I love using essential oils in ways that replace more harmful versions of cosmetics and beauty aids. Perhaps you do as well? Most every girl loves a sweet-smelling lotion or body spray, right? (how many of those have you given from a store at the mall that doesn’t use natural ingredients?)
Most everyone loves homemade gifts. For some reason, I’ve gotten out of the creative gift-giving mood over the past few years, but the desire is returning since I fell in love with essential oils, and have learned so many ways to use them.
When you can make your homemade gifts and cosmetics really special by finding a super cute way to present them, that’s even better. A couple of months ago, I saw this great idea of repurposing colorful contact lens cases. I think they make perfect lip balm cases! Even if you don’t wear contact lenses, you can purchase the cases at most any pharmacy, Wal-mart or online at Amazon.
There are many combinations of essential oils that work well for lip balm, but one of my favorites happens to be lavender and peppermint. Spend some time experimenting with other essential oils if you must, but I think you’ll love this combination.
Contact Lens Case Lavender-Mint Lip Balm Recipe
Ingredients
3 tablespoons organic coconut oil
1 1/2 tablespoons beeswax pellets
1 tablespoon shea, mango, or cocoa butter
1/2 tablespoon castor oil or Vitamin E (optional for a glossier lip balm)
6 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops peppermint essential oil
(my favorite essential oils suppliers include Plant Therapy and Rocky Mountain Oils)
Supplies
5 Contact Lens Cases
Tablespoons/teaspoons
Glass measuring jar (Pyrex)
Directions
1. Measure your coconut oil, butter, and beeswax pellets and place them in a clean Pyrex measuring cup.
2. Place Pyrex into a pot of boiling water. Stir as needed. Remove oils from water pot as soon as melted.
3. Add essential oils and castor oil or Vitamin E (if used) and stir to combine.
4. Carefully pour your melted lip balm into your contact lens cases and let set at room temperature for about 30 minutes (carefully transfer to the refrigerator for a quicker set time).
Makes enough to fill 5 contact lens cases on both sides.
Make a few. Give some away. Keep one in your purse, at your bedside, in the bathroom, in the kitchen . . . anywhere you spend a lot of time. The recipe is so simple to make, you’ll be making it all the time for yourself and all your friends. You could even put a different flavor on each side. If you have tween or teen daughters, they will love making these for their friends, too!
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Dilution rates for essential oils are different for kids than adults–is this recipe safe for kids as well as adults? My daughter got a “lip balm kit” for Christmas and she’d love to keep going with something like this, but it seems like a lot of e.o. to be putting on her skin/where she could accidentally ingest it. Thanks!
Yes, thanks for asking. I should mention in the post what the dilution is, so that others will know. But it’s about 1% so safe for children.