Learn how to make your own moisturizing cannabis lip balm at home with a few simple ingredients like cannabis-infused oil, beeswax, and shea butter, complete with multiple different infusion options, for a soothing, relaxing balm your lips will love!
Features
- A step-by-step guide to show you how to make cannabis lip balm
- An overview of the most important ingredients to get
- Many different infusion options and customizations to choose from
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Lip balm is a topical preparation applied to soothe sore or cracked lips. And the only thing better than regular lip balm is a homemade cannabis lip balm!
If you are ready to dip your toes into the vast world of cannabis like so many members of my Well With Cannabis Community, making your homemade lip balm is a great place to start.
My beginner-friendly recipe features natural ingredients, and you will choose whether or not you want to include CBD, THC, or both in your final product.
Read on to get step-by-step instructions, many different infusion options, and ways to customize this recipe into one you will truly love!
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Ingredient Notes
- Infused coconut oil - There are many benefits of applying coconut oil directly to the skin. For this recipe, you can choose to use traditional coconut oil or cannabis coconut oil, depending on your desired final product's strength and potency. Remember, you can decide whether or not you want to make a CBD dominant or THC dominant product.
- Shea butter - This is the organic shea butter I used for this recipe. Shea butter is a fat extracted from the nut of the African shea tree. It is a popular ingredient that has been used in topical and cosmetic products for centuries.
- Beeswax - Beeswax is popular for many reasons and may contain properties that are ideal for helping to soothe sore lips. This is the organic beeswax I used for this recipe. Note: Because this recipe contains beeswax, it is not vegan-friendly.
- Essential oils of choice - Essential oils will allow you to customize this recipe to your desired taste and flavor. The most important thing to do is to ensure that you are using a food-grade safe essential oil that is safe to consume orally and apply topically. For this recipe, I chose to use Bergamot essential oil for a mild flavor. You can also use floral oils like lavender essential oil. Peppermint essential oil is also a popular choice for a minty, cooling alternative.
- Concentrate - like my CBD concentrate. Optional; see notes below.
Note: a complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions is located in the recipe card below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1 - Add 1-2 inches of water to the bottom portion of a double boiler and place it over low heat. Add the shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil to the top portion of the double boiler and place on the small portion.
- Step 2 - Allow all of the ingredients to melt and then bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Step 3 - When the mixture begins to simmer, turn off the heat and stir in your drops of essential oils and your cannabis concentrate, if using.
- Step 4 - Prepare your chapstick or lip balm containers by removing the tops and placing them on a solid surface like a baking sheet to be filled.
- Step 5 - Using a pipette or similar tool, gently transfer the hot liquid into the lip balm or chapstick containers.
- Step 6 - Allow the containers to rest and cool for at least 15 minutes, or until room temperature, before sealing with the top.
- Step 7 - Use as often as needed throughout the day.
- Step 8 - Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
Note: complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the recipe card below.
Storage Instructions
When making lip balm at home, I recommend storing the final product in these glass containers. Remember that the size of the lip balm container you choose to use will end up playing a role in the final concentration of each product. When ready to use, simply apply your lip balm to dry lips, the affected area, or as a first step in preventing capping in cold weather.
Alternate Cannabis Infusion Options
As with all things edibles, there is more than one way to infuse something. Below we will explore all of the different ways you could infuse this recipe.
CBD vs. THC
You can choose if you want to make this a CBD or THC option, or both. The best option is to start with your own cannabis, whether it be CBD flower or THC flower, and create an oil with the options below.
CBD Oil
Whether it be homemade CBD oil made with CBD hemp flower or store-bought CBD oil, you can absolutely use it to make a CBD lip balm recipe. Simply swap the infused coconut oil for your CBD oil of choice.
Other Infused Oil
You can use this method to infuse any cannabis oil that you wish, pick based on your personal preference!
Just keep in mind that thicker-based oils may have a different final consistency.
Popular infused oils include:
- extra-virgin olive oil
- MCT oil
- hemp seed oil
- sesame oil
- jojoba oil
- sweet almond oil
- tea tree oil
Just remember that you need to decarboxylate cannabis before adding it to an oil infusion, You can learn how to do that in an oven or Instant pot here.
Concentrates
Adding cannabis concentrate to this recipe is preferred by those who are looking for a very potent option.
Concentrates like distillate and FECO or RSO can have anywhere from 100-900mg of concentrated cannabinoids formulated into a 1-milliliter syringe.
This means you can get a very strong dose in a very small volume. I have CBD concentrate available for purchase in my shop.
You can also make your own concentrate by first making a cannabis tincture and then turning it into full-extract cannabis oil.
Notes and Expert Tips
- This recipe is really just a base recipe with simple steps to get you started. You can make this whole recipe your own by using different combinations of oils, cannabinoids, and essential oils to create an option that is perfect for you
- Making your own DIY CBD lip balm is a great way to avoid harsh chemicals and a great choice if you want to reap the benefits of CBD and your favorite essential oils
- Feel free to experiment with your own favorite ingredients like cocoa butter, vitamin e oil, etc
- Your DIY cannabis lip balm will be the perfect addition to your self-care routine!
About Cannabis Topicals
There are many popular, topical CBD products that can be made or purchased, including:
- cannabis massage oil
- cannabis salve
- cannabis bath balms
- cannabis-infused personal arousal products.
Cannabinoids, like CBD or THC, interact with the cannabinoid receptors on our skin and exert anti-inflammatory properties.
Although they are applied directly to the skin, they penetrate into the epidermis only and are not absorbed directly into the bloodstream - meaning THC applied to the skin will not get you high.
Keep in mind that topicals have the best effect at the application site itself, directly where you put it on your body.
The typical onset time of effects can be anywhere from 15-30 minutes, and the average duration of effects can last anywhere from 2-4 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Making your own homemade lip balm can be brand new to even the most seasoned cannabis consumer, so here are some of the most common FAQs I get asked from my Well With Cannabis Community.
In short, the answer is no, but maybe. The cannabinoid THC does not reach the bloodstream through topical application, meaning users will not experience a ‘high’ associated with product use. However, the lips are extremely close to the mucous membranes in the mouth and have a much thinner layer of skin than other parts of the body. This opens up the possibility of this balm being absorbed in the mouth through sublingual absorption. This means that if the lip balm gets into your mouth, there is a small chance that you could react to any THC present and feel an intoxicating or 'high' experience.
For this recipe's purpose, the only difference between chapstick and lip balm is how they are packaged and presented. Lip balm comes in a round, glass container, while the cannabis chapstick will come in a small, cylindrical tube. If you want to make chapstick, you can get these really easy-to-use chapstick-making kits online. This chapstick crafting kit includes an easy filling tray and spatula to help you fill empty lip balm tubes in bulk quickly and easily. The kit comes with 50 BPA-free tubes with caps and 50 stickers so you can make your own label. Simply pair the recipe below with your chapstick-making craft kit, adjust it to your desired preferences, and enjoy!
Because the cannabinoids like CBD and THC are not directly absorbed into the bloodstream, cannabis topicals may be a viable application option for using cannabis with children. Of course, this should be discussed with your healthcare provider.
I have not personally tried these alternatives, but you can try to substitute soy wax for beeswax to make this a vegan lip balm recipe.
How to Determine The Dosing
Want to get a more accurate guesstimate of the potency of your cannabis infusions and extractions? Try our popular edibles calculator!
Not sure what your perfect dose is? Learn more here.
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More Cannabis Recipes You Will Love
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Cannabis Lip Balm with CBD or THC
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons organic shea butter
- 2 tablespoons organic beeswax
- 4 drops Bergamont essential oil or essential oil of choice
- 1 mL 500mg CBD Concentrate, optional
Instructions
- Add water to the bottom portion of the double boiler and place over medium-high heat. Add the shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil to the top portion of the double boiler.
- Allow the ingredients to melt and then bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- When the mixture begins to boil, turn off the heat and stir in your essential oil of choice and your desired amount of concentrate.
- Prepare your chapstick containers or lip balm containers by removing the tops and placing them on a solid surface to be filled.
- Using a pipette or similar tool, gently transfer the hot liquid into the lip balm or chapstick containers.
- Allow the containers to rest and cool for 15 minutes before sealing with the top. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
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