Nourish Your Lips with a Natural DIY Lip Oil
Have you noticed the hot new item on the skin and lip care market over the past year? I’m talking about Lip Oil!
What if I told you that instead of spending $$$ for a high-end lip oil you could make your own luxurious and 100% natural lip oil for just $? Making an inexpensive, yet effective, lip care product is all about choosing the right ingredients. Let’s learn about a few…
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In this Post
Lip Oil vs Lip Gloss
When I was a youngster lip gloss was all the rage! I never cared for it though, because it always felt sticky on my lips and I’d end up wiping it off. So, I’ve been very pleased to see the increase in interest in natural lip oils over the past year.
Lip gloss simply sits on your lips, providing shine, and little else. And some contain ingredients that can irritate lips. I’ll pass!
Lip oils, on the other hand, are a fantastic way to nourish your lips while giving them shine. Regular use of a moisturizing lip oil will soothe chapping and dryness for kissably soft lips. And best of all, natural lip oils are nourishing for lips of all ages!
(TIP: Use lip oil after using a Kissable Lips Scrub.)
Natural lips oils are nourishing to lips of all ages!
6 Awesome Lip Care Oils
There are a lot of carrier oils to choose from when you are creating lip care formulations. Here are my six lip oil favorites.
Castor Seed Oil (Ricinus communis)
Castor seed oil is my favorite for lip care formulations because it soothes chapping and irritation. It’s also one of the few lipid carrier oils that acts as both moisturizer and humectant—it helps draw water into the upper layers of skin. This humectant property is due to the fatty acid Ricinoleic acid which is abundant in Castor seed oil.
Castor seed oil can be sticky in large amounts, so it’s fortunate we can experience its lip care benefits from just a small amount.
Pomegranate Seed Oil (Punica granatum)
Pomegranate seed oil is packed with free radical fighting antioxidants. It helps reduce inflammation making it an excellent ingredient for already chapped lips or those with sensitive skin or eczema. It absorbs easily, making it a great choice for deep moisturizing.
Argan Seed Oil (Argania spinosa)
Argan seed oil is one of the top skin care oils and it’s great for lips, too! It soothes irritation caused by dryness or environmental factors like cold weather or sun exposure. Argan oil is also rich in vitamin E, which helps protect the lips from free radical damage.
Rosehip Seed Oil (Rosa spp)
Rosehip seed oil is rich in antioxidants and promotes cell regeneration to reduce fine lines and even the skin tone. It’s also known for its ability to fade scars. It’s nourishing to all skin types.
What about vitamin C? There’s a misconception that Rosehip seed oil is rich in vitamin C. Rosehips themselves are a wonderful source of vitamin C—a water soluble vitamin. This is one of the reasons why including rosehips in your herbal tea is immune-supporting.
The seeds of the rosehips, on the other hand are rich in the fat-soluble vitamins A and E, not C. The tiny seeds are pressed to extract this beautiful nourishing lipid carrier oil.
Squalane
Derived from plants, typically olives or sugarcane, Squalane mimics our skin’s natural oils, locking in moisture and promoting suppleness. It has a lightweight, silky feel that absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue. Squalane is also very stable and has a long shelf life.
Jojoba oil/wax (Simmondsia chinensis)
Jojoba oil is actually a liquid wax with a fatty acid profile that’s very similar to our own skin’s sebum. This means it can moisturize without feeling greasy and is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin and lips. Jojoba is a staple in the aromatherapist’s carrier oil selection and can be used on its own as a simple nourishing lip oil.
Want to learn more about lipid carrier oils? Read my reviews of these two excellent books:
- Power of the Seed, by Susan Parker
- The Carrier Oil Palette, by Jade Shutes & Sherilyn Siegmund-Roach
Essential Oils in Lip Care Products
Essential oils are not necessary in a lip oil, however, the aromatics do add a little something to the blend.
Because your lips are highly sensitive, regardless of essential oil choice, keep the percent to 0.5% or less. This is about 3 drops of essential oil per 30ml carrier, or 1 drop in a 10ml roller bottle or applicator wand tube.
Essential oils safe to use on lips include:
- Mandarin or Tangerine (Citrus reticulata)
- Sweet Orange (Citrus x sinensis)
- Distilled Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia)
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
- Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Rose (Rosa spp.)
