Instead of buying cheap, mass-produced gewgaws to give out this season, show your loved ones you care with a little DIY. During Grist’s 12 days of DIY gifts, we’ll share some crafty projects, with instructions that even we can follow. There’s sure to be a whatsit or wowsit for everyone.
Homemade lip balm is a good gift for almost anyone, especially during these dry winter months. It’s easy to personalize, and — as with anything that’s going near your mouth — it’s nice to know exactly what ingredients are going into it.
- 1/2 ounce beeswax
- 1 teaspoon honey or base oil — coconut is best, but olive oil and sweet almond oil work, too. Keep in mind that these will add a slight flavor to the balm: Honey will make it sweet, while the oils will have milder flavors.
- 3 to 5 drops of essential oil — peppermint is always nice, but you can add whatever you think your gift recipient will enjoy, including lavender, rosemary, sage, cinnamon, lemon, etc.
- an empty ChapStick container or a small tin
Melt the beeswax, and add the honey or base oil. When it’s all combined, stir in the essential oils.
Pour the mixture into the container or tin, and let cool.
And that’s it! Your loved one will never have to suffer chapped lips again.
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