By Mindy 53 Comments
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If you’re looking for a homemade SPF lip balm recipe that’s safe for the whole family, you’ve found it!
I love being outside as much as possible, and with two small kids, it’s a survival thing (for some reason there’s less fighting outside!).
But when we’re spending a lot of time in the sun we need an SPF Lip Balm to use so our lips won’t get sunburnt and dry.
I’m leery of using chemical sunscreens (not to mention lip balms made from petroleum—Yuck!).
I also can’t stand spending $3-5 on a tube of natural lip balm (that may not be that natural) when I can make it myself for pennies!
This Homemade SPF lip balm recipe is great because it’s petroleum-free and utilizes the natural SPF properties of the ingredients.
- Beeswax (SPF 15)
- Red raspberry seed oil (SPF 30 to 50 according to a 2000 study)
- Coconut oil (SPF 5)
I feel pretty safe in saying this recipe is at least SPF 30, but of course, it hasn’t been tested so use your own judgment ;)
Update: a 2021 review of the data on red raspberry seed oil explains that a more recent study shows the SPF value is much lower than the original study suggests. The review recommends doing in-depth studies to see which study is more accurate.
This lip balm makes a great holiday gift as well. I often give it to my friends and family and they are always thrilled about it. Find more homemade gift ideas.
Homemade SPF Lip Balm: Natural Sun Protection
I used to slather myself with SPF because of my fair skin and how easily I would burn.
Then one summer after having a baby and taking a vitamin D supplement I was able to go all summer without using sunscreen (except while swimming/water sports or long hikes in the sun). I even got a nice (light) tan!
I did some research and found that a Vitamin D deficiency can actually make it easier to burn.
According to research, melanin (the pigment responsible for causing a “tan”) production is linked to vitamin D production.
When the body has had enough vitamin D, melanin kicks in and darkens the skin to reduce vitamin D production.
When there is an underlying vitamin D deficiency though, melanin won’t be triggered to darken the skin and this can cause burning.
It turns out that as long as my vitamin D levels are healthy and I’m responsible about sun exposure (staying in the shade when possible, or covering up with light clothing when I plan on being out for a long time) I don’t burn!
SPF is Still Helpful
But when I’m swimming, doing water sports, etc., I still need SPF to protect my skin (because I like sitting in the sun). In the winter when I want to stay in the sun as long as possible, I also need something to protect my lips.
So I came up with this recipe for an SPF lip balm that I can use while enjoying seasonal outdoor sports or just doing chores around the homestead.
Note: if you’re going to make this recipe to be used in the summer, add a bit extra cocoa butter for firmness or store it in a tin rather than a lip balm tube.
SPF Lip Balm Recipe
I use this homemade SPF lip balm recipe for Christmas gifts and all of my friends and family love it! This recipe is gluten-free and great for sensitive skin. Here’s how to make it:
- Melt coconut oil, olive oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter in a saucepan or double boiler.
- Remove from heat and add in red raspberry seed oil and essential oils (which I like to measure out beforehand into a small bowl).
- Fill tubes with the melted lip balm. If it starts to harden before you are done you can put the pan back on the heat briefly.
- This awesome lip balm tube tray would be great for this project but I used pipettes likethese
and they worked fine.
and they worked fine.That’s it for easy homemade chapstick with spf!
*some popular oils are lavender, cinnamon leaf (not bark), clary sageand peppermint. Peppermint should be used with caution as it may not be safe for children. If you’re new to essential oils stick with lavender.
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Difficulty: easy
A simple recipe for SPF lip balm for the whole family.
Materials
- 2 Tablespoons expeller pressedCoconut Oil
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (the only one I'll use is this one)
- 5 wafers (or roughly 2 teaspoons shredded)Cocoa Butter
- 1 Tablespoonbeeswax pastilles(shredded would work too)
- 1 - 1 ½ teaspoonsred raspberry seed oil
- 15-25drops ofessential oils
- 20lip balm tubes (.15oz)
Tools
- Saucepan
- Pipettes
Instructions
- Melt coconut oil, olive oil, beeswax and cocoa butter in a saucepan over low heat until melted.
