Easy lip balm recipe

Winter is here and so are chapped lips. Did you know that we lose up to 10 times more moisture through our lips than we do elsewhere on our face or body?

Usually our fragile lips develop tiny splits and cracks when exposed to cold, wind, sun, indoor heating and low humidity. But chapped, painful lips may also be caused by:

• Breathing through the mouth
• Cold sores (herpes simplex virus infections)
• Malnutrition
• Mild dehydration
• Repeated licking of the lips
• Vitamin deficiency (iron, B, D)

What can you do to keep your lips in shape?
Never let them go nude,especially if your lips are suffering due to environmental conditions. A balm provides a buffer between your skin and the weather.

You can make your own all natural lip balm with this easy recipe:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon beeswax

2 tablespoons organic cocoa butter

2 tablespoons virgin coconut oil

20 drops essential oil

Instructions:

Place all ingredients except the essential oil in a small jar and then either place in a bain marie until they are all melted or melt in a microwave – be careful not to overheat!

When melted, take off the heat and stir in the essential oil

Simply pour into lip balm tubes and leave to set. As the mixture sets it will ‘drop’ slightly so you may want to add a little more.

Store in a cool dry place – should be fine for 12 months if stored correctly.

If you prefer a firmer lip balm simply add more beeswax and for a softer lip balm add less beeswax.

Essential oils you can use are peppermint, lavender, chamomile and mandarin, but I suggest you don't mix them for the lip balm. Avoid using eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor as those ingredients can cause dryness and irritation.

If mixing raw materials is not your strong point but you need a fast solution for your dry and chapped lips try the unique biological lip balm with shea butter and sea-buckthorn from Lavera. It really makes wonders!

Two last tips for soft, sexy lips:

Prefer lip balms that come in tube applicators. Dipping your fingers in cute little pots is not a sanitary option.

When you go to bed don't wear only your perfume! Many of us sleep with our mouths open, causing our lips to dry out, so a thick layer of lip balm on our lips is essential.