is hot. Then, I wash my hair, body, etc. and wait until the end of my shower to shave. By this point, the shaving cream has softened with the steam of the shower, and my legs have been prepped for shaving thanks to the hot water. I apply a small amount of shaving cream to my legs, and then shave with my razor. This shaving cream doesn't foam and isn't meant to be a thick product. It's a moisturizing barrier between my legs and the razor. To keep bacteria from entering the shaving cream (introducing water to the cream may do this), I use a spoon to scoop the shaving cream, or dry my hands with a towel first and then scoop.

The “where to buy” links provide links to the actual products I use. As always, I recommend shopping around online and at local stores for the best prices and products you love.

Dustin doesn’t shave, so this recipe hasn’t been tested on a man. Sorry guys! Also, I recommend testing this shaving cream first on a small patch of your legs or underarms before using it all over your legs (or body).

Post Shaving Routine:

I only shave my legs once a week, if that. Hey, I’m a busy mom ;). After shaving, I use a coconut oil and aloe vera gel combo to moisturize and soothe my skin. I’ll be sharing the recipe in a separate post on the blog, and I’ll also include it here…Simply whisk together equal parts aloe vera gel (I love Real Aloe brand) and soft virgin coconut oil. I usually combine 1/8 cup each, which makes a very small amount. After I dry my smooth legs, I apply the “lotion.”

Coconut Oil and Plumbing:

I know from my homemade toothpaste recipe that some folks have an issue with coconut oil and clogged pipes. I personally haven’t experienced this issue with shaving cream (or toothpaste) since a small amount goes a long way, but if it’s a concern for you, I have a few alternative suggestions:

1. Use Honey: I’ve experimented in the past with using honey, and I really like the results. If you’re looking for an oil-free option, honey may be your best shaving friend. I’ve used my homemade facial cleanser recipe in the past, skipping the oil and replacing it with 2 teaspoons of baking soda. This mixture takes some getting used to since it’s a bit runny for shaving, so you may want to reduce the aloe.
2. Use Castile Soap: 100% castile soap causes my skin to feel too dry when it’s used as a shaving product, but everyone is different. Castile soap will create the foaming action many people crave in a shaving product, and there’s no prep required.
3. Find a “Cleaner” Store-Bought Product: I’ve only experimented with one store-bought alternative: Dr. Bronner’s Shaving Gel. The gel requires some getting used to, just like using a homemade shaving cream requires a bit of adjustment if you’re switching from a “normal” shaving product to a cleaner option.

Alternative Ingredients:

I know some folks have coconut allergies and can’t use coconut oil on their skin. I’ve tried this recipe without the coconut oil, and I much prefer the coconut oil in the mix. You could try adding olive oil instead of the coconut oil, but the consistency probably won’t be the same. Some folks also have issues with shea butter. In this case, I recommend trying mango or cocoa butter. I haven’t personally tried making this substitution, so I can’t guarantee the texture of the final product will be smooth.

The post Homemade Moisturizing Shaving Cream appeared first on Live Simply.