Mint Lip Balm

This recipe is going to guide you from harvesting fresh mint leaves to crafting a nourishing and refreshing mint lip balm infused with the natural goodness of peppermint leaves.

The steps of making mint lip balm at home is really simple. Discover the art of drying these leaves to perfection, grinding them into a vibrant and aromatic paste. Then we’ll walk you through the steps of infusing the essence into olive oil and blending it with beeswax for a luxurious texture that will leave your lips feeling revitalized.

If you’ve been dealing with the rapid spread of peppermint in your backyard during the summer months, there’s no need to fret. With this simple recipe, you can create abundant batches of homemade mint lip balm. When the weather turns cold and dry, you’ll have the perfect solution to offer your loved ones a comforting touch of minty freshness.

Tips for making mint lip balm at home

1. Use Peppermint or Spearmint

Both peppermint and spearmint can be used to make mint lip balm, and the choice between them depends on the flavor and aroma you prefer, as well as any potential benefits you’re seeking. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which mint variety to use:

Peppermint:

• Flavor and Aroma: Peppermint has a strong and bold minty flavor with a slightly spicy and cooling sensation. Its aroma is more intense and invigorating compared to spearmint.
• Benefits: Peppermint is known for its potential therapeutic benefits, including soothing properties and the ability to provide a cooling sensation to the skin.
• Sensitivity: Some individuals may find peppermint oil to be slightly more sensitizing to the skin, so it’s important to perform a patch test before using it on your lips.

Spearmint:

• Flavor and Aroma: Spearmint has a milder, sweeter, and more delicate mint flavor compared to peppermint. Its aroma is fresh and pleasant.
• Benefits: Spearmint is often considered gentler on the skin compared to peppermint. It’s still associated with refreshing and invigorating qualities, but the cooling sensation is generally milder.
• Sensitivity: Spearmint oil is typically considered to be less likely to cause skin sensitization, making it a good choice if you have sensitive skin.

2. Proper Drying

After you wash the fresh mint leaves, ensure they are completely dry before using them. Moisture can lead to spoilage or mold growth in your balm.

To dry them, evenly lay the leaves on a cooling rack and position the rack in a well-ventilated, cool room, making sure to avoid direct sunlight. Let the leaves air dry for around 2 hours or until they are completely free of moisture.

3. Choosing Oils

While I used olive oil in this recipe, you can also use coconut oil or almond oil for their moisturizing properties and neutral scent.

4. Beeswax Amount

Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees. It’s a natural ingredient and has been used for centuries in lip balms, skincare products, and candles.

The beeswax helps solidify the balm. You can adjust the amount of beeswax to achieve your desired balm consistency. More beeswax creates a firmer balm, while less results in a softer texture. In this recipe, the beeswax : oil ratio is 1:3.

5. Essential Oils

If you want a stronger mint scent, consider adding a few drops of peppermint essential oil during the formulation process. But it is optional.

6. Sanitization

Ensure all utensils, containers, and equipment are clean and sanitized before use to prevent contamination.

7. Double Boiler

When melting ingredients, use a double boiler to prevent direct heat exposure, which can impact the texture and fragrance of the balm.

8. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the homemade lip balm ingredients from oxidative damage caused by exposure to air, light, and other environmental factors. This can extend the shelf life of the lip balm and maintain its quality over time.

Vitamin E has moisturizing properties that can help keep your lips soft and hydrated. It can also contribute to the overall texture and feel of the lip balm, making it smoother and more comfortable to apply.

Vitamin E can lose some of its effectiveness when exposed to high heat for extended periods. Therefore, when you’re making homemade lip balm, it’s important to allow the lip balm mixture to cool slightly before adding vitamin E.

EQUIPMENT

• Food Processor (Or mortar and pestle)
• Heat-resistant bowl
• Medium pot with lid
• Nut milk bag (Or fine mesh strainer)
• Kitchen scale
• Lip balm tubes (Or aluminum tin jars)

INGREDIENTS List 

• 50 g fresh peppermint leaves (About 2 cups of loosely packed peppermint leaves; Can also use spearmint leaves.)
• 100 g olive oil (Extra virgin.)
• 27 g beeswax pellets (Or shaved beeswax)
• 4 drops vitamin E oil (Or 2 vitamin E softgels)
• 4 drops peppermint essential oil (Optional; For extra minty scent.)

Step-by-step INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Gather and wash freshly picked peppermint leaves using clean water. Lay them out in a single layer on a drying rack. Place the rack in a cool room with good air circulation, ensuring it’s away from direct sunlight. Allow the leaves to air dry for approximately 2 hours or until all moisture has evaporated from them.

2. Tear off the peppermint leaves from the stems. Place the leaves in a mortar, use the pestle to grind the leaves into a paste to release their oils and flavors. You can also crush the peppermint leaves using a food processor or finely chop them using a knife.

3. Transfer the ground peppermint leaves to a heat-resistant bowl, then add olive oil to the bowl. Gently stir the mixture until the two ingredients are well mixed. Cover the bowl with heat-resistant plastic food wrap. Use a toothpick to poke 5 holes on the food wrap.

4. Pour a few inches of water into a pot, then place the heat-resistant bowl inside the pot. The water level should reach about halfway up the bowl. Place the lid on the pot. Set the pot on the stove over medium-low heat and allow the mixture to simmer for 2 hours.

5. After infusing, carefully remove the bowl from the pot, let it cool for a few minutes. Strain the oil through a nut milk bag (or a fine mesh strainer) into a clean cup to remove the peppermint leaves.

6. Cover the cup with plastic food wrap, place it at a cool spot away from direct sunlight. Leave it undisturbed for 4 hours to overnight, allowing the oil to separate from the water.

7. Pour the settled peppermint oil into a heat-resistant cup. Be careful not to pour the water from the bottom layer.

8. Weigh the total amount of peppermint oil you’ve obtained using a kitchen scale. Add an amount of beeswax pellets to the cup that is ⅓ of the weight of the peppermint oil. (I got 81g peppermint oil, so I added 27g beeswax.)

9. Pour a few inches of water into a pot, then place the heat-resistant cup inside the pot. Place the pot on the stove over medium-low heat, and continue stirring the mixture until the beeswax is completely dissolved.

10. Carefully remove the cup from the pot, let it cool for a few minutes. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil (optional) and vitamin E oil to the mixture. Stir to mix well.

11. Pour the mixture into lip balm tubes or small aluminum tin jars. Allow the lip balm to cool and solidify completely.

Storage of homemade mint lip balm: 

Keep in mind that because we’re using fresh ingredients, the shelf life of this mint lip balm might be shorter compared to recipes using essential oils.

Store the lip balm in a cool, dry place, preferably in the refrigerator, and use it within a reasonable timeframe.

If your lip balm has developed an unusual texture, such as becoming grainy or separating, or if it has a rancid or off-putting smell, it’s an indication that it might be spoiled. Or if you notice a significant change in the color of your lip balm, such as it becoming darker or taking on an odd hue, it could be a sign that it’s no longer safe to use.

My other DIY recipes you will also like: