In the deep end of winter, hands, elbows, knees, feet and lips can really suffer. I decided to make a balm using lanolin in order to relieve stubborn and uncomfortable dry skin. Never having used lanolin before, I wasn’t sure how effective it really was or if it lived up to it’s reputation but I’m happy to say, this experimental balm is worth sharing and what I’m reaching for nightly to sooth my aching lips, dry, rough hands and cracked heels. This homemade lanolin balm is easy to make and has a long shelf life. Let’s get into it!
I had originally bought lanolin because I had heard it was the perfect ingredient to formulate an overnight lip mask. My daughters are obsessed with the Laneige Lip Mask but I’m not impressed with the ingredients. I will say, the texture is amazing and its staying power is impressive. Since it’s basically a balm I thought surely I could recreate it. I’m still experimenting with that but in the process I’ve created a lanolin balm that is perfect for these winter months where skin becomes cracked and painfully dry.
What is Lanolin?
Lanolin is basically sheep skin oil. Sheep produce lanolin in order to keep their skin moisturized and their wool soft. Lanolin is extracted from wool not the sheep. Sheep are not harmed in the process of extraction.
Lanolin is a soft, waxy substance that has a dark yellow color. It can be used on its own and is often used as nipple cream for nursing mothers due to its ability to protect and soothe the skin. It is often compared with petroleum jelly but unlike petroleum jelly, lanolin is not synthetic and is considered a natural product.
Lanolin can be found in many products including lip balms, hemorrhoid creams, shaving creams, eye creams, lotions, mustache wax and diaper rash cream. It can reduce the loss of moisture in the skin by 20-30%.
The texture of lanolin is lovely and when you feel it you can easily see why it is so beneficial to the skin. However, the smell is the drawback. Lanolin smells odd to me. Not like you’d imagine animal sebum to smell like but more like a musky smell. It is the only reason I am not using this recipe as my Laniege dupe recipe. However, the texture of this balm is very similar to the famous lip mask and I am using my lanolin balm on my lips. You get used to the smell and the benefits far outweigh any unpleasant experience coming from the odor.
Related Post: Dry Skin Winter Facial Oil
What You’ll Need to Make a Homemade Lanolin Balm:
- Medium size pot
- Glass Pyrex measuring cup or glass bowl
- Measuring spoons
- Spoon or stir stick
- 50ml glass jar (find it HERE)
- 2.5 teaspoons of lanolin (find it HERE)
- 2 teaspoons castor oil (find it HERE)
- 1.5 tsp. beeswax (find it HERE)
- 2.5 tsp. jojoba oil (find it HERE)
- 1 tsp. kokum butter (find it HERE)
- 5 drops lavender essential oil (find it HERE)
- 1/2 tsp. vitamin E (find it HERE)
Homemade Lanolin Balm for Dry Skin
This homemade lanolin balm is the perfect skin moisturizer for winter. It's easy to make and incredibly effective when it comes to adding moisture and locking in moisture. This balm can be used on the lips, elbows, knees, heels and hands.
Materials
- 2.5 teaspoons of lanolin
- 2 teaspoons castor oil
- 1.5 tsp. beeswax
- 2.5 tsp. jojoba oil
- 1 tsp. kokum butter
- 5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 1/2 tsp. vitamin E
Tools
- 50ml glass jar (2 ounce jar will work)
- Medium size pot
- Glass Pyrex measuring cup
- Spoon or stir stick
- Measuring spoons
Instructions
- Create a double boiler by filling a medium size pot half way full of water and placing on the stove top.
- Turn the stove top to medium heat and place a glass pyrex measuring cup or bowl in the pot.
- Add oil, butter, beeswax and lanolin to the glass cup/bowl and heat until all ingredients are thoroughly melted.
- Remove glass cup from heat, add essential oils and vitamin E and stir.
- Pour liquid into glass jar.
- Allow balm to cool and harden in the fridge.
Notes
- Use this balm by scooping a small amount into the palm of your hand an smoothing over elbows, knees, hands, heels, lips or anywhere else that needs intense healing and moisture.
- The shelf life of this balm is 6-12 months.
Ingredient Substitutes:
This DIY is all about lanolin so that is a must. However, you can substitute the oil and butter portion with what you have on hand. I chose castor oil because of how thick and sticky it is and jojoba because it is so nourishing and well tolerated by most skin. However, there are 4.5 teaspoons of oil in this recipe and if you only have one oil, you can use 4.5 teaspoons of it in this recipe. Olive oil is a great oil for soothing and moisturizing the skin as is avocado oil and sweet almond oil. Unrefined coconut oil is ok. It’s VERY healing but it is not particularly moisturizing so it really depends on what you need this balm for.
I used kokum butter because it is what I have. I like it because it penetrates quickly. However, shea butter, cocoa butter or mango butter will all work. Keep in mind that if you use shea butter, your balm will be slightly softer.
Beeswax, like lanolin is a non negotiable. I could recommend a few vegan waxes that would work but lanolin is not vegan so if you are aiming at a vegan DIY, this one isn’t for you. If you need a vegan balm you can check out my post on vegan waxes and my recipe for vegan vaseline!
Vitamin E is a great idea to use in balms because it delays rancidity. It is also a powerful antioxidant and can protect the skin from free radicals. Is it 100% necessary in this balm? Probably not but’s a great oil to have on hand. If you’d like to omit it you can. In order to keep proportions correct, add 1/2 a teaspoon to the oil making it 5 tsp. of oil total.
You can use any essential oil you’d like or even omit essential oils all together. I like to add essential oils because they help cover up the lanolin smell. Plus, most essential oils will add to the healing and anti inflammatory properties of the balm.
Related Post: DIY Firming Body Oil For Dry Skin
Trust me when I say, the texture of this balm is really nice. It’s soft without being too oily yet firm without being too hard. A little goes a long way and relief is instant. I’ve been using this balm on my hands and lips since I made it a few weeks ago. I’m hoping this jar will get me through the winter but will definitely make this exact recipe again if it doesn’t! Have you used lanolin? If not, I think you’ll be impressed.
xx, Jenni
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