Homemade Christmas Gifts: Peppermint Lip Balm

Peppermint Lip Balm
This recipe is quite easy to make. Peppermint essential oil is used in this recipe but other essential oils, such as rose geranium or orange, can be used depending upon your own personal preference. If you like a creamier consistency for your lip balm use a little bit less beeswax or add a bit more almond oil.
Ingredients:
½ cup sweet almond oil
2 tablespoons jojoba oil
2 tablespoons beeswax pellets/ block
2 tablespoons honey
5 Vitamin E capsules or in liquid form
25 drops peppermint essential oil

Directions:
A quart size glass canning jar works as a good container in which to make this lip balm. Place the jar into a pan half filled with water and turn the heat to medium. Then carefully add the sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and beeswax into the canning jar. Use a pot holder to hold the top of the canning jar while stirring it around until the beeswax is completely melted. Stir in the honey and Vitamin E and mix until the honey has been thoroughly incorporated. Remove the container from the pan of hot water and turn off your stove.
Stir in the essential oil then pour the balm into containers and let cool to room temperature before covering with the lids. Empty plastic lip gloss containers, which hold approximately ¼ ounce, can be purchased from a variety of vendors. I prefer to use flat ½ ounce round aluminum containers to store my balm in. This recipe makes almost one cup (8 ounces) of lip balm.