Last Updated on October 5, 2022
This cocoa butter lip balm is zero waste and leaves your lips feeling kissable and smooth! Makes a great gift and is gentle enough for daily wear.
Making your own zero waste lip balm is both incredibly simple to do, plus it’s gentle on your skin. We will teach you how to make homemade lip balm without a bunch of harsh chemicals.
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zero waste lip balm
I am so excited to share this zero waste chapstick recipe with you! I made this in my DIY products workshop at the Zero Waste Youth Convergence.
We had a great Saturday afternoon! I had a blast getting to meet so many people involved in the zero waste community.
The zero waste community is so positive, and I love being surrounded by so many people who want to inspire change.
Zero waste is about empowering the individual. We have the power to create change with just a few adjustments to our daily lives. Little things like making your own cocoa butter lip balm can really add up over time!
Photo Cred: Grant Readle
homemade lip balm
It doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s as simple as rethinking your consumption and making a conscious effort to reuse rather than continue the cycle of disposable products.
If you’ve ever felt like changing the world was out of your grasp or too large of a problem to solve – join the 1,000s of people working to empower the individual. We can all make a difference; it’s as easy as bringing your own containers!
Along the way, you’ll probably find yourself wading into the realm of DIY products.
This lip balm with cocoa butter recipe is the epitome of easy, and the perfect gateway drug… I mean stepping stone. It’s the perfect stepping stone into DIY Beauty. And, it meets all of my requirements for personal sustainability. So…what are you waiting for? Let’s get started so you can make your own zero waste chapstick asap!
zero waste chapstick
My original chapstick recipe used beeswax, and a lot of people asked me for a vegan alternative. Well, that’s when my vegan lip balm with cocoa butter was born.
I like using the older recipe as a salve for my face, and I like using this new recipe for my lips. This homemade lip balm recipe is faster, uses fewer ingredients, and I think it’s better!
I hope everyone who took some home on Saturday is enjoying theirs.
When you use so few ingredients, it’s very important that they’re high quality. You’ve heard me talk extensively about Amphora Nueva.
They’re my favorite bulk store, and they were kind enough to donate a bottle of their lemon olive oil for the workshop. The lemon is my favorite for DIY products!
If you are in the Bay Area – you have to go check them out. You will not be disappointed!
how to make cocoa butter lip balm
5 minutes active, overnight inactive
- 3 Tablespoons Grated Cocoa Butter – bought in bulk at Rainbow
- 1 Tablespoon High Quality Olive Oil – bought in bulk at Amphora Nueva
Over a double broiler, melt the cocoa butter down to liquid. Stir in the olive oil, pour into tins, and let cool on the counter overnight.
You could easily put this in the freezer for it to harden quickly, but it may not be stable. This just means it may melt very fast and the consistency might fluctuate.
This is so much easier than dealing with beeswax! If you’ve ever tried to wash dishes after using beeswax – you know.
frequently asked questions
can I use coconut oil instead of cocoa butter?
Technically, you can make this zero waste lip balm with coconut oil, but I recommend not taking it out of the house. Due to the fact that the coconut oil will melt quickly, it can easily make a mess.
what can I do to add flavoring to my homemade lip balm?
I like the cocoa butter lip balm the way it is and don’t really feel like it needs any added flavors. However, if you feel differently, you could use vanilla extract or any other extract you like. Peppermint extract, orange, or any other flavor would be good.
What are some of your favorite DIY products? Do you have any fast and easy recipes?
Thank you for sharing! It oops do easy. Will try next time, still have lots of lip balm from my "past life" 😉 to use .
Hey! I was wondering if you use/have heard of reusable menstrual products? such as cloth pads and menstrual cups. I am not zero waste but I use them and they are amazing! You should look into them if you haven’t. Pads and tampons produce so much waste and unless they are organic they can have some harmful chemicals in them. Love your blog x
Hi! Congratultions for your blog. I would like to ask you if you have more uses for cocoa butter. Thanks!
I use cocoa butter for a lot of my body products. Especially good for lotion.
hi! can i use coconut oil instead of cocoa butter? thanks!
You can but, it won’t have the right consistency. I wouldn’t recommend you take it out of the house. It will melt very quickly and you’ll be left with just oil….
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing your recipes, I’m just starting to experiment on DIY beauty products!
What’s the shelf life of your lip balm ? Do you have to keep it in the fridge ?
Have you tried to add essentiel oils ?
Thanks a lot!
Stéphanie
I don’t really like EOs in my products/don’t know much about them. I couldn’t advise. I know that they aren’t supposed to be ingested, I’m not sure if that would present a problem with putting it on your lips. Maybe try a drop or two of extract instead. Vanilla or orange would be yummy! You only have to keep products with water in them in the fridge. If it’s just oils it’s shelf stable.
Would shea butter work as well as cocoa butter works?
Sure can! Just use a little less olive oil.
How big of a tin do you need for this recipe?
I used a .5 oz tin
Hi, can i use shea butter instead of cocoa butter, and coconut oil instead of olive oil?
You can. It won’t be the same, you’ll probably need less coconut oil since shea butter is softer than coca butter.
Sorry I’m new to this! Should I buy raw cocoa butter (or not raw)?
This is way easier than I ever imagined. Next on my list
Hi, when I made this the consistency was good but in the tin it looked bubbled and uneven. Thinking of doing some as part of a gift but they just look too messy to give. What did I do wrong? Thanks
Hi, I made it and I let it sit overnight however the consistency is still really liquid. I was wondering if I should keep this in the fridge or just let it sit longer?
Hey! I’m based in Canada and was wondering if you knew any good retailers that sell cocoa butter in my country? Thanks!