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Natural Tinted Lip Balm Recipe

Katie Wells Avatar
Katie Wells

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tinted lip balm
Wellness Mama » Blog » Beauty » Natural Tinted Lip Balm Recipe

This natural tinted lip balm is a nourishing part of any skincare routine. Kiss dry lips goodbye and add a little shimmer to your day. This DIY is a great alternative for those (like me) who don’t regularly wear lipstick. But If you’re a lipstick girl, also check out my homemade lipstick.

My daughter loves this lip balm! Since it’s a natural recipe I’ll let her use a tiny amount and she feels special because she’s wearing “makeup.” It also makes a great gift for birthdays or as a stocking stuffer at Christmas.

Hydrating Tinted Lip Balm

Tinted Lip Balm is smoother and glossier than lipstick, and more like a traditional lip gloss. Matte versions just use pigment to tint the lips, while glossier versions offer shimmery lip color. They’re different than a lip stain which gives a hint of color but can dry out lips.

Especially during the winter months, I like using lip butter or lip balm to soothe chapped lips. Having a barrier there can also provide some mild sun protection. Coconut oil and shea butter both have mild SPF properties and I use both in my homemade sunscreen. While they’re not SPF 15 like conventional SPF lip balms (they’re more like SPF 7) I still like using them to nourish and hydrate.

Ingredients in DIY Tinted Lip Balm

This DIY lip tint version is made with completely natural ingredients. And a little really goes a long way! I colored my original version with a tiny drop of natural red food coloring for a pop of color. I also added lemon and vanilla for scent. You could leave it unscented if you prefer, or opt for a different essential oil.

I settled on a refreshing mint version that offers subtle color and reminds me of Burt’s Bees lip balm. Instead of oxides for a wash of color, I opted for sparkly rose mica. On days I want more color coverage, I’ll add a little bit of cocoa powder or natural food coloring to the recipe. One of the best parts about making your own beauty products is being able to customize the recipe how you want!

Best Oils for Lip Balm

There are a lot of different choices when it comes to lip care. I kept it simple, yet functional with coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax for the base. You could sub in a little jojoba or avocado oil for the coconut oil if preferred though. Castor seed oil adds a little bit more of a glossy feel, but too much can make it feel sticky. Some drugstore brands, like Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm, use sunflower seed oil and other vegetable oils, which is something I try to avoid.

I’ve also added a little vitamin E oil. It helps the product last a little longer and provides some antioxidants. If you don’t have any on hand though, don’t worry, it’s optional. And if you want a firmer lip balm or don’t have shea butter, then cocoa butter will also work.

This recipe has many of the same ingredients as my homemade lotion bars, homemade lotion, DIY deodorant, and more. So if you keep these ingredients on hand, you can make endless variations of natural beauty products.

Lip Balm Containers

I re-used an old tin for this recipe, but you can also find cute, small tins online. I like to use these 1/2 of 1-ounce tins when I make lip balm for gifts. Just be sure your hands are clean when applying. Adding slightly more beeswax also makes a great lip balm in a chapstick container.

tinted lip balm
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4.13 from 33 votes

DIY Natural Tinted Lip Balm

This natural DIY tinted lip balm is simple and easy to make with soothing ingredients to hydrate thirsty lips. Also makes a great gift!
Prep Time4 minutes
Melting Time7 minutes
Total Time11 minutes
Yield: 2 ounces
Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

Materials

Instructions

  • If you don't have a double boiler, then place a glass bowl on top of a small saucepan halfway filled with water.
  • Add the coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter to the bowl or top of the double boiler and heat over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally until melted.
  • Once melted, turn the heat off and add the essential oils, food coloring, vitamin E, and mica.
  • Carefully pour the mixture into the tins and allow it to cool completely.

Notes

Storage and Shelf Life: Use a clean finger to apply and store in a cool, dark place. This will last about 6-12 months when stored properly. 

Best Tinted Lip Balms to Buy

Don’t have time or ingredients to make it? Here are some paraben-free, cruelty-free, and clean brands to get instead.

Ever made your own lip balm or chapstick? Ready to try this one? Leave a comment and let me know how it went!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

150 responses to “Natural Tinted Lip Balm Recipe”

  2. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    This Mica powder has titanium dioxide in it and I have heard this is toxic to our bodies. Is this true?

    Reply
  3. Jeannine Avatar
    Jeannine

    I just bought the Mica powder you recommended and saw that it is made in China. Are you concerned at all with this product?

    Reply
  4. Vita Avatar
    Vita

    You CAN use hibiscus powder, but it doesn’t impart much color because it doesn’t give it up in oils. Plus it is impossible to grind fine enough so that it doesn’t leave bits in the gloss. I’ve tried everything: hibiscus, beet powder – everything by mica, actually. Those things give up color in WATER, and this recipe is OIL/wax based. In my experience, hibiscus will color the GLOSS, but it will not impart color to the lips. But it’s still a lovely recipe and a nice gloss.

    Reply
    1. Kathleen Avatar
      Kathleen

      Thank you, Vita! I really appreciate your input. I’m hesitant to use the mica powder because I’m not into shimmery gloss, for me anyway, but I’m making some for my nieces and they’ll probably love it. Thanks again for sharing!

      Reply
  5. Kathleen Avatar
    Kathleen

    Hello! I’m so excited to try this. I’m wondering if I could use the hibiscus powder you have listed in the blush “recipe”. I will be making that as well and was hoping the hibiscus powder can be used in the lip gloss instead of the mica powder. If you have a moment, please let me know. Thank you!

    Reply
      2. Odel Avatar
        Odel

        Hi Katie, the women here asked very important questions, I wish you could answer them in a nutshell.
        1. Is Mica powder toxic?
        2. Does the Mica powder truly color the lips?
        3. Do you trust the cheap Mica Powder sold on Ali from China, for example?
        4. Why did you add food coloring – is the Mica not strong enough?
        5. About how many 10 gram containers does this recipe yield?

        Thanks for your awesome recipes!

        Reply
        1. Katie Wells Avatar
          Katie Wells

          Thanks for the compiling into a list!
          1. Mica is generally considered safe and is rated as a 2 by the EWG. The concern is often related to its mining and how it is sourced, as it often comes from areas of the world with a lot of poverty and where there is child labor, so it’s important to find sources that are ethical and sustainable.
          2. It provides natural shimmer and some colors do offer a natural color but not as intense of a color as a matte lipstick would.
          3. I would make sure any mica powder used is ethical/cruelty free and safe for cosmetic use.
          4. I added food coloring mostly for looks in photographing it, but it works well without it too!
          5. It makes 6-7 10 gram containers.

          Reply
  6. Rosalie Avatar
    Rosalie

    Hi!
    This looks great!
    Im a little confused though, you mention red food coloring however I thought the mica red rose powder would tint the lip balm?
    How many tins of lip balm does this recipe yield?

    Reply
  7. aida Avatar
    aida

    Hello. I have a problem lining my natural lipstick for the production of sweet peanut butter, cocoa butter, honey and vitamin E
    But the colors I use are colors that are water soluble. How can I add color to oily streaks?
    Please guide me

    Reply
  9. Charlie Avatar
    Charlie

    I would like to try this recipe but am allergic to coconut and Shea Butter. Are there other ingredients in can substitute?

    Reply
  10. Kate Avatar
    Kate

    If water gets into the mix is it ruined? I used a rice cooker instead of a crockpot or double boiler and the steam from the lid leaked into the base mixture. I am using vitamin E so will it keep it from going rancid?

    Reply
  12. Prajakta. S.Chavan Avatar
    Prajakta. S.Chavan

    l want beeswax alternative for lip bam for in home made poduct.

    Reply
  13. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    I’m confused, can you help me please. The mica powder is what put the color on your lips? Or is that the colorants?

    Reply
  14. Sandra Avatar
    Sandra

    Carmine works great and it’s natural (not vegan though). Carmine comes in shades of red and purple. Liquid and powder. Very pricey, But you only need a teensy amount.

    Reply
  15. Jean Avatar
    Jean

    I’ve tried hibiscus powder. It didn’t mix well, settled to the bottom, is gritty and doesn’t taste good. The beet powder turns out about the same and both are just a tint. I love the recipe for lip balm but my sister must have lipstick so I would like to make her something healthy. Has anyone tried the mica powder? If so, please give details. What color did you use, how much? Is it solid or transparent? Does it mix smoothly without grit? Any information would be appreciated.

    Reply
  16. Naj Avatar
    Naj

    I used my own recipe just shea butter and coconut oil and mixed them like above then tipped hibiscus bag in little hot water and squeezed the juice out to get the thickest then stirred it in the mixture and allowed it to cool. I got a tint and the hibiscus water just collected which i poured out. Turned out nice, Tho am wondering about the shelf life.

    Reply
  17. Mae Avatar
    Mae

    Hi there Wellness Mama, have you made a face scrub or something like that? My mom and I really want to make your lotion bars and and I want make the lip balm, but I also want a face scrub. I already use a sugar and olive oil scrub on my lips because I read it somewhere else.

    Reply
  18. Diana Avatar
    Diana

    Do you think red palm oil would work, instead of the coconut oil, if I added more beeswax?

    Reply
    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I’ve never tried it but don’t see why it wouldn’t I would keep tinkering with the ingredients until you saw the desired consistency 🙂

      Reply
  20. Raymur Rachels Avatar
    Raymur Rachels

    Where is the recipe – it’s say’s 1 tablespoon (blank) and doesn’t say which ingredients for which quantity? Is the page messed up?

    Reply
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