How to Make Lip Balm with Petroleum Jelly

Co-authored by Tymia Yvette

Last Updated: June 4, 2024 References

If your lips are feeling dry or chapped, it's time to apply some lip balm. Store-bought lip balm can get expensive, but luckily, it is easy to make. All you need is petroleum jelly, which is a great moisturizer, and some flavoring or coloring.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Nini Efia Yang
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.} Keep in mind that lip balm is different from lip gloss. If you are looking to add some sparkle, color, or shine to your lips, try How to Make Lip Gloss with Petroleum Jelly instead.^{[2]
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Shara Strand
Makeup Artist

Expert Interview. 14 April 2020.}

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Making Flavored Lip Balm

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Choose a clean, 1/2-ounce (15-milliliter) tin or jar to store your lip balm in. Add about 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of petroleum jelly into the container.^{[3]
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Add 2 to 3 drops of vanilla extract, cocoa powder, or another flavoring. Vanilla and mint are both great choices.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Tymia Yvette
Makeup & Lash Artist

Expert Interview. 23 April 2020.} You can even add a pinch of cocoa powder if you want chocolate-flavored lip balm. If you do this, however, it would be a good idea to add a drop of vanilla extract for sweetness as well.^{[6]
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- Strawberry is another great flavor to consider.
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Keep stirring until the color and texture are consistent. Be sure to scrape the sides of the tin often so that nothing gets left un-mixed.^{[7]
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Run your finger or the back of a spoon over the top of your lip balm until it is nice and smooth. You can skip this step if you are impatient or don't care about the finish.^{[8]
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Once you have everything stirred and smoothed down, the lip balm is ready to use! Apply it to your lips with your finger, and cover it with a lid when you are not using it. There is no need to refrigerate the lip balm.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Making Tinted Lip Balm

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1
Heat some petroleum jelly in the microwave until it is melted. Place about 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of petroleum jelly into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it on high for 25 to 30 seconds, then stir it with a toothpick.^{[9]
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- You need the petroleum jelly to be clear and lump-free. If it isn't, keep heating it at 45-second intervals until it is completely melted.^{[10]
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Add some color with lipstick. Use a knife to slice off a small piece of lipstick (smaller than a pea) and add it to the lip balm. Stir the two together until the color is even and no streaks remain. You can also use eyeshadow or blush instead of lipstick, if you prefer.^{[11]
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- If you don't have lipstick in the color that you want, you can add in a little eyeshadow in the preferred shade.^{[12]
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  Expert Source
  
  Nini Efia Yang
  Makeup Artist
  
  Expert Interview. 27 August 2019.}
- If you want to add color and flavor, add ¼ of a 0.14-ounce (3.9-gram) packet of powdered drink mix.^{[13]
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Add a few drops of juice for flavor, if desired. Lemon, lime, orange, or cranberry juice are all great options. You can also use a few drops of essence or extract instead, such as vanilla or mint.^{[14]
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- Lemon juice and lime juice are very sour. Unless you are using lemonade, which is sweeter, add a drop of vanilla extract so that it's not as sour.
- Skip this step if you used powdered drink mix as it would already have given the lip balm some flavor.^{[15]
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Pour the lip balm into a small container. If the lip balm has started to harden, you can use a small spoon to transfer it instead. You can also melt the lip balm in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it back up again.^{[16]
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- A 1/2-ounce (15-milliliter) tin or jar will work the best.
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Wait at least 1 to 2 hours before using the lip balm. It would be better to wait overnight, however. Keep the lid on the container while the lip balm cools so that it doesn't get dusty or dirty. Once it has cooled, you can apply it to your lips with your finger.^{[17]
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- If you flavored it with juice, it would be a good idea to store it in the fridge and use it within a few weeks. This is because juice is perishable.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making Solid Lip Balm

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1
Melt the beeswax, coconut oil, and petroleum jelly. Fill a small, microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (15 grams) of beeswax, 4 tablespoons (59.1 ml) (52 grams) of coconut oil, and 4 tablespoons (59.1 ml) (60 grams) of petroleum jelly. Heat them at 45-second intervals until they are completely melted.^{[18]
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- Stir between each interval to help the mixture melt more smoothly.
- If you can, use beeswax pellets or shaved beeswax. This will help the beeswax melt faster. If you can't find any, that's okay; it will just take longer.
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Stir in some powdered drink mix for color and flavor. You can use as much or as little powdered drink mix as you want. The more you use, the deeper the color will be. The flavor will also be stronger. Plan on using up to one packet of powdered drink mix.^{[19]
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- If you don't care about the color, you can use extracts or essences (i.e.: vanilla or mint) to give your lip balm flavor.
- You can also create your own color and flavor combo with some lipstick and extract/essence.
Clean, empty lip balm tubes or jars will work the best. You can also use little 1/2-ounce (15-milliliter) tins or jars instead.
It should harden within a few hours depending on how warm or cool it is. If you are in a hurry, however, you can stick it into the fridge instead. Once the lip balm has cooled, you can apply it to your lips straight from the tub. If you poured it into a jar or tin, you can apply it with your finger instead.

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Question

What flavoring should I use?

Community Answer

For a simple flavoring, try vanilla extract or honey. You can also use essential oil or candy flavoring oil instead. If you do decide to use one of those, reduce the amount to 2 to 3 drops. Essential oils and flavoring oils are much more potent.

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What if I don't have a microwave?

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Use a spoon and hold it over a flame. Make sure to use an old spoon, because when you expose it to fire it will darken or burn.

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What type of oil should I use?

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Coconut and olive oil work best. Don't use vegetable or cooking oil.

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Tips

Don't use food coloring unless you want your lips to be stained for a few days!

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Avoid putting flavored or tinted lip balm into a lip balm tube. The consistency is too soft. Use only solid lip balm.

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Speed up the cooling process by sticking the lip balm into the fridge for a few minutes.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

Avoid water-based ingredients when making lip balm, as this can cause mold to grow faster on the lip balm. Use flavorings that are alcohol-based.
Make sure not to fill your container or tube all the way to the top. Leave some space for the cap or lid.
You can use shea butter in place of petroleum jelly if you can find it available.

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