This tallow lip balm recipe is so simple and easy to make with only 2 basic ingredients, tallow and beeswax. Of course, I’ll show you how you can add essential oils so it smells nice if you’d like, but you can certainly make this nourishing lip balm with just 2 natural ingredients that you can either produce yourself or source locally. Anytime you can replace a store-bought version of an item like lip balm, that is probably full of preservatives and ingredients you can’t pronounce, with a simple alternative that works better and is healthier, why not do it? This is what simple living is all about in my opinion. Using something as basic as beef tallow to cook with, as well as to make all of your own body care products like soap, lotion, lip balm and more.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Simple and easy – basic ingredients melted together create this basic lip balm you’re gonna love
Healthy – made with all edible ingredients and no preservatives, it will help protect your lips from the sun and also keep them from cracking in cold weather during the winter months
Long shelf life – properly rendered tallow does not need to be refrigerated, so this lip balm naturally has a long shelf life
Flexible recipe – you can add vitamin E oil if you want the lip balm to be extra nourishing on your skin, or add different essential oils to make many different flavors of lip balm

Health Benefits Of Tallow

Beef tallow is just clarified beef fat that has been rendered down to a pure state. It can be used to replace any oil or fat in cooking and baking, and makes wonderful skin care products. It is a fat that is similar to the oil on human skin. This is one reason why it’s so beneficial to use it on your skin, because it mimics the skin’s natural oils. Loaded with essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins that will nourish your skin, this edible fat makes an excellent base for your skincare routine. It can be made into balms, salves, lotions, lip balms, and soaps quite easily and with minimal effort. It acts as a natural protective barrier for your skin against direct sunlight, all while adding nourishment to your body that you won’t find in other synthetic ingredients.

Grass-fed beef tallow is preferred for making skincare products, but if all you can get is regular tallow from your local butcher, it will still be much healthier for you than any synthetic or artificial ingredients.

Ingredients

Rendered beef tallow – to learn how easy it is to render your own tallow, find my whole tutorial here.
Beeswax – this is what solidifies your lip balm
Olive oil, or some kind of light oil like sweet almond oil – optional
Honey – optional – gives a bit of a sweet taste to the lip balm and extra nourishment for your skin
Pure essential oil – optional, but gives the lip balm some fragrance. You can also use pthalate free flavor oils. I like to get mine from Brambleberry.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here

Tools

Small saucepan, double boiler or glass measuring cup – for melting all the ingredients. The pan or double boiler can be used on the stove, and the glass measuring cup can be used in the microwave if you wish.
Stirring utensil, such as a fork or a spoon
Lip balm tubes with lids OR lip balm containers
Labels, optional

Favorite Sourdough Recipes:

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How to Make Your Own Tallow Lip Balm

In a saucepan or double boiler, melt all ingredients on the stovetop over medium heat except for the essential oil. If you’d prefer, you can also melt them in a glass measuring cup or bowl in the microwave, just be careful not to get it too hot.

Once all the ingredients are melted, add the essential oil and stir well.

Pour into lip balm tubes or containers and allow to sit out at room temperature until solidified.

Add a label to the tube or container if you wish.

Use this homemade lip balm daily and enjoy. And remember, these make great gifts along with some homemade tallow soap, whipped tallow lotion, and a tallow candle, all nestled in a cute basket.

Yes, tallow is very good for your lips as it is very close to the oil that is produced naturally on your skin. This helps it to easily absorb and keep your lips soft and smooth. Tallow is also full of lots of vitamins like A, D, E & K that are excellent for your skin and lips.

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