These days it somehow seems even drier than usual. It might be the stronger, more frequent chinooks we get as spring starts to think about heading our way, but I’ve found my lips are more parched than they usually are, so I set out to create an ultra moisturizing unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada) lip balm.

How to make Intensely Moisturizing Shea Butter Lip Balm

I started with unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada), which I’ve always found to be an excellent moisturizer, and especially good for unhappy, dry skin. Next I added avocado oil, which is thick and rich—perfect.

How to make Intensely Moisturizing Shea Butter Lip Balm

Then calendula infused olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada), for the moisturizing benefits of the olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada) and the healing boost from the calendula. Cocoa butter and beeswax round it out.

How to make Intensely Moisturizing Shea Butter Lip Balm

I chose a few drops of cardamom essential oil for its bright, uplifting scent, and because it’s not spearmint or peppermint. It also compliments the smoky earthiness of unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada) really nicely.

How to make Intensely Moisturizing Shea Butter Lip Balm

The final result is a beautiful lip balm that glides on and delivers a blast of long-lasting moisturizing power to your parched lips. Enjoy!

Intensely Moisturizing Shea Butter Lip Balm

4g | 0.14oz beeswax (USA / Canada)
5g | 0.17oz unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada)
3g | 0.1oz cocoa butter (USA / Canada)
4g | 0.14oz calendula infused olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada)
4g | 0.14oz avocado oil
A few drops of Vitamin E MT-50 (USA / Canada)
5 drops of the essential oil of your choice (I used cardamom)

Weigh the beeswax, unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada), cocoa butter (USA / Canada), calendula infused olive oil (pomace) (USA / Canada), avocado oil, and Vitamin E MT-50 (USA / Canada) out into a heat resistant glass measuring cup. Place the measuring cup in a pot of barely simmering water to melt the oils.

Stir in the essential oil using a flexible silicone spatula. Pour the melted lip balm into four or five lip balm tubes and let cool. I like to use these labels to label my projects.

Don’t have the carrier oils called for in the recipe? Read this for a guide on how to choose appropriate alternatives.

If you don’t love the smokey-ish scent of raw unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada), refined shea butter (USA / Canada) will also work brilliantly.

How to make Intensely Moisturizing Shea Butter Lip Balm