Tis the season to be kissed - and shouldn’t it be every season? Unfortunately, around this time of winter, your lips might be more dry and cracked than soft and kissable. Prepare your pucker for Valentines day - and everyday! - by treating them to a bit of a massage. With just a few ingredients from your local co-op or natural foods store, you can make your very own Olive Oil Lip Balm and kiss your unkissable goodbye.

For centuries in the Mediterranean, olive oil has been regarded as medicinal, magical, and the fountain of great wealth and power. Olive oil is not only linked to reducing heart disease from it’s higher proportion of monounsaturated fats, but when used externally, it is unlikely to cause allergic reactions.

Olive Oil Lip Balm from Ponte Vedra Soap Shoppe

2 oz olive butter
1 ½ oz olive oil
1½ oz candelilla wax or beeswax
1 oz cocoa butter
5-10 drops of Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
5-10 drops rosemary oil extract (ROE)
1-2 teaspoons total of ginger essential and grapefruit essential oil

In a very small pan, add the beeswax and melt over the lowest setting. Once melted add the cocoa butter chunks and shea butter, let melt, and then add the sweet almond oil. Heat thoroughly and add the Vitamin E oil. Remove from stove and pour into a glass measuring cup for easy pouring
into lip balm containers.

Add ginger and grapefruit essential oils slowly by taste. Stir flavor oils in and pour into lip balm containers. If the mixture starts to harden, place in the microwave for a few seconds to re-melt and then pour.

Recipe makes 6 ounces.