Beauty DIY: Inspired by Nivea Lip Butters

Hey you! How was your weekend? It was a rainy one here in Atlanta. And slightly chilly, too! I read a book as part of my The52Project, then I kept my hair and skin moisturized with a DIY mask and these DIY lip butters. I'm sharing a couple of ways to make these lip balms, and I've tweaked them a little as inspired by the amazing Nivea Lip Butter. You can buy these (easy! cheap!) or make your own. Here's how to:

You'll Need:
container/tin
Base 1: shea butter or coconut oil
Base 2: Vaseline Jelly
Color: lipstick or eye shadow
Oil: vitamin E or almond oil
Scent: flavor oils
small microwavable bowl
spoon

How To:

Choose enough shea butter or coconut oil to fit your container. This is usually a couple of tablespoons. My containers shown are from the Container Store, but these can be found at craft stores or online. These were around .99 cents. I've also recycled empty lip balm containers and I've nicely asked those who work at Sephora for small sample containers, and I've gotten them for free that way.

In a microwavable bowl, add your base, an oil (I used almond), your color (if desired), and mix together. Melt in 30 seconds increments until thoroughly melted. I think this took about a minute and half to melt.

Mix in the flavor oil. Since skin can be sensitive to certain essential oils, I purchase flavor oils made just for lip balms, like this site. I like adding the flavor oil later, so it won't evaporate, but you can add it when you melt the ingredients. I used a raspberry sangria flavor here, and a lipstick for color, to mimic the Raspberry Rose of the Nivea Lip Butter.

Pour carefully into container and allow to cool. That's it!

This second method uses Vaseline, which is closer to the original Nivea Lip Butter. I added a drop of vitamin E and a drop of almond oil. It took about 2 minutes to melt the ingredients.

Next, I added vanilla flavored oil and poured into the container. Allow to cool or put in the freezer to speed up the process. Petroleum is highly flammable in its liquid state, so please use caution.

Notes:

• I've used eye shadow (mica), Jello, Kool-Aid powder, crayons, and cocoa powder to tint lip balm too! 
• The Nivea Lip Butter comes in the flavors: caramel kiss, raspberry rose, vanillia macadamia, and smooth kiss. 
• Use Vaseline Jelly, shea butter, castor oil, almond oil, and glycerin to even better mimic the Nivea Lip Butters.
• I've used these as moisturizers on my hands and feet as well!
• FYI: There is no spf in these versions, as opposed to the Nivea. 

What's your favorite lip balm?