- Remove from heat and add in red raspberry seed oil and essential oils (which I like to measure out before hand into a small bowl). Mix well.
- Fill tubes with the melted lip balm. If it starts to harden before you are done you can put the pan back on the heat briefly.
- This awesome tray would be great for this project but I used pipettes like these and they worked fine.
How to Easily Fill Lip Balm Tubes
Since filling tiny lip balm tubes makes some people nervous, I created a short video to show how I do it.
I LOVE how smooth and glossy this lip balm feels. It’s also super moisturizing and the red raspberry seed oil helps to reduce inflammation and heal the skin.
They make great gifts too!
Labels
If you would like to make a label for your lip balms all you have to do is create an image in photoshop (or another program) that is 1.8in x 1.8in. Insert your image into this template and print it onto the label paper (also in the link). Super easy!
But I Don’t Have Time! What Should I Do?
While I think this recipe is the best natural sunscreen lip balm, I know you may not be able to make it right now. You’re in luck. I just happen to know of an amazing skincare line that carrieslip balm made with similar ingredients asmy recipe. This lip balm ismade with organicingredients that give it a bit of natural SPF too. Check it out here.
What’s your favorite SPF lip balm? Have you tried making it?
About Mindy
Mindy Wood is the founder of Our Inspired Roots, the place to go for inspiration and instruction on growing food & medicine in a way that is healthy for people and the planet.
Reader Interactions
Comments
- Jen says
The red raspberry seed oil says that it shouldn’t be ingested… I was trying to find something to use for spf and wanted to use that but seems like it’s not good for the lips… :(
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- Mindy says
Where did you see that? all of the information I’ve found says it’s safe for lip balm. Maybe your information meant in large amounts?
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- Trina says
I am wanting to make this lip balm but everything I have read says not to use plastic containers for citrus oils. What other oil do you recommend other than peppermint?
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- Mindy says
Lavender is my favorite fall back EO since it’s incredibly safe and smells wonderful :)
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- Maria Collicott says
Citrus oils can cause photosensitivity so they may not be best for a sunscreen product.
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- Mindy says
True. I haven’t had any trouble with using them though, considering the huge amount of SPF in the recipe :)
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- Donna Muse says
What gives this its SPF?
- Mindy says
The red raspberry seed oil mostly, but coconut oil and beeswax are also SPF 10 or more each :)
- Ginger says
You can buy citrus oils that are FCF. Those do not make you sun sensitive.
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- Georgee says
Adore this and cannot wait to try it, thank you for sharing :)
It’s probably a silly question but does this last? Like, is there an expiry date?
I only ask because I wanted to add these to my guest hampers for our destination wedding next year and I wondered how in advance I can make them.
Thanks Georgee
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- Mindy says
Lip balm will last as long as the oils do. For this recipe that means about 2 years. When i made my first batch it was good for about 2 years and after that started smelling bad. So, you’ll know if it’s no good!
I don’t know for sure but maybe freezing or refrigerating them would make them last longer.
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- Elisa says
Could I use fresh rasberries or blackberries to have a tinted 30 spf lip balm?
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- Mindy says
That’s a really cool idea! I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not. If you try it let me know how it goes :)
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- Emily says
What should peppermint oil be used “with caution”?
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- Mindy says
It should not be used on children under 30 months old as it can cause respiratory issues.
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- gtmama says
bc of the smell if peppermint or any mint is a respiratory irritant. All mint is a natural pest deterrent and the reason it is is bc of this
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- Emily says
*Why
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- Alexandra Meir says
Is there anything you would suggest to replace the coconut oil? I’m allergic and am having trouble finding replacements.
ThanksReply
- Mindy says
You could use any oil. Since coconut oil is solid at room temperature you’d have to add a bit more beeswax if you chose to use something like olive oil. You could try replacing it with tamanu oil if you don’t want to mess with more beeswax, but tamanu is pretty expensive.
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- Charlotte says
Your lip balm recipe sounds great except for the olive oil, as I am very allergic. Could I use jojoba instead?
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- Mindy says
I don’t see why not :)
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- Maxim James Velasco says
Does this expire?
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- Mindy says
Yes, it typically lasts about a year.
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- Maxim James Velasco says
Thank you for your advice
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- Tamara says
Which olive oil do you like (there was no link)? Are you talking like extra virgin that we cook with?
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- Mindy says
I updated the link. I like California Olive Ranch, and yes, it’s the kind you put on salads :)
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- Abby says
Why is the recipe different for summer and winter?
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- Mindy says
because I was getting frustrated with my lipbalm melting in the summer and being too hard in the winter. It’s just a matter of hardness.
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- Candace says
I found a reciepe that is just coconut oil amd beeswax with the oil. Can I just add the red raseberry seed for the SPF or do I have to add the coco butter too?
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- Mindy says
Sure, give it a try. You will probably have to add extra beeswax to make it solid though.
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- Adrienne says
I made the winter lip balm last night omitting the essential oils as I didn’t have any (and couldn’t decide which one to choose/buy). The result is great while it’s on my lips but when it wears off, my lips are really quite dry. Is it because I didn’t add the EO? If I melt it down what would I add to it to make it more nourishing?
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- Mindy says
No the EO wouldn’t do that, add more cocoa butter and see if that helps.
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- Tammy says
Some people like myself cannot use beeswax in our lip balms iether because while true it does act as a sun shield it may build up on the lips preventing moisture to reach them. What I suggest is removing the wax from your sun protection balm at the end of the day with olive or coconut mixed with sugar and lightly scrub it off. Then make a night time lip ointment with coconut, Shea Butter or both to apply to your lips and keep them from drying out. Everyone has different sensitivities to different lip ingredients so substitutions are great. I appreciate the use of raspberry seed oil f or sun protection and I might try mixing that with my cocontact and Shea for the day even. Only thing is I’d carry them in a tin instead of tube because they could melt which is why most have wax in them but for me I have to eliminate the wax. I hope this helps.
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- Mindy says
Thanks for sharing.
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- Tammy says
This was informative . Thank you for your recipe ideas. I love the idea of using raspberry seed oil in my lip balms.
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- Mindy says
Thanks!
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- Jessica says
what makes this an SPF lip balm? what is protecting your lips from the sun?
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- Mindy says
The red raspberry seed oil (and many of the other ingredients)
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- Danielle says
Sweet orange oil isn’t known to have photosensitivity
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- Mindy says
Thanks, good to know!
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- Nancy says
Do you have a vegan lip balm recipe (no beeswax) that is firm enough to put into a tube?
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- Mindy says
You could try adding more cocoa butter in place of beeswax and see how that works.
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- Kare says
Do you think this can be tinted with natural food coloring powder?
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- Mindy says
I don’t see why not.
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- Amy says
I don’t know if this thread is still active but I was wondering where the data on Raspberry seed oil comes from?? I haven’t been able to find any good published articles proving it has SPF and what the rating is. We have a LOT of skin cancer in our family so we take SPF seriously.
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- Mindy says
I updated the article to include the reference.
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- Joshua Thorne says
I love the lip balm recipes at Bulk Apothecary. This looks like a great recipe too.
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- Amanda says
Sadly, red raspberry seed oil can only absorb UVB and UVC sun rays. It offers limited protection from UVA. UVA rays increase the risk for skin cancer and other skin problems like wrinkles and premature aging.
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- Mindy says
When I originally wrote this post, the information we had was that RRS oil did have full spectrum protection. I see now that a recent review questions this (though it doesn’t refute it). I will update this post as soon as I can with the updated information. Thank you for your comment!
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- Archee says
I mix sunscreen with my foundation when applying makeup.
If I use an SPF 50 with my foundation (half and half), then it is diluted and no longer at a strength of 50 SPF.
Wouldn’t it be the same case when the ingredients are blended for the lip balm?Reply
- Mindy says
Yes, that is correct.
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- Kathy says
I wondered if the SPF would be affected if I microwave instead of using the stovetop.
Thanks!
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- Mindy says
I’m not 100% sure, but I don’t think so.
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