DIY Vanilla Lip Balm (Vanilla Chapstick)

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Say ‘goodbye’ to dry, chapped lips, and say ‘hello’ to soft, sensual lips! This homemade vanilla lip balm (also called vanilla chapstick) is super simple to make!

Here in Colorado, the long, dry, cold winters are brutal on the skin. When I first moved here from the humid southeast, I was amazed at how dry and painful my skin got during the winter.

There are many, many things I LOVE about the Colorado climate. But my dry winter skin ISN’T one of them.

It took me a few years of experimenting with various store-bought lotions to realize that homemade lotion bars work so much better!

Since then, I’ve made a few other homemade body products, and I have to say, I LOVE them all!

If you suffer from dry skin too, one of the best things you can do to help is to drink more water – moisturize from the inside out.

The next thing you can do is use lotion bars and chapstick. My lips can’t get enough lip balm in the winter!

If you love homemade body products (or want to experiment with making them), check out my:

What is lip balm?

A lip balm is a Vaseline-like stick that is wiped on the lips to moisturize them and relieve chapped skin.

A lip balm is generally made from a base of avocado oil (or coconut oil) and beeswax.

If you are just getting started with making homemade body products, a DIY vanilla lip balm recipe is an ideal first project. It’s super simple and practically fail-proof!

Homemade Vanilla Lip Balm Recipe

Many stores offer natural lip balm options, but they can get SO expensive. And the funny thing is that it’s actually super easy and affordable to make high-quality natural chapstick yourself!

How To Make Vanilla Lip Balm

If you’ve never made homemade lip balm before, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quick and easy it is to make!

Plus, homemade chapstick makes a GREAT DIY gift idea!

Ingredients Needed To Make Vanilla Chapstick

Here’s what you’ll need to gather to make this recipe. I’ve included some handy links to help you find certain items faster.

Avocado oil
Beeswax pellets
Shea butter
Vanilla essential oil – or try this one from Amazon!
Orange essential oil (optional)
Microwave safe bowl
Spatula or spoon for stirring
Circle chapstick containers

Vanilla Lip Balm Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions to make your own DIY vanilla lip balm!

Step 1

Screw the middle piece of the circle Chapstick container into the lid, not the bottom of the container. Make sure you hear a click.

Step 2

Add the beeswax to the avocado oil and microwave, or use a double boiler until melted.

Step 3

Then, add the shea butter into the mixture, stir, and heat until melted as well.

Step 4

Add in your drops of essential oil to the vanilla lip balm ingredients and mix well.

Step 5

Pour the mixture into the containers and just fill until it touches the middle piece. Filling too much will cause it to leak and won’t secure properly.

Step 6

Let cool for a few hours. You can also play in your freezer for 30 minutes to speed up the process.

Step 7

Close the lip balm container until it clicks. Flip over, and it is ready to use!

NOTE: The middle piece should securely attach to the bottom and leave a circle of Chapstick to use.

Vanilla Chapstick Notes And Tips

Use any carrier oil you prefer. Coconut oil is very moisturizing and is always a popular choice. Avocado oil is great for your skin, and jojoba oil works well too.
Another option is to also use an infused oil for a terrific smell and even more skin benefits.
Both the microwave and the double boiler methods work well with this recipe. When I made lotion bars, I use more ingredients, so I tend to use the double boiler. For this recipe, I usually just use the microwave.
When using a saucepan, have one just for making body products like this. Beeswax is almost impossible to clean out 100%, so I have a dedicated pan just for natural body products (that I bought at the thrift store).
You can use any essential oil that you love instead of vanilla or leave out the oil altogether if you prefer.
This recipe produces a vanilla lip balm that’s not very thick but leaves a slightly glossy feel on your lips. It is not heavy like other Chapsticks, but it IS super moisturizing!
Turn this vanilla lip balm into a vegan recipe by swapping out the beeswax pellets for candelilla wax.
Add a few drops of Vitamin E oil acts as a natural preservative AND is amazing for the skin.

Vanilla Lip Balm Variations To Try

Swap out the vanilla essential oil for peppermint essential oil for a fun minty twist
Try Mango Butter as an alternative to Shea Butter
Adding Cocoa Butter in place of Shea Butter will deliver a delicious “chocolate” scented lip balm!
Withhold all of the essential oils for an unscented (or minimally scented) version

Natural Vanilla Lip Balm FAQs

Can I use vanilla extract in a lip balm?

Extracts are made with alcohol which is drying for the skin. I would recommend using essential oil or safe fragrance oil instead of extract.

How should I store my homemade vanilla chapstick?

Store any and all lip balms in a cool, dry place. Heat will make it get soft and possibly melt.

Can I use something else instead of beeswax?

Beeswax helps to solidify your natural lip balm. However, if you don’t want to buy beeswax, coconut oil would be my top choice. Shea butter and cocoa butter are also good substitutes.

Can I use a tube instead of a container?

If you want a traditional lip balm tube instead of this container, you can grab empty lip balm tubes.

How long will my homemade vanilla chapstick last?

It should last at least 2-3 months without any problems!

How long does natural vanilla lip balm take to solidify?

Once you add the lip balm ingredients into the tube (or container), it should only take 15-20 minutes to solidify.

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