RJ Homestead

In our ongoing journey to become more self-sufficient and replace commercial products with homemade alternatives, we took on a fun and rewarding project: making our own lip balm. What made this experience even more special was having Eva help with the process. She loves learning new skills, especially when it involves creating something useful from scratch. Together, we crafted a nourishing lip balm using medicinal herbs grown right in our backyard—dandelion and calendula.

Why Dandelion and Calendula? Medicinal Benefits

Both dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and calendula (Calendula officinalis) are powerhouse herbs known for their soothing and healing properties:

• Dandelion: Dandelion is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help repair dry, cracked skin. Its moisturizing properties make it ideal for hydrating lips, while its ability to promote skin cell regeneration aids in healing chapped areas.
• Calendula: Calendula is renowned for its gentle yet effective healing abilities. Packed with antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, it soothes irritated skin, reduces redness, and speeds up the healing of minor cuts or cracks.

By infusing oils with these herbs, we created a lip balm that not only moisturizes but also actively repairs and protects the delicate skin on our lips.

The Process: Simple, Fun, and Effective

Making lip balm turned out to be surprisingly simple—and a lot of fun! Eva took charge of most of the work, from measuring ingredients to mixing and melting the finished product. Here’s how we did it:

Step 1: Gather Ingredients

We used the following ingredients for our lip balm:

• 1 Tbsp organic beeswax pastilles
• 2 Tbsp organic shea butter
• 2 Tbsp dandelion oil (infused with dandelion flowers from our garden)
• 1 Tbsp calendula oil (infused with calendula petals we grew ourselves)
• A few drops of vitamin E oil (for added nourishment and preservation)
• 20–30 drops of sweet orange essential oil (for a light citrus scent)

Step 2: Set Up Your Double Boiler

We used a small double-boiler purchased from Amazon, placed over a pot of lightly simmering water. This setup ensures gentle heat that melts the ingredients without scorching them.

Step 3: Melt Oil, Butter, and Beeswax

Measure out the dandelion oil, calendula oil, shea butter, and beeswax pastilles. Add them to the double boiler and stir occasionally as they melt together into a smooth liquid.

Step 4: Add Essential Oils and Vitamin E

Once everything has melted completely, remove the mixture from heat. Stir in a few drops of vitamin E oil for its nourishing properties and longevity benefits. Add 20–30 drops of sweet orange essential oil for fragrance (or your preferred essential oil). Mix thoroughly.

Step 5: Pour into Containers

We used lip balm containers that came with a fill tray—a fantastic tool for keeping messes to a minimum! Carefully pour the liquid mixture into each container, you can use a small funnel or pipette if needed.

Step 6: Let Solidify

Leave the filled containers at room temperature until the mixture solidifies into firm lip balm (this usually takes about an hour). Once set, your homemade lip balm is ready to use!

Why We Love DIY Lip Balm

This project was not only practical but also deeply satisfying. By using herbs we grew ourselves—dandelion and calendula—we created a product that is both natural and nourishing for our skin. The beeswax adds structure to the balm while locking in moisture, shea butter provides deep hydration, and the infused oils deliver medicinal benefits directly to our lips. Plus, Eva had so much fun helping out—it’s always rewarding to see her excitement when learning new skills!

Empower Your Self-Sufficiency Journey

Making your own lip balm is an easy yet impactful step toward living more sustainably and naturally. It allows you to avoid artificial additives found in commercial products while tailoring your creations to your specific needs—whether it’s soothing cracked lips or simply enjoying a favorite scent like sweet orange. If you’ve never tried making your own herbal remedies before, this is a great place to start! Gather some herbs from your garden or local market and give this simple recipe a try—you’ll be amazed at what you can create with just a few ingredients.

Also, please stop by our facebook page and give us a “like” there. We post some additional content there, and we’re always happy to respond and answer any questions you may have! You can also find me on GAB, https://gab.com/jungerer!