Despite all the rain we've been getting the last few months, the air around me feels incredibly dry. The very air is crackling with electricity leaving my hair standing on end or sticking to my face, my skin dry and crunchy, and my lips in a perpetual state of "cellular renewal" to put it lightly. In essence, I'm in dire need of moisture and the first order of business is taking care of my chapped lips - the topic for today's post - a homemade carmex recipe!
I scoured the internet for a DIY version but ultimately came up short. So, I started digging into what ingredients I would need that did not include petroleum, lanolin, and a few other disagreeable ingredients carmex typically contains.
Ultimately, I came up with a recipe that has the same soothing feel and staying power. I think what most people have trouble with is the "sticky" feel that carmex has and I believe that probably comes from the lanolin and petroleum (vasoline) that the original recipe uses. If you have lanolin, feel free to use it and see how it goes. Just keep in mind that if you're Vegan, lanolin is an animal product. Petroleum is just gross and I don't think anyone should be slathering it on their lips.
How to Make Homemade Carmex
This recipe is fairly easy to throw together if you have a good kitchen scale. And yes, you need a scale for this, so be sure to pick one up as they're super handy to have around especially if you're getting into some DIY beauty recipes.
Here's what you need to make a carmex dupe/medicated lip balm:
• One 1oz salve tin or six lip balm tubes (I actually think this is MUCH better suited for lip balm tubes as the formula is on the firm side)
• Labels
• A small pyrex measuring cup
• 1g menthol crystals
• 5g beeswax (for Vegans, use candelilla wax)
• 6g cocoa butter (sub half for mango butter to make a softer balm as this is a firm consistency)
• 1g castor oil
• 2g fractionated coconut oil
• 2g raspberry seed oil - a nourishing oil with a natural spf of 28
• 3 drops pure Vitamin E oil - very healing for severely dry skin
• 3 drops camphor essential oil - soothing, warming, and healing for cold sores and very dry skin
• 1 drop melissa essential oil (aka lemon balm essential oil) - an amazing essential oil for healing cold sores and shortening their duration. Repairs damaged skin
• 6 drops calendula CO2 - highly anti-inflammatory and soothing for all skin ailments
• 3 drops vanilla essential oil - A warm cheerful smelling essential oil that encourages healthy skin
Loving Preparation - Homemade Carmex Recipe
1. Begin by measuring out the menthol crystals, beeswax, cocoa butter, castor oil, fractionated coconut oil, and raspberry seed oil into a small pyrex measuring cup.
2. Next, place the pyrex measuring cup in a saucepan and pour about 1 inch of water in the pan to create a water bath for melting your ingredients.
3. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer and wait for the ingredients to melt together.
4. Once melted, use a clean rubber spatula to stir the mixture to ensure everything is evenly combined. Dry the outside of the pyrex measuring cup with a towel, then place it on a towel near your salve container to prevent it from cooling too quickly.
5. While the mixture is still completely liquid, add in the essential oils and the Vitamin E oil. Mix well.
6. Carefully pour the homemade carmex into a 1oz tin or into two lip balm tubes for easy use.
7. Allow to cool completely and it's ready to go!
This lip balm is delightfully cooling and camphorous in nature and soothes even the driest chapped lips. The menthol crystals and the camphor essential oil are absolute musts in this recipe. I added the raspberry seed oil to make this lip balm more sun resistant, but you can definitely swap it out with a different moisture rich carrier oil.
Next time I make this I may try adding mango seed butter or perhaps even cera bellina (a modified beeswax that creates soft oil balms) which I think may create a very close consistency to actual carmex.
*** Update! I have now made a very close version of this with a similar texture to the original. Learn how to make it here.
At any rate, let me know what you think! Please share any revelations in the comments below!
You may also enjoy:
How to Make Lip Balm
How to Make Just One Tube of Lip Balm
Jessica says
Absolutely love this recipe! Great lipbalm with good consistency and very soothing too. Many thanks.
Mrs. Denise Kale says
Good Day ?,
Do you happen to have printable versions of your recipes ?
Thank you so,
Mrs. Kale
Tash says
That's a great idea! I used to have that option but the plugin I used for the ability to do so started bugging out and I had to remove it. I have yet to find one that works well for my site. Definitely something to implement again soon!
Perry Mc Kenna says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I see that getting the consistency correct was a challenge for you also. Looking at the list of ingredients in the original Carmex scary. If I have luck getting a gel like consistency I will get back with you.
Tash says
Yeah, I still have yet to nail it using natural ingredients but I must say, it works really well! My husband loves it!
Robin says
Can you sub peppermint oil for the menthol crystals which are synthetic? I'd like to be as organic as possible
Thanks
Tash says
Hi Robin!
You can definitely sub in peppermint EO! The menthol crystals I source are all natural and do not use or contain solvents so you can certainly find non-synthetic version 🙂 Good to keep an eye out for them though!
Mrs. Denise Kale says
Hello, Did you make this with the Peppermint EO? How much, (or may drops), did you use please and how did it turn out? Did you have to adjust anything else?
Thank you!
Mrs. Kale
)0(
Tash says
Hi Denise!
I used menthol crystals which are definitely more potent! However, you can definitely sub with peppermint essential oil (try 5-6 drops per 1 oz).
TRACY says
Thank you! I've been looking a for a lip balm. I will give this a try.
Tash says
Great! I hope you like it 🙂