Lip service
Protect your lips from harsh winter winds with this homemade balm.
Ingredients
80ml oil (almond, macadamia, olive)
20 grams beeswax*
1 or 2 drops of rosemary oil
1 or 2 drops of essential oil of your choice (optional)
*You can increase the beeswax if you want a thicker balm
Method
Step 1 Melt beeswax over double boiler to between 64-77 degrees C. (Use a cooking thermometer to check temperature.)
Step 2 Heat oil to same temperature.
Step 3 Pour melted beeswax into hot oil and stir. If beeswax is raw filter through cheesecloth first.
Step 4 Add 1 or 2 drops of an essential oil like sweet orange, rose, lavender or peppermint plus a drop or two of rosemary as a natural preservative.
Step 5 Pour into jars when temperature has cooled to 35-45 degrees C. This is important as any hotter it will sink in the centre as it cools and any colder it will be too difficult to pour.
Tip: To increase the natural healing power of your lip balm add dried calendula flowers to the oil and infuse for a week or two then strain before using.
By Sonya Byron