I love lipstick/gloss, the more sparkly, brighter, and bolder the better!
However, last week the corners of my mouth became sore, and lips very dry. To begin I thought I may be having my first ever cold sore, but no blistering occurred, so I went to see the pharmacist, to be informed that the cracks and dryness apparently are another effect of my arthritis. The pharmacist suggested that I should moisturise them more (and wear less lipstick as they all have a drying effect), I explored the options available in shops and realised that the ingredients of the natural balms I had at home, so headed back to research and commence potion making.
The search was interesting, there are many recipes available on the internet, this was the one I decided to try first:
Ingredients:
2 tbs of beeswax…vegans can use carnauba wax, but will need to use less
4 tbs of virgin coconut oil
2 tbs oil – olive, sunflower or if you want a very glossy finish castor oil
15 drops of peppermint essential oil (optional)
6 - 8 small containers (you can buy lip balm tubes/pots; I sterilised and used a variety of small jars, etc. that were in the cupboard, 6 in all but by the time I took the picture one had already been grabbed!)
Instructions:
As I followed these instructions, mixing the ingredients, I chanted this little rhyme.
"With thanks for the tips
To have comfortable lips,
As I stir and mix
This balm my lips will fix!"
Measure out the beeswax, oil and coconut oil in a double boiler or a bowl over a pan filled with water.
Once melted, add the essential oil if desired and mix well.
Pour the liquid wax into your containers, filling them to the top. If it starts to harden as you pour, put it back into the double boiler for a few seconds until it melts again.
Wait one hour or two until the wax starts to harden then you can use the lip balm right away, or pop the containers in the fridge so the lip balm hardens more quickly.
Magical properties of the ingredients:
Wax – determination, healing, nourishing, adaptable
Coconut oil – healing, protection, purification
Olive oil – spirituality, healing, peace, protection
Peppermint oil – healing, protection, cleansing, calming
So far, after four days of using my lip balm, my lips are healed, as are the corners of my mouth! I work in a very warm environment, and have kept a lip balm in my tunic pocket and it has not melted or leaked out of the container, which did happen to one of my colleagues with a proprietary salve.
Sources:
A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Food by Rachel Patterson
A Kitchen Witch’s World of Magical Plants & Herbs by Rachel Patterson