This soft and creamy Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm comes together in a flash, and leaves you smelling of Tahitian gardenias and citrus. It sinks in quickly, and feels wonderful on the skin. The ingredient list is short, and you can use the balm on your skin and your lips. And, if you’ve been dreaming of the tropics, this beautiful balm just might soothe your wanderlust.

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

Monoi de Tahiti is a beautiful oil, made by macerating virgin coconut oil with Tahitian gardenias. The resulting oil feels just like coconut oil, but is heavy with the exotic scent of gardenias. This oil is what gives the balm the majority of its scent, so if you don’t like the scent of Monoi, I’d recommend replacing it with virgin coconut oil.

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

Kukuinut oil has been used by Hawaiians for centuries, so I thought it would get along well with the Monoi. Kukuinut is a favourite for protecting skin from salt water, sun, and wind, and it’s great for dry, irritated skin.

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm
How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

Lastly, meadowfoam seed oil. It’s high in Vitamin E MT-50 (USA / Canada), and is popular in lots of skincare products for its healing and rejuvenating properties. It also absorbs quickly, helping to balance the slower absorption speed of the kukuinut oil.

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm
How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

This blend of oils is thickened with some beeswax, and then finished with a few drops of litsea cubeba essential oil. Litsea cubeba smells very lemony, but has none of the photosensitizing properties of the real thing. It’s brightness counters the rich sweetness of the Monoi for a balanced, bright balm. Mmm. Lovely.

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

6g | 0.21oz Monoi de Tahiti oil
10g | 0.35oz kukuinut oil or jojoba oil (USA / Canada)
10g | 0.35oz meadowfoam seed oil or jojoba oil
6g | 0.21oz beeswax (USA / Canada)

3 drops litsea cubeba essential oil or lemongrass essential oil (optional)

Combine the oils and beeswax in a small saucepan or double boiler. Heat through until melted.

Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the essential oil, if using. Decant into a 30mL/1oz tin.

To use, smooth over dry lips and massage into dry skin.

How to Make Monoi de Tahiti and Meadowfoam Lip & Body Balm

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