How to make a 10-minute peppermint mocha lip balm

Ever find yourself constantly reaching for lip balm, only to realise you’re almost out… again? For many of us, the default solution is yet another trip to the shop to buy another tiny plastic tube that never seems to last. But what if you could make your own mocha-inspired natural lip balm at home – in just under 10 minutes?

In this post, we’re going to show you how to make a café-inspired peppermint mocha lip balm using nourishing cocoa butter, protective beeswax, and a refreshing hint of peppermint. This balm feels super indulgent, yet is surprisingly quick and easy to make.

And the best part? You don’t need a chemistry degree or fancy equipment to make this 10-minute mocha lip balm. Simply follow along the 4 simple steps in this post, and see just how easy and satisfying it is to create a lip balm with your own hands. Are you ready to make it? Let’s get started!

What you’ll need to make this mocha-inspired lip balm

Let’s start with the setup. Don’t worry – you don’t need anything fancy to make this indulgent lip balm. Just basic equipment, which you probably already have in your kitchen, and a clean and clear counter space.

Equipment

First, you’ll need some basic equipment:

• A digital kitchen scale (you can easily find one online for around $10)
• A glass beaker or any clean, heat-safe jar (a jam jar works well)
• A small pan or heat-safe container to create a water bath
• A spatula, spoon, or glass stirring rod for stirring

You can find all of this equipment listed on our Amazon storefront or in basic kitchenware shops.

Then, you’ll need to clear a bit of counter space and give it a quick wipe to make sure everything is clean. If possible, also wear protective gloves and an apron, and tie back long hair when making this lip balm, as it helps keep things tidy.

Finally, you’ll need something to package your lip balm in, like a cardboard tube or a small glass jar. This formula makes 100 grams of product, which is roughly enough for 6-7 lip balm tubes – meaning you’ll have plenty to keep for yourself and a few extras to share with friends or family!

Ingredient breakdown (for ~100g of lip balm)

And now, let’s move on to the ingredients you’ll need to make 100g of this lip balm!

You can find all these ingredients online from reputable cosmetic ingredient suppliers. We’ve also listed a few recommendations at the bottom of this post.

1. Beeswax

INCI: Cera Alba

First, you’ll need 22 grams of beeswax, which is a cornerstone in many lip balms, as it forms a protective barrier for your lips. This barrier helps seal in moisture and shields the lips from harsh environmental conditions, which is especially needed in winter, when our lips are chapped and dry.

If you’d prefer a vegan alternative, you could use rice bran or carnauba wax. Just make sure to choose a wax melting point similar to beeswax (you can find this information from your supplier or online), so the texture remains the same.

Here are some great beeswax replacements you could use:

6 vegan waxes for organic cosmetic formulations

2. Cocoa butter

INCI: Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter

Next, you’ll need 27 grams of cocoa butter, which smells deliciously chocolatey and gives this lip balm its decadent mocha-inspired scent. It will make your kitchen smell like a chocolate shop!

Cocoa butter is also rich in fatty acids and antioxidants, leaving your lips feeling ultra-nourished.

Want to give your lip balm an extra twist? Try adding a touch of a darker brown plant butter, like kombo butter or bacuri butter, to make the balm more “mocha” in appearance.

3. Castor oil

INCI: Ricinus Communis Seed Oil

Then you’ll need 20 grams of castor oil. If you’ve ever wondered why professional lip balms glide on so smoothly, this is the secret.

Castor oil is naturally thick and glossy, giving the silky application you want in a high-quality balm. You can find out more about castor oil and its benefits here:

Surprising benefits of common castor oil

4. Sweet almond oil

INCI: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil

The last ingredient you’ll need to make the base of your lip balm is 28.70 grams of sweet almond oil, a gentle oil derived from almonds, perfect for the delicate skin on your lips.

This oil is moisturising without being heavy, and helps everything blend beautifully.

5. Coffee CO₂ extract

INCI: Coffee Arabica Seed Extract

And now for the actives! You’ll need 1.50 grams of coffee CO₂ extract, which gives this lip balm its wonderful coffee-inspired aroma. This natural coffee extract pairs beautifully with the cocoa butter, resulting in a decadent yet natural mocha scent.

In case you’re wondering, a CO₂ extract is a super-concentrated plant extract made using carbon dioxide to gently capture all of the plant’s rich, natural scents and benefits. You can learn more about it here:

What are CO2 extracts? Mystery & methods explained

If you can’t get hold of CO₂ extract, you can easily replace it with extra almond oil or even coffee oil. It won’t have the same scent, but you’ll still have a gorgeous balm!

6. Vitamin E

INCI: Tocopherol

The next active ingredient you’ll need is 0.50 grams of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant. This vitamin helps protect the balm’s oils from oxidising (basically, from going rancid) and delivers extra skin benefits, keeping lips healthy and cared for.

7. Peppermint essential oil

INCI: Mentha Piperita Oil

Last, but certainly not least, you’ll need 0.30 grams of peppermint essential oil, which will give your lip balm a refreshing, cooling sensation, without any irritation.

Now, this may seem like a tiny amount, but peppermint is a powerful oil, and like any essential oil you use in leave-on products (especially lip products), you should keep it low, so just stick to the recommended amount.

How to make this 10-minute lip balm

• Makes: Approx. 100g (around 5-6 lip balm tubes)
• Estimated time: 10 minutes.
• Level: Beginner-friendly + easily customisable

And now for the fun part: making the lip balm! This formula makes around 100 g of lip balm, which is enough to fill several tubes or pots.

It’s a lovely batch size if you want to keep some for yourself and share the rest. Here’s how to make it:

• Step 1: Weigh your base ingredients in a heatproof bowl or beaker

Start by weighing your base ingredients into a heatproof glass bowl or beaker, taring the scale after each addition (pressing the ‘tare’ button).

That’s 22 grams of beeswax, 27 grams of cocoa butter, 20 grams of castor oil, and 28.70 grams of sweet almond oil.

• Step 2: Heat your foundation ingredients

Once your base ingredients are weighed, place your beaker or bowl into a water bath and gently heat until the beeswax and cocoa butter have fully melted. To set up a water bath, simply place your bowl or beaker over a pot of simmering water.

Stir occasionally to help everything combine evenly. This slow, even heat ensures the wax and butter melt into a single, unified base without damaging the ingredients. You’re aiming for a clear, glossy, uniform blend.

• Step 3: Add your heat-sensitive ingredients

Once all your base ingredients are melted in the water bath, remove the beaker or bowl and place it in a larger bowl filled with cool water. This helps the mixture cool slightly and speeds up the process.

Once the blend has cooled enough, add 1.50 grams of your coffee CO₂ extract (or your almond or coffee oil if you can’t source the CO₂ extract), 0.50 grams of vitamin E, and 0.30 grams of peppermint essential oil, taring after each addition.

You want the balm to become slightly opaque and just begin to solidify around the edges before adding the heat-sensitive ingredients. This ensures the oils and extracts retain their natural scent and beneficial properties.

Step 4: Blend everything & package

Now it’s time to blend everything together and pour your lip balms into your chosen containers!

At this stage, the mixture will likely start to thicken around the edges – this is the perfect moment to transfer it into your lip balm tubes or jars. If it becomes too firm, simply place the beaker or bowl back into the water bath for a short time to loosen it.

Then, it’s time to pour. You can either use cardboard tubes or glass jars for packaging. If using tubes, leave a little space at the top. This allows you to top up any small dips that might form as the balm sets, giving it a smooth, professional finish.

Pro tip: To make pouring easier, place your tubes upright in a glass or small beaker. This helps keep them steady while you pour and reduces spills.

Once poured, let your lip balms set in the fridge for a few hours. This ensures they firm up properly. Now you just have to be patient, while we share some final tips!

Bonus formulation tips

Here are some bonus tips to help you get the best results for your mocha-inspired lip balm:

1. Heat-stable ingredients first: Start by heating all the heat-stable ingredients to their melting points. In this formula, beeswax melts at around 62–65°C (you can check with a basic kitchen thermometer). Once melted, remove the beaker from the water bath and let it cool slightly. Basically, just follow the method outlined above!
2. Work quickly: Lip balms cool and solidify fast. If your mixture starts to firm up before pouring, simply put it back in the water bath for a few seconds and stir to loosen it.
3. Avoid divots in tubes: Sometimes a small dip forms on top as the balm sets. You have two options to fix this: a) use a hair dryer to gently smooth the top, or b) reserve a little balm in the beaker. When pouring, leave a bit of space at the top of each tube. Let the balm set and form the divot, then reheat the reserved balm and top off the tube for a smooth, professional finish.

We always recommend weighing your ingredients before you start formulating, just to make the whole process smoother.

Finishing touches & next steps

Once your lip balms have set, all that’s left to do is label them, and they’re ready to use!

And just like that, you’ve created your own sets of café-inspired lip balms using only 7 ingredients and following 4 simple steps – and all in less than 10 minutes. You’ll never run out of lip balm again!

If you’d like the full formulation breakdown, you can download this handy free formulation PDF. You can also follow along with our step-by-step YouTube video.

If this got you hooked and you’re ready to make more skincare products, you’ll love our free training course, in which you’ll learn how to create professional-grade natural and organic skincare from the comfort of your home, no experience needed.

Join thousands of students worldwide who’ve turned their DIY passion into professional careers thanks to our award-winning courses. Start your journey today!

Suggested ingredient suppliers

Below is a handy list of suggested suppliers you can use to source the ingredients mentioned in this post:

INKY Ingredients (UK)

Aroma-Zone (EU)

Aromantic (UK)

Alexmo Cosmetics (EU)

Manske (EU)

The Soap Kitchen (UK)

Ellemental  (EU)

Lotioncrafter (USA)

Essential Labs (USA)

Go Native NZ (New Zealand)

Naturally Balmy (UK)

O&3 – The Oil Family (UK/EU)

Soap & More (Canada)

Handymade (EU)

Formulator Sample Shop (USA)

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Therese Thull

Therese is on the Education Team at Formula Botanica after joining as a Grading Tutor in December 2022. Therese’s years of experience as a cosmetologist/esthetician and later a Certified Holistic Health Coach led her to a passion for formulating quality natural ingredients and Formula Botanica was just the school she needed to begin advancing and mastering her formulating skills.