This organic lip balm gives lips a pretty sheen, and its rich butters and oils nourish the skin and prevent drying — petrochemical-based balms actually dry lips out over time, whereas this balm soothes and gradually smoothes away dryness. Package the lip balm in a pretty box lined with recycled tissue paper and tied with a vintage ribbon or some natural raffia.

Materials Needed:

• 1 tsp. cocoa butter, grated
• 1/2 tsp. coconut oil
• 1 tsp. sweet almond oil
• 1/2 tsp. beeswax

• 1 tsp. aloe vera gel
• 2 drops of sweet orange or peppermint essential oil
• 1 small whisk
• 1 small recycled eye cream or lip balm jar and lid, sterilized

Step 1

Put the cocoa butter, coconut oil, almond oil and beeswax in a heatproof bowl and melt them together in a double boiler.

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Step 2

Remove from heat. Add the gel and your choice of essential oil (peppermint is invigorating and zingy; orange is aromatic and delectable).

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited

Step 3

Mix the ingredients together using the whisk. The ingredients will cool quite quickly as you whisk and turn an opaque color.

Enlarge Photo+Shrink Photo-DK - A Greener Christmas © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited