Lip Balm

We are entering the time of year when the air is so dry your feel like you could power a Smart car with all of the static electricity that has built up in your hair, and your skin is so dry you feel like you could easily be added to trail mix and no one would notice. Last year I discovered that you can make your own lip balm right in your kitchen. It is really easy and makes a lot. Once you have the ingredients, you can make enough lip balm to last a lifetime. Last year I used it every night before going to bed and every morning when I woke up and I doubt I had chapped lips one time. You see, as with everything else that is mass produced, the makers of lip balm add fragrances and fillers that dilute the ingredients that your lips need to stay hydrated. The lip balm recipe that I am about to share is the real deal. So here it is:

2 Tbsp. petroleum jelly (Vaseline)
1 tsp. beeswax (I bought mine by the ounce at a health food store or in the candlemaking section of the craft store.)

1) Melt the beeswax and petroleum jelly in a double boiler over low heat. I use a small saucepan with about an inch of boiling water in it, with a small mixing bowl on top (see picture*).

2) Mix ingredients thoroughly with a toothpick. At this point you can add several ingredients to enhance your lip balm. Here are a few examples:
*Essential oils: I like peppermint oil. It makes your lips tingly. Essentials oils can be found at most health food stores (Whole Foods Market).
*Color: You can add a little slice of your lipstick if you want your lip balm
to be colored, but don't expect to be able to notice it on your lips.
*Other stuff I can't categorize: I use a few drops of Vitamin E oil and Aloe Oil because they are supposed to be good for your skin. I don't know if it's true.
3) Pour your lip balm into containers. I found little containers at the craft store that are supposed to be used to hold leftover acrylic paint. They fit about 1 oz. I used 4. Make sure they are clean. I put them in boiling water for a few minutes before I fill them.

Yep, that's it. Pretty much it's just melting stuff. Hopefully this will be the year you don't suffer from chapped lips. If it is, you can thank me. :)

*Ignore the stained cooktop and old pot. I told you I was no Martha Stewart.