Make Your Own--Natural, Non-toxic, Herbal Lip Balm

Did you know that cherry Chapstick contains ingredients linked to cancer? Check it out on Skin Deep's website.

Know what's protecting your lips by making your own lip balm. Kids will love it too! Be a GREEN PARENT and reuse old lipstick, lip balm, lip gloss containers while making this natural lip balm with the kids.

Got girls? Alkanet root imparts a pink to red coloring to the balm also offering protective, emollient properties. The longer it's simmered, the richer the red will be. Find it in a local herb shop or online (Mountain Rose Herbs). Perfect for little ladies!

Adapted from Rosemary Gladstar's recipe:

INGREDIENTS

makes approx. 4 oz

• 3/4 tsp alkanet root (optional)
• any emollient herb (calendula blossom, chamomile blossom, plantain leaf, etc)
  
• 1/2 cup almond or grapeseed oil
• 1/8 cup beeswax
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• essential oil to taste, start with a few drops (vanilla, mints, orange are pleasant)
• Containers - clean and recycle used lipstick, gloss, and/or chapstick tubes/tins or purchase new (The Ponte Vedra Soap Company). Will need roughly 16 - 1/4 oz containers.
  
• a small funnel (not absolutely necessary, but very helpful for filling tubes)
  
  
  

If using alkanet, simmer the root in the oil over low heat in a double boiler (make one by using a stainless steel bowl over a saucepan filled with 1" - 2" of water. The bowl should be above the water, not in it.) for about 15-20 minutes or until the oil has become a reddish black color. The deeper the color the redder your lip balm. Strain through a double layer of cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer. If using other emollient herbs, simmer in oil in the double boiler over low heat for 20-30 minutes.

Add beeswax, honey and essential oil then taste test. Test for consistency by putting a dime size drop of the mixture on a plate and putting it in the freezer for 3 minutes. If the sample is too hard, add more oil; if it's too soft, add more beeswax.

Pour into containers. If the lip balm starts to cool and harden, clinging to the pot, just reheat. Let cool completely before capping containers.

Make Your Own--Rich Body Lotion

This is my favorite lotion--and I've tried most pharmacy brands--for soothing my daughter's 'rough spots.' She gets bouts of eczema that, like her, has a mind of it's own. I also feel comfortable slathering it on, as I can pronounce all the ingredients! Plus it's very healing. I use it on myself and my skin is soft without regular use. No special storage needed; works well in a pump. Usually one can find supplies, like beeswax, in a local natural foods store or herb shop. If not, I like purchasing from Mountain Rose Herbs and The Ponte Vedra Soap Shoppe.

RICH BODY LOTION

• 1 cup aloe vera gel
• 1-2 tablespoons rose water
• 1 teaspoon pure vitamin E oil
• 1 teaspoon lanolin
• 1/3 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup beeswax
• 3/4 cup almond oil
• Up to 1 1/2 teaspoons of essential oil of your choice

In a blender, mix aloe vera gel, rose water, and vitamin E oil. In a double boiler (or stainless steel bowl placed on top of a pot of boiling water), place lanolin, coconut oil, and beeswax. Stir until melted and mixed. Stir in almond oil. Start your blender running at low to medium speed and pour oils in, in a thin stream. As the 'oils' blend with the 'waters,' the mixture will turn white. When the mixture has a mayonnaise-like consistency, stop the motor, add essential oils, and pulse to blend. Transfer to jar or pump-top bottle while warm.