- Neroli (Citrus x aurantium var amara)
- Vanilla oleoresin (Vanilla planifolia)
🔶️Essential oils to avoid include cold-pressed Lime, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Bark, and Cinnamon Leaf.
Other Lip Care Additives:
- Coconut CO2 (Cocos nucifera) contains fatty acids so, like coconut oil, it’s moisturizing to the skin and lips.
- Vitamin E (Tocopherol) helps extend the shelf life of lipid oils by reducing the speed of oxidation which leads to rancidity. Just a small amount of this antioxidant is needed.
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
3 Lovely Lip Oil Recipes
The fun part about making your own lip oil is you can tailor it to suit your preferences and needs. So, grab your favorite oils and let’s get started on making some luxurious lip oils!
I recommend combining all ingredients in a small beaker first and stirring with a small spatula to ensure uniformity. Then once it’s well-mixed, pour the lip oil into your container, using the spatula to scrape out every last drop from the beaker.
I use both roller bottles and wand applicator tubes for my lip oils.
💚PRO TIP 1: To keep bottles upright during filling, use a cosmetic organizer.
💚PRO TIP 2: For the most consistent product, measure your ingredients by weight. Add an inexpensive jewelers scale to your tool box.
Each of the recipes below makes ONE 10ml lip oil.
⭐️Love My Lips Lip Oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (4.8g) Pomegranate seed oil
- 1 teaspoon (3g) Rosehip seed oil
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.5g) Castor seed oil
- about half of 1/8 teaspoon (0.2g) Vitamin E
- 1 drop Roman Chamomile essential oil
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
⭐️Orange Cream Lip Oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (4.8g) Argan seed oil
- 1 teaspoon (3g) Squalane
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.5g) Castor seed oil
- about half of 1/8 teaspoon (0.2g) Vitamin E
- 1 drop Vanilla oleoresin*
- 1 drop Sweet Orange, Mandarin, or Tangerine essential oil
*I use Edens Garden Vanilla oleoresin for lip care.
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
⭐️Sweet Mint Lip Oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon (4.8g) Jojoba oil
- 1 teaspoon (3g) Squalane
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.5g) Castor seed oil
- about half of 1/8 teaspoon (0.2g) Vitamin E
- 2 drops Coconut CO2*
- 1 drop Spearmint essential oil
*Coconut CO2 thickens under cool conditions; warm in your hands before dispensing.
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
I encourage you to experiment with different blends to create your own signature lip oil. Have fun, get creative, and enjoy your handcrafted lip care. Until next time, keep those lips nourished and kissable!
Mom’s Lip Care Shopping List
These are the suppliers I use regularly for my lip oil ingredients:
- Pomegranate seed oil (Punica granatum):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon).
- Rosehip seed oil (Rosa spp):
- Argan seed oil (Argania spinosa):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Renewalize, organic (on Amazon).
- Castor seed oil (Ricinus communis):
- Renewalize, organic (on Amazon)
- Cliganic, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Roman Chamomile essential oil (Chamaemelum nobile):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic.
- Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia):
- Aromatics International, organic artisan (grown and distilled in Montana)
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- TIP: Plant Therapy’s Lavender Hydrosol (Direct and Amazon) is lovely for skin care and general aromatherapy.
- Lime essential oil (Citrus x aurantifolia):
- Aromatics International, organic, distilled
- Plant Therapy, sustainable, distilled (Direct and Amazon)
- Edens Garden, sustainable, distilled (on Amazon).
- Green Mandarin essential oil (Citrus reticulata):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)💛
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon).
- Neroli essential oil (Citrus x aurantium):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Rose Absolute/Otto (Rosa spp.):
- Aromatics International, Absolute, organic
- Plant Therapy, Absolute, sustainable (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, Otto, organic
- Plant Therapy, Otto, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Sweet Orange essential oil (Citrus x sinensis):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
- Spearmint essential oil (Mentha spicata):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, organic.
- Tangerine essential oil (Citrus reticulata):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)💛
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon).
- Coconut CO2 (Cocos nucifera):
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon).
- Vanilla planifolia:
- Plant Therapy Vanilla Botanical Extract, for diffusion & skin care (Direct and Amazon)
- Edens Garden Vanilla oleoresin, conventional, thick, for skin & lip care (on Amazon)
- Aromatics International Vanilla oleoresin, organic, very thick, for herbal infusion.
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
