It seems like people now are getting to be a lot more conscientious about what exactly is in their personal hygiene products. Buying nice, all natural products can end up costing an arm and a leg. I found this recipe for homemade balm in an issue of Fine Gardening magazine that my Mom had given to me. I am so glad I decided to try the recipe because it is AWESOME! I am that person who has bought every single lotion in the store on my quest for the perfect moisturizer because I always had itchy, dry skin. Well, this is the best stuff that I have come across and a container of it goes a long way. It really makes a great gift. Everyone that I have shared it with has really loved it and started using it instead of conventional lotion. You can also pour it into really small containers to use it as a lip gloss. If you’re using it for yourself a contact lens container makes a perfect (cheap) lip balm container. Or, you can order little containers online. I like to put the balm I use into shallow, wide-mouth mason jars.
All you need is olive oil and bee’s wax, and you can add some essential oils if you want to. I also think it would be amazing with coconut oil and I want to try that next time I make some. One nice thing about making your own is that you can customize it to suit your tastes by adding your favorite essential oils and adjusting the ratios of oils and bee wax to make a firmer or softer product. In winter you might have a higher amount of oil and in summer you might use more bee wax. If you make it and it doesn’t turn out the consistency you wanted, just melt it down and adjust it as desired. Let’s do a cost break down and see how cheap it is to make.
You can buy bee wax at Hobby Lobby and the oil I got from Walmart.
Bee Wax- 16 ounce block for $8.99 – that equals 56 cents per ounce
Oil- 25 ounce bottle for $5 – that is 20 cents per ounce
2 ounces of bee wax= $1.12
16 ounces of oil= 3.20
Total cost for one batch is $4.32 and there are 18 ounces in one batch. Therefore each ounce of your high quality homemade balm costs less than 25 cents! That is dirt cheap because that amount of product will last for a long, long time! To buy a leading bee balm at a popular online retailer it costs 3.33 per ounce! Making a batch is really quick and easy. The active work time is definitely less than 20 minutes.
| Homemade Bee Balm Recipe yields 16 ounces of balm 1 1/4 cups grated bee wax (about 2 ounces) Set out your containers that you will be putting the balm into so that they are ready. Next, find a large pot and a smaller pot that will sit in your larger pot. Add enough water to the larger pot so that it comes up around the bottom of the smaller pot. Bring the water to a boil. Add the olive oil and cook for 15 minutes.
Now it is time to add your grated bee wax. Stir the mixture until everything is melted. Add essential oil. Dip a spoon into the mixture and set it aside for a few minutes to see if the balm is your desired consistency. If you want thinner balm add more olive oil, and if you want a thicker balm add more bee wax.
While the mixture is still liquid pour it into your containers. Let it sit uncovered for several hours until totally cooled and it will harden and be ready to use and give to friends for a special gift.I love to put this on extra thick right before bed and then put on some cotton gloves to let it really soak in so my hands will be silky smooth in the morning. I find that the balm is most effectively absorbed by the skin when it is applied while your skin is still moist (from a shower, washing your hands etc…).
|
I posted about this balm as one of my very first posts and included a photo tutorial if you’d like to see some photos along with the instructions.
Photo Credit: blumbiene
This is wonderful Katie! I've always wanted to make some, but never really knew how and I never looked it up, lol. I can't wait to try this now…thanks :)
This is a great idea I may be linking to this in one of my blogs soon. Today we are having a linky party over at: http://www.mun-emakingblogs.blogspot.com
This sounds pretty luxurious. Does the smell of the wax come through? Or is it pretty neutral?
There is not much of a smell. The essential oils add a little scent.
This is great!! I love homemade things like this, extra special.
What a great idea….I have to have some sort of moisturizer on my lips at night or I just can't sleep, and this would be perfect.
How neat and I have some bees wax sitting around just waiting to be used…ironically enough :)
wow, very easy recipe and i have all the ingredients on hand! my 7 year old always has dry lips in the winter, we will try this homemade one, since the over the counter petroleum based ones just make the lips even dryer, and you actually get addicted to them!
I am so bookmarking this to try! I just bought some beeswax this weekend because I wanted to make salve and lip balm. Thanks for sharing. :0)
You are a lifesaver! I'm making this, now.
Can't wait to try this!-Lynn
Thanks for linking your great post to FAT TUESDAY. This was very interesting! Hope to see you next week!Be sure to visit RealFoodForager.com on Sunday for Sunday Snippets – your post from Fat Tuesday may be featured there!http://realfoodforager.com/2011/11/fat-tuesday-november-8-2011/
I'll need to give this a try as my husband and child both go through chapstick like its goin outta style! I would be delighted if you would link this to Spa{ahhh} Sundaze! (http://www.projectpossessed.com/spaahhh-sundaze/spaahhh-sundaze-116/) Your newest FB and GFC follower.
I made my own lotion bars with a recipe similar to yours but used coconut oil and a little shea butter. It is wonderful!! The second batch i added less beeswax and poured into small tins to make lip balms. It smells wonderful…like coconut and honey….but smell doesnt last long. My skin has never been this great!
this sounds doable! thanks for the tips :)
I am so trying this as my hands are getting rough & itchy as we speak lol, seriously. Thanks for sharing, I wanted to let you know that I am featuring these on My Favorite Things Friday Party this week. Come check out the party & it would be great if you linked up some other of your crafty ideas for Fall & Winter too =D I look forward to exploring your blog more! XoXo~Iffy~ http://www.StayAtHomeNation.blogspot.com
That is awesome! I'm getting the ingredients asap so I can try this out. Winter is creaping in and my hands are dryer each day. This will be great! Thanks!
Very informative and helpful post. You have good command on the topic and have explained in a very nice way. Thanks for sharingklonopin
I have a honey comb that was in my local honey jar. Could I use this? Just rinse all of the left-over honey off?
I have not personally tried to use a comb, but I think it would definitely work if you have the right amount of wax. This link looked like it would be helpful in getting your comb ready to use. <a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_5621491_extract-bees-wax-honey-comb.htmlhttp://www.ehow.com/how_5621491_extract-bees-wax-… />Let me know how it turns out for you!
My daughter an I made two dozen little jars of this for holiday gifts to friends. Universally LOVED!
Hi there
This balm sounds amazing as I go through so much hand lotion and my hands are constantly dry.
I tried the link to the original post with photos but it just takes me to the homepage. Please could you add the link again as I can’t find it anywhere on your website.
I was also wondering if you had tried it with coconut oil yet and did it work well?
Does this feel greasy on your skin?
Many thanks.
I have tried it with coconut oil and that is what I normally use these days. A little goes a long way and I don’t find my skin to be greasy if I apply the right amount. I take a bit and rub it between my palms to get it liquified and then rub it on. I just tried to find that post in my archives and it appears that it is deleted. I will see if I can figure out what happened to it and add it back in. Sorry about